#76 “Taking our Geese to market”, Toronto, Ontario, 1910.

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“Taking our Geese to market”, Toronto, Ontario, 1910.

A playful bit of street theater unfolds in Toronto, Ontario, as three figures “take” two outrageously oversized geese to market in this 1910 scene. The birds dominate the frame with exaggerated bodies and outstretched wings, turning an everyday errand into a joke the camera can’t resist. Whether it was a prop, a parade gag, or simply a moment staged for laughs, the humor lands instantly—then and now.

Look closer and the details read like early-20th-century city life: bare trees, open ground, and simple work clothes that suggest a working day rather than a formal portrait. Each person appears to tug on a line as the giant geese lurch forward, creating a sense of motion and commotion. The handwritten caption, “Taking our Geese to market,” anchors the joke and gives the photo its folksy punchline.

Beyond the grin it provokes, the image is a reminder that historical Toronto wasn’t only about grand buildings and solemn occasions; it also had room for pranks, performance, and community amusement. For anyone interested in Toronto history, vintage Canadian photography, or the lighter side of 1910-era street scenes, this photograph offers a memorable snapshot of humor in the past. It’s the kind of oddball visual that sticks with you—part local history, part comic invention, all charm.