1903 Season: Difference between revisions

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| newattractions = Zoological Garden<br />Museum of Ornithology
| newattractions = Zoological Garden<br />Museum of Ornithology
| stockcompany  =  
| stockcompany  = Olentangy Park Stock Company
| theatermanager =  
| theatermanager =  
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| band          =  
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The Olentangy Park, Theater, and Zoological Garden opened for the 1903 season on Sunday, May 17, 1903.<ref>"Olentangy Park Opening." ''Saturday Columbus Dispatch.'' 28 February 1903. Pg. 6.</ref> The Columbus Railway Company leased 5 acres on the south of the park, extending it as far south as Dodridge Street, affording new walks and picnic grounds.<ref name="preparing">"Olentangy Park." ''Wednesday Columbus Dispatch.'' 1 April 1903. Pg. 9.</ref> Herman Bellstedt's Famous Cincinnati Military and Concert Band played music for the park in the afternoons and evenings.<ref name="opening">"Olentangy Park." ''Sunday Columbus Dispatch.'' 2 May 1903. Pg. 8-9.</ref>
The Olentangy Park, Theater, and Zoological Garden opened for the 1903 season on Sunday, May 17, 1903.<ref>"Olentangy Park Opening." ''Saturday Columbus Dispatch.'' 28 February 1903. Pg. 6.</ref> The Columbus Railway Company leased 5 acres on the south of the park, extending it as far south as Dodridge Street, affording new walks and picnic grounds.<ref name="preparing">"Olentangy Park." ''Wednesday Columbus Dispatch.'' 1 April 1903. Pg. 9.</ref> Herman Bellstedt's Famous Cincinnati Military and Concert Band played music for the park in the afternoons and evenings.<ref name="opening">"Olentangy Park." ''Sunday Columbus Dispatch.'' 2 May 1903. Pg. 8-9.</ref><ref name="opening2">"Olentangy Park." ''Sunday Columbus Dispatch.'' 10 May 1903. Pg. 6.</ref>


==Rides and Attractions==
==Rides and Attractions==
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''Main Article:'' [[Laughing Gallery]]
''Main Article:'' [[Laughing Gallery]]


The "Laughing Gallery" opened in a new building.<ref name="opening" />
The "Laughing Gallery" opened in a new building.<ref name="opening" /><ref name="opening2" />
 
===Ferris Wheel===
''Main Article:'' [[Ferris Wheel]]
 
A Ferris wheel was first mentioned being a ride at the park in 1903.<ref name="opening2" />
 
===Figure Eight Toboggan===
''Main Article:'' [[Figure Eight Toboggan]]
 
The Figure Eight was described as a "three-way figure eight toboggan slide." This was describing how the riders go around the loops three times.<ref name="opening2" />


===Other Rides and Attractions===
===Other Rides and Attractions===
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* Baby Rack
* Baby Rack
* [[Bathing Pavilion]]
* [[Bathing Pavilion]]
* [[Boathouse]]
* [[Boathouse]] - with electric launches<ref name="opening2" />
* [[Bowling alleys]]
* [[Bowling alleys]]
* [[Crystal Maze]]
* [[Crystal Maze]]
* [[Figure Eight Toboggan]]
* [[Merry-Go-Round]]
* [[Merry-Go-Round]]
* [[Miniature Railway]]
* [[Miniature Railway]]
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==Olentangy Park Theater==
==Olentangy Park Theater==
''Main Article:'' [[Olentangy Park Casino and Theater]]
''Main Article:'' [[Olentangy Park Casino and Theater]]
===Olentangy Park Stock===
====Members====
The Olentangy stock company included: <ref name="stocknotes">Notes. ''Sunday Columbus Dispatch.'' 10 May 1902. Pg. 7.</ref>
* Kate Blancke
* Vail De Vernon
* Virginia Howell
* Beulah Watson
* Helen Wilton
* Frederic L. Power
* Lawrence Grattan
* Benjamin Horning
* William Webb
* George Neiswander
* Charles Flemming
==== Performances ====
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Dates
!Performance
!Writer
!Notes
|-
|May 17-23, 1903
|"Nancy and Company"
|
|<ref name="stocknotes" />
|}


==Music==
==Music==
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==Activities==
==Activities==
===New Billiard Parlor===
''Main Article:'' [[Billiards]]
A billiard parlor was added to the park in 1903.<ref name="opening2" />
===Other Activities===


* [[Ball Grounds|Baseball]]
* [[Ball Grounds|Baseball]]

Revision as of 06:23, 2 December 2022

This page is under construction. Please remove this notice when complete.

1903 Season Season
Leadership Joseph W. Dusenbury
The Olentangy Park Company
New Attractions Zoological Garden
Museum of Ornithology
Stock Company Olentangy Park Stock Company

The Olentangy Park, Theater, and Zoological Garden opened for the 1903 season on Sunday, May 17, 1903.[1] The Columbus Railway Company leased 5 acres on the south of the park, extending it as far south as Dodridge Street, affording new walks and picnic grounds.[2] Herman Bellstedt's Famous Cincinnati Military and Concert Band played music for the park in the afternoons and evenings.[3][4]

Rides and Attractions

New Zoo

Main Article: Zoological Garden

Park manager J.W. Dusenbury was purchasing animals for a new zoo as early as January 1903. He traveled to Cincinnati where he purchased yaks, camels, foxes, badgers, bears, raccoons, eagles, and pheasants from their zoological garden.[5] He also purchased animals from Philadelphia.[6] The garden and housing for the animals was originally planned to be located east of the bowling alleys and boathouse and just west of High Street. The "bear pits" were dug at another part of the grounds for the "bruin" part of the collection of animals. The Dusenbury Brothers also considered putting the animals on new ground just south of the park grounds at the time.[5] Later, the brothers decided to open the zoo in the extreme southwestern part of the park when the Columbus Railway Company leased them 5 acres south of the park. Two carloads of animals were brought in from New York and included tigers, elephants, a lion, and other animals. The zoological sheds extended as south as Dodridge Street.[2] The zoo was free to park patrons.[3]

Museum of Ornithology

Main Article: Museum of Ornithology

Naturalist Oliver Davie moved an extensive collection of mounted birds and animals from Minerva Park to Olentangy Park. It was thought that Olentangy Park would be more accessible to local university students. There were over 1,500 specimens brought from Minerva Park, bringing the total to over 3,000 by opening.[3] An aquarium was built in the center of the building - the first of its kind in Columbus.[7]

Main Article: Laughing Gallery

The "Laughing Gallery" opened in a new building.[3][4]

Ferris Wheel

Main Article: Ferris Wheel

A Ferris wheel was first mentioned being a ride at the park in 1903.[4]

Figure Eight Toboggan

Main Article: Figure Eight Toboggan

The Figure Eight was described as a "three-way figure eight toboggan slide." This was describing how the riders go around the loops three times.[4]

Other Rides and Attractions

Olentangy Park Theater

Main Article: Olentangy Park Casino and Theater

Olentangy Park Stock

Members

The Olentangy stock company included: [8]

  • Kate Blancke
  • Vail De Vernon
  • Virginia Howell
  • Beulah Watson
  • Helen Wilton
  • Frederic L. Power
  • Lawrence Grattan
  • Benjamin Horning
  • William Webb
  • George Neiswander
  • Charles Flemming

Performances

Dates Performance Writer Notes
May 17-23, 1903 "Nancy and Company" [8]

Music

Thirty musicians played in Herman Bellstedt's Famous Cincinnati Military and Concert Band during the afternoons and evenings.[3]

Other Music

Outdoor Performances and Stunts

Activities

New Billiard Parlor

Main Article: Billiards

A billiard parlor was added to the park in 1903.[4]

Other Activities

References

  1. "Olentangy Park Opening." Saturday Columbus Dispatch. 28 February 1903. Pg. 6.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Olentangy Park." Wednesday Columbus Dispatch. 1 April 1903. Pg. 9.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Olentangy Park." Sunday Columbus Dispatch. 2 May 1903. Pg. 8-9.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 "Olentangy Park." Sunday Columbus Dispatch. 10 May 1903. Pg. 6.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Olentangy 'Zoo.'" Sunday Columbus Dispatch. 24 January 1903. Pg. 6.
  6. "Animals for 'Zoo.'" Sunday Columbus Dispatch. 25 January 1903. Pg. 9.
  7. "Birds and Fish." Saturday Columbus Dispatch. 28 February 1903. Pg. 11.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Notes. Sunday Columbus Dispatch. 10 May 1902. Pg. 7.