1918 Season: Difference between revisions

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| season        = 20
| season        = 20
| management    = Will D. Harris (operating lessee)<br />Will D. Harris Amusement Company<br />Joseph W. and Will J. Dusenbury<br />a.k.a. Dusenbury Brothers<br />The Olentangy Park Company
| management    = Will D. Harris (operating lessee)<br />Will D. Harris Amusement Company<br />Joseph W. and Will J. Dusenbury<br />a.k.a. Dusenbury Brothers<br />The Olentangy Park Company
| openingday    =  
| openingday    =March 31, 1918 (Sunday only)<br />May 26, 1918 (Daily)
| closingday    =  
| closingday    =  
| newattractions =Ye Olde Mill (rebuilt)<br />Over-The-Top<br />The Whip  
| newattractions =Ye Olde Mill (rebuilt)<br />Over-The-Top<br />The Whip  
| band          =  
| band          =Philip-Cincione Band<br />Harris' Olentangy Park Orchestra (directed by Charles Parker)
}}
}}


Olentangy Park opened its 20th season in 1918. [[Will D. Harris]] and his new company, Will D. Harris Amusement Company, leased the park from [[Dusenbury Brothers|J.W. and W.J. Dusenbury]] and their company, [[The Olentangy Park Company]], maintained ownership. Harris organized the Will D. Harris Amusement Company in order to take over the management of the park,<ref>"Incorporate Park Company." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' 16 January 1918. Pg. 9.</ref> signing the lease in January 1918, starting on March 5, 1917, and lasting four years and eight months. The total rental amount was $125,000 ($2,745,586 in 2022).<ref>"Park Lease Filed." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch''. 18 January 1918. Pg. 14.</ref>
Olentangy Park opened its 20th season on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1918. It was open for Sundays only until May 26 when the park began operating daily.<ref name=":1">"The New Olentangy." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch''. 23 March 1918. Pg. 54.</ref> Charles Parker and his new orchestra named "Harris' Olentangy Park Orchestra" performed in the Dancing Pavilion
 
[[Will D. Harris]] and his new company, Will D. Harris Amusement Company, leased the park from [[Dusenbury Brothers|J.W. and W.J. Dusenbury]] and their company, [[The Olentangy Park Company]], maintained ownership. Harris organized the Will D. Harris Amusement Company in order to take over the management of the park,<ref>"Incorporate Park Company." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' 16 January 1918. Pg. 9.</ref> signing the lease in January 1918, starting on March 5, 1917, and lasting four years and eight months. The total rental amount was $125,000 ($2,745,586 in 2022).<ref>"Park Lease Filed." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch''. 18 January 1918. Pg. 14.</ref>


===Improvements to the Park===
===Improvements to the Park===
Manager Harris spent $50,000 ($1,098,234 in 2022) on improvements for the 1918 season adding two major attractions, Over-The-Top and The Whip, and rebuilding Ye Olde Mill.<ref name=":0">"Lavish Park Plans." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch.'' 23 September 1917. Pg. 56.</ref>
Manager Harris spent $250,000 ($5,491,172 in 2022) on improvements for the 1918 season<ref name=":1" /> adding two major attractions, Over-The-Top and The Whip, and rebuilding Ye Olde Mill.<ref name=":0">"Lavish Park Plans." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch.'' 23 September 1917. Pg. 56.</ref>


===New Attractions===
===New Attractions===

Revision as of 05:46, 21 February 2022

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

1918 Season Season
Leadership Will D. Harris (operating lessee)
Will D. Harris Amusement Company
Joseph W. and Will J. Dusenbury
a.k.a. Dusenbury Brothers
The Olentangy Park Company
Season 20
New Attractions Ye Olde Mill (rebuilt)
Over-The-Top
The Whip
Band(s) Philip-Cincione Band
Harris' Olentangy Park Orchestra (directed by Charles Parker)

Olentangy Park opened its 20th season on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1918. It was open for Sundays only until May 26 when the park began operating daily.[1] Charles Parker and his new orchestra named "Harris' Olentangy Park Orchestra" performed in the Dancing Pavilion

Will D. Harris and his new company, Will D. Harris Amusement Company, leased the park from J.W. and W.J. Dusenbury and their company, The Olentangy Park Company, maintained ownership. Harris organized the Will D. Harris Amusement Company in order to take over the management of the park,[2] signing the lease in January 1918, starting on March 5, 1917, and lasting four years and eight months. The total rental amount was $125,000 ($2,745,586 in 2022).[3]

Improvements to the Park

Manager Harris spent $250,000 ($5,491,172 in 2022) on improvements for the 1918 season[1] adding two major attractions, Over-The-Top and The Whip, and rebuilding Ye Olde Mill.[4]

New Attractions

Manager Harris began building Over-The-Top, a racer roller coaster with a track almost a full mile long. Two cars started at the same point in time, the occupants of each raced to see who will win. Only four of these types had been constructed when building began. The Columbus Sunday Dispatch claimed it was "one of the most expensive park rides that have been invented."[4]

The Whip was a flat ride where riders got whipped around the corners where they change direction.

Ye Olde Mill was redesigned and rebuilt further north than the original ride with its name that burned down in 1911. The ride was built along new lines and electrical lighting was installed throughout where riders encountered weird scenes.[4]

Rides and Attractions

Rides

Attractions

  • The Colonnade
  • Fun House
  • Museum of Ornithology
  • Swimming Pool
  • The Zoo

Music and Performances

Activities

  • Boating - Launches, Rowboats, & Canoes
  • Dancing
  • Dining
  • Fishing
  • General Games
  • Picnics
  • Pony Rides
  • Swimming
  • Shooting Gallery

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "The New Olentangy." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 23 March 1918. Pg. 54.
  2. "Incorporate Park Company." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 16 January 1918. Pg. 9.
  3. "Park Lease Filed." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 18 January 1918. Pg. 14.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Lavish Park Plans." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 23 September 1917. Pg. 56.