The Toronto Optimists' Photo Gallery

Photos of the Toronto Optimists, the Seneca Optimists, the Optimists Alumni and many others!

Home    Login
Home > The Old Days (Photos from our competitive years)
Category Albums Files
Our RootsThe Optimists had its beginnings in 1952 as a Scout band. After leaving Scouts in 1955 and obtaining the Optimists Club as a sponsor, they became the Optimists Trumpet Band, also known as Opti-Corps. In late 1957, when they were joined by the instructors and many members of the Danforth Crusaders, they became the Toronto Optimists Drum & Bugle Corps. The Optimists merged with the Seneca Princemen in 1976 to become the Seneca Optimists. This section contains photos of the scout band, Opti-Corps and the Danforth Crusaders.
4 66
Toronto OptimistsThis category includes photos of the Toronto Optimists taken at performances (competitions, exhibitions, parades, etc.). There is an album for each year from 1958 through 1975. Sometimes it's difficult to identify the year and those photos have their own album.
21 2,075
Seneca OptimistsThis category contains photos of the Seneca Optimists taken at performances (competitions, exhibitions, parades, etc.). There is an album for each year from 1976 through 1978. Albums exist for casuals shots taken during 1976 and another for 1977. There is also an album containing an article about the corps that was publish by the Toronto Star in 1978. Sometimes it's difficult to identify the year and those photos have their own album.
8 462
Optimists' Feeder CorpsOver the years the Optimists had a number of feeder corps: the Bantam Optimists, the Optimist Cadets, the Optimist Lancers and the Cadet Lancers. This category includes separate albums for each of those feeder corps.
4 106
Other Corps (mostly Canadian)Here you will find photos of corps that we were part of the 50s, 60s or 70s Drum Corps scene. Corps for which there are more than 4 photos have their own album and are listed by name. If we have fewer than 4 photos those images will be posted in either the Various Canadian Corps or Various American Corps albums.
97 1,905
Those who have goneThis category contains photo memories of Toronto Optimists, Seneca Optimists and Optimists Alumni members and staff who have passed away. If we have a few shots for a particular individual, there is an album under their name. If we only have a single shot, the photo is included in the "We Remember" album. A corresponding category called "We Remember" can be found on our main website under the History section. A separate web page exists for each individual. Each page contains a photo and a few words about that member.
32 223
MemorabiliaThis is a "catch-all" for things like old articles, Christmas cards, advertising, old Programs and anything that doesn't seem to fit elsewhere.
5 260
Don DaberDon was involved with The Optimists from 1960 until his death in 2019. During that time he served as a photographer, the publicity director and the Corps Director. He was also the creator and editor of both Green Capsule Comments and Gold Capsule Comments. Don produced the artwork for a number of record albums as well as designing posters and doing the artwork for a variety of contests and programmes. Don's photos can be found in "The Old Days" category (Toronto Optimists, Seneca Optimists, Optimists Feeder Corps or Other Corps).
5 96

Uploads from Guests



Test for user uploads

0 files
Album viewed 1 times

 

 

 

1 albums on 1 page(s)

Random files - The Old Days (Photos from our competitive years)
maybe_1961a_9.jpg
Leaside Lions (Leaside, 1961)627 views
1967_in_concert.jpg
Toronto Optimists in Concert (1969)844 views
1978_allen_sheet_54_02_09b.jpg
Seneca Optimists (Allentown, 1978)521 views
don_daber_2006.jpg
Don Daber (2006)729 views
76_midlanders_789.jpg
London Midlanders (1976)522 views
1964_menominee_04_06a.jpg
Bill Grigg experiences a wardrobe malfunction (Menominee, 1964)470 views
1971_lasalle_bw_york_02_019b1.jpg
LaSalle Cadets (Porter Stadium, Toronto, 1971)268 views
1971_18.jpg
Toronto Optimists (1971)498 views

Last additions - The Old Days (Photos from our competitive years)
1973_ajax_bw1_007_v2c1.jpg
LaSalle Cadets (Ajax, 1973)118 viewsAug 19, 2025
1977_eric_hyliters_002b.jpg
Hyliters (Birchmount Stadium, 1977)125 viewsAug 17, 2025
1978_bw_eric_compagnons_lamport_017b.jpg
Les Compagnons (Lamport Stadium, Toronto, 1978)95 viewsAug 16, 2025
1968_shriners_bw_lasalle_022b.jpg
LaSalle Cadets (1969)117 viewsAug 15, 2025
2010_michigancity_6512a1.jpg
The Cadets (Michigan City, 2010)106 viewsAug 14, 2025
1964_milwaukee_parade_09c.jpg
Toronto Optimists (Great Circus Parade, Milwaukee, WI, 1964)122 viewsAug 13, 2025
1979_eric_offensive_lions_006b.jpg
Offensive Lions (Hamilton, 1979)108 viewsAug 12, 2025
1978_eric_simcoe_017a.jpg
Oakland Crusaders and others (Retreat, Simcoe, 1978)125 viewsAug 10, 2025