Fair Japan: Difference between revisions

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Joseph Dusenbury originally saw the exhibit at the St. Louis Exposition and imported it to the park.<ref name="candb" /> Builder Kushibik had been in the U.S. for 20 years and built similar exhibits at Atlantic City, Buffalo, and St. Louis. The stage featured Legerdemain, tumbling, and other acrobatic features.<ref>"Olentangy Park Will Be Extended to Doddridge St." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' 18 February 1905. Pg. 7.</ref> The park charged a 5-cent ($1.65 in 2022) admission fee in 1906<ref>"Olentangy Opening." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch.'' 13 May 1906. Pg. 44.</ref> until June 17 when it was free for the rest of the season.<ref>Ad. ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' 16 June 1906. Pg. 4.</ref>  
Joseph Dusenbury originally saw the exhibit at the St. Louis Exposition and imported it to the park.<ref name="candb" /> Builder Kushibik had been in the U.S. for 20 years and built similar exhibits at Atlantic City, Buffalo, and St. Louis. The stage featured Legerdemain, tumbling, and other acrobatic features.<ref>"Olentangy Park Will Be Extended to Doddridge St." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' 18 February 1905. Pg. 7.</ref> The park charged a 5-cent ($1.65 in 2022) admission fee in 1906<ref>"Olentangy Opening." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch.'' 13 May 1906. Pg. 44.</ref> until June 17 when it was free for the rest of the season.<ref>Ad. ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' 16 June 1906. Pg. 4.</ref>  


General games, such as a Japanese rolling ball game, were also available.<ref>"Columbus Railway & Light Co." ''Street Railway Review.'' Vol. XVI. No. 2. Pg. 70. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Electric_Railway_Review/VlY_AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22shooting+gallery%22+Olentangy&pg=PA70&printsec=frontcover</ref> The [[Igorrote Village]] actors stayed and performed in this area in 1907 and 1908. Two staff members, Sigmo Imamura and Toku Nagaya were married in Fair Japan on July 4, 1909.<ref>"Columbus Notes." ''The Show World.'' Vol. 5. 10 July 1909. Pg. 7.</ref> The area was rebuilt in 1914 and put under the management of Kenoshita [or Kinoshita], a "modest and young" Tokyo native who worked several years in the mercantile business in Cleveland.<ref>"At Olentangy." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch.'' 10 May 1914. Pg. 36.</ref>
General games, such as a Japanese rolling ball game, were also available.<ref>"Columbus Railway & Light Co." ''Street Railway Review.'' Vol. XVI. No. 2. Pg. 70. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Electric_Railway_Review/VlY_AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22shooting+gallery%22+Olentangy&pg=PA70&printsec=frontcover</ref> While Creatore's Italian Band performed during the opening weeks of the 1905 season, vaudeville acts were performed in the Fair Japan exhibition area.<ref>''The Billboard.'' 24 June 1905. Vol. 17 Issue 25. Pg. 8.</ref> The [[Igorrote Village]] actors stayed and performed in this area in 1907 and 1908. Two staff members, Sigmo Imamura and Toku Nagaya were married in Fair Japan on July 4, 1909.<ref>"Columbus Notes." ''The Show World.'' Vol. 5. 10 July 1909. Pg. 7.</ref> The area was rebuilt in 1914 and put under the management of Kenoshita [or Kinoshita], a "modest and young" Tokyo native who worked several years in the mercantile business in Cleveland.<ref>"At Olentangy." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch.'' 10 May 1914. Pg. 36.</ref>


Fair Japan was replaced by the [[Swimming Pool]] in 1917.<ref>"Pool for Olentangy." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch.'' 25 March 1917. Pg. 48.</ref><ref>"A Golden Flora." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch.'' 1 July 1917. Pg. 42.</ref><ref name="candb" />
Fair Japan was replaced by the [[Swimming Pool]] in 1917.<ref>"Pool for Olentangy." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch.'' 25 March 1917. Pg. 48.</ref><ref>"A Golden Flora." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch.'' 1 July 1917. Pg. 42.</ref><ref name="candb" />

Revision as of 15:56, 22 April 2023

Fair Japan
Other Name(s) Japanese Village
Type Activity Space
Exhibition
Music and Performances
Park Section Northwest
Built 1905
Opened 1905
Closed Unknown
Designer Kushibiki Yumindo
Site Area 4-10 acres

Fair Japan was a Japanese Village exhibit space at Olentangy Park[1] where parkgoers could walk through a Japanese-style garden including the Bonzai Bridge, dine at a restaurant in the form of a tea and chop suey house, buy crafts at a bazaar, and watch traditional performances. Designed by Kushibiki Yumindo [published as Yumeta Kushibiki or Umeta Kushibiki], the area was built by 8-15 "native contractors" in 1905 just north of the Figure Eight Toboggan, replacing the Miniature Railway.[2][3]

Joseph Dusenbury originally saw the exhibit at the St. Louis Exposition and imported it to the park.[1] Builder Kushibik had been in the U.S. for 20 years and built similar exhibits at Atlantic City, Buffalo, and St. Louis. The stage featured Legerdemain, tumbling, and other acrobatic features.[4] The park charged a 5-cent ($1.65 in 2022) admission fee in 1906[5] until June 17 when it was free for the rest of the season.[6]

General games, such as a Japanese rolling ball game, were also available.[7] While Creatore's Italian Band performed during the opening weeks of the 1905 season, vaudeville acts were performed in the Fair Japan exhibition area.[8] The Igorrote Village actors stayed and performed in this area in 1907 and 1908. Two staff members, Sigmo Imamura and Toku Nagaya were married in Fair Japan on July 4, 1909.[9] The area was rebuilt in 1914 and put under the management of Kenoshita [or Kinoshita], a "modest and young" Tokyo native who worked several years in the mercantile business in Cleveland.[10]

Fair Japan was replaced by the Swimming Pool in 1917.[11][12][1]

  • Vintage postcard (c. 1905-1906) showing a section of Fair Japan and the Circle Swing.
    Vintage postcard (c. 1905-1906) showing a section of Fair Japan and the Circle Swing.

Controversy

Binzo Suzuki and Sohechl Ilda sued Manager Joseph W. Dusenbury for $1,102 ($37,106 in 2022) due for Japanese goods and merchandise that furnished the Japanese village.[13]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Hyatt, Shirley. Clintonville and Beechwold. Arcadia Publishing, 2009.
  2. ↑ "Geisha Girls are to be Attraction." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 2 January 1905. Pg. 5.
  3. ↑ "Olentangy Park Opens." The Lantern. 29 April 1914. Pg. 4.
  4. ↑ "Olentangy Park Will Be Extended to Doddridge St." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 18 February 1905. Pg. 7.
  5. ↑ "Olentangy Opening." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 13 May 1906. Pg. 44.
  6. ↑ Ad. Columbus Evening Dispatch. 16 June 1906. Pg. 4.
  7. ↑ "Columbus Railway & Light Co." Street Railway Review. Vol. XVI. No. 2. Pg. 70. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Electric_Railway_Review/VlY_AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22shooting+gallery%22+Olentangy&pg=PA70&printsec=frontcover
  8. ↑ The Billboard. 24 June 1905. Vol. 17 Issue 25. Pg. 8.
  9. ↑ "Columbus Notes." The Show World. Vol. 5. 10 July 1909. Pg. 7.
  10. ↑ "At Olentangy." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 10 May 1914. Pg. 36.
  11. ↑ "Pool for Olentangy." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 25 March 1917. Pg. 48.
  12. ↑ "A Golden Flora." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 1 July 1917. Pg. 42.
  13. ↑ "Sue Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 10 September 1905. Pg. 1.
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