Elmwood Casino Explained

Casino:Elmwood Casino
Location:Windsor, Ontario
Address:2335 Dougall Avenue
Owner:Al Siegel

The Elmwood Casino, once known as the "Showspot of Canada,"[1] was a nightclub situated on Dougall Avenue in Windsor, Ontario.[2] [3] [4] It was located not far from Detroit, just across the Detroit River.[5]

History

The Elmwood Casino opened in the mid-1940s and was open for almost 30 years.[6] Due to financial problems, owner Al Siegel voluntarily filed for bankruptcy and closed the nightclub in December 1974.[7]

Elmwood was major venue during its heyday.[8] [9]

Trumpeter Harry Gozzard was a member of the Elmwood Casino orchestra during the latter part of his musical career.[10]

Celebrities like Frankie Avalon, Sammy Davis Jr. and Sonny and Cher played golf at the nearby Woodall Golf Centre when they wanted to relax during their time away from performing on stage at the Elmwood Casino.[11]

During Queen Elizabeth II’s Royal Tour of Canada in 1959, her entourage visited the Elmwood. [12]

The Brentwood Recovery Home subsequently opened (in 1984) in same building.[13]

Engagements

Sammy Davis Jr. performed at the Elmwood several times during his career. Whenever he did, he would rent out the entire sixth floor at the historic Gotham Hotel, as was mentioned in Earnest H. Borden's book Detroit’s Paradise Valley. BlackPast mentioned in an article that Davis was on Gotham's guest list of prominent African Americans.[14] The Gotham was known as a safe and upscale hotel for African Americans.[15] The last hit Sammy Davis Jr. ever had was the song Hello Detroit.[16]

Young comedian Bob Newhart's act didn't go over very well during a one-week engagement at the Elmwood. He stated in a Mister Kelly's interview in 2017 that he "never got a laugh." Even though his comedic performances didn't bring the house down, Newhart still managed to speak well of the Elmwood audiences, stating, "They were very polite...Canadians...very nice."[17]

On April 15, 2019, Cher made a surprise appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[18] Her primary reason for doing so was to promote The Cher Show.[19] Cher credits a three week engagement at Elmwood for turning around her career with Sonny; "the people hated us...I finally got so pissed off I turned around – like sometimes you do – and started to make the band laugh. And the band will laugh at anything." Soon after their Elmwood engagement, they took the new comedic concept to Vegas.[20]

Minsky's Burlesque performed at the Elmwood. A prom in particular that was related to a Minsky’s Burlesque performance at the Elmwood Casino was one that was intended to attend a Sammy Davis Jr. performance. But he had canceled and Minsky’s Burlesque revue performed instead, which was a dramatically different performance than a Sammy Davis Jr. one..[21]

The Lindsey-Sapphire Dancers were the in-house dancers at the Elmwood.[22] They, along with comic magician Don Allen, were substitute performers for Diahann Carroll when she was unable to fulfill her July 1967 engagement obligation because of the chaotic conditions that existed in the city of Detroit during the Detroit riot. Carroll was rescheduled to perform at a later date.[23] [24]

Notable performers

As an example of what performers were paid at the Elmwood, Olsen and Johnson received $10,000 per week during their engagement in 1952. That’s equivalent to approximately $115,000 in 2024.[25] Tom Jones, one of the final entertainers to perform in the Ambassador Room at the Elmwood, was paid $10,000 per show during his engagement in 1972. There was a $10 cover charge for that show.[26]

Entertainers who performed at the Elmwood.[27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] [39] [40] [41] [42] [43] [44] [45] [46] [47] [48] [49] [50] [51] [52] [53] [54] [55] [56] [57] [58] [59] [60] [61] [62] [63]

Jack Madden’s Ambassadors

Music for dancing and accompaniment for some of the performers at the Elmwood was supplied by The Ambassadors, the in-house orchestra that was led by the orchestra leader Jack Madden.[64] [65] [66] [67] During his four years of service in the Canadian army (World War II), Madden wrote, produced and directed Fun Fatigues. The show was presented to 200,000 Canadian troops stationed in France, The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. In addition to entertaining troops overseas during the war, Madden’s band also played at army bases across Canada. When the war ended he created his own orchestra.[68] Madden, originally from Toronto, married his wife Phyllis and moved to Windsor also after the war was over. He arrived in the Windsor area in 1935 with Rex Battle’s All Canadian Dance Band which was booked on Bob-Lo Island.

In 1938 Madden replaced Glenn Miller in the Ray Noble band when Miller left to start his own. Madden has also performed with Andre Kostelanetz, Paul Whiteman, Luigi Romanelli and Percy Faith.[69] During the summer of 1947, Madden performed at Chateau Lake Louise. Madden passed away in September 1990, at 77 years of age.[70]

Ed Nuccilli was the Elmwood’s orchestra leader from 1972 to 1974.[71]

Al Siegel

Al Siegel, owner of the Elmwood and cofounder of the now-defunct Windsor Raceway, was a pianist for Bee Palmer during the 1920s. They were married on March 3, 1921, in Davenport, Iowa, while Palmer was on a Vaudeville tour in the Midwest. The secret ceremony took place "at a judge’s office in the local Masonic Temple." Palmer was a singer and dancer who was sometimes credited as the creator of the shimmy dance.[72]

In October 1921, Siegel filed a $250,000 lawsuit against Jack Dempsey, the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1919 to 1926. Siegel claimed that Dempsey lured Palmer away while she was with Dempsey on the Orpheum Circuit.[73] Dempsey denied the accusation. Palmer and Siegel separated for a time over this controversy. They later made up in February 1922. The lawsuit was eventually dropped after their short separation. Palmer later divorced Siegel in 1928.[74] He soon afterward got involved with Ethel Merman. Siegel was "her coach and accompanist."[75]

Siegel was in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1927 as a performer. He was in the ensemble in Here’s Howe.[76] He was also in the ensemble in Happy Go Lucky.[77] Siegel was a part of at least three recordings in 1924. He played the piano during the making of those records.[78]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Elmwood Casino . 12 January 2023 . . . July 22, 1950.
  2. Web site: City of Jazz . . 15 January 2023.
  3. Web site: Elmwood Casino was located on Dougall Avenue in Windsor, Ont. . . 12 January 2023.
  4. News: What ever happened to...? Contest to measure memories. . 12 January 2023 . . July 3, 2012.
  5. Book: Hemmingsen . Piers . The Beatles in Canada: The Origins of Beatlemania! . 2016 . . 9781787590731 . 13 January 2024.
  6. News: What Did Sammy Davis Jr. Think? . 12 January 2023 . . April 3, 2020.
  7. News: Sanders . Russ . Goodbye old friend . 14 January 2023 . . June 17, 2015.
  8. News: Raskin . Danny . Many Years Of Detroit Visits Haven't Slowed Comedian Jack Carter . 13 January 2023 . . January 12, 1996.
  9. News: Famous Final Scenes . 12 January 2023 . . . February 9, 2013.
  10. News: Gozzard . George . One Of The Boys In The Band: Discovering My Dad . 20 October 2023 . . July 21, 2023.
  11. News: Kotsis . Julie . Woodall Golf Centre co-owner had a passion for the game and helping others . 12 January 2023 . . April 1, 2016.
  12. News: Gozzard . George . Guest column: Uncovering my father's most interesting life . 23 September 2023 . . September 8, 2023.
  13. Web site: Father Paul A. Charbonneau . . 12 January 2023.
  14. News: Stephens . Ronald J. . Gotham Hotel, Detroit, Michigan (1943-1963) . 16 January 2023 . . March 7, 2014.
  15. Book: Borden . Ernest H. . Detroit's Paradise Valley . 2003 . Arcadia . 0738531553 . 51 . 16 January 2023.
  16. News: Dellar . Fred . MOJO Time Machine: Sammy Davis Jr Strikes Candy Man Gold . 15 January 2023 . . September 6, 2022.
  17. News: Marienthal . David . That time Bob Newhart Was Bigger Than Rock and Roll . 6 January 2023 . . March 28, 2017.
  18. Web site: Singer and actor Cher restarted career in Windsor, Ont. with Sonny . . 6 January 2023.
  19. News: Savoie . Dan . Cher Discusses Windsor's Elmwood Casino on The Tonight Show . 6 January 2023 . 519magazine . April 16, 2019.
  20. Web site: Cher and The Cher Show Broadway Cast Share a Preview of the Broadway Musical . . 6 January 2023.
  21. News: Patteson . Jean . Memories Of Prom Night(Mares) . 12 January 2023 . . April 30, 1993.
  22. Web site: AGVA News, Volumes 9-14 . . 1959 . 18 December 2023.
  23. Book: Colling . Herb . Turning Points: The Detroit Riot of 1967 : a Canadian Perspective . 2003 . . 9781896219813 . 99 . 17 December 2023.
  24. Book: Wilson . Mary . Dreamgirl and Supreme Faith: My Life as a Supreme . 2000 . . 9781461660941 . 207 . 17 December 2023.
  25. News: Cut Rates Aid Ontario Nitery . 27 January 2024 . . June 28, 1952.
  26. Web site: Elmwood Casino . . 27 January 2024.
  27. News: Elmwood Hotel . 15 January 2023 . . April 2, 2020.
  28. Book: Schechter . Scott . The Liza Minnelli Scrapbook . 2004 . Kensington Publishing Corporation . 0806526114 . 163 . 6 January 2023.
  29. News: Cohen . Irwin . Glimpses of 50 Years Past . 12 January 2023 . . September 29, 2016.
  30. Book: Humphreys . Adrian . The Weasel . 2011 . Wiley . 978-0470952313 . 12 January 2023.
  31. News: Julie Budd To Play Elmwood Casino . 27 October 2023 . . July 1, 1972.
  32. News: Raskin . Danny . Danny Raskin: Taking a Trip Down Memory Lane . 16 December 2023 . . December 11, 2020.
  33. News: Talent Topics . 20 December 2023 . . February 27, 1961.
  34. News: U.S. Popular Recording Artists . 20 December 2023 . . December 25, 1971.
  35. News: Sanders . Tim . That was the year that was . 21 December 2023 . The Post Online . September 17, 2012.
  36. News: Night Club - Vaude Reviews . 1 January 2024 . . January 26, 1952.
  37. News: Louis Remembered...Baer-ly . 1 January 2024 . . June 29, 1962.
  38. News: Phil Silvers . 2 January 2024 . . 1964.
  39. Web site: The McGuire Sisters Setlist . Set list.fm . 3 January 2024.
  40. News: From The Music Capitals of the World . 11 January 2024 . . May 15, 1971.
  41. News: Hollywood . 11 January 2024 . . October 6, 1962.
  42. Web site: The Municipal Attorney . National Institute of Municipal Law Officers . 11 January 2024.
  43. Web site: Elmwood . City of Windsor . 11 January 2024.
  44. News: Earl Grant . 11 January 2024 . . May 7, 1966.
  45. News: Guest at Events in Metropolitan Detroit: The Magazine of Detroit Living . 11 January 2024 . Guest Publishing Company . 1964.
  46. Web site: Lena Horne . . 11 January 2024.
  47. Web site: The Chantones . . 14 January 2024.
  48. Web site: 1966 Press Photo Jack Jones Elmwood Casino jazz music . Historic Images . 14 January 2024.
  49. Web site: Nipsey Russell . The Concert Database . 14 January 2024.
  50. News: Thurston . Chuck . Nightclubs Announce Big Lineups for Fall . 21 January 2024 . . September 3, 1970.
  51. Web site: Oakley . Annie . The Theatre And Its People . Newspapers.com . 27 January 2024.
  52. News: Reves . Haviland F. . Night Club-Vaude Reviews . 27 January 2024 . . June 28, 1952.
  53. News: Sachs . Bill . Hocus-Pocus . 29 January 2024 . . November 29, 1952.
  54. News: Marilyn Maye to Open at the Elmwood Casino . 27 February 2024 . . May 3, 1968.
  55. News: Bob Horton at Elmwood . 27 February 2024 . . November 20, 1964.
  56. News: Raskin . Danny . Exotic, Delicious & Fun . 28 February 2024 . . June 29, 2017.
  57. News: Raskin . Danny . Seventh Anniversary . 28 February 2024 . . January 7, 2010.
  58. News: Israel Young Marrieds Plan Candlelight Ball . 28 February 2024 . . May 10, 1957.
  59. News: Raskin . Danny . Listening Post . 28 February 2024 . . July 10, 1964.
  60. News: $90,300 in Israel Bond Sales Announced at Detroit Pioneer Women's Luncheon . 28 February 2024 . . May 7, 1965.
  61. News: Joey Adams to Highlight 35th Anniversary Event Of Beth El Men's Club . 28 February 2024 . . October 29, 1954.
  62. Web site: Louis Armstrong . jazztourdatabase.com . 4 April 2024.
  63. Web site: Elmwood Casino – Part III . International Metropolis . 17 August 2007 . 10 April 2024.
  64. News: James Melton Featured At the Elmwood Casino . 12 January 2023 . . August 7, 1953.
  65. News: Windsor Gets Big Detroit Trade; Books U.S. Acts . 12 January 2023 . . January 26, 1952.
  66. News: Elmwood Is Newest Nightclub in Windsor . 14 January 2023 . . November 28, 1947.
  67. News: Jack Madden . 14 January 2023 . . June 10, 1966.
  68. News: New Features At Elmwood . . November 29, 1947.
  69. News: New Maestro . . November 15, 1947.
  70. News: Stewart . Mark . Elmwood Casino 'fill-in' bandleader dies at 77 . 25 January 2023 . . September 18, 1990.
  71. News: Latimer . Charles L. . Keeping the faith . 30 January 2024 . . August 10, 2005.
  72. Web site: Bee Palmer . September 2020 . 16 December 2023.
  73. Web site: Garrick . David . Bee Palmer . Jazz Age 1920s . 14 January 2024.
  74. Book: Gottlieb . RoBert . Reading Jazz: A Gathering of Autobiography, Reportage, and Criticism from 1919 to Now . 19 February 2014 . . 9780307797278 . 81 . 14 January 2024.
  75. Book: Gottlieb . Robert . Reading Jazz: A Gathering of Autobiography, Reportage, and Criticism from 1919 to Now . 2014 . . 9780307797278 . 81 . 16 December 2023.
  76. Web site: Al Siegel . . 30 December 2023.
  77. Web site: Al Siegel . . 29 December 2023.
  78. Web site: Al Siegel's Orchestra . The Syncopated Times . September 2020 . 30 December 2023.

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