Imperial Room
Encyclopedia
The 500 seat Imperial Room is a major events venue at the Royal York Hotel
in Toronto, Canada. The hall is located on the Lobby level of the hotel and has hosted major events, such as addresses to the Empire Club of Canada
, but was more important historically as one of the most famous nightclubs in the country.
It became famous due to Canadian impresario and orchestra leader, Moxie Whitney. The Moxie Whitney Orchestra played in the Imperial Room continuously from 1948 to 1972, with the exception of 12 months during a Royal York Hotel strike, 1960/61, when he and his orchestra played the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Honolulu.
Moxie Whitney also booked all talent for Canadian Pacific Hotels during most of that period. He brought the greatest entertainers in the world to the Imperial Room. He is credited with making stars out of Anne Murray, Rich Little and Doug Henning. Those who remember the Imperial Room say it was the greatest nightclub this country has ever seen, or likely ever will.
By the early '70s entertainment styles had changes and tv had changed viewing habits. Moxie could not come to agreement with CP and they mutually agreed to not renew his contract.
Gino Empry took over the booking of the room in 1972. Although a great agent, even he could not regain the room's former glory. Vegas style shows were brought in, along with Broadway style musicals. Attendance declined. Eventually it closed as a showroom and today it is used for functions and has been restored to its former glory.
Prior to renovations in the 1990s, and from its opening date, the Imperial Room was one of the most famous nightclubs in Canada. Situated on a north-south axis, visitors were welcomed into the room by legendary showbusiness maitre'd Louis Jenetta, famous for refusing Bob Dylan
entrance because he wasn't wearing a tie; and booking agent, Gino Empry, manager of Tony Bennett
for 12 years.
Descending a small flight of stairs into a large rectangular sunken area, round tables were waited upon by dozens of waiters and serving staff. Behind brass rails less important tables viewed the shows. An overly small rectangular stage to the north, with scarce elevation, hosted the grandest international and Hollywood stars, as well as big bands before a tiny pine-wood dancefloor.
The most famous legendary performances by popular American entertainers included: Marlene Dietrich
and her farewell tour, the last performances of Johnny Hodges
with the Duke Ellington
, Count Basie
, Woody Herman
, Pearl Bailey
, Eartha Kitt
, Peggy Lee
, and the first appearances doing comedic impressions in 1982 of future Canadian star, Jim Carrey
.
The circuit of grand nightclubs in Canada also included those at railway hotels such as: Chateau Lake Louise, Hotel Saskatchewan, Banff Springs, the Brant Inn in Burlington, Ont., the Savarin Tavern, and the Elmwood Casino in Windsor Ontario. The Imperial Room was always seen as the premiere of these.
Fairmont Royal York
The Fairmont Royal York Hotel, formerly the Royal York Hotel and still often so called, is a large and historic hotel in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, at 100 Front Street West. Opened on June 11, 1929, the Royal York was designed by Ross and Macdonald and built by the Canadian Pacific Railway...
in Toronto, Canada. The hall is located on the Lobby level of the hotel and has hosted major events, such as addresses to the Empire Club of Canada
Empire Club of Canada
The Empire Club of Canada is a Canadian speakers' forum. Established in 1903, the Empire Club has provided a forum for over 3,500 speakers.Through a variety of presentation formats, the Empire Club invites local, national and international leaders and other change-agents to address the topical...
, but was more important historically as one of the most famous nightclubs in the country.
It became famous due to Canadian impresario and orchestra leader, Moxie Whitney. The Moxie Whitney Orchestra played in the Imperial Room continuously from 1948 to 1972, with the exception of 12 months during a Royal York Hotel strike, 1960/61, when he and his orchestra played the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Honolulu.
Moxie Whitney also booked all talent for Canadian Pacific Hotels during most of that period. He brought the greatest entertainers in the world to the Imperial Room. He is credited with making stars out of Anne Murray, Rich Little and Doug Henning. Those who remember the Imperial Room say it was the greatest nightclub this country has ever seen, or likely ever will.
By the early '70s entertainment styles had changes and tv had changed viewing habits. Moxie could not come to agreement with CP and they mutually agreed to not renew his contract.
Gino Empry took over the booking of the room in 1972. Although a great agent, even he could not regain the room's former glory. Vegas style shows were brought in, along with Broadway style musicals. Attendance declined. Eventually it closed as a showroom and today it is used for functions and has been restored to its former glory.
Prior to renovations in the 1990s, and from its opening date, the Imperial Room was one of the most famous nightclubs in Canada. Situated on a north-south axis, visitors were welcomed into the room by legendary showbusiness maitre'd Louis Jenetta, famous for refusing Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
entrance because he wasn't wearing a tie; and booking agent, Gino Empry, manager of Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett is an American singer of popular music, standards, show tunes, and jazz....
for 12 years.
Descending a small flight of stairs into a large rectangular sunken area, round tables were waited upon by dozens of waiters and serving staff. Behind brass rails less important tables viewed the shows. An overly small rectangular stage to the north, with scarce elevation, hosted the grandest international and Hollywood stars, as well as big bands before a tiny pine-wood dancefloor.
The most famous legendary performances by popular American entertainers included: Marlene Dietrich
Marlene Dietrich
Marlene Dietrich was a German-American actress and singer.Dietrich remained popular throughout her long career by continually re-inventing herself, professionally and characteristically. In the Berlin of the 1920s, she acted on the stage and in silent films...
and her farewell tour, the last performances of Johnny Hodges
Johnny Hodges
John Cornelius "Johnny" Hodges was an American alto saxophonist, best known for his solo work with Duke Ellington's big band. He played lead alto in the saxophone section for many years, except the period between 1932–1946 when Otto Hardwick generally played first chair...
with the Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
, Count Basie
Count Basie
William "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Basie led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years...
, Woody Herman
Woody Herman
Woodrow Charles Herman , known as Woody Herman, was an American jazz clarinetist, alto and soprano saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading various groups called "The Herd," Herman was one of the most popular of the 1930s and '40s bandleaders...
, Pearl Bailey
Pearl Bailey
Pearl Mae Bailey was an American actress and singer. After appearing in vaudeville, she made her Broadway debut in St. Louis Woman in 1946. She won a Tony Award for the title role in the all-black production of Hello, Dolly! in 1968...
, Eartha Kitt
Eartha Kitt
Eartha Mae Kitt was an American singer, actress, and cabaret star. She was perhaps best known for her highly distinctive singing style and her 1953 hit recordings of "C'est Si Bon" and the enduring Christmas novelty smash "Santa Baby." Orson Welles once called her the "most exciting woman in the...
, Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress in a career spanning six decades. From her beginning as a vocalist on local radio to singing with Benny Goodman's big band, she forged a sophisticated persona, evolving into a multi-faceted artist and...
, and the first appearances doing comedic impressions in 1982 of future Canadian star, Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey
James Eugene "Jim" Carrey is a Canadian-American actor and comedian. He has received two Golden Globe Awards and has also been nominated on four occasions. Carrey began comedy in 1979, performing at Yuk Yuk's in Toronto, Ontario...
.
The circuit of grand nightclubs in Canada also included those at railway hotels such as: Chateau Lake Louise, Hotel Saskatchewan, Banff Springs, the Brant Inn in Burlington, Ont., the Savarin Tavern, and the Elmwood Casino in Windsor Ontario. The Imperial Room was always seen as the premiere of these.