Fonds consists of personal material as well as records relating to Empry's professional career as a publicist and public relations professional. The fonds includes Artists and Productions Files series, as well as series on the Dominion Drama Festival, Oh Coward!, Royal Alexandra Theatre Company, Canadian National Exhibition Grandstand and Tony Bennett.
The fonds also consists of photographs reflecting Empry's career as a publicist. Other photographs pertain to the performing arts in Toronto, as well as Canadian and international performing artists who have appeared in Canada who were represented by Empry, ca. 1945-2004.
Sound recordings consist in part of the song Spring Thaw, by Catherine McKinnon and the comedy skit from Spring Thaw '67 by Donald Harron as Charlie Farguharson, recorded by Robert Johnston Productions Ltd.; and a 1970 recording of the Cabaret Revue Oh, Coward, starring Dinah Christie and Tom Kneebone.
Empry, Gino, 1945-2006 : Gino Empry, Toronto-born publicist and manager. At a young age Empry worked as an actor, director and producer with various little theatre and semi-professional theatre groups (at age 14 he joins the Catholic Youth Organization at St. Mary of the Angels Church). As of the 1960's, Empry worked in the Highway Trucking Industry as an office manager and computer analyst. In 1964 Empry sets up his own firm: Gino Empry Public Relations and Personal Management Services, Toronto. Empry will go on to produce and manage a large range of artists and events including the Canadian National Exhibition Grandstand, the Canadian Recording Industry Association, the multi-cultural radio station CHIN, and the Imperial Room at the Royal York Hotel among its clients. During his career Empry has promoted many of Canada's top performers (as well as American and international performers). His clients have included actors, dancers, visual artists, musicians, singers, theatres, and a variety of businesses. Empry has continued to work in theatre production and has been associated with a number of Canadian revues and cabaret shows.
Gino Empry also promoted corporate businesses and institutions: Playboy Magazine, Warren Shepell Consultants, Carman's Club, Shopsy's Deli and architect Eb Zeidler of Zeidler-Roberts Partnership. Empry also served on several non-profit advisory boards to organizations including: Actors Fund of Canada; Brazilian Ball; Canadian Cancer Society; Canadian Recording Industry; Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; DARE Arts; Dellcrest Children's Centre; Easter Seals; Famous PEOPLE Players; Hospital for Sick Kids; Inner City Angels; Juvenile Diabetes Foundation; Metro Police; Muscular Dystrophy Association of Canada; Ontario Musical Arts Centre; Operation Herbie; Smile Theatre Company; State of Israel Bonds; United Way; and Variety Club of Ontario.
Gino Empry passed away in 2006.
