This postcard dates to the late 1940’s and shows the original building before additions.
The building today.
A postcard from the late 1950’s of the entire complex. Like taken after the motel was built in 1956.
A view of the lobby of the motel building. Classic 1950’s design, and hard to see/appreciate from speeding by on Dougall Ave.
A flyer from 1956 advertising an upcoming show with Roberta Sherwood.
A ticket to see Tom Jones from 1972. Note the ticket states “Detroit Time”, as back then, Daylight Savings Time wasn’t always consistent, so there could be an hour difference between Windsor and Detroit.
Another flyer from 1956, showing a partial list of some the entetainment to appear so far, and upcoming shows.
The interior of the brochure showing some interior shots.
Here’s a plan from February 6, 1964 that was never realized:
MOTEL PLANS $425,000 EXPANSION
A $425,000 expansion to the Elmwood Motor Hotel complex to provide. 20,000 square feet of office space and an additional 20 motel units has been announced. Construction is to start soon on the two-storey, 200,000 square foot office building to be located in front of the present motel entrance.
Work is due to start at the same time on construction of 20 motel units, adjoining the last motel section, erected two years
ago. The $200,000 addition is scheduled for completion by June. An additional 18 motel units will be added at a later date, boosting the total number to 105.The office building, estimated at $205,000, will be located on the southern edge of the Elmwood property. This building of glass and face brick, is designed to influence American businesses as well as companies in Montreal and Toronto to locate branch facilities in Windsor.
Parking facilities will be at the rear of the building, and a 100-car lot for visitors in front. The 10-acre site outside the city limits will be expanded into a $3,000,000 complex of business, entertainment and lodging facilities, the first such project in North America.
The engineering firm of Giffels Associates of Windsor. Leasing for the office building will be handled Through Ivan Thrasher, president of Ivan W. Thrasher Realty Ltd.
The Elmwood complex is owned by Al Siegel, a Toronto businessman, who purchased the property 18 years ago when it was occupied by an old hotel and Casino operation. He rebuilt the premises and the last major addition and remodeling of the supper club eight years ago brought its value up to $1,500,000. The motel constructed seven years ago, is valued at $1,000,000 before the current addition.
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What a nice surprise to find that there is a Web site devoted to the Elmwood. I knew nothing about the place until last weekend when I bought a 1940s vintage postcard at a collectors show The fold-out card features the same photo of the Elmwood in the 40s that I see on this page.
On a whim I went online to see if the place still exists and I was delighted to find all this inromation.
"Nice Post - adding this to RSS now ^^
About your design, which theme is being used at the moment? I know someone who would to know if it's a free one."
My late father in law - Jack Madden, was the orchestra leader at the Elmwood Casino. He was hired in 1947 for a 2 week engagement and stayed for 19 years. During his reign he played with numerous big name stars ranging from Louis Armstron, Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis, Tom Jones, Jimmy Durnate, Tony Bennett, Liberace and numerous other personalities. The nightclub scene began to fail when performing stars began to price themselves out of business. Ten fold increases were not out of line, for example Sammy Davis played the Elmwood with the Will Mastin Trio for $800. a week in the fifties. He was now earning over $10,000 a show at the death of the Elmwood. Tom Jones played one of the last shows in 1973 where he too commanded $10,000. per night.
It is sad to see the disappearance of the big bands and shows at places such as the Elmwood.
Just a thank you for this web-site. I was not fortunate enough to attend any shows, but was aware of it, and love to read about how good Windsor entertainment used to be. There is an email message going around about the history of Windsor, and it has prices and souvenirs of the Elmwood at the end of the photos. That is what prompted my web 'search'.
Thanks again 'for the memories'.
Pat
im glad this web site is here. my late mother Anna Busko worked in the kitchen during the 1960s, her boss in the kitchen was Chef Edward. after shows, my mother of polish descent and oblivious to the stars of that time was always helpful to the stars after the show. Sammy Davis Jr. Jimmy Durante and others would stroll to the kitchen for an after performance snack. My mom didnt know these people or who they were, just an ordinary kitchen helper. she later found out about the notoriety of these stars. to her it was, oh well, nice person. but when she saw them later on network T V shed always reflect on the memories of meeting them. she was proud to work at the elmwood casino. she always took pride in her job there. she would get upset if at the train tracks by the elmwood the train would hold her up and make her worry being late for work.. she was NEVER late. my mom gaves me a tour of the elmwood when she was working there. she was so proud to show it off. she showed me everything right down to the kitchen and glasses behind the bar that she polished. it seemed like a special place. thank you mama for the memories.
in adiition to what i said about my late mom, the elmwood casino was a great place to work for her and her talents were used to make it an even more special place. the elmwood casino was special to work at and she always took pride in that. chef edward would have leftover steaks at the end of the night. my mom brought them home. they were not wasted. we ate them. best steaks in windsor. even though it was a minimum wage paying job, my mom loved the elmwood casino for the opportunity they gave her. the elmwood casino is gone, but the memories live on forever.
In the late 70's and early 80's we used to flock to the Elmwood Casino after the Detroit clubs closed at 2:00 AM. The Elmwood would not open until 1:30 AM and closed at 6 or 7 AM. This was the disco era and we would dance until morning.
My Mother in Law rescued two big mermaids from the Elmwood Casino when it was being converted into what is now Brentwood. Husband said From what he was told his mother found them barely hanging onto the wall around a bar somewhere in the old Elmwood. that’s all we know. If anyone has any information on these or how old they are we really would like to know. Thank you, any information would be great.
I took over as lightman/soundman after my uncle retired. I worked with him from 1965-70 and then took over 1970-73. The reason the Elmwood closed was because the acts decided to bring their own musicians and family along which ended up costing up to $100,000 a week.
The Elmwood couldn't support this. Al Siegel decided to try dinner theater for a couple years using a New York production company that went OK but he had spent a ton of money on the Race track deal and he was getting older so he just pulled out. Al Siegel will always be remembered as a huge contributor of making Windsor known to the rest of the World. The sad note is that very few people are still alive who worked there. I had the pleasure of spending a lot time with all the stars and getting to know them away from the spotlights.
I have a million memories of the Elmwood and I often think about them when I need to smile.
I was wondering if anyone would remember a singer that performed there in the 40's or 50's. Her name was Myrna Atkinson or she might have gone by Myrna Wilson.