Tales of drinking and brawling at Eastwood Hotel remind me of Norse mythology
Over the years I’ve recorded many stories about the Eastwood Hotel.
An earlier post features a photo of the hotel as it appeared in the early 1900s:
A Long Branch resident passed along to Barry Kemp this photo of the Eastwood Park Hotel
Located at the corner of Thirty Seventh St. and Lake Shore Blvd. West in Long Branch, the hotel was demolished in 2008.
Eastwood Hotel in Long Branch (South Etobicoke), 2008. Note “Hotel” sign on building to the west of the hotel. Jaan Pill photo – CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT
The photos (with the exception of the two images of the “Hotel” sign) at this post are from a 35mm Nikon 801 SLR which I bought decades ago. The images have a characteristic feel to them. It reminds me that digital cameras are not the only way to go. That said, I like what digital cameras can do. For example, I like the optional ‘Photo Illustration’ effect on the entry-level Nikon D3300 digital SLR that I use now when not using an iPhone. I’m reminded of the characteristic “presence” of music from vinyl records. I’m reminded of the characteristic “resonance” of a voice played back from years ago from a cassette tape recording.
The “Hotel” sign on the adjoining building has remained in place. This photo from January 2013 shows the sign when it was still intact. Jaan Pill photo
A March 27, 2008 Etobicoke Guardian article, entitled “Bittersweet moment as historic Etobicoke hotel is demolished,” highlights the hotel’s history.
Air thick with smoke
I will not try to recount details, aside from the air being thick with smoke, that I remember from interviews or conversations I’ve recorded, regarding the Eastwood Hotel. Instead, I will wait until I’ve transcribed the recordings, before I post the details.
What I can share right now, however, are a couple of my own stories. I will also share thoughts about the Eastwood Hotel and Norse mythology.
The first story concerns how far a bad reputation can travel. In this case it travelled from Kipling Ave. just east of the eastern border of Long Branch to just west of Fortieth St., almost all the way to the western border of the Long Branch neighbourhood. It goes back to 1997.
In this photo from October 2017, the “Hotel” sign remains in place on the adjoining building after the hotel was demolished, but part of the sign was subsequently cut away when some work was done on the exterior of the latter building. Jaan Pill photo
Reputation
We bought a house in 1997 on Villa Road, a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Around that time, we got word that living that close to the Eastwood Hotel was possibly not the best idea. The source of the helpful commentary was an institution of secondary education, located at Kipling Ave. and Birmingham.
Eastwood Hotel, 2008. Jaan Pill photo
Fortunately, things turned out well for us, despite the proximity to the Eastwood Hotel. Indeed, over time it was established that the proximity to the hotel had no bearing on the value of our house, or on our well-being as residents of Long Branch.
Under the influence
The second story concerns an occasion, perhaps around the late 1990s, when I was walking home one evening on the south side of Lake Shore Blvd. West just west of Thirty Seventh St.
As I was walking, I noticed an older car parked in front of the Eastwood Hotel. I also noticed a bar patron stepping forward from the hotel. Unsteady on his feet, being from what I could gather somewhat under the influence, the person in question opened the door, of the parked car that I had just noticed, and drove off. I noted the license plate and called 911 on our landline phone when I got home.
Eastwood Hotel, 2008. Jaan Pill photo
Norse Mythology refers to Valhalla, where warriors who have died in battle relive their days of glory
And now for my essay, regarding what comes to mind, when I think about stories that I’ve heard, about days and nights of brawling and drinking at the Eastwood Hotel.
Eastwood Hotel, 2008. Jaan Pill photo
The brawling and drinking occurred in a setting so thick with cigarette smoke, that you could take out a knife, and cut the smoke with it.
That’s what I heard recently, from Garry Burke who paid a brief visit to the hotel on an errand, many years ago when he was an adolescent. The smoke was so heavy you could cut it with a knife. Garry Burke said, and I paraphrase, “Talk about second-hand smoke!”
Eastwood Hotel, 2008. Jaan Pill photo
After we sold our house in Long Branch in July 2018 and before we bought a house in Stratford, we stayed at short-term rentals across Ontario and hotels across Europe, as I’ve noted at a previous post.
Eastwood Hotel, 2008. Jaan Pill photo
Eastwood Hotel, 2008. Jaan Pill photoWhen I think of the brawling and drinking at the Eastwood Hotel of long ago, I think of the story of Valhalla, which is prominently featured in Norse mythology.
Valhalla Inn
When I think of Valhalla, I also think about the Valhalla Inn, that used to be in place until 2009 at a location where a condo now stands, along the 427 as you’re travelling north toward Burnamthorpe.
Often when I’ve driven by that location, I’ve thought about a remark, by a lawyer friend named Michael Niven who lives in Calgary.
He and I were both members of a board of directors of a national nonprofit organization that both he and I had been involved in founding, at a conference in Banff, Alberta in 1991. Some years later, we had an annual meeting, for the organization, at our family’s house on Villa Road. On that occasion, Michael rented a room at the Valhalla Inn.
Eastwood Hotel, 2008. Jaan Pill photo
On the way to the airport after the board meeting, or on some other occasion during his visit to Toronto, I asked Michael Niven how his stay at the Valhalla Inn had turned out. “Oh,” he said, and I paraphrase, “it’s a good place to stay. It’s a place that’s in keeping with my station in life.” (Michael has a sense of humour.)
I liked the expression – “my station in life.” From time to time I’ve been reading extensively about the history of the British empire, and Michaels’ remark reminded me of how, in the mythology related to the British empire, each person was assigned to a particular station in life, and everybody (from highest to lowest) was expected to affirm contentment with being an integral player in the vast expanses, and vast populations, of the empire.
Eastwood Hotel, 2008. Jaan Pill photo
As with any empire, the British empire had plenty of mythology associated with it, including in history books, that I was reading at the time, from the Toronto Public Library, that either extolled or refuted the myths associated with the British version of an empire.
Valhalla is described in the Story of Gerd and Frey
The story concerns Frey. Frey, the brother of Freya, in one account that I read years ago, was the mightiest of the Vanir. He had just about everything that a god of the Vanir could desire in life, but he was still missing something, and couldn’t figure out what it was. A passage from a book I read years ago reads:
Eastwood Hotel, 2008. Jaan Pill photo
“When they reached Asgard, they walked towards Valhalla, the great hall of the slain. In Odin’s Valhalla live the Einherjar, ‘those who fight alone’ – all the men who have died nobly in battle since the beginning of time. Their souls are taken from the battlefields by Valkyries, the warrior women charged by Odin with the task of bringing the souls of the noble dead, battle-slain, to their ultimate reward.”
As the story proceeds, Freya and his servant, Skirnir “heard the sound of battle as they approached the fields around Valhalla; they heard the clash of metal on metal, the thud of metal on flesh. As they watched, they saw powerful warriors of all ages and places, well matched in battle, dressed in their war gear, each man fighting his hardest. Soon enough half the men were lying dead on the grass.”
Eastwood Hotel, 2008. Jaan Pill photo
A voice calls out a halt, to the fighting, announcing the battle is over for the day.
“At this, those who were still standing helped the dead men get up from the courtyard floor. Their wounds healed as Frey and Skirnir watched, and they clambered on to their horses. All the soldiers who had fought that day, whether they had won or lost, rode home to Valhalla, the hall of the noble dead.”
After demolition of Eastwood Hotel, construction of Rexall Pharmacy begins, 2008. Jaan Pill photo
The warriors then entered an enormous hall, where they proceeded to an enormous feast, with mead to quench their thirst. The next day, the battle routine would start again. Half the warriors would again be killed in battle. When the battle was over, those still standing would be helping the dead warriors get up, and they would once again all proceed to their great hall to feast and drink.
Rexall Pharmacy at Thirty Seventh St, and Lake Shore Blvd. West under construction, 2008. Jaan Pill photo
Click on photos to enlarge them
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Eastwood Hotel was a neat drinking hole when I lived in the area in the early seventies. I remember a band with a middle aged woman as the lead singer that was good. A nasty bouncher/waiter who was always smacking patrons and used to brag about killing a man!
Hi Murray,
I read you mentioned the 70’s of your memories..
Do you recall a man named Loius Arnold ?
The sign still says, EASTWOOD HOTEL,,,on the neighbouring building next door even today!!!
They probably figured…WHO WOULD EVER NOTICE??? 🤔
That sign is really a delight. When I used to live in Long Branch, I often took photos of it. It’s visible in the first photo at this post.
I went to the Eastwood hotel, so did my parents.
We also went to the New Toronto Hotel, The Cloverleaf, Almont Hotel , The Hollywood Tavern and Cousin Don.
Good memories from time spent at all these places.
Wonderful to know of your direct connection to good memories of so many places of years gone by, Lorraine. Your comments truly add life to the stories we have shared.
Enjoyed them all. Sometimes made the trip to the Sagamore and Edgewater. Eastwood and Bob were the best.
Pleased to know the memories are still there!
Saw Brave Belt at Cousin Don’s in 1972 who went on to be BTO..wild place
i used to haunt the wood thru the mid to late ’70s, it was a ruff place. For the most part the bikers did not mix or bother with the neighbourhood 18yr olds going there to get drunk & dance to funk. Things did get heated amongst the kids tho.
Could smoke weed like a cigarette at your table. Lots of dancing, we thought we were SO cool.
That’s a beautiful thing that I can picture in my mind, Ann: Could smoke weed like a cigarette at your table. Everything you describe is evocative; your memories add tremendous value to this blog post. We owe thanks to you and all other site visitors who help to bring this great story from years ago to life!
My dad jack was a barfly at the Eastwood I used to go there to see him then eventually I started hanging to party was quite the place so many memories of long branch
Beautiful to know of the many memories connected with the Eastwood!
All I have to say is that the greatest decade for me was the 80’s every week end was at the Eastwood we danced all night. Miss those times and my friends 😢 that have passed
Wonderful to keep the memories alive, Marilyn. Beautiful to picture the Eastwood where the dancing continued on through the night!
I’ll always have good memories from being at thr Eastwood. I was just going down memory lane and looked up the hotel on Google and seen it was demolished in 2008. So sad…I remember dancing and having drinks with friends there on the weekends…it was either the Eastwood, the Cloverleaf or the Almont…great memories…Sadly, the best places are all gone now
It’s really good to read comments about how much people enjoyed different places in the neighbourhood years ago. I find it always of interest to read comments such as yours, Sandi.
Marilyn, I was a DJ at the hotel from about 1985 to 1988. I had that place rocking and Bob or his daughter (I think her name was Helen?) would always give me that look from behind the bar at about midnight to start winding things down and keep the volume down….I never did. Of course I was as drunk as the crowd back then and if you wanted to here a song I had already played it cost you a double rum and coke. To this day I attribute my slight hearing loss to those fun times next to the dance floor on that small stage spinning those records. And don’t get me started on the adult entertainment in the basement, or the drugs, or the fights, or the regular old timers who started drinking from the moment that bar opened until 5-6pm.
i was a mailman in Longbranch for many years and i spent alot of time in The Eastwood having a beer playing pool and just talking with friends Great times thats for sure…
Really good to know how many people have good memories of The Eastwood. Good to have a place where people can hang out, spend time together, have a good time.
I used to enjoy the lunchtime Blue Plate Special in the dining room a couple of times a week when I was a clerk at a local bank in the late 60’s. Even at $2 including tip a couple of times was about all I could afford. The waitresses working the lunch hour were all retired women who would slip extra portions and desserts to penurious young men.
The owner of the time would come into the bank every Friday for a considerable amount of cash in $10 bills. Friday was payday for most of the then numerous local industries and while he would cash pay cheques in the tap room he wouldn’t accept $10 bills in payment so drinkers always went home with most of their pay. He didn’t permit brawling, bad language or working girls; more a social club than a bar and it was always packed.
Really interesting to know about this feature of life at the Eastwood Hotel in the late 1960s. The sense of a real community – a sense of community cohesion – comes across strongly in this comment and in other ones at this post. Really interesting to catch such glimpses of the past.