Society

Whatever Happened to Ambrose Small

The Agenda with Steve Paikin

View Transcript
It remains one of Ontario's enduring mysteries. On December 2, 1919, theatre magnate Ambrose Small completed a deal of a lifetime. After selling his Ontario-wide theatre network, Small banked $1 million and promised to be home for dinner - and then he disappeared from sight. No one confessed to a crime, his body never turned up, and leads went nowhere. The Agenda welcomes Toronto Star reporter Katie Daubs, who became fascinated with this story and chronicled it in her book, "The Missing Millionaire: The True Story of Ambrose Small and the City Obsessed with Finding Him."
Episode:
The Twisted Tales of Two Millionaires
Aired:
Dec 02, 2019
Thinking of your experience with tvo.org, how likely are you to recommend tvo.org to a friend or colleague?
Not at all Likely
Extremely Likely

The Agenda Videos

Charlotte Gray: A Millionaire's Murder Mystery
Dec 02, 2019
Candid Advice for Canadian Prime Ministers
Oct 19, 2021
Has Ontario's 2022 Election Already Begun?
Oct 19, 2021
Employers and Ontario's Vaccine Passport
Oct 18, 2021
What's Next for Ontario's Landlords and Tenants?
Oct 18, 2021
Hamilton Growth and other top stories
Oct 15, 2021
Ensuring Accessibility to Ontario Education
Oct 15, 2021
Marie Henein: Why Everyone is Entitled to a Defence
Oct 15, 2021
Private Money, Public Care
Oct 14, 2021
Public Health Care, Personal Care
Oct 14, 2021
Private Health, Care Public Solution?
Oct 14, 2021
Checking Toronto's Vital Signs
Oct 13, 2021

Current Affairs

bald man in suit with one hand holding the side of his glasses from the article Yes, we should talk about ranked ballots. But we need to talk about a whole lot more
Yes, we should talk about ranked ballots. But we need to talk about a whole lot more

OPINION: Liberal leader Steven Del Duca is promising major voting changes. In the lead-up to the election, we need to press all parties for details about their visions of democratic reform.

people stand in front of a painting of a girl in a blue coat, on a blue wall from the article ‘For us, by us’: How a new Caribbean exhibition is changing the AGO
‘For us, by us’: How a new Caribbean exhibition is changing the AGO
Through historical photos and contemporary art, ‘Fragments of Epic Memory’ reflects a community that’s long been underrepresented in galleries.
pink image of the coronavirus from the article COVID-19: What you need to know for October 19
COVID-19: What you need to know for October 19

The latest coronavirus updates from across the province. 

bald man in glasses standing behind a microphone and in front of flags, with hands raised from the article The Tories should be ashamed of their third-party election-spending law
The Tories should be ashamed of their third-party election-spending law
OPINION: Bill 307 isn’t a bad law because it lacks a purpose. And it’s not bad because it required the notwithstanding clause. It’s bad because it’s sloppy and open to abuse.
people standing in front of a subway from the article The case against the case for delaying Toronto’s subway plans
The case against the case for delaying Toronto’s subway plans
OPINION: The idea that the pandemic should make the province rethink its plan to build more subways in Toronto is flawed. Subways were a good idea before COVID-19 — and they’ll be a good idea after it.  
blue modelling of the coronavirus from the article COVID-19: What you need to know for October 18
COVID-19: What you need to know for October 18

The latest coronavirus updates from across the province.

a bald man in glasses and a suit surrounded by people from the article What's ON: The week ahead in Ontario politics (October 18-22)
What's ON: The week ahead in Ontario politics (October 18-22)
Going after grassroots groups, a four-day work week, and big spenders at OLG.
Doug Ford at a press conference from the article The vaccine passport is a win for Doug Ford. Let’s hope it doesn’t go to his head
The vaccine passport is a win for Doug Ford. Let’s hope it doesn’t go to his head

OPINION: Things are looking up in Ontario. But the Tories shouldn’t let recent successes cloud their judgment like they did at the end of the second wave.

Man, seated at table, speaks into microphone. Woman wearing medical mask watches him in the background. from the article What’s ON: The week that was in Ontario politics (October 12-15)
What’s ON: The week that was in Ontario politics (October 12-15)
Reopening plans, QR codes, and child-care conflict.