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Orillia's Dumbells wowed audiences globally amid First World War

Merton Plunkett and his four brothers were a 'howling success' as they entertained the troops in England and France
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Canada’s premier entertainment troupe during the First World War was a group called the Dumbells founded by Merton Plunkett of Orillia. There are shown above at the Coliseum in London.

Postcard Memories is a weekly series of historic postcard views and photos submitted by Marcel Rousseau.

Some were previously published by the Orillia Museum of Art and History and in the book Postcard Memories Orillia.

Canada’s premier entertainment troupe during the First World War was a group called the “Dumbells” founded by Merton Plunkett of Orillia. They took their name from the dumbbell insignia of the third division.

The Plunketts were an old Orillia family. Merton’s grandfather, Thomas, and father, Robert, operated a brickyard located on Barrie Road.

A talented and musical family Merton and his four brothers — Fred, Sid, Morley and Al — formed the Plunkett Quintet in Orillia before the war. Mert was an honorary (YMCA) captain in the war and just after Vimy Ridge in 1917, formed the Dumbells to entertain the troops in England and France.

Mert picked 12 soldiers who had seen service in the trenches including his brother Al and from the start they were a howling success. The group had a couple of female impersonators who wowed the troops.

After the war Merton formed a civilian group with brothers Morley and Al. Its headquarters were at the Grand Opera House in Toronto and from there they played across the continent including Broadway.

The Plunketts never forgot their hometown and the Dumbells frequently played the Opera House in downtown Orillia. In 1934, with a cast of 200, now including girls, their last show opened at the Victoria Theatre in Toronto but closed within a week, ending 15 years of wonderful entertainment. 

The original Dumbells are shown here at the London Coliseum in 1918 with founder Merton Plunkett seated in the middle. On his right is the sensational Marjorie (impersonator Private Ross Hamilton) and on his left is Marie (impersonator Private Allan Murray).


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