MBL REC HALL c. 1955

These two photographs were taken in the mid 1950’s by the CANADIAN POST CARD COMPANY, LIMITED of 1570 Dundas Street West, Toronto. They were sent to MBL as PROOFS, and Post Cards were ordered and produced from them for sale at Miners’ Bay.
The first shows the up stairs of the MBL Recreation Hall before the addition that was constructed a decade later. Visible are two ping pong tables, the piano, a pin ball machine and two MBL “hockey” games.
Out of sight to the left of the image there was usually a WURLITZER “juke box”. The earliest one played 78 rpm records, and a later model played 45 rpm records. A White Sports Coat, and a Pink Carnation, as well as Blue Swede Shoes were popular hits at the time.
The second image shows the MBL Reading Room”. Note the books in the upper left of the photo. In addition, as well as wash rooms, the basement held a “Map Room”, so that guests could make North American travel plans, and note their home location, as well as routes to and from Miners’ Bay!
Within a few years, a Television was added. Many male guests would retreat there on a sunny July afternoon to watch the All Star Game, and cheer on such Baseball heroes as Bob Feller and Mickey Mantle.

Russ Wunker
April 2019