Stinson in Hamilton, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
Horatio George Summers
1865 - 1941
Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 10, 2024
1. Horatio George Summers Marker
Inscription.
Comedian, actor and theatrical manager, George Summers established the Mountain Park Theatre here in 1902. It was one of the earliest theatres of its kind in Ontario. For twelve successful seasons, "Geo. H. Summers Theatrical Enterprises performed in Hamilton in the summer and toured during the winter. Most of the repertoire was popular melodrama, much of it written by Summers himself. On stage, he was particularly renowned for his portrayal of Rip Van Winkle. After fire destroyed the theatre in December 1914, Summers pursued an acting career in Canada and the United States. He later wrote articles on the history of theatre in Ontario and scripted comic sketches for the CBC., Ontario Heritage Foundation, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Recreation,
Comedian, actor and theatrical manager, George Summers
established the Mountain Park Theatre here in 1902. It
was one of the earliest theatres of its kind in Ontario. For
twelve successful seasons, "Geo. H. Summers Theatrical
Enterprises performed in Hamilton in the summer and toured
during the winter. Most of the repertoire was popular melodrama, much of it written by Summers himself. On stage, he
was particularly renowned for his portrayal of Rip Van
Winkle. After fire destroyed the theatre in December 1914,
Summers pursued an acting career in Canada and the United
States. He later wrote articles on the history of theatre in
Ontario and scripted comic sketches for the CBC.
Ontario Heritage Foundation, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Recreation
Comédien, acteur et régisseur de théâure, George Summers fonde ici le Mountain Park Theatre en 1902. Cest un des premiers théâtres en son genre en Ontario. Pendant douze saisons couronnées de succès, les "Geo. H. Summers Theatrical Enterprises” se produisent à Hamilton l’été et partent en tournée l’hiver.
Le répertoire comporte principalement des mélodrames populaires, la plupart rédigés par Summers lui-même. Il bâtit sa réputation sur scène dans le rôle de Rip Van Winkle. Le théâtre est ravagé par un incendie en décembre 1914, Summers se consacre alors à sa carrière theatricale au Canada et aux Etats-Unis. Il publie plus tard des articles sur l'histoire du théâtre en Ontario et compose des sketches comiques pour la Société Radio-Canada.
Fondation du patrimoine ontarien, Ministère de la Culture, du Tourisme et des Loisirs
Location. 43° 14.581′ N, 79° 51.152′ W. Marker is in Hamilton, Ontario. It is in Stinson. It is at the intersection of Mountain Park Avenue and Upper Wentworth Street, on the right when traveling west on Mountain Park Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 173 Mountain Park Avenue, Hamilton ON L8V L8V, Canada. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe, in the Hamilton-Halton-Brant Area, and specifically in the Toronto Metropolitan Area. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Rupert’s Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking
Also see . . . Hamilton Heritage - When Theatre was Supreme. June, 2015 article by Robert Williamson. The Summers Theatre was perched on the edge of the
escarpment at the top of the Wentworth Street incline
railway, beside a large mountain picnic park. Today, the
site is occupied by a mountain brow parking lot and
observation point. The theatre attracted a large crowd of
over 800 theatre patrons every evening with matinees on
Wednesday and Saturday. (Submitted on May 10, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)
Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 10, 2024
3. Horatio George Summers Marker
circa 1914
4. Summers Theatre, circa 1914
Source: Hamilton Spectator (public domain)
courtesy of the University of Washington, 1919
5. George Summers, stage musical comedian
Credits. This page was last revised on May 10, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 10, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 310 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 10, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. 5. submitted on May 10, 2024. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
