Gino Empry's head is in the clouds. Not because he hobnobs with the most celebrated film and theatrical stars in Canada and Hollywood, but because of the dizzying altitude of his 2,600-square-foot condominium, which towers over downtown Toronto's church spires and speeding traffic.

Known as Canada's superstar publicist, Mr. Empry governs an entertainment empire from his home office over Jarvis Street.

Impresario extraordinaire, he has the aura of a quintessential marketing mogul: big rings on fingers, gold necklace dangling to the middle of his chest, a passion for promotion. ("In 1982, I booked Jim Carrey into the Imperial Room at the Royal York -- even then, I knew he had 'it.' ")

His walls feature portraits of the major celebrities Mr. Empry has publicized during their Canadian appearances -- Sir Laurence Olivier, Ella Fitzgerald, Kaye Ballard, Sammy Davis Jr. and Raquel Welch.

"She's untouchable once she's made up and dressed," Mr. Empry says of Welch. "Her night club act in 1976 was designed with backup singers and dancers to make her look good and hide her deficiencies as a singer and dancer. Worked, too."

Called the "father of publicity" for booking and promoting acts and actors into the Royal Alexandra Theatre and the regal Imperial Room for decades, at the height of his career, he would attend six post-show parties a night. Hal Linden once observed: "Gino is Toronto!"

One of Mr. Empry's most rewarding associations was a dazzling 12-year stint as manager for crooner Tony Bennett. "That is until his son became old enough to take over," Mr. Empry says.

His most prized possession is a large, floral still-life painting rendered by Bennett himself (it is dated 1973 and signed as Antonio Benedetto, his actual name). "It hangs in a place of honour in my living room," Mr. Empry says.

	(Gino) Empry: There's even a prized canvas by singer Tony Bennett.

An inveterate collector of paintings -- and just about anything his eclectic fancy chooses -- Mr. Empry's home is blanketed with oodles of prized originals. His favourites include a series of Ken Danby's winter sports vignettes depicting famous hockey players, figure skaters and cross-country skiers, and a Toller Cranston sketch of a graceful clown pirouetting on ice.

Over the bed in the mammoth master suite hangs his cherished Erte, an Art Deco-era lithograph of a sinuous femme draped in a sequined costume.

"I especially enjoy shopping at exotic bazaars, knick-knack markets and off-the-beaten-track shops in my travels," he says, adding he has circumnavigated the world eight times. Among the most unusual bits and bobs are brass miniatures of pianos, weigh scales, clocks and rocking horses; wall-mounted plates illustrated with Warhol's images of Marilyn Monroe, a gyrating Yul Brynner from The King and I musical, as well as Vatican iconographs and scenes of Moscow's Red Square.

Wooden masks also enthrall Mr. Empry. His collection (which frames entire doorways) includes a pantheon of divinities from India, Fiji, Peru, Zimbabwe, Japan and Native Americans. "I don't know why I'm fascinated with these things," he shrugs. "If I like it, I buy."

His home's furnishing colour strategy centres on contrasting blacks and whites. "I prefer these tones because of their boldness and simplicity," he says. From kitchen counters and cupboards to custom-designed television stands and hutches, the dominant theme is lustrous lacquered ebonies and ivories.

"I love to be surrounded by beautiful plants too, and that's why I transformed my open balcony to a solarium." It is a botanical bonanza of ferns and tropical fronds, including an herb garden. "I grow basil, parsley and oregano, which I use for cooking. They bring perfection to my pastas and risottos," he says.

Positioned southwest, Mr. Empry's home is flooded with light. He once decided to remove two walls in his bedroom/lounge to broaden the space and allow sunshine unrestricted passage to the interior.

The dining room's centrepiece is a black baby grand piano. "Do I play it?" Mr. Empry says. "No, but I may take lessons when I get old." He refuses to discuss his age -- still one of the best-kept secrets in town.

He also refuses to contemplate retiring. "I'm writing a memoir of my experiences in show business. It's 22 chapters of anecdotal insight into most of the major stars I've known -- past and present -- including strippers, the good and great actors, and a whole segment on Playboy. He is promoting the Female Employees at WorldCom and Arthur Andersen pictorial to appear in an upcoming issue of the magazine.

Mr. Empry's latest venture is launching a talent management agency. "Our roster is growing fast," he says. "We've got some fabulous local singers and dancers, and a lady bodybuilder, too. Why do this? I've been helped many times in my life -- now I want to build the careers of others. I've got no reason to slow down now."