A year before this date, The Who had played the CNE Coliseum on April 7, 1968 to 8,000 delirious fans, but The Rock Pile pulled off one of the greatest bookings in Rock and Roll history. The 24th of May is a long weekend holiday in Canada but not a holiday in the US. On this occasion The Rock Pile got The Who on a dead Monday night. They had just played two sold out nights at the Filmore East in New York City and they decided to come to Toronto for two more shows in one evening.
The Rock Pile held only 1500 people.
It was 'The Who Live at Leeds' in Toronto, and it was one of the loudest shows I've ever heard. They used the same amps on this stage that they would use in an arena!
As a time reference, The Who would play Woodstock three months later on August 16.
They would return to The CNE Coliseum in Toronto on October 14th.
The lighting on these photographs is minimal because there was just a lightshow for illumination.