From an old brochure, likely early 1960’s.
- Yes, the finest in Motor Hotel facilities now comes to Windsor –
with complete individually controlled heated and air conditioned
rooms, Ever-so-convenient – offering to each and every guest – For
short or extended stays – the ultimate in comfort and pleasure! The
VISCOUNT Features 100 imaginatively decorated guest rooms, each
with private bath and shower, Free TV, 24 hour automatic telephone
service, extra length beds in all rooms and the rates are always good
news – because the are so sensibly low.
- The VISCOUNT MOTOR HOTEL has single, double, twin
and luxurious Studio Rooms, as well as one bedroom suites.
A few shots of the various rooms. I think the photographer kept taking the same bouquet from room, to room, to room…
- The large and spacious lobby invites you to enjoy all of
our facilities. Hotel service with Motel convenience. Same
day laundry and valet service, plus many other services
to insure your comfort.
I love the cigarette machine in the last photo.
That room divider is very cool. Think I bought cigarettes from that machine! Did they steal those flower arrangements from a church?
This seems to show the Viscount as a 2 story Motel, when was the accompanying tower built beside it. When I moved to Windsor in the early 1970s the Viscount Hotel with the more than 10 story tower was the most visible building as you came down Ouellette into the downtown area, I was very young and never stayed there but always had the idea it was a very high class place.
The y shaped concrete canopy over the drive way is classic early 60s and reminds of the decaying concrete structures in front of Essex Hall at the U of windsor
i remember going to the bar in the basement a couple times i don’t recall what it was called sawdust on the floor i think it had a country and western theme
Wow! The interior reminds of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
Where exactly was this?
Was the bar called the “Crazy Horse Saloon” ???
Wow does this bring back memories. I remember the hotel was still standing back in the early 1980’s when I was in high school. I think the hotel was closed by then though there were still businesses on the ground floor and a radio station on the top floor. It was the tallest building downtown back then and you could see it from Jackson Park.
@John – It was located near the current Hotel Dieu and the Bell Building on Goyeau. Refer to the link from a previous post.
http://internationalmetropolis.com/?p=526
Of course, located on the ground floor, north corner was Biffs Coffee Shop. Remeber going there as a kid in early 1970s and ordering a hamburger for 75 cents.
The Viscount was THE place to go, went there for my wedding night, and so many other “brides” there with their telltale corsage, it was THE place to go to celebrate any special occasion. Have no idea where they go now the Casino? Who knew then it would eventually disappear, like everything else in Windsor
from what i understand there was a construction flaw and supposedly it leaned to one side not entirely sure on this one ya that was it the crazy horse saloon boy that brings back memories it;s too bad that the present as well as past city councils let windsor turn into what it is now a former shell of a once great city
Are the control knobs on some of the night stands for a radio or vibrating beds?
Jeff it certainly makes you wonder doesn’t it? put in your quarter and hold on heheheh!!
Those controls are for AM/FM radio consoles built into the night-stand. Commonly seen in motels/hotels before plastic clock radios took over.
When the Viscount was torn down the Windsor Star called it Windsor’s worst eyesore next to the now-demolished Holiday Inn. Remember the Phoenix Condominiums that were going to replace the Viscout? Two thirty-floor glass and brick towers that were being touted as the tallest buildings in Southwestern Ontario? Instead of condo towers we got an ugly parking lot that’s an even worse eyesore than the abandoned hotel.
We still to this day refer to that parking lot as “the Viscount lot” Just thought you’d like to know, and that parking lot is not an eyesore, its the dumpy looking apartment building next to it thats the eyesore.
I remeber these photos. They were shot by Leo Roach who, until 1967, was a resident photog at Ford. Check out the square perspective. These were taken by an 8×10 view camera on ektachrome in 1968. I worked for Leo when the Viscount brochure was filmed.
I remember these photos. They were shot by Leo Roach who, until 1967, was a resident photog at Ford. Check out the square perspective. These were taken by an 8×10 view camera on ektachrome in 1968. I worked for Leo when the Viscount brochure was filmed.
That’s where I took my first swimming lessons in the early 80’s