  We study large N dualities for a class of ${\cal N} = 1$ theories realized on
type IIB D5 branes wrapping 2-cycles of local Calabi-Yau threefolds which is
obtained from resolving orbifolded conifolds or as effective field theories on
D4 branes in type IIA brane configurations. The field theory is $\mathcal{N}
=1$ supersymmetric $\prod U(N_{ij})$ Yang-Mills gauge theory. Strong coupling
effects are analyzed in the deformed geometry. We propose open-closed string
duality via a geometric transition in toric geometry. The T-dual type IIA
picture and M-theory lifting are also considered.
