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Canadian Urbanism Uncovered

EVENT: Toronto’s First Post Office fundraiser pays tribute to “The Dumbells” March 6th

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Our friends at The Town of York Historical Society are throwing a 180th birthday party for Toronto (and along the way raising some needed cash for Toronto’s First Post Office).

WHO: The Town of York Historical Society

WHAT: “Soldiers of Song,” a tribute to The Dumbells (purchase tickets here)

WHERE: St. Lawrence Hall, 157 King Street East, Toronto

WHEN: March 6th, 2014, 7:30 p.m. (doors at 7:00)

WHY: To support Toronto’s First Post Office, a museum and National Historic Site

From Historical Society:

On March 6, at magnificent St. Lawrence Hall, the Town of York Historical Society will present “Soldiers of Song,” a tribute to the sketch comedy/musical troupe The Dumbells.

Monty PythonWayne and ShusterSCTV and Saturday Night Live owe a lot to The Dumbells, who are considered the pioneers of sketch comedy. Formed by members of the Canadian army’s Third Division—and named for the red dumbbell in the Division’s emblem—The Dumbells bolstered troop morale during the First World War with live “concert parties” featuring irreverent humour that often skewered senior officers and the military system itself.

The Dumbells’ popularity was not limited to troop shows along the trenches. These Canadian soldier-entertainers also managed a run in London’s West End, and became the first-ever Canadian production to score a hit on Broadway. Touring the nation for some twelve years after the war, The Dumbells became a household name in Canada.

The Dumbells’ journey from Vimy to Vaudeville is celebrated in this new musical play by award-winning author and two-time Juno-Award-nominee Jason Wilson. In this highly entertaining show, Wilson is joined by Canadian storyteller Lorne Brown, actors Jim Armstrong and Andrew Knowlton, and Wilson’s own era-appropriate band.

Since 2005, the Town of York Historical Society has been observing Toronto’s birthday on March 6th with a show that both celebrates the history of this great city and raises funds for Toronto’s First Post Office, a museum and National Historic Site. This year’s choice of “Soldiers of Song” is in recognition of the 100th anniversary of World War One.

Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased online at http:/www.cabinmedia.ca/tickets/tickets/22, or in person at Toronto’s First Post Office, 260 Adelaide Street East, 416-865-1833,

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One comment

  1. Well worth celebrating! The future is ours, with a bold confident vision of our future, enacted with competent strong, leadership!