1917 Season: Difference between revisions
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Olentangy Park's 29th season opened first on Sunday, April 29, 1917, for Sundays only and for daily operation on Sunday, May 27, 1917.<ref>"Two Park Openings." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch.'' 15 April 1917. Pg. 56.</ref> Burke's Military Band | Olentangy Park's 29th season opened first on Sunday, April 29, 1917, for Sundays only and for daily operation on Sunday, May 27, 1917.<ref>"Two Park Openings." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch.'' 15 April 1917. Pg. 56.</ref> Opening Day featured Robinson's Trained Elephants and Vaudeville as well as Burke's Military Band and McCardle's Orchestra proving music in the Dancing Pavilion throughout the season. [[Will D. Harris]] was the operating lessee of the park, while [[Dusenbury Brothers|J.W. and W.J. Dusenbury]] and their company, [[The Olentangy Park Company]], maintained ownership.<ref name=":0">"Olentangy News." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch''. 8 April 1917. Pg. 42.</ref> | ||
Ads claimed Olentangy Park was the "largest and most complete" amusement park in the U.S.<ref>Ad. ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch''. 6 May 1917. Pg. 49.</ref> | |||
One hundred ten to 160 men worked throughout the spring to clean up and prepare the park for its opening.<ref name=":0" /> Electricians installed and tested 15,687 electric light globes - each ranging from 60 to 100 candlepower and come in all colors and sizes. The most elaborate lighting was in the [[Dancing Pavilion (Second)|Dancing Pavilion]] ballroom where lights gave a combined power of 100,000 candlepower to create a moonlight effect. The sidewalks were also "alive with lights" and the amusement devices were a "mass of light from one end to the other." Lights were also installed to light the automobile parking lot and towers at each end of the park could be seen for miles.<ref>"Parks Open as May Comes In." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch''. 29 April 1917. Pg. 63.</ref> | One hundred ten to 160 men worked throughout the spring to clean up and prepare the park for its opening.<ref name=":0" /> Electricians installed and tested 15,687 electric light globes - each ranging from 60 to 100 candlepower and come in all colors and sizes. The most elaborate lighting was in the [[Dancing Pavilion (Second)|Dancing Pavilion]] ballroom where lights gave a combined power of 100,000 candlepower to create a moonlight effect. The sidewalks were also "alive with lights" and the amusement devices were a "mass of light from one end to the other." Lights were also installed to light the automobile parking lot and towers at each end of the park could be seen for miles.<ref>"Parks Open as May Comes In." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch''. 29 April 1917. Pg. 63.</ref> | ||
Revision as of 22:50, 17 February 2022
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| Leadership | Will D. Harris (operating lessee) Joseph W. and Will J. Dusenbury a.k.a. Dusenbury Brothers The Olentangy Park Company |
|---|---|
| Season | 29 |
| Band(s) | Burke's Military Band McCardle's Orchestra |
Olentangy Park's 29th season opened first on Sunday, April 29, 1917, for Sundays only and for daily operation on Sunday, May 27, 1917.[1] Opening Day featured Robinson's Trained Elephants and Vaudeville as well as Burke's Military Band and McCardle's Orchestra proving music in the Dancing Pavilion throughout the season. Will D. Harris was the operating lessee of the park, while J.W. and W.J. Dusenbury and their company, The Olentangy Park Company, maintained ownership.[2]
Ads claimed Olentangy Park was the "largest and most complete" amusement park in the U.S.[3]
One hundred ten to 160 men worked throughout the spring to clean up and prepare the park for its opening.[2] Electricians installed and tested 15,687 electric light globes - each ranging from 60 to 100 candlepower and come in all colors and sizes. The most elaborate lighting was in the Dancing Pavilion ballroom where lights gave a combined power of 100,000 candlepower to create a moonlight effect. The sidewalks were also "alive with lights" and the amusement devices were a "mass of light from one end to the other." Lights were also installed to light the automobile parking lot and towers at each end of the park could be seen for miles.[4]
Commodore Joe Keenan made improvements to the Olentangy Canoe Club where nominal dues were one dollar. Manager Harris replaced all the old steel row boats.[5]
Rides and Attractions
Rides
- Caroussel
- Circle Swing
- Electric Express
- Ferris Wheel
- Figure Eight
- Merry-Go-Round
- Ye Olde Mill
- Scenic Coaster
- Shoot-the-Chutes
- Whirl Wind
Attractions
- The Colonnade
- Fun House
- Museum of Ornithology
- The Zoo
Music and Performances
- Bandstand
- Dancing Pavilion
- Theater
Activities
- Boating - Launches, Rowboats, & Canoes
- Dancing
- Dining
- General Games
- Picnics
- Pony Rides
- Shooting Gallery
Performances
Will D. Harris booked two musical comedies for the theater to provide entertainment until headliner Mary Servoss finished her shows in New York in May to begin shows at the park theater in June.[2]
The Olentangy Theater hosted the Crestview Junior High School during its house-warming party on Thursday, May 3, 1917. Seventy-five cast members performed "Mr. Bob," a musical comedy, directed by Grant P. Ward and starring Louise Tuttle, Kathryn Nowel, Louise Dixon, Dorothy Williams, Hazel Riggle, Charles Vogel, Robert Shields, and Morton Bodfish. [6][7]
The Ohio State University Strollers performed "Mrs. Gerringe's Necklace," a Henry Davies comedy, on May 4 and 5.[8] They were directed by Carle b. Robbins and starred Eleanor H. Lewis as Mrs. Gorringe, Marie Guthrie as Isabel Kirk, Mabel Nichol as Mrs. Jardine, Humphrey W. Pearson as Captain Mowbray, Harry E. Ronch as Lieutenant David Cairn, Paul M. Herbert as the colonel, Carson Blair as the detective, Mariam G. Smith as the daughter, Arian R. Thorley as the butler, and Gwendolyne V. Decker as Miss Potts.[9][10]
References
- ↑ "Two Park Openings." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 15 April 1917. Pg. 56.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Olentangy News." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 8 April 1917. Pg. 42.
- ↑ Ad. The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 6 May 1917. Pg. 49.
- ↑ "Parks Open as May Comes In." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 29 April 1917. Pg. 63.
- ↑ "Canoeing." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 29 April 1917. Pg. 20.
- ↑ Columbus Evening Dispatch. 24 April 1917. Pg. 20.
- ↑ "Mr. 'Bob' Improving." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 1 May 1917. Pg. 22.
- ↑ "Humphry Pearson." Photo. The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 22 April 1917. Pg. 58.
- ↑ "Stroller Play Tonight." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 4 May 1917. Pg. 32.
- ↑ "The University Players." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 5 May 1917. Pg. 10.