Merry-Go-Round De Luxe
| Other Name(s) | Merry-Go-Round Carrousel Carroussel Carousal |
|---|---|
| Type | Rotating Ride |
| Park Section | Center |
| Built | 1930 |
| Opened | 1930 |
| Closed | Unknown |
| Materials | Wood |
| Vehicle Type | Horses and Chariots |
| Number of Vehicles | 54 horses, 2 chariots |
| Riders per Vehicle | 1 |
The Merry-Go-Round De Luxe was one of a few "merry-go-rounds" at Olentangy Park. "New" in 1930,[1] this carousel had 54 horses and 2 chariots and was described very similarly to the Grand Carousel. It cost the park $25,000 ($443,527 in 2022).[2] With 1,116 electric lights, 15 colors of paint, and 30 different tunes, another "new" aspect of this ride was using horses instead of the traditional animals that tend to frighten small children.[3]
During its opening, they discussed giving it a name, and many suggestions rolled in,[1] including:
- "Rotundus Rotundum" (suggested by Jimmy Peppe)
- "The Girdy Whirl" (suggested by the Junior League Social Leaders)
- "The Galloping Hemisphere" (suggested by the Rand & McNally Co.)
- "Horses, Horses, Horses" (suggested by the Beulah Park Association)
It opened on Easter Sunday 1930 with Mayor Thomas breaking a bottle of Jamaica ginger over the forehead of "Bucephalus," the foremost horse.[1]
Notes
It is possible that this was the same as the "Grand Carousel," just restored decades after installation, since photos from the 1910s-1920s show a carousel with horses in the building of the first Dancing Pavilion.[4]
See Also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Bottle, At Least, To Be Broken On Head Of Good Bucephalus, Lead Horse Of Olentangy Carrousel." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 17 April 1930. Pg. 20.
- ↑ "Famous Orchestra To Play Olentangy." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 18 April 1930. Pg. 22.
- ↑ "Psychology Enters Even Into Carrousel Game." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 23 April 1930. Pg. 16.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park Gazebo." Ohio History Connection Selections. Photo. Online Database Entry Created: 3 August 2011. https://www.ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p267401coll32/id/11683