has Good morning baltimore been stuck in your head since 2007?

By: V. Rhodes

Top 5 Hairspary filming location in Toronto

A bit of Hairspray history for those of you who are new. Hairspray (2007) is a musical comedy that follows 1960’s Baltimore teen, Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky), as she goes after her dream: dancing on the Corny Collins Show. The Broadway musical, Hairspray (musical), was inspired by the movie Hairspray (1988). The original movie, Hairspray (1988), wasn’t actually a musical at all. Hairspray (1988) was adapted for Broadway, and then re-adpated from Broadway back to the big screen as the musical: Hairspray (2007)! 

In the early 2000’s, movie musicals were having a resurgence! With the gained Oscar prestige and box office profits Chicago (2002) made, Hollywood was determined to cash in on the musical genre. There were dozens of Broadway shows being ripped straight from the stage, and plasters all over our screens! Including: The Phantom of the Opera (2004), The Producers (2005), Dreamgirls (2006), Hairspray (2007), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007), and Mamma Mia! (2008). Not to mention the musical that launched a thousand haircuts High School Musical (2006).

In summary, if you (like myself) were a theatre kid, this was the PINNACLE of your childhood. And Hairspray (2007) fell right in the middle of it.

It might come as a surprise to you, but Baltimore is not in Canada. So then why was Hairspray filmed in Toronto? Money, baby!  It’s a lot cheaper to film movies in Canadian city centers, then it is to film in America. Toronto specifically is a super malleable city and Hollywood has noticed. This is why even a big musical number called ‘Good Morning, Baltimore!’, depicts characters running through the streets of Toronto. 

And of course, we found those streets! 

#1

Hardy Har Hut Joke Shop

&

the Turnblad House

Gale’s Snack Bar

539 Eastern Ave, Toronto, ON M4M 1C6

Mr. Turnblad’s joke shop is featured a few times throughout the movie. In addition to the family living above Hardy Har Hut, quite a few musical numbers are filmed here including: ‘Welcome to the Sixties’, ‘Big Blond and Beautiful (Reprise)’, and ‘Good Morning Baltimore’. 

If you’re into places frozen in time, then Gale’s is absolutely worth checking out. Almost everything inside is preserved from its opening in the 1950’s. 

Gale’s Snack Bar is known for it’s good eats and cheap menu. As this 2009 blogTO article puts it: “Generous also pretty much describes the menu. The most expensive thing on it is $3.00.” Although the price might have gone up a few bucks since then, Gale’s is still the cheapest diner in Toronto.

#2

GOOD MORNING BALTIMORE!

Dundas west, roncesvalles, toronto

747 TraveL: Address: 2182 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M6R 1X3

‘Good Morning Baltimore’ is the most iconic song from Hairspray, and is honestly one of the most iconic songs in musical theatre. Period. If you think Hairspray, this is probably what you remember first. In this opening number, Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) shows the audience her life as a 1960’s Baltimore teen. Her ever present optimum is rearing as she wishes everyone a good morning on her way to school. 

This whole stretch of Dundas St W, Toronto was converted and made to look like it really was the 1960’s. Although most of the store fonts only needed minor theming, some of the buildings had to have a whole fake front added so they didn't look modern and out of place. You can pick out quite a few Dundas spots in this opening sequence, specifically the gas station and the travel agency.

#3

Patterson Park High School

Lord Lansdowne Public School

33 Robert St, Toronto, ON M5S 2K2

The end of ‘Good Morning, Baltimore’ shows Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) hitching a ride on a semi truck to school. The sequence ends with her standing right in front of Lord Lansdowne Public School, arms wide, giving us that big Broadway finish!

#4

mr. pinky’s hefty hideaway

Starbucks

2201 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M6R 1X5

Surprise, there’s no such thing as Mr. Pinky’s Hefty Hideaway, but you can visit this building! Right at the intersection of Dundas St W and Roncesvalles Avenue, you’ll find a beautiful old bank that was built sometime between 1880-1910. It has since been converted into a giant Starbucks. (Not that anyone needs to do more advertising for Starbucks.)

Because of the way this building sits on a triangular lot, the large surrounding roadways lend themselves to movie productions. In addition to part of ‘Good Morning Baltimore’ being filmed at this intersection, the big dance choreography at the end of ‘Welcome to the Sixties’ was filmed outside here as well.

#5

THE LAKEVIEW RESTAURANT

THE LAKEVIEW RESTAURANT

1132 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1X2

This 1930’s diner is another great ‘frozen in time’ location. The Lakeview is at the North East corner of Toronto’s famous Trinity Bellwood’s park. If you have the time, it’s worth spending the day in this area. The park itself is fantastic, but also all the bars, shops and ice cream along Ossington are incredible. I’ve eaten at The Lakeview a bunch of times, even before starting this blog. It’s the perfect spot if you're craving diner classics like grilled cheese and all day breakfast. 

Lakeview is a very popular diner to film at. You might recognize it from movies like The Shape of Water (2017), Cocktail (1988) and The Boondock Saints (1999). You can see the full list of movies cataloged on their website.

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Image Credit:

All Hairspray (2007) images were screen-grabbed directly from Netflix. All rights reserved to Ingenious Media and Netflix. All photos were taken by author unless otherwise noted below.

• 1. Gale’s Snack Bar: Google Street View

• 3. Lord Landsdowne Public School: Google Street View

• 4. Hefty Hideaway: The Toronto Star

References:

• Lost Toronto

• Kaki, Johor. "Cheapest Restaurant in Toronto."

• Frank. “Gale’s Snack Bar.” blogTO, 2 March, 2009.

• Ouzounian, Richard. “T.O. shows its inner Baltimore.” Toronto Star, 24 July, 2007.