Hank Young, the "Gladstone Cowboy" is the charismatic operator of the Gladstone's meticulously restored Victorian elevator. Hank first set foot in the Gladstone as a young country and western musician from Halifax in 1961. Over the years Hank has become a well known neighbourhood character and familiar figure on stage in the Gladstone's Melody Bar. His first gig as a musician was here at the hotel. For more than a decade he's been a favourite during the Melody Bar's weekly karaoke nights. He regularly brings the house down with his rendition of "Hey Good Lookin". He's sung it more times than he can count! During the daytime, dressed in his trademark cowboy gear, Hank shuttles guests between floors in the hotel's hand-operated Otis elevator. Hank considers himself to be an official ambassador of the Gladstone and proudly regales guests with details of the past (his own and the hotel's)!

The hotel's one-of-a-kind Gladstone Cowboy and his elevator, one of the last hand-operated elevators in the city of Toronto, are neighbourhood icons.

Check out Hank operating the elevator!