1900 Season

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1900 Season Season
Leadership Joseph W. Dusenbury
The Olentangy Park Company
Frank Burt
New Attractions Bathing Pavilion
Theater Manager A.C. Lacy

Olentangy Park opened for the 1900 season on the afternoon of Sunday, May 20, 1900.[1][2] Fred Neddermeyer's Famous Band and Orchestra provided music throughout the season.[1][3] Frank Burt, general manager of The Olentangy Park Co., booked the performances and stunts and A.C. Lacy managed the theater.[4][5][6][7]

Joseph W. Dusenbury managed both Olentangy as well as Minerva park. The operating company, The Olentangy Park Co., was a private company and was not connected to the Columbus Railway Company. The park grounds were leased by the park company and all the buildings, bridges, electric lighting plant, and other structures were the property of the park company. Performing artists' and musicians' wages increased 25 to 100 percent from the previous year. Due to these rising costs, the cost of admission was set at 5 cents ($1.76 in 2022) per person, except children, and included the whole park as well as the gallery in the theater.[3]

This season, a new bathhouse called the Bathing Pavilion was erected[8] with a toboggan slide, called the Water Toboggan and more lights were added.[1][9] Stunts became a staple this season as well.[3]

Rides and Attractions

New Bathing Pavilion and Water Toboggan

Main Articles: Bathing Pavilion and Water Toboggan

Built in the ravine, across from the boat dock, the bathing pavilion amenities of a beach such as dressing rooms separated by gender along the Olentangy River. It was 100 feet by 13 feet and 9 feet tall. Up-to-date bathing suits were supplied to patrons.[9] In the center of the structure stood a toboggan slide, named the water toboggan. Invented by J.W. Pickens, the amusement manager for the Columbus Railway Company since 1899, the slide was 50 feet wide coming off a tower that was 12 feet by 13 feet, with the platform 30 feet above the bathhouse roof, making the length around 100 feet long. Riders using standard ice slide toboggans faced a 40-foot drop followed by a second 15-foot drop, ending in water 2 feet deep at the end of the slide and 10 feet deep 30 feet away.[10]

Other Rides and Attractions

Theater and Stunt Performances

Main Article: Olentangy Park Casino and Theater

Originally, George L. Chennell, was rumored to return to manage the theater for a second season.[6] Instead, A.C. Lacy became the new manager.[7] The shows were mostly vaudeville acts.[8]

Week of May 20 (Opening Week)

Edna Bassett Marshall and company performed in the theater during the opening week,[1] while "Dare Devil" Charles Ellis performed an outdoor high bicycle dive stunt.[3] Other shows included the Faust Family of seven acrobats; Professor Coin's dog circus; DeHollis and Velora, a comedic juggling act; Kittie Wolf, known as the "Queen of the Summer Girls," with popular songs and dancing; and Morphet and Stevenson, prestidigitation and musical comedy act.[11] Ellis rode his bike down an incline and dove off a 50-foot tower into the river below.[9]

Week of May 27

"Plays and Players" was performed at the theater this week. Performers included Walsch, Edit Wells, and Smith and Fuller. W.J. McDermott imitated Sousa. The theater also presented Kinedrome pictures featuring scenes of the Columbus Fire Department runs and more. Outside, W.J. Summer performed balloon ascensions and parachute dives.[12][13][14]

Music

Fred Neddermeyer's Famous Band and Orchestra provided music twice per day throughout the season.[1] The band's cost increased by over $800 ($28,200 in 2022) more than the previous year and the total spent on music prior to opening was $4,000 (over $141,000).[3]

Dancing in the Dance Pavilion

Main article: Dancing Pavilion

Dancing in the park's dance pavilion was a popular activity. The Legretta Club held hops monthly.[15]

Activities

Off-Season Activities

During the winter months, bowling and trap shooting were available at the park.[16]

Other Activities

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 13 May 1900. Pg. 21.
  2. ↑ "Olentangy Park: Opening of the Season." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 16 May 1900. Pg. 11.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Olentangy Features." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 18 May 1900. Pg. 7.
  4. ↑ "Short Items." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 20 March 1900. Pg. 7.
  5. ↑ "Chennell Out of It." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 22 March 1900. Pg. 8.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Chennell and Lacy." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 28 April 1900. Pg. 7.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Scribes Entertained." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 19 May 1900. Pg. 6.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Park Improvements." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 11 May 1900. Pg. 7.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 20 May 1900. Pg. 18.
  10. ↑ "Toboggan Slide for Pleasure Parks." The Street Railway Review. Vol. 11. 1901. Published by Chicago: Street Railway Review Pub. Co. Pg. 89.
  11. ↑ "Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 19 May 1900. Pg. 9.
  12. ↑ "Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 29 May 1900. Pg. 11.
  13. ↑ "Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 30 May 1900. Pg. 9.
  14. ↑ "Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 31 May 1900. Pg. 11.
  15. ↑ "Society." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 6 May 1900. Pg. 24.
  16. ↑ "The Traps: Cresents Annual Shoot." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 5 March 1900. Pg. 9.
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