1918 Season: Difference between revisions
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== Theater Performances == | == Theater Performances == | ||
The Olentangy Park Stock was gathered by Matt Grau and the season began | The Olentangy Park Stock was gathered by Matt Grau and the season began the week of Monday, June 10.<ref name=":5">"Tenor Lend for Park Stock." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch''. 24 April 1918. Pg. 18.</ref><ref>"Park Stock Plan." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch''. 5 May 1918. Pg. 41.</ref><ref name=":7">"Picking for Park." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch''. 12 May 1918. Pg. 62.</ref> Grau wanted musical comedy acts all season and spent close to $10,000 ($219,647 in 2022) per week to secure the actors.<ref name=":7" /> | ||
=== Members of the Olentangy Park Stock company === | === Members of the Olentangy Park Stock company === | ||
* | *Roger Gray, lead actor/comedian | ||
*Berta Donn, lead actress | |||
*Flavia Arcoro, actor | |||
*George Natanson, actor | |||
Berta Donn was only 18 years old and was described as "very pretty."<ref name=":7" /> | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
Revision as of 21:10, 21 February 2022
This page is under construction. Please remove this notice when complete.
| 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 |
| Stock Manager | Matt Grau |
| 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 at first.[1] Due to demand, it opened for Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays after May 5.[2] The park opened for daily operation on May 26, 1918.[1] Charles Parker and his new orchestra named "Harris' Olentangy Park Orchestra" performed in the Dancing Pavilion while Philip Cincione's Band gave free concerts throughout the season.[3][4] 11,000 people visited on opening day despite it being so early in the year.[5]
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,[6] 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).[7]
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.[8][9][3]
New Attractions
Manager Harris began building the Derby Racer.[10] Later named Over-The-Top, the racer roller coaster had 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."[8] It was 82 feet tall and 1.25 miles in track length.[10]
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.[8] It was the only ride in the country at the time to use concrete channels for the water to carry boats "through the brilliantly-lighted and wonderfully-decorated channels, which extend in a zig-zag way for almost a mile."[9]
Rides and Attractions
Rides
- Caroussel
- Circle Swing
- Electric Express
- Ferris Wheel
- Figure Eight
- Mechanical Autos
- Merry-Go-Round
- Over-The-Top (New)
- Scenic Coaster
- Shoot-the-Chutes
- The Whip (New)
- Whirl Wind
- Ye Olde Mill (rebuilt)
Attractions
- The Colonnade
- Fun House
- Museum of Ornithology
- Swimming Pool
- The Zoo
Music and Performances
- Bandstand
- Dancing Pavilion
- Theater
Activities
- Boating - Launches, Rowboats, & Canoes
- Dancing
- Dining
- Fishing
- General Games
- Picnics
- Pony Rides
- Swimming
- Shooting Gallery
Musical Performances
Charles Parker created a large new orchestra and named it "Harris' Olentangy Park Orchestra." They performed in the Dancing Pavilion ballroom while Philip Cincione's Band returned this season gave daily free outdoor concerts.[3][4]
Theater Performances
The Olentangy Park Stock was gathered by Matt Grau and the season began the week of Monday, June 10.[11][12][13] Grau wanted musical comedy acts all season and spent close to $10,000 ($219,647 in 2022) per week to secure the actors.[13]
Members of the Olentangy Park Stock company
- Roger Gray, lead actor/comedian
- Berta Donn, lead actress
- Flavia Arcoro, actor
- George Natanson, actor
Berta Donn was only 18 years old and was described as "very pretty."[13]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "The New Olentangy." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 23 March 1918. Pg. 54.
- ↑ "Park Open Three Days Weekly." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 5 May 1918. Pg. 41.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Good Music for the Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 31 March 1918. Pg. 51.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Big Orchestra for Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 11 April 1918. Pg. 22.
- ↑ "Olentangy Opens Earliest of Most American Parks." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 6 April 1918. Pg. 12.
- ↑ "Incorporate Park Company." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 16 January 1918. Pg. 9.
- ↑ "Park Lease Filed." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 18 January 1918. Pg. 14.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Lavish Park Plans." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 23 September 1917. Pg. 56.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Park Novelties." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 31 March 1918. Pg. 51.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Are You Going Over the Top?" Columbus Evening Dispatch. 27 April 1918. Pg. 12.
- ↑ "Tenor Lend for Park Stock." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 24 April 1918. Pg. 18.
- ↑ "Park Stock Plan." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 5 May 1918. Pg. 41.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Picking for Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 12 May 1918. Pg. 62.