Part Of
Sylvia Schwartz fonds
Family series
Events sub-series
Park Plaza Opening file
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 80; Series 5-3; File 1; Item 1
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Sylvia Schwartz fonds
Family series
Events sub-series
Park Plaza Opening file
Level
Item
Fonds
80
Series
5-3
File
1
Item
1
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1946
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w (negative) ; 10 x 13 cm
Admin History/Bio
The Park Plaza Hotel, originally called the Queen's Park Plaza, began construction in 1928. However, because of financial problems in the Depression it was not completed until 1936. Prior to its completion it was bought by the Park Plaza Company, a group of investors including Harry Rotenberg of Yolles and Rotenberg and Joseph Schwartz, Sylvia Schwartz's father. It was originally used as a hotel, residences and office space. Through the 1940s and 1950s it was a popular hot spot, acting as a venue for entertainers such as Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington. In the 1960s it became a popular location with the literary crowd, including Margaret Atwood and Mordecai Richler.
It was eventually bought by the Hyatt chain and re-named the Park Hyatt Toronto.
Scope and Content
This item is a view of the ballroom with many people sitting at tables socializing.
Notes
This image has no proofs.
Subjects
Rooms
Repro Restriction
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Sylvia Schwartz fonds
Family series
Events sub-series
Park Plaza Opening file
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 80; Series 5-3; File 1; Item 2
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Sylvia Schwartz fonds
Family series
Events sub-series
Park Plaza Opening file
Level
Item
Fonds
80
Series
5-3
File
1
Item
2
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1946
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w (negative) ; 10 x 13 cm
Admin History/Bio
The Park Plaza Hotel, originally called the Queen's Park Plaza, began construction in 1928. However, because of financial problems in the Depression it was not completed until 1936. Prior to its completion it was bought by the Park Plaza Company, a group of investors including Harry Rotenberg of Yolles and Rotenberg and Joseph Schwartz, Sylvia Schwartz's father. It was originally used as a hotel, residences and office space. Through the 1940s and 1950s it was a popular hot spot, acting as a venue for entertainers such as Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington. In the 1960s it became a popular location with the literary crowd, including Margaret Atwood and Mordecai Richler.
It was eventually bought by the Hyatt chain and re-named the Park Hyatt Toronto.
Scope and Content
This item is a view of a piano player performing.
Notes
This image has no proofs.
Subjects
Musicians
Repro Restriction
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Sylvia Schwartz fonds
Family series
Events sub-series
Park Plaza Opening file
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 80; Series 5-3; File 1; Item 3
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Sylvia Schwartz fonds
Family series
Events sub-series
Park Plaza Opening file
Level
Item
Fonds
80
Series
5-3
File
1
Item
3
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1946
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w (negative) ; 10 x 13 cm
Admin History/Bio
The Park Plaza Hotel, originally called the Queen's Park Plaza, began construction in 1928. However, because of financial problems in the Depression it was not completed until 1936. Prior to its completion it was bought by the Park Plaza Company, a group of investors including Harry Rotenberg of Yolles and Rotenberg and Joseph Schwartz, Sylvia Schwartz's father. It was originally used as a hotel, residences and office space. Through the 1940s and 1950s it was a popular hot spot, acting as a venue for entertainers such as Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington. In the 1960s it became a popular location with the literary crowd, including Margaret Atwood and Mordecai Richler.
It was eventually bought by the Hyatt chain and re-named the Park Hyatt Toronto.
Scope and Content
This item is a view of a guitarist, accordianist and organist performing on stage.
Notes
This image has no proofs.
Subjects
Musicians
Repro Restriction
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Sylvia Schwartz fonds
Family series
Events sub-series
Park Plaza Opening file
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 80; Series 5-3; File 1; Item 4
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Sylvia Schwartz fonds
Family series
Events sub-series
Park Plaza Opening file
Level
Item
Fonds
80
Series
5-3
File
1
Item
4
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1946
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w (negative) ; 10 x 13 cm
Admin History/Bio
Phyllis Marshall (b. Barrie, ON, 4 Nov 1921) was a Canadian singer and actress. She studied piano as a child and was known as a track athlete, but made her debut at 15 as a singer on radio station CRCT. She then performed with Jack Arthur and on CBC radio with Percy Faith.
Her first nightclub engagement was at Toronto's Silver Slipper, September 1938, with the Canadian Ambassadors. Encouraged by the CBC announcer Byng Whitteker to sing blues and jazz, she performed during the 1940s with various Toronto dance bands, including an 18-month stint at Toronto's Park Plaza Hotel 1944-46, with her own trio, and on tour 1947-8 in the USA with the Cab Calloway Orchestra.
A contemporary of Eleanor Collins among early black performers on the CBC, Marshall appeared 1949-52 on radio's 'Blues for Friday' (later 'Starlight Moods') and starred on TV's 'The Big Revue' 1952-4, 'Cross-Canada Hit Parade' 1956-9, and other shows. She performed with Canadian jazz notables including Oscar Peterson and Bert Niosi, and also starred in the Canadian National Exhibition grandstand show. She performed in England on BBC TV in 1959 (The Phyllis Marshall Special) and again in 1964 in nightclubs. Her LP That Girl (1964, Cap FS-614), recorded in the company of US jazz stars Buck Clayton and Buddy Tate, captures Marshall's light, secure singing style and received a Juno Award as 'good music product LP'. Marshall had earlier recorded for Monogram in 1949.
Her second career, as an actress, began in 1956 at Toronto's Crest Theatre and included dramatic and musical roles in stage, radio, and TV productions such as the revue Cindy-Ella (1964), CBC radio's 'The Amen Corner' (1970), and CBS-CTV's Night Heat in the mid-1980s. She continued to sing on occasion - eg, at the ACTRA Awards in 1977, and for Freedom Fest (Harbourfront) in 1988.
Marshall is remembered as one of Canadian television's earliest stars, and as a pioneer among black Canadian performers.
She died in Toronto in 1996.
Scope and Content
This item is a view of Phyllis Marshall performing on stage.
Notes
This image has no proofs.
Subjects
Actors
Black Canadians
Singers
Repro Restriction
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
Related Material
See Fonds 80, series 4 for a portrait of Phyllis Marshall by Sylvia Schwartz.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Sylvia Schwartz fonds
Family series
Events sub-series
Park Plaza Opening file
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 80; Series 5-3; File 1; Item 5
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Sylvia Schwartz fonds
Family series
Events sub-series
Park Plaza Opening file
Level
Item
Fonds
80
Series
5-3
File
1
Item
5
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1946
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w (negative) ; 10 x 13 cm
Admin History/Bio
Phyllis Marshall (b. Barrie, ON, 4 Nov 1921) was a Canadian singer and actress. She studied piano as a child and was known as a track athlete, but made her debut at 15 as a singer on radio station CRCT. She then performed with Jack Arthur and on CBC radio with Percy Faith.
Her first nightclub engagement was at Toronto's Silver Slipper, September 1938, with the Canadian Ambassadors. Encouraged by the CBC announcer Byng Whitteker to sing blues and jazz, she performed during the 1940s with various Toronto dance bands, including an 18-month stint at Toronto's Park Plaza Hotel 1944-46, with her own trio, and on tour 1947-8 in the USA with the Cab Calloway Orchestra.
A contemporary of Eleanor Collins among early black performers on the CBC, Marshall appeared 1949-52 on radio's 'Blues for Friday' (later 'Starlight Moods') and starred on TV's 'The Big Revue' 1952-4, 'Cross-Canada Hit Parade' 1956-9, and other shows. She performed with Canadian jazz notables including Oscar Peterson and Bert Niosi, and also starred in the Canadian National Exhibition grandstand show. She performed in England on BBC TV in 1959 (The Phyllis Marshall Special) and again in 1964 in nightclubs. Her LP That Girl (1964, Cap FS-614), recorded in the company of US jazz stars Buck Clayton and Buddy Tate, captures Marshall's light, secure singing style and received a Juno Award as 'good music product LP'. Marshall had earlier recorded for Monogram in 1949.
Her second career, as an actress, began in 1956 at Toronto's Crest Theatre and included dramatic and musical roles in stage, radio, and TV productions such as the revue Cindy-Ella (1964), CBC radio's 'The Amen Corner' (1970), and CBS-CTV's Night Heat in the mid-1980s. She continued to sing on occasion - eg, at the ACTRA Awards in 1977, and for Freedom Fest (Harbourfront) in 1988.
Marshall is remembered as one of Canadian television's earliest stars, and as a pioneer among black Canadian performers.
She died in Toronto in 1996.
Scope and Content
This item is a group portrait of, front row (left to right): Phyllis Marshall and Sylvia Schwartz. Everyone else in this photograph is unidentified (possibly musicians).
Notes
This image has no proofs.
Subjects
Portraits, Group
Repro Restriction
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
Related Material
See Fonds 80, series 4 for a portrait of Phyllis Marshall by Sylvia Schwartz.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Sylvia Schwartz fonds
Family series
Events sub-series
Park Plaza Opening file
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 80; Series 5-3; File 1; Item 6
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Sylvia Schwartz fonds
Family series
Events sub-series
Park Plaza Opening file
Level
Item
Fonds
80
Series
5-3
File
1
Item
6
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1946
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w (negative) ; 10 x 13 cm
Scope and Content
This item is a group portrait of, front row (left to right): Sylvia Schwartz, unknown man and unknown woman.
Notes
This image has no proofs.
Subjects
Portraits, Group
Repro Restriction
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Sylvia Schwartz fonds
Family series
Events sub-series
Park Plaza Opening file
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 80; Series 5-3; File 1; Item 7
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Sylvia Schwartz fonds
Family series
Events sub-series
Park Plaza Opening file
Level
Item
Fonds
80
Series
5-3
File
1
Item
7
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1946
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w (negative) ; 10 x 13 cm
Admin History/Bio
Jack Schwartz was Sylvia Schwartz's uncle, and was married to Minnie Schwartz. Their daughter Jewell owned an art gallery in Yorkville for many years. Jack was in the fur business in Toronto.
Gerald Halbert was born in 1935 to Hyman and Faye Halbert in Toronto. He is the brother of Dr. Ralph Halbert and Mrs. Rhoda Brown (nee Halbert). Gerald's mother Faye was Sylvia Schwartz's cousin on her mother's side.
Gerald Halbert received his medical degree in 1960 from the University of Toronto. Around that time he became very involved in the Jewish community, first volunteering for the UJA in 1960 and then traveling to Israel on a UJA Young Leadership Mission in 1962. Inspired and awed by the country, his lifelong commitment to the community was solidified. Since that time he has held many volunteer leadership roles within the Toronto community, including: chair and/or co-chair for three UJA Federation Campaigns and president of United Israel Appeal of Canada and of Canadian Friends of Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He has also been active in the development of the Wolfond Centre for Jewish Campus Life at the University of Toronto.
Outside of the Jewish community, he has helped to raise funds for and establish several research chairs at the University of Toronto and University Health Network and is a member of the Mount Sinai Hospital Board of Governors. He is a member of the Toronto General and Western Hospital Foundation Board of Directors, where he has volunteered significant time to a number of fundraising initiatives including the Spark of Life and Neurosurgery Chair Campaigns. He is also Board Champion for the Krembil Neuroscience Centre’s Krembil Discovery Tower and Krembil Neuro Program.
In 2002 he was awarded the Order of Canada for his lifelong commitment and contributions to his community.
He was married in 1960 to Sandra ("Tootsie") (nee Sukerman) and they have two daughters: Wendy and Michelle.
Scope and Content
This item is a group portrait of members of the Schwartz's and Halbert's Families. From left: unknown woman, unknown man, Jack Schwartz, Minnie Schwartz, unknown woman, unknown man, unknown man,and Gerrald Halbert.
Notes
This image has no proofs.
Subjects
Portraits, Group
Repro Restriction
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Sylvia Schwartz fonds
Family series
Events sub-series
Park Plaza Opening file
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 80; Series 5-3; File 1; Item 8
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Sylvia Schwartz fonds
Family series
Events sub-series
Park Plaza Opening file
Level
Item
Fonds
80
Series
5-3
File
1
Item
8
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1946
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w (negative) ; 10 x 13 cm
Admin History/Bio
Joseph Schwartz was married to Gertrude Schwartz and had four daughters, Sylvia, Fanny, Helen and Ruth.
Joseph owned J. Schwartz and Company, a fur manufacturing firm, and eventually became a partner in the Park Plaza Hotel on Avenue road.
The Halberts consist of Hyman and Faye Halbert, and their three children, Ralph Halbert, Dr. Gerald Halbert and Mrs. Rhoda Brown (née Halbert). Faye was Sylvia Schwartz's cousin on her mother's side.
Scope and Content
This item is a group portrait of members of the Schwartz, Halbert and Wintrob Families. Joseph Schwartz can be seen standing behind the group on the right. All other sitters are unidentified.
Notes
This image has no proofs.
Subjects
Portraits, Group
Repro Restriction
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Sylvia Schwartz fonds
Family series
Events sub-series
Park Plaza Opening file
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 80; Series 5-3; File 1; Item 9
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Sylvia Schwartz fonds
Family series
Events sub-series
Park Plaza Opening file
Level
Item
Fonds
80
Series
5-3
File
1
Item
9
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1946
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w (negative) ; 10 x 13 cm
Admin History/Bio
Dr. Murray Simon was a Toronto dentist who married Sylvia Yolles, the daughter of L.S. Yolles who owned the Park Plaza.
Scope and Content
This item is a group portrait. From left: [unknown man], [unknown woman], Murray Simon, [unknown woman], [unknown man], [unknown woman], [unknown woman].
Notes
This image has no proofs.
Subjects
Dentists
Portraits, Group
Repro Restriction
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Sylvia Schwartz fonds
Family series
Events sub-series
Park Plaza Opening file
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 80; Series 5-3; File 1; Item 10
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Sylvia Schwartz fonds
Family series
Events sub-series
Park Plaza Opening file
Level
Item
Fonds
80
Series
5-3
File
1
Item
10
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1946
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w (negative) ; 10 x 13 cm
Custodial History
Cecil Yolles was Louis Yolles' eldest grandchild. He was the eldest son of Sam and Mary (Wilder) Yolles.
Scope and Content
This item is a group portrait from the Park Plaza opening. Cecil and Denny Yolles are identified in the centre of the photo, seated fourth and fifth from the left.
Notes
This image has no proofs.
Subjects
Portraits, Group
Repro Restriction
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Sylvia Schwartz fonds
Family series
Events sub-series
Park Plaza Opening file
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 80; Series 5-3; File 1; Item 11
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Sylvia Schwartz fonds
Family series
Events sub-series
Park Plaza Opening file
Level
Item
Fonds
80
Series
5-3
File
1
Item
11
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1946
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w (negative) ; 10 x 13 cm
Scope and Content
This item is a group portrait.
Notes
This image has no proofs.
Subjects
Portraits, Group
Repro Restriction
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Sylvia Schwartz fonds
Family series
Events sub-series
Park Plaza Opening file
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 80; Series 5-3; File 1; Item 12
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Sylvia Schwartz fonds
Family series
Events sub-series
Park Plaza Opening file
Level
Item
Fonds
80
Series
5-3
File
1
Item
12
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1946
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w (negative) ; 10 x 13 cm
Scope and Content
Item is a snapshot of Cecil and Denny Yolles.
Notes
This image has no proofs.
Repro Restriction
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
Source
Archival Descriptions