Times-Advocate, 1981-05-13, Page 19Our Per
Juliette
the Hance maters
Joan Fairfax with Bill Schlegel and Cap' A.G. Kenyon.
This page courtesy of
Earl Heywood Group of CKNX
ONTARIO HARNESS HORSEMEN'S ASSOCIATION
2970 LAKESHORE BLVD. W.
TORONTO, ONTARIO
Page 4
Music and memories at Lakeview Casino
Grand Bend hosted many big bands
The brass plaque in honour
of Ef'ie Mcllroy reads: "In
tribute to W. Eric Mcllroy,
whose Lakeview Casino
brought Joy and Music to
thousands."
Indeed, thousands must
haveenjoyed the music and
dancing at Lakeview Casino.
But still more thousands
provided that music at
Grand Bend.
Geroge Eccleston's first
move, after he purchased
the lake front property in
Grand Bend was to erect a
dance hall. The hall served
dancers in the summers of
1917 and 1918, until the
casino opened in 1919.
Then the old dance hall
served as a picnic place,
with the old sand ball dia-
mond next door. Many will
remember the annual
"Ford" picnic, which was
held on the beach for anyone
who owned Ford cars. Fami-
ly reunions and Sunday
School picnics were often
held next to the new Casino.
Among the early bands
hired by the Ecclestons were
McKinney's Cotton Pickers
and McKinney's Chocolate
Dandies — two all black
big bands.
Mrs. Eccleston was also
proud to say that she was the
first person to pay the Lom-
bardo brothers for their
music.
The four piece orchestra
consisting of Guy, Liebert,
Carmen and Victor, along
with pianist Myrtle Hicks
played for the 1919 opening
of the Lakeview Casino.
They were given $10 for their
music at that grand opening
night.
Many bands played at that
casino throughout the twen-
ties. Names include Emer-
son Gill from the United
States, and Ted Burt's Nine
Royal Collegians.
In 1934, Brian Farnon and
his Boys spent the summer
at the Lakeview Casino. Bob
Farnon went on to be part of
the Happy Gang, and now is
with the BBC radio in Great
Britain. Also in 1934, a
political rally was adver-
tised with Mr. Hepburn and
the Liberal leader, as well as
nine place orchestras from
Hamilton and London.
In 1935, Gene Fritzley's
orchestra provided music
for the Gala Day
celebrations. A parade
started off the events for the
Gala Day, at 11:30 a.m.
Beach -O -Pines took the
prize for the most original
float. with a truck decorated
with sand and pines. Mrs..
Eccleston won for the most
beautiful float, and Eric
Mcllroy took the prize for
the best clown costume —
"a lady of picturesque
design hunting for a
husband", according to an
newspaper report of the day.
A game of donkey baseball
was played on the beach, and
the Exeter band was in
attendance. Parachute jum-
ping was also part of the
entertainment.
After the Mcllroys
purchased the casino in 1937,
a very popular band was
Jimmy Namaro and his 12
piece orchestra. Mrs.
Mcllroy remembers him as
a "real showman". He
played an xylophone, and for
the first act, would wear
black tie and tails.
During intermission
Namaro would change into
an all white suit, to the
delight of the audience.
Advertisements list
Namaro as coming to Grand
Bend "direct from the
swanky Club Esquire,
Toronto."
In 1938 Namaro played for
a Sunday midnight to 3:00
a.m. dance.
In 1939 "TIp" Tipping
played for the summer. In
The beautiful waxed dance floor of Lakeview Casino.
BIRCH BARK TRAILER PARK
Opening May 15
Start your Camping
Season with us
Spend the Long Weekend
and every weekend at
BIRCH BARK TRAILER PARK
"Family Camping"
"Propane Fill -Ups"
3 miles west of Dashwood on Hwy 83
RESERVATIONS ACCEPTED 238-8256
Monica Masse o t.
Joseph was one of many
singers at beach concerts.
1940. Tip Tipping and his
Cascade Rhythm Orchestra
played a Sunday concert,
with the entire proceeds
donated to the Canadian War
Time Board.
In 1941, Tipping was back
for a benefit concert,with
the proceeds going to the Ex-
eter Branch of the Canadian
Red Cross.
In 1942, the 12 piece
Modernaires played in a con-
cert with the proceeds again
going to the War Time
board. Fred Davis, of Front
Page Challenge, played
trumpet with the Moder-
naires, and they returned to
Lakeview Casino several
times. At the benefit con-
cert, Harry Hoffman of
Dashwood gave a vocal
selection, with Gertrude
Hoffman accompanying him
on the piano.
A second variety concert
was held during the
aummer of '42 with the
Modernaires again playing.
This time proceeds went to
the Canadian Red Cross
British Bomb Victims Fund.
• In 1943 a vaudeville show
was held at the casino in aid
of the Bomb Victims Fund.
Stan Patton's orchestra
provided the music.
In 1947. a variety of big
names visited Lakeview
Casino. Scotty McLaughlin
and his orchestra, Freddie
Dawson, Gordon Delamont
and Fred Funk were among
the headliners.
IU
BANK
"IF YOU NEED US
_WE'RE HERE.. ."
TORONTO D0MINION
the 5-ank where people make the difference
JUD BUMSTEAD - MANAGER
24-81 CRESENT
238-8435 GRAND BEND
In the late 40's and early
50's all the popular bands
visited the casino. Names in-
clude Wally Koster, Len
Hopkins, who had Ray
O'Neill of Parkhill playing
with him, Mart Kenney and
Norma Locke, Ellis McLin-
tock and Bert Niosi.
Tommy Dorsey and his
band were also well known
to the Grand Bend crowd.
In 1954, Neil McKay's
band played for the giant
Gala Day celebrations.
In 1956, there was dancing
every night, from June 29 to
Labour Day with music by
Cliff Scanlon and his 11 piece
orchestra.
Then in 1957, most of
music was provided by the
orchestra's of Bobby Downs
and Lionel Thornton. Also in
'57, Our Pet Juliette made a
one-night visit to the casino,
put on by the Lions Club.
Lionel Thornton and his
Casa Royal Orchestra
returned in 1958, along with
television star Joan Fairfax,
who made an appearance in
Grand Bend.
Also in '58, the Glenn
Miller orchestra under the
direction of Ray McKinley
came to the casino.
The Earl Heywood family
and Fred Funk of Tavistock
visited the casino for a
beach concert in 1960. Joey
Hollingsworth, "fancy tap-
dance star" came to the
casino in 1961.
A beauty contest on the
beach was a popular attrac-
tion in the late fifties and
early sixties.
A Hootenanny was held in
the early sixties, with help
from the disc jockeys of
CFPL-980 radio. The 980
"Moonshiners" --John
Dickins. Dave Wilson, Al
Mitchell . Dick Williams and
Bill Murray - came to the
casino for the Hootenanny
weekend. Entertainment
was by Ian Boyle's Group
One. The Lowlanders, and
The Town Criers.
In the sixties, the music at
Lakeview Casino changed
with the times — Rock and
Roll became popular. Bands
featured in 1966 The Creeps,
The Reefers, The Com-
mancheros,' The Fables 'Of
Fate, The Evil, Terry Linn
and The Royals, and Lee and
Dee and the Roulettes.
Most of these bands were
imitations of the then very
popular Beatles.
In 1965, Mr. Mcllroy
received a special ciliation
from the London Muscians'
Union Local 279. It read
"For Thirty Years of out-
standing good faith and co-
operation with repsect to the
presentation of live music to
the public." Mrs. Mcllroy
believes that it is the only
such citation given out by
the Muscians' Union. During
all the time they owned the
casino, only union bands
were hired.
In 1966, the casino was
sold to a firm in Windsor. At
that time there were
rumours about a large
tourist development, in-
cluding an indoor pool and
skating rink. But these never
came to be.
During the early seven-
ties. some attempts at reviv-
ing the dance floor were
made. Bands such as
Seadog, Major Hoople's
Boarding House, and the
Dublin Corporation played.
Unfortunately the once
polished dance floor has not
been used in several years.
GRAND BEND
238-2161
OPEN
Fri., Sat. & Sun.
Visit our
Dining Room
I ,.1 ' I I 3" I'( ).\
HERITAGE
I J' ITAGE
'iiisI;t':\I
Hwy 21 South
of Grand Bend Across from Pinery Park
Come and Trace the
History of Lambton
County and Area in
a 6 Building Setting
on a 19 acre site.
SPECIAL EVENT
Sun. May 24 12-5 p.m.
Antique Engine Fest
RR 2 Grand Bend 243-2600
Page 5