MOXIE!
We are making a movie about MOXIE! It is a remarkable story of perseverance in overcoming adversity. It is the story of Moxie Whitney, Canada’s foremost big band leader and entertainer during the 40s, 50s and 60s. Moxie’s uncanny knack for understanding his public makes his one of the most engaging entertainment stories in Canadian history. It is a story filled with outrageous antics and big celebrities.
MOXIE! is big entertainment… and we would love you to be involved.
Your participation in our crowdfunding efforts through IndieGoGo will be handsomely rewarded. Help us make MOXIE!
THE FILM
The MOXIE! project started in 2009. Digging back into the past we found boxes of photos of Moxie at work with celebrities such as Jack Benny, Tony Bennett and Sonny and Cher. We found newspaper clippings from across the country and amazing 8mm films Moxie made in the 1950s at the Banff Springs and the Chateau Lake Louise. We have live radio broadcast recordings from the Royal Hawaiian Hotel on Waikiki Beach. Photos of stars and behind the scenes shots from the movies Saskatchewan and Canadian Pacific. Moxie’s huge, personal collection of memorabilia is an embarrassment of riches…
We have footage from the fabulous Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto and the Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa, both part of the Canadian Pacific chain of hotels in Moxie’s day. We have personal reminiscences from jazz legend, Tommy Banks, and from Norm Hathaway, a band member in Moxie’s first Royal York Orchestra. Norm, irrepressible and now in his 80′s just played with his own Big Band at the Iridium in New York!
We have footage from the fabulous Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto and the Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa, both part of the Canadian Pacific chain of hotels in Moxie’s day. We have personal reminiscences from jazz legend, Tommy Banks, and from Norm Hathaway, a band member in Moxie’s first Royal York Orchestra. Norm, irrepressible and now in his 80′s just played with his own Big Band at the Iridium in New York!
Moxie’s huge collection of memorabilia is an embarrassment of riches – so much story to tell!
THE WEBSITE
MOXIE! is a full-length film destined for theatrical release, but this website is also a part of the project.What you see now is just the beginning. We will be updating the site regularly with news about our progress. We hope you will add to the ‘Memories’ page — if Moxie’s music touched you or someone you know please join the conversation and add your stories.Downloads of music will be available. Photos, clippings, letters, and other memorabilia will be displayed. We will include links to other sites and Big Band music stations. In short, this website will be a digital repository about the Canadian Big Band era for all to use and share.
The MOXIE! story is told by actor/writer Paul Whitney, one of Moxie’s seven children and his band boy for many years. The script is written by Paul and writer/producer Fred Yackman. MOXIE is produced by MoxiEntertainment!
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5 comments
(Mrs. Shonna McLeod) says:
December 16, 2011 at 11:44 am (UTC -4 )
My gosh but I am teary eyed after receving this message this morning along with the video (absolutely wonderful) And the photos! Talk about bring back memories for me! I grew up in Banff and danced in the Ballroom at Banff Springs to your Dads music. I knew everyone in the band by sight in those days and was speical friends with the Gibbs family and have spent a year trying to track on of them down Valerie or Donny to see where they are. My fondest memores are of those years and that wonderful music and even thought we are retired seniors not able finicallyl to offer much of a monetary contribution, we will do our part as much as possilbe for us. Excited and looking forward to your project being completed.
Jack Moxam says:
January 9, 2012 at 6:50 pm (UTC -4 )
I am trying to ID some persons in photographs from Moxie’s records. Can I email them to you to see if you know them?
admin says:
January 9, 2012 at 10:27 pm (UTC -4 )
Jack, you are one of the best sleuths I know, however… Please send them… We’ll get out Big Band ID team on them right away!!
mallan says:
January 30, 2012 at 6:09 pm (UTC -4 )
did Moxie Whitney play at Lakeside Gardens in the late 1930′s
with Norma Locke singing with his orchestra ??
As soon as I heard his name I knew I had met him somewhere.
Later my husband and I were ballroom dancers and we might
have danced at the Chateau.
admin says:
January 31, 2012 at 9:49 am (UTC -4 )
Hello! What a great question. Norma Locke was a great singing sensation in the 1930′s in Canada. During that time Moxie was just starting out. He didn’t start his own band till 1937/38. The Pacific Swingsters. He very well could have played the Lakeside Gardens (Ottawa, Brittania Park). He moved to Toronto in late 1938… in order to give up the music business. He was 19! It’s another great story that we’re telling in the movie.
But back to your question… Norma Locke sing with Moxie? Not with his band, but they may have played on the same stage. Norma was singing everywhere and Moxie was willing to work anywhere. Norma Locke married Canadian Band Leader Mart Kenny (another legend). She was well known for singing with his ‘Western Gentlemen’ in the 40′s.
PS Moxie Whitney played the CFMO Harvest Moon Balls in Ottawa. Thousands of dancers turned out… you might have been one of them!