Lol Solman

Who was Lol Solman?

Lawrence "Lol" Solman was a prominent businessman in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Born in Toronto, Solman was educated in public schools. After attending the Mechanic's Institute, he began business in a mail-order operation in Detroit; operated a restaurant at Hanlan's Point; married Emily Hanlan in 1893, sister of noted rower Ned Hanlan and helped him advance in his business career; established Toronto Ferry Company, which held a monopoly on traffic to the Toronto Islands; owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs baseball club; co-founder of the Tecumseh Lacrosse Club; managing director of the Royal Alexandra Theatre, Sunnyside Amusement Park, Hanlan's Hotel, the Hanlan's Point Amusement Park and Mutual Street Arena in Toronto; vice-president of Loews Canadian theatres.

Solman is buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto, while his wife, Emily Durnan Hanlan Solman, is buried at the Hanlan plot at Toronto Necropolis cemetery.