1996.28

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Details

ID Number

1996.28

Category

T&E For Materials

Sub-category

food service T&E

Item Name

plate

Materials

clay, porcelain

Measurements

overall: 9 in x 9 in

Description

almost bowl-like in appearance (it's a shallow bowl); light blue edge with thin yellow line around the interior; "Elmwood" scrawled on ridge in black

History

"During the forties through the early seventies, Windsor and the Elmwood Casino were known as the entertainment Capital of Canada. The Elmwood was a clapboard roadhouse on Dougall Ave. on the outskirts of Windsor built during the thirties and which was burned down during the second world war. Bull Fielding along with others rebuilt Elmwood into a super nightclub offering top entertainers and bands from the United States. Some of the acts booked into the club over the years were George Jessel, Liberace, Gypsy Rose Lee, Jan Murray, Nelson Eddy, Jimmy Durante, Mickey Rooney, Pat O'Brien, Milton Berle, Paul Anka, Wayne Newton, Englebert Humperdinck along with many of the top bands of the era such as Tommy Dorsey, Xavier Cugat, Louis Armstrong. The chandeliered Ambassador dining room held over 100 persons and soon became an internationally acclaimed showcase of the stars. In 1950 a sirloin steak was $3.25, whitefish $1.75, a bottle of beer 55 cents and a mixed drink $1.10. Nothing in the central, or northern part of the US was comparable. With the ever increasing cost of booking entertainers, not only at the Elmwood but also in the US, large night clubs were closing and the Elmwood was no different. One of the last acts at the ambassador room in 1972 was Tom Jones who received $10,000 a show, and had a cover charge of $10.00. A dinner theatre was carried on for a few years but by 1974 the Elmwood filed for bankruptcy and remained closed until 1981 when the Brentwood Recovery Home for Alcoholics took possession of the once famous night club."

Collection Name

Museum Windsor

Subject (Fre)

Y

Subjects

Casinos subject

Elmwood Casino place

Hotels / Hôtels subject

Prohibition subject