Make A Date… For The Time Of Your Life – Elmwood Part I
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="400px" width="1000px" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
This brochure dates to about c. 1955, upon the opening of the Motor Hotel.
Not only were they the LARGEST, but they were also the GAYEST supper club in Canada.
This was the line up of the main guys in charge of the Elmwood. I wonder if any of them are still around? I bet they could tell some stories…
These rooms were once a first class destination, now they are home to recovering addicts.
The dining/show room and bars were well known on the entertainment circuit. It seems like back then everyone had an Imperial Room.
Tomorrow – More on the Elmwood –
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Last night on TLC they had a show on called Disaster of the 20th century, It showed the gas explostion at The Metropolitan Store downtown Windsor This happened around 1960. Does anyone have any pictures of this? and what did they do with the building after? Also did anyone die? I fell asleep during the comercial.
Yes Mary, 11 people were killed. http://internationalmetropolis.com/?p=378
I videotaped this segment when it first ran - very good documentary. Mary you can find more pictures by just Googling the topic "Metropolitan Stores" "Explosion" etc. There is a bit about it on Windsor Fire Dept.'s website as well. But Google Images will get you some results too.
both my parents worked at the elmwood. it's where they met actually i believe.
Totally off topic I know, but is anyone going to the DRIC open houses happening today and tomorrow? I'd love to hear people's impressions of these 'extended, landscaped' overpasses they are proposing. I'm out of town right now so I can't make it.
i have found a photo of my grandparents at the elmwood casino "Canada's Largest & Gayest Supper Club". It has a cartoon drawing on it, along with an autograph i cannot read, it dates to 12/1952. is there anyway to find out who was entertaining at the club at that time?
About 18 years ago I worked in the home of one of the band leaders from the Elmwood.He was about 80 at the time.He talked Sammy, Frank and Dean.
My father (Jack Madden) was the orchestra leader at the Elmwood for 19 years. During his time he played with all of the big named stars that appeared at the Elmwood Casino. Among them were Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Liberace, Jimmy Durante, Earl Grant and numerous others. One evening at our home in Victoria, my father sat with us and made a list of stars that appeared with him at the Elmwood. We filled page after page of names and with each he had a little story about his memory with them. It made for an interesting childhood as many of these stars would visit our house when they appeared at the casino. One particular memory was Sammy Davis playing golf with my father and brother (then around 11 or 12) at Roseland Golf Club. Sammy told my brother that if he wanted to get any older, not to keep beating him at golf.
comment #8 should have been by Michele LeBoeuf (nee Madden)
my husband and I have two mermaids that were from the old elmwood casino, we got them from his mom who now has passed away.. we are trying to get history on them and how old they are, can anyone help us?