Question for the old guard

[genintoronto]

I'm curious to know about the history of the escort scene in TO. Particularly as it relates to how TO became more agency-centric than other cities, such as Vancouver or Ottawa for instance.

Anyone who's been around for long enough care to share their knowledge of the history and developments of the escort scene in TO?

 

[Big Sleazy]

The Internet and it's safer than working the streets.

BS

 

[mb12ca]

Probably with the influx of immigrants from all over the globe, the agency scene would be more likely to develop than in smaller, less diverse cities. Russian immigrant lands in Toronto, has contacts back home and is without decent work, so he sets up an agency and brings over what the market wants and currently doesn't offer. Same with chinese immigrants etc.

 

[benito]

I can tell you how it was from 1976 on. There were four ways I knew of to get an escort. There was the street scene which was always iffy. There was the hotel bar scene which I used to use often. I would sit nursing a drink and look at the girls drinking alone. If they made agressive eye contact I would ask them if they were working. With the agressive eye contact they always were. There were ads in the classifieds of the Toronto Sun, but they never seemed to pan out for me. Then there were ads in the Yellow Pages. These almost always involved agencies because they were the only ones who could advertise for a year and be pretty sure to be in business the whole time. I used these fairly often too and found the service generally acceptable. I think the yellow pages were one of the reasons agencies worked well.

 

[great bear]

Toronto Life at one time ran adds for upscale escorts. The Yellow Pages were filled with adds but they were all the same person with different advertisements. The Star ran some adds followed in later years by the TO Sun. There was quite a bit of "word of mouth" advertising, plus the bar scene especially at the Four Seasons, King Eddy Royal York. Once the internet hit the scene everything changed. Cheers GB

 

[teched]

There was also a free magazine in the 80's with lots of ad's. I think it was called "NOW". I used to pick one up at the train station every time I came into town. Like the Sun, it was hit and miss.

 

[underice]

The "Warwick".For thoses who remember.

 

[Rockslinger]

My friend told me about the "ladies who sat in the back at Filmores".

 

[Aardvark154]

It doesn't answer your question, but Montreal is at least as Agency centered as Toronto, perhaps more so.

 

[genintoronto]

It doesn't answer your question, but Montreal is at least as Agency centered as Toronto, perhaps more so.

I know. And I'm wondering where the difference between Mtl-TO and Vancouver-Ottawa comes from.

For the records guys, I am old enough to know that before Internet, people had to look elsewhere for services and use other means of communication. So far, you all fail at answering the question properly.

 

[doggee_01]

if you go back in time the very best in toronto were at AAA and it was run to perfection.
and there was hollywood and select close but not #1 but after that you were really shooting in the dark
since then a few people caught on there is money in toronto and if you run it right you will be very very popular

 

[danmand]

In the beginning there were the yellow pages, NOW newspaper and some phone numbers that carried advertisements. Not easy.

One of the first agencies to get an internet page was Select, which unfortunate was a terrible hit and miss operation.

The first reliable agency, and the agency that in my opinion set the standard for Toronto was EC (Executive Choice), run by Peter and someone else. Sara from Roommates started out as the phonegal there. EC had it's home on St Joseph and Bay street.

 

[Rockslinger]

In the beginning, were all agencies outcalls?

 

[afterhours]

I can tell you how it was from 1976 on..... There was the hotel bar scene which I used to use often. I would sit nursing a drink and look at the girls drinking alone. If they made agressive eye contact I would ask them if they were working. With the agressive eye contact they always were.

that is perfect

 

[Rockslinger]

I can tell you how it was from 1976 on.

How much was wambo minki in 1976? I'll guess $30.
Did you do bareback? I'll guess yes.