Comments on: Then & Now: The Big Bop, part 1 https://thenandnowtoronto.com/2014/12/then-now-the-big-bop-part-1/ Influential Toronto nightclubs from the 1970s through 2000s. The stories of Then & Now explore both Toronto after dark and the ways in which social spaces tend to foreshadow gentrification trends. Sat, 18 Apr 2026 02:04:44 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=3.9.40 By: Mike https://thenandnowtoronto.com/2014/12/then-now-the-big-bop-part-1/#comment-374448 Tue, 31 Dec 2024 13:48:37 +0000 http://thenandnowtoronto.com/?p=1440#comment-374448 I worked the door at the Big Bop 1991 (?)-1994 and have nothing but fantastic memories of all the staff, the regulars, the wild and beautiful people who waited in such long lines to get in. I was attending OCA during day, worked door nights, and drank in after-hours with most awesome people mentioned here. Unforgettable time of my life. Moved to B.C. in 1995, travelled, worked, lived ,retired early 10 years ago and settled in N.S. I am 55 now, single dad with a 6 year old daughter, I imagine 10 years… before she starts dating and I’ll have to take that spot at the door once again. Hahaha…. Nothing like the maze of Sex,Booze, Rock&Roll and some controlled violence , all under one roof at The Big Bop. Great article ,Thanks for the memories !

]]> By: Cheryl https://thenandnowtoronto.com/2014/12/then-now-the-big-bop-part-1/#comment-372012 Thu, 19 Dec 2024 06:17:53 +0000 http://thenandnowtoronto.com/?p=1440#comment-372012 I worked the main bar there with Jeff for years. Met some of my best friends there. I left to move to Argentina to be with my husband of thirty yesrs, but am still in touch with my Boo buddies!

]]> By: D. G. MacNay https://thenandnowtoronto.com/2014/12/then-now-the-big-bop-part-1/#comment-362482 Mon, 04 Nov 2024 19:47:15 +0000 http://thenandnowtoronto.com/?p=1440#comment-362482 Still have my BigBop ViP card in my mementos box, we used to get free entry with a pay stub from working at other Clubs (Bel-Air Cafe)

]]> By: David Roy https://thenandnowtoronto.com/2014/12/then-now-the-big-bop-part-1/#comment-273918 Mon, 19 Feb 2024 21:19:48 +0000 http://thenandnowtoronto.com/?p=1440#comment-273918 I told a friend of mine last night that I worked at the Bop in 1987. I was 17. I started in the summer 4 nights a week 9pm-3am…sometimes later. I was a bus boy.
I went back to high school to do my grade 12. I gave two of my shifts to a buddy of mine. Then he broke his foot which screwed up the schedule. Then a bunch of people with the same t shirts on showed up one Saturday and puke began flying. I was told to clean it up. I was un happy about it. Then later that night I was fired by a young woman who was very uncomfortable doing so.

I was a zombie most days at school. I would get home at 430am. sleep until 830am. Go to school until 3 or whatever then sleep at home until 8pm then back out to work.

I went to my first speak easy while working at the bop. It was great.

]]> By: Cardina https://thenandnowtoronto.com/2014/12/then-now-the-big-bop-part-1/#comment-55366 Sat, 30 Nov 2019 18:02:22 +0000 http://thenandnowtoronto.com/?p=1440#comment-55366 I just got turned onto this article from a friend of mine! There was a gang of us friends from Buffalo, NY, that frequented many of those clubs that were mentioned….. starting with with Ballingers Danceteria & Videotheqe advertised on Canadian radio stations that came in loud and clear here in Buffalo! We accepted your invitation to head north! In fact, our weekend adventures resulted in my best friend marrying a Torontonian and making it her home! In those days we would close the clubs in Cambridge or Toronto at 1:00am and be back in Buffalo by 2:30am to close the bars here by 4:00am! Don’t forget your neighbors south of the border that enthusiastically partied in that ’80′s magical era in Southern Ontario!!!

]]> By: Music and DJing - Past and Present Part 1 | George Dus https://thenandnowtoronto.com/2014/12/then-now-the-big-bop-part-1/#comment-12015 Mon, 19 Dec 2016 01:24:27 +0000 http://thenandnowtoronto.com/?p=1440#comment-12015 […] started introducing dance music when I starting dancing at the Boom Boom Room owned by the The Big Bop‘s Ballinger brothers. I hung out with the DJ from the Boom Boom Room and he taught me how to […]

]]> By: Dj Shamann https://thenandnowtoronto.com/2014/12/then-now-the-big-bop-part-1/#comment-144 Tue, 30 Dec 2014 06:05:10 +0000 http://thenandnowtoronto.com/?p=1440#comment-144 I just came across this website from a share on Facebook. Some great history in these articles, I played every room in that building many times over the years as did many of my peers (which makes for great convo). I think the thing that’s missing from downtown is the sense of community there used to be. All good things come to an end so I can’t be bitter about it, but it does make me feel nostalgic.

]]> By: Sarah Wayne https://thenandnowtoronto.com/2014/12/then-now-the-big-bop-part-1/#comment-49 Fri, 12 Dec 2014 22:56:03 +0000 http://thenandnowtoronto.com/?p=1440#comment-49 All comments in the string below have been republished from their original appearance on The Grid website. We’re including the readers’ comments as they add to these Then & Now stories. We look forward to reading new comments here as well.

Jeremy 

When is part 2 of this article coming? 
12:08 am on July 22, 2014 






Denise Benson

Hi Jeremy,
Unfortunately, The Grid folded at the beginning of July, both as a printed publication and website, so there will not be a Part 2 of this story here. 
I am currently developing a new site to host all of the past Then & Now stories, and to add new ones. When that’s complete, I will write Part 2 of this story as well as a few others, all to be included in the Then & Now book to be published in Spring 2015.
Watch for news of the new site, new stories and Then & Now book here: https://www.facebook.com/ThenNowDeniseBenson
In the meantime, all 46 existing Then & Now stories can be found at the following link, for as long as this website continues to be available (likely not for very much longer): http://www.thegridto.com/tag/then-now/
Thanks for your interest!
DB 

2:49 pm on July 24, 2014 







Liam 

When can we expect part 2? This was a great read. 

5:23 pm on June 10, 2014 







Andrea

Awe, the Big Bop means so much to me! I was the booking agent at the Big Bop from for about 7 or 8 years & experienced some of my most memorable musical moments in that building:) Some of the greatest musicians in our country graced the Reverb, Holy Joe’s & Kathedral stage, it was brilliant having 3 rooms which enable to to support very diverse styles of music & give incredibly talented artists a chance to develop their skills. I will always have fond memories of that place:) 

10:12 pm on May 4, 2014 






Stephanie 

Great article and pics (thanks Joe!). Spent most weekends there from probably 89 – 96. First floor all the way. I sure recognize a bunch of people in those pictures. 

8:29 am on May 4, 2014 






DeejayAveryTanner

Nice job Denise. It’s a good thing I have no plans of running for public office. I don’t know where Lon got the idea that they were my sisters records but the rest is all true. 

3:46 pm on May 3, 2014 






tracey

Loved dancing @ the Big Bop. Was part of our club rotation along with The Copa, Diamond, Nuts & Bolts, The Edge ….
WOW – great times we had – great people we met – fab memories!
Had the pleasure of meeting Joe Santaguida years later as I worked with his wife in the corporate space. 

2:58 pm on May 3, 2014 







Sue 

I loved working there in the 90′s. Can’t wait for part 2 of the story. Rob was the best manager. Worked with some fun people. 

9:26 pm on April 30, 2014 







Tapsucker

I have fond memories of that location. I remember seeing Long John Baldry play when it was briefly the Holiday and later partying at the ‘Bop regularly. Towards the late 80′s I lived a block away and started to see the effect on the neighbourhood, both good and bad…
We used to get a lot of what we called the “amateur drunks” coming out of there. Puking on our doorstep and getting into altercations with mailboxes and garbage cans (usually losing LOL). We had a local skin head gang that wasn’t too well regarded by some of the neighbours, they took up a little community policing. It was quite funny, actually. One night I saw two rather preppy drunk guys pick a fight with them. The skins showed great discipline; they grabbed them and shoved into the back of a cab and told the driver to take them to North York. When the driver asked for more details, they just said “anywhere, let them walk it off”. I guess these problems eventually moved to the Entertainment District along with the dance floors.
As for the bar itself, this article pretty much sums it up, it was brilliant. 

2:18 pm on April 30, 2014 







Carmel Debreuil 

Great article! I had a ball working there – I started on popcorn, moved to tshirts on floor one then moved up to the beer bar on second floor! I used to live in a warehouse behind it and the parties seemed to continue every night there. xo 

5:02 am on April 30, 2014 







Bruce McCallum

Thanks for jogging my memory back to a great time in my life. After 15 years at the Horseshoe, I have hung up my bartending days and am currently in my third semester of culinary management. Who knows, maybe I’ll hit up the Ballingers for a cooking gig. Nice article and I look forward to part 2. 

10:25 pm on April 29, 2014 







hgsntdrgs

i started my career at the bop..freakshow in the 90′s and then all the raves i threw there from 97 on…when i opened basement and later Blak across the road..dominik from the cop was my mentor… i owe everything to the bop! <3 

9:07 pm on April 29, 2014 






Meaghan Clark

I danced there at least twice a week for years. Avery’s brother Mark became one of my good friends and eventually, a roommate. It was a huge part of my 20s experience. Denise, you captured the spirit perfectly. Thank you! 

8:18 pm on April 29, 2014 







Stephanie 

I knew Mark well too for a while there. Bet we knew each other! 

8:32 am on May 4, 2014

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