1904 Season: Difference between revisions

From Olentangy Park Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Added bear attack
Added opening info
Line 7: Line 7:
| openingday    = May 15, 1904
| openingday    = May 15, 1904
| closingday    =  
| closingday    =  
| newattractions = The Colonnade<br />Restaurant
| newattractions = Ye Olde Mill or Auquarama<br />Circle Swing<br />Palace of Illusions<br />Arcade<br />Pony and Camel Track<br />Palm Garden<br />The Colonnade
| stockcompany  = Olentangy Park Stock Company
| stockcompany  = Olentangy Park Stock Company
| theatermanager =  
| theatermanager =  
Line 13: Line 13:
}}
}}


The Olentangy Park, Theater, and Zoological Garden opened for the 1904 season on Sunday, May 15, 1904.<ref name="vaudeville">"Vaudeville for Olentangy." ''Sunday Columbus Dispatch.'' 6 March 1904. Pg. 4.</ref>
The Olentangy Park, Theater, and Zoological Garden opened for the 1904 season on Sunday, May 15, 1904.<ref name="vaudeville">"Vaudeville for Olentangy." ''Sunday Columbus Dispatch.'' 6 March 1904. Pg. 4.</ref><ref name="opening">"Grand Opening Olentangy Park, Theater and Zoo." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch.'' 24 April 1904. Pg. 4.</ref>


==Notable Events==
===Park Improvements===
The park expanded to comprise over 100 sq. acres. The [[Ball Grounds]] were enclosed and a large grandstand was added. The [[Dancing Pavilion (First)|Dancing Pavilion]] and [[Bowling alleys|bowling alleys]] were enlarged and improved. Rare and interesting birds and animals were added to the zoo, growing it to be three times larger than the previous season.<ref name="opening" />


===Bear Attack===
===Bear Attack===
Line 21: Line 22:


==Rides and Attractions==
==Rides and Attractions==
===New Colonnade===
''Main Article:'' [[Colonnade]]
The [[Colonnade]] was a 270 feet long building lined with columns and built to the east of the theater and offered refreshments and amusements."<ref name="opening" />
===New Funhouses===
The [[Castle Mystic]], also called the Mystic Castle, this fun house was described in the ''Columbus Sunday Dispatch'' as "full of mirth and mystery," while [[Palace of Illusions]] was "entertaining, mystifying, and instructive."<ref name="opening" /> [[The House That Jack Built]] was also listed in an ad and could have been the [[House of Trouble]].<ref name="opening-ad">Ad. ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch.'' 24 April 1904. Pg. 4.</ref>
===Other Rides and Attractions===
   
   
* [[Penny Arcade (Colonnade)|Arcade]] '''NEW'''<ref name="opening" />
* Baby Rack
* Baby Rack
* [[Bathing Pavilion]]
* [[Bathing Pavilion]]
Line 27: Line 40:
* [[Bowling alleys]]
* [[Bowling alleys]]
* [[Cave of the Winds]]
* [[Cave of the Winds]]
* [[Circle Swing]] '''NEW'''<ref name="opening" />
* [[Crystal Maze]]
* [[Crystal Maze]]
* [[Ferris Wheel]]
* [[Ferris Wheel]]
* [[Figure Eight Toboggan]]
* [[Figure Eight Toboggan]]
* [[House of Trouble]]
* [[House of Trouble]]
* [[The House That Jack Built]]  '''NEW'''<ref name="opening" />
* [[Laughing Gallery]]
* [[Laughing Gallery]]
* [[Merry-Go-Round]]
* [[Merry-Go-Round]]
* [[Miniature Railway]]
* [[Miniature Railway]] - listed as "new"<ref name="opening" />
* [[Museum of Ornithology]]
* [[Museum of Ornithology]]
* [[Floral Conservatory|Palm Garden]] '''NEW'''<ref name="opening" />
* [[Shooting Gallery]]
* [[Shooting Gallery]]
* Swings
* Swings
* [[Water Toboggan]]
* [[Water Toboggan]]
* [[Ye Olde Mill (First)|Ye Olde Mill or Auquarama]] '''NEW'''<ref name="opening" />
* [[Zoological Garden]]
* [[Zoological Garden]]


Line 43: Line 60:
''Main Article:'' [[Olentangy Park Casino and Theater]]
''Main Article:'' [[Olentangy Park Casino and Theater]]


Vaudeville returned for the 1904 season.<ref name="vaudeville" /> The Dusenbury Brothers made a deal with the Vaudeville Managers Association of America to obtain a vaudeville franchise for Columbus.<ref name="vaudeville-2">"Vaudeville at Olentangy." ''The Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' 20 March 1904. Pg.4.</ref> W.W. Prosser of Columbus was hired to manage the casino and J.K. Burke, former manager of Minerva Park, booked acts from New York.<ref>"Notes." ''The Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' 17 March 1904. Pg.4.</ref><ref name="vaudeville-2" />
Vaudeville returned for the 1904 season with two sets of performances daily throughout the season.<ref name="vaudeville" /> The Dusenbury Brothers made a deal with the Vaudeville Managers Association of America to obtain a vaudeville franchise for Columbus.<ref name="vaudeville-2">"Vaudeville at Olentangy." ''The Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' 20 March 1904. Pg.4.</ref> W.W. Prosser of Columbus was hired to manage the casino and J.K. Burke, former manager of Minerva Park, booked acts from New York.<ref>"Notes." ''The Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' 17 March 1904. Pg.4.</ref><ref name="vaudeville-2" /><ref name="opening" />


==Music==
==Music==
Wendell S. Powell's Olentangy Band with 30 musicians returned to play afternoon and evening performances at both the [[Olentangy Park Casino and Theater|theater]] and the [[Dancing Pavilion (First)|Dancing Pavilion]].<ref name="opening" />


* [[Dancing Pavilion (First)|Dancing Pavilion]]
* [[Dancing Pavilion (First)|Dancing Pavilion]]
Line 54: Line 73:


===Other Activities===
===Other Activities===
====Ball Grounds====
''Main Article:'' [[Ball Grounds]]
The ball grounds were enclosed and a large grandstand was added. The park hired N.A. McCoy as the manager of the ball grounds, clubs, and teams from Columbus and the surrounding areas. There were games every day with special games on Sundays and holidays.<ref name="opening" />


* [[Ball Grounds|Baseball]]
* [[Ball Grounds|Baseball]]
Line 64: Line 88:
* General Games
* General Games
* Picnics
* Picnics
* [[Pony Rides]] '''NEW'''<ref name="opening" />
* [[Bathing Pavilion|Swimming]]
* [[Bathing Pavilion|Swimming]]



Revision as of 05:16, 18 January 2023

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

1904 Season Season
Leadership Joseph W. Dusenbury
The Olentangy Park Company
New Attractions Ye Olde Mill or Auquarama
Circle Swing
Palace of Illusions
Arcade
Pony and Camel Track
Palm Garden
The Colonnade
Stock Company Olentangy Park Stock Company
Band(s) Wendell S. Powell's Olentangy Band

The Olentangy Park, Theater, and Zoological Garden opened for the 1904 season on Sunday, May 15, 1904.[1][2]

Park Improvements

The park expanded to comprise over 100 sq. acres. The Ball Grounds were enclosed and a large grandstand was added. The Dancing Pavilion and bowling alleys were enlarged and improved. Rare and interesting birds and animals were added to the zoo, growing it to be three times larger than the previous season.[2]

Bear Attack

Peter Duffy, an attendant at the park's zoo, was attacked by a Himalayan bear when feeding the animals raw meat. Duffy was carrying the meat in a basket when the bear reached out of its cage to grab it. He became angry and opened the cage to confront the bear and take back the meat. The bear attacked Duffy causing lacerations all over his body. Other attendants saved Duffy, who survived.[3]

Rides and Attractions

New Colonnade

Main Article: Colonnade

The Colonnade was a 270 feet long building lined with columns and built to the east of the theater and offered refreshments and amusements."[2]

New Funhouses

The Castle Mystic, also called the Mystic Castle, this fun house was described in the Columbus Sunday Dispatch as "full of mirth and mystery," while Palace of Illusions was "entertaining, mystifying, and instructive."[2] The House That Jack Built was also listed in an ad and could have been the House of Trouble.[4]

Other Rides and Attractions

Olentangy Park Theater

Main Article: Olentangy Park Casino and Theater

Vaudeville returned for the 1904 season with two sets of performances daily throughout the season.[1] The Dusenbury Brothers made a deal with the Vaudeville Managers Association of America to obtain a vaudeville franchise for Columbus.[5] W.W. Prosser of Columbus was hired to manage the casino and J.K. Burke, former manager of Minerva Park, booked acts from New York.[6][5][2]

Music

Wendell S. Powell's Olentangy Band with 30 musicians returned to play afternoon and evening performances at both the theater and the Dancing Pavilion.[2]

Outdoor Performances and Stunts

Activities

Other Activities

Ball Grounds

Main Article: Ball Grounds

The ball grounds were enclosed and a large grandstand was added. The park hired N.A. McCoy as the manager of the ball grounds, clubs, and teams from Columbus and the surrounding areas. There were games every day with special games on Sundays and holidays.[2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Vaudeville for Olentangy." Sunday Columbus Dispatch. 6 March 1904. Pg. 4.
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 "Grand Opening Olentangy Park, Theater and Zoo." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 24 April 1904. Pg. 4.
  3. "Peter Duffy has Narrow Escape from Angry Bear at the Olentangy Zoo." The Columbus Evening Dispatch. 22 March 1904. Pg. 1.
  4. Ad. The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 24 April 1904. Pg. 4.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Vaudeville at Olentangy." The Columbus Evening Dispatch. 20 March 1904. Pg.4.
  6. "Notes." The Columbus Evening Dispatch. 17 March 1904. Pg.4.