Sydney Banks facts for kids

Sydney Banks (January 6, 1917 – November 14, 2006) was a very important Canadian TV and radio pioneer. He helped create many shows and even started TV channels. He was known for his work as a producer and director in broadcasting.

Who Was Sydney Banks?

Early Life and School

Sydney Banks was born in Toronto, Canada, on January 6, 1917. His parents were from England. When he was two, he and his mother moved back to England, living in a place called Cumbria. They returned to Canada in the late 1920s. After a short time in Chatham, they settled in Toronto's Cabbagetown area. Sydney went to Our Lady of Lourdes school and then Danforth Tech. He left school when he was only 14 years old.

Starting His Career

Sydney Banks began acting as a child in England. Later, in the 1930s, he became a leading stage director and actor in Canada. He also worked in radio, where he was praised for his acting and writing.

From 1936 to 1941, Banks acted in many plays with the Theatre of Action. This was a drama group that helped many famous people get their start. Some of these included Wayne and Shuster, Lou Jacobi, and Lorne Green. Sydney Banks directed the group's last play, Of Mice and Men, in Toronto in 1940. He also helped start the Red Barn Theatre on Lake Simcoe.

Military Service

In 1941, during World War II, Banks joined the army. He was a captain in the Canadian Army Film Unit. After D-Day, he spent time in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. He helped document the war.

A Broadcasting Pioneer

After the war, Sydney Banks became an executive producer at International Productions. This made him Canada's first active television producer. He was in charge of weekly shows broadcast from U.S. border stations for Canadians to watch. He also set up Canada's first TV commercial production unit. In 1949, he started the first TV department for a big Canadian advertising agency.

In 1952, when Canada began its own TV broadcasting, Banks started making Canadian TV programs. In 1955, he joined S. W. Caldwell Ltd. as an executive producer. He also managed the Rank Organisation's Queensway Studios. Later, he moved to Foster Advertising. There, he started their television advertising department. This job meant he traveled often to the United States to produce commercials. Sydney Banks also helped create Canada's first Film Producers Association.

In 1962, Banks started his own company, S. Banks (In Television) Ltd. He began producing music series for television. His shows were on both CBC and CTV. Some popular ones included Cross Canada Barndance, A Singin', and Let's Sing Out. In 1961, he became the first president of the Directors' Guild of Canada. He received a special award from the Guild in 2003 for his great service.

During the 1960s, Banks also booked shows and tours for many artists. He brought famous musicians like Jerry Lee Lewis and Eric Clapton to Canada. He also brought comedians like George Carlin. For a time, he was a producer for the Mariposa Folk Festival. He remained an advisor for the festival until he passed away.

In 1970, he worked with Al Bruner to apply for a license for Global. He became a co-founder and executive producer of Global. By the mid-1970s, Banks had created, produced, and sometimes directed over 450 films and TV programs. He also made countless TV commercials.

After leaving Global, he helped start and became a director of CUC Broadcasting. This was a cable TV company in the Greater Toronto area. It grew to be one of the largest cable systems there. It was later sold to Shaw Cable in 1994.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Banks was the president of S Banks Group Inc. This company included Ennerdale Productions. He traveled around the world doing business in many different areas.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Banks spent less time on business to care for his wife, Shirley, who was ill. He stayed in touch with the film industry. After Shirley passed away in 1995, he returned to full-time work in film and television. In 1998, he was the executive producer of the Canadian film Heart of the Sun. His company, Ennerdale Productions, produced the movie.

Sydney Banks also had a home in Palm Springs, California. He died in Toronto on November 14, 2006, at the age of 89.