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Lionel Thornton & The Casa Royal Orchestra

The Casa Royal Orchestra was originally formed in Strathroy in the 1930s and it was in 1942 that Lionel Thornton joined them. At that time he was vocalist and playing bass with the Benny Palmer band in St Thomas, but when the band dissolved he moved over to the Casa Royal Orchestra and became leader in 1943.

During the remaining WW2 years they played as summer house band at the Goderich Pavilion, and in the post war years played in all the major ballrooms in the London area and SW Ontario including the Stork Club, Stratford Casino, Woodstock's Southside Ballroom, Rondeau Park Pavilion, Grand Bend, Wonderland Gardens and Port Dover. For 26 years they played the London Hunt Club New years Eve Ball and had repeat engagements at Sunningdale and IODE Balls. They also became a regular at Wonderland Gardens.