Ed Mirvish
A Toronto legend who turned a chaotic bargain bazaar into a fortune and then spent it revitalizing the city's dying theatre district.
1914–2007 (age 93)·American-Canadian businessman·Birthday: July 24·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Ed Mirvish started with nothing, opening a tiny shop in 1948 with a simple, loud motto: 'Honest Ed's.' His discount store became a Toronto institution, a garish, neon-clad palace of chaos where everything was a deal. He mastered the art of promotional spectacle, filling newspapers with pun-filled ads and giving away turkeys at Christmas. But Mirvish's second act defined his legacy. In the 1960s, he bought the Royal Alexandra Theatre, a beautiful but bankrupt Edwardian playhouse. Against all advice, he restored it, then bought and saved London's Old Vic. He didn't stop there, building the modern Princess of Wales Theatre. His patronage didn't just save buildings; it created a destination, transforming a seedy stretch of King Street into a vibrant 'Entertainment District.' Mirvish was the quintessential self-made man who believed his wealth was meant to be shared, using his carnival barker's flair to sell culture to an entire city.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Ed was born in 1914, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ed Was Born
The biggest hits of 1914
Ed's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1914Born
World War I begins
President: Woodrow Wilson
1919Started school
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1927Became a teenager
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1930Could drive
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1932Could vote
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1935Turned 21
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1944Turned 30
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1954Turned 40
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1964Turned 50
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 60
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 70
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 80
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2007Died at 93
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
Key Achievements
- Built 'Honest Ed's' into a landmark Toronto discount store and tourist attraction from 1948 until its 2016 closure.
- Purchased and restored the historic Royal Alexandra Theatre in 1963, saving it from demolition.
- Built the state-of-the-art Princess of Wales Theatre in 1993, further anchoring Toronto's theatre district.
- Acquired and operated London's famed Old Vic theatre from 1982 to 1998, restoring its financial and artistic health.
Did You Know?
The iconic Honest Ed's store was covered in over 23,000 light bulbs and featured wildly humorous signage.
He was known for his annual Christmas turkey giveaway, handing out thousands of birds to the community.
Mirvish never finished high school and started his first business, a variety store, with $200 in savings.
He was made an Honorary Officer of the Order of Canada for his contributions to theatre and philanthropy.
“If you’re not happy, you’re not successful. If you’re happy, you are successful.”
