1. What was the first official name of the Canadian National Exhibition?
2. In what year was the first Canadian National Exhibition held?
3. What CNE building was used as a temporary morgue in 1947?
4. What is the oldest existing building on the grounds?
5. Did Elvis or the Beatles ever play the CNE?
6. How many times did the Beach Boys play the CNE Grandstand?
7. How many acres of land are the Exhibition Place grounds?
8. Are the main gates at the east end of the grounds named the Princess Gates or the Princes' Gates?
9. What war was fought on the site that would eventually become the CNE grounds?
10. What year was television introduced to CNE visitors?
11. What year did the Blue Jays move to Exhibition Stadium?
12. Has Exhibition Place ever been closed to the public and the CNE not held?
13. Name some of the big bands that played the CNE in the 1930s, 40s and 50s?
14. What CNE buildings have been destroyed by fire?
1.
The first official name of the Canadian National Exhibition was the Toronto Industrial Exhibition. The name was informally changed to the Canadian National Exhibition in 1904 and then formally (legally) changed in 1912. In 1912, the governing body also changed its name from the Toronto Industrial Exhibition Association to the Canadian National Exhibition Association.
2.
The first CNE (or Toronto Industrial Exhibition) was held in 1879. A year before, in 1878, the Provincial Agricultural Fair was held on what was to become the CNE grounds, or Exhibition Place. But the Provincial Agricultural Fair moved each year to a different town or city, and in 1879, Ottawa was chosen as host by the Board of Directors of the Provincial Agricultural Fair. The City of Toronto decided to hold its own annual fair, and the Toronto Industrial Exhibition, or CNE, was born.
3.
The Horticulture Building became a temporary morgue in 1949 following a fire aboard the Canadian liner, Noronic, while docked in Toronto. Over 100 passengers were killed in the fire and the Horticulture Building was used to house the dead until next-of-kin could identify the bodies and make arrangements for burial.
4.
The oldest building on the grounds is the Scadding Cabin, located to the west of the Bandshell. The Scadding Cabin was built in 1794 for John Scadding who accompanied Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe to Upper Canada in 1792. In 1879, the York Pioneer Historical Society moved the Scadding Cabin to the CNE grounds from the east bank of the Don River. The Society is still responsible for the operation of the cabin. The move was part of the celebrations marking the inauguration of the Toronto Industrial Exhibition (CNE). In 1986, the cabin was designated as historically significant under the Ontario Heritage Act. The oldest exhibition building is the Press Building, constructed in 1905. This structure was originally named the Administrative Building and housed the offices of the CNE Association from 1905 until 1957. The offices moved to the Queen Elizabeth Building in 1957 and the Press Building became the headquarters for the media during the annual CNE. Currently, the building is again home to staff of the CNE.
The Press Building is one of five existing CNE buildings designed by renowned architect G.W. Gouinlock. Other Gouinlock buildings include: the Horticulture Building (1907), Music Building (1907), Medieval Times (1912), and the Firehall/Police Station (1912). These structures have all been recognized as significant examples of early exhibition architecture. In 1991 a plaque dedicated to Gouinlock's CNE buildings was erected in front of the Press Building.
5.
No. Given the impressive line-up at the CNE Grandstand over the years, it almost seems unusual that Elvis and the Beatles did not play the CNE. The fact that they did not may have something to do with the time of year when they visited Toronto - always in colder months when the CNE wasn't open.
6.
One of the most popular bands to play the Grandstand, the Beach Boys appeared at the CNE in 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1989 and 1990.
7.
From the Gardiner Expressway (north end), to Lakeshore Blvd., (south end), and from Strachan Avenue (east end), to the Dominion Gates (west end), Exhibition Place covers 196.6 acres of land. During the CNE, when all parking areas are included, such as the Gore Lot, Marilyn Bell Park, Coronation Park and Battery Park, the size of Exhibition Place swells 260 acres. (The photo below also includes Ontario Place.)
8.
The Princes' Gates are named after H.R.H. Edward, Prince of Wales and his brother, Prince George. The two royal brothers visited Canada in 1927 and opened the newly constructed gates on August 30 of that year. The gates were originally built to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Canadian Confederation (1867-1927) and were to be named "The Diamond Jubilee of Confederation Gates." When it was learned that the royal brothers were to tour Canada in 1927, CNE officials requested that they open the gates. The gates were renamed in honour of Prince Edward and Prince George.
9.
The War of 1812. One of the bloodiest episodes of the war was the Battle of York, which started just west of present-day Exhibition Place and advanced eastward through what is now the CNE midway to Fort York. The American advance on York (Toronto), the capital of the British colony of Upper Canada, started at 8 am on April 27, 1813. Although the Americans lost 300 men, they took the town of York by afternoon. Five days later, on May 1st, they burned down the Parliament Building in York before setting sail for home. The British avenged the burning by firing upon the White House in August 1814. The war concluded shortly thereafter and Americans and Canadians have lived in harmony ever since.
10.
The CNE first exhibited televisions in 1939 as part of an RCA display. For many Torontonians, this was their glimpse of an invention that would revolutionize communications. Since its founding in 1879, the CNE has served as a "Show Window of the Nation," introducing Canadians to advances in science, technology, agriculture and industry as well as the latest trends in the arts and entertainment.
11.
The first regular season game played by the Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club at Exhibition Stadium was on April 7th, 1977 against the Chicago White Sox. The Blue Jays, along with the Argonaut Football Club (who had started playing at Exhibition Place in 1959), moved to the Domed Stadium in downtown Toronto in 1989.
12.
Exhibition Place was closed to the public between 1942 and 1947, during which time the CNE was not held.
When the CNE ended in 1939, the grounds were turned over to the Department of National Defense for use as a recruiting and training facility. In August and September of 1940 and 1941, most troops moved out so the fair could be held. The Royal Canadian Air Force, however, continued to operate its Manning Depot in the Coliseum. During those years, nearly all CNE exhibits were attuned to the national war effort. This helped educate Canadians about the war and encouraged enlistment.
In April of 1942 the Canadian government decided to use the CNE grounds as a year-round military camp for the duration of the war. The CNE grounds were divided between the navy, army and air force. The Horse Palace became sleeping quarters for the army, the Coliseum became the domain of the air force, the Automotive building sheltered the navy and the Canadian Women's Army Corp. were stationed in Stanley Barracks.
On May 4th, 1945 the war ended and Exhibition Place was converted into a demobilization centre, helping to integrate soldiers back into society. This new role lasted until early in the summer of 1946, leaving too little time to plan and hold a fair that year. The CNE reopened in 1947.
13.
Duke Ellington, Abe Lyman, Guy Lombardo, Rudy Vallee, Horace Heidt, Benny Goodman, Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy Dorsey, Buddy Rogers, Glen Gray, Tony Martin, Artie Shaw, Eddie Duchin, Sammy Kaye, Al and Bob Harvey, Ina Ray Hutton, Benny Goodman, Tony Pastor, Vaughan Monroe, The Modernaires, Gene Krupa, Trump Davidson and Spike Jones.
14.
Crystal Palace, built in 1858, moved to the CNE grounds in 1878, destroyed by fire in 1906. Replaced by the Horticulture Building. Grandstand #2, built in 1892-3, destroyed by fire in 1906. Replaced by Grandstand #3.
Manufacturers Building, built in 1902, destroyed by fire in 1961. Replaced by the Better Living Centre.
Grandstand #3, built in 1907, destroyed by fire in 1946. Replaced by Grandstand #4, which was demolished in 1999.
Railways Building (Music Building), built in 1907, gutted by fire in 1987 and restored and reopened in 1991.
Women's Building, built in 1908 as an addition to the Manufacturers Building, destroyed by fire in 1961.
Transportation Building, built in 1905, destroyed by fire in 1974.