Covington in Kenton County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
Robert L. Surtees
⎯⎯⎯
Academy Award Winner
Photographed by Craig Doda, September 4, 2021
1. Robert L. Surtees side of the marker
Robert L. Surtees. 1906-1985. This famous cinematographer won three Academy Awards during a 54-year career in the motion picture business. Surtees, a Covington native, distinguished himself as a specialist in color photography. He won Academy Awards for "King Solomon's Mines" (1950), "The Bad and the Beautiful" (1952), and "Ben-Hur" (1959). See over.
Academy Award Winner. Surtees spent early years, 1928-30, in Germany perfecting his craft, then returned to the United States. This Director of Photography received sixteen Academy Award nominations. Among his film credits are "Oklahoma," "Doctor Dolittle," "The Graduate," "Summer of '42," "The Last Picture Show," and "The Sting." Died in Monterey, California, 1985. Over.
Erected 1991 by Kentucky Historical Society and the Kentucky Department of Highways. (Marker Number 1881.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the Kentucky Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1985.
Location. 39° 5.086′ N, 84° 31.209′ W. Marker is in Covington, Kentucky, in Kenton County. It is at the intersection of Philadelphia Street and West
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Kentucky’s Outer Bluegrass. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Ohio River Valley. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: William Goebel (a few steps from this marker); Una Merkel ~~ Film Star (within shouting distance of this marker); Haven Gillespie (1888-1975) (within shouting distance of this marker); Frank Duveneck (1848 - 1919) / Eminent Artist (within shouting distance of this marker); German Gothic Glockenspiel Clock Tower (within shouting distance of this marker); Goebel Park (within shouting distance of this marker); The Pied Piper of Hamelin (within shouting distance of this marker); Major League Baseball (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Covington.
More about this marker. The marker is located on the west side of Philadelphia Street, in Goebel Park.
Also see . . . Film Reference.com Biography for Robert Surtees. (Submitted on September 22, 2016.)
Photographed by Craig Doda, September 4, 2021
2. Academy Award Winner side of the marker
via HMDb, unknown
3. Robert L. Surtees
Internet Movie Database website entry
Click for more information.
Click for more information.
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, April 26, 2016
4. Robert L. Surtees Marker
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, April 26, 2016
5. Robert L. Surtees Marker - Wide View, Reverse Side
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 22, 2016, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 750 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 4, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 3. submitted on November 18, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 4, 5. submitted on September 22, 2016, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
