Michael
Aug 5th 2009, 09:13 PM
This is a fairly local news item for Toronto, though he was a big name in NYC as well. He's probably best known for inventing the 'multiplex' theater concept and building Cineplex Odeon into North America's largest movie theater chain.
Garth Drabinsky, a one-time theater impressario has been found guilty of defrauding investors in his entertainment company called Livent. He's been sentenced to 7 years in jail. His business partner was sentenced to 6 years.
Drabinsky was a rising star financing live musical shows in Toronto and Broadway during the 1980s and 1990s. His theater company went bankrupt in 1998 and the lawsuits soon followed.
Here's an interesting 1994 news article (http://www.nytimes.com/specials/ragtime/drabinsky2.html) that discusses Drabinsky's (swaggering) arrival on Broadway back then. He's always been well known for a big ego.
This is big news in Canada (following on the jailing of Conrad Black in the USA on similar charges) because Canada has a long history of 'wrist-slapping' with big league white collar criminals. It is hoped that this case might set a new standard.
Here's a website (http://finlayongovernance.com/?cat=197) with links to several news articles that describe Drabinsky's fraud and the court case.
Here's a Canadian 'feature' news article on the Rise & Fall of Garth Drabinsky (http://www.vancouversun.com/rise+fall+Garth+Drabinsky/1863010/story.html) - covering his career. Colorful fellow - I've been seeing his name in the news for many years. It was quite a surprise to find out that he was a fraud.
Garth Drabinsky, a one-time theater impressario has been found guilty of defrauding investors in his entertainment company called Livent. He's been sentenced to 7 years in jail. His business partner was sentenced to 6 years.
Drabinsky was a rising star financing live musical shows in Toronto and Broadway during the 1980s and 1990s. His theater company went bankrupt in 1998 and the lawsuits soon followed.
Here's an interesting 1994 news article (http://www.nytimes.com/specials/ragtime/drabinsky2.html) that discusses Drabinsky's (swaggering) arrival on Broadway back then. He's always been well known for a big ego.
This is big news in Canada (following on the jailing of Conrad Black in the USA on similar charges) because Canada has a long history of 'wrist-slapping' with big league white collar criminals. It is hoped that this case might set a new standard.
Here's a website (http://finlayongovernance.com/?cat=197) with links to several news articles that describe Drabinsky's fraud and the court case.
Here's a Canadian 'feature' news article on the Rise & Fall of Garth Drabinsky (http://www.vancouversun.com/rise+fall+Garth+Drabinsky/1863010/story.html) - covering his career. Colorful fellow - I've been seeing his name in the news for many years. It was quite a surprise to find out that he was a fraud.