1919 Season

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1919 Season
Leadership Park Amusement Co.
Jacob F. Luft, manager
W. N. Ferguson, president
Joseph D. Cleary, assistant manager

The Olentangy Park Company
Joseph W. Dusenbury, president
William J. Dusenbury
Pre-season April 6, 1919 - May 18, 1919
Season May 25, 1919 - Sept. 13, 1919
Post-season Sept. 14, 1919 - October 1919
Stock Company Bafunno and Rice Producing Company
Band(s) The Rainbow Division Band
Park Size More than 100 acres
Tagline "The Playground of Columbus"

Olentangy Park opened its 1919 season on Sunday, April 6, 1919, the earliest it had ever opened in a year.[1] A 20-piece jazz orchestra provided live music for the park's Dancing Pavilion.[2][3] Most of the park opened on Sundays at first for its pre-season, with the theater and the swimming pool opening later in the summer on June 3 and May 30, respectively.[4] The park's official opening for daily operation happened on May 25.[5] Admission was 5 cents92 cents in 2025 dollars at first but doubled to 10 cents$1.85 in 2025 dollars, with Harris claiming it was needed due to the war tax. Children were admitted for free.[6][7]

Room for 1,000 automobiles was provided in the parking space for the park in an enclosure just off High Street.[8] The space was leveled down, graded, and covered in fresh gravel.[9] The Park Amusement Co. used a "checking system" to prevent theft and claimed that no automobiles had been stolen.[10]

Will D. Harris disposed of his interests in the park to devote his time to films at The Grand Theater, and Jacob F. Luft became the park's manager.[11]

Originally, there was no musical stock at the theater this season[11] because the new management company believed it would have been too expensive, and a 15-piece special orchestra played live music for the park.[12] However, the president of the company and the theater manager later struck a deal for 14 weeks of comedy by the Bafunno and Rice Producing Company.[13]

By July 6, the attendance surpassed 300,000 with predictions of more than a million before closing. It was the largest amusement park in Ohio at the time at more than 100 acres, and at an expenditure of more than $1 million.[14]

The park was open daily until it began its post-season on Sept. 14, when it switched to Sundays only, except for Monday, Sept. 22, for its Emancipation Day celebration.[15][16] The park ended its operation for the year in October.[5]

For ride and attraction changes, see the Rides and Attractions section.

Change in Management

Will D. Harris was the lessee-operator of the park when it opened for the season. He leased the park from J. W. and W. J. Dusenbury and their company, the Olentangy Park Company, which maintained ownership.[17] The park's operation was taken over by new management, changing the name of the Will D. Harris Amusement Co. to the Park Amusement Co. in mid-April. The operators involved in the new company included W. N. Ferguson, the president of Cedar Falls Oil Co., as president; and Jacob F. Luft, the treasurer of the Grand, Southern, and Olentangy Park theaters, who became the manager. Joseph Cleary, a well-known Columbus detective at the time, became the assistant manager.[18] Harris left Olentangy Park to focus on the Grand Theater to expand its motion picture program.[19][20]

Effects of the War Tax

On Feb. 24, 1919, the United States Congress passed a revenue act requiring places of amusement to pay a tax on every admission, ride, and attraction ticket. The doubling of the gate cost to 10 cents$1.85 in 2025 dollars was to help lower the need for other ticket price increases. A 1-cent18 cents in 2025 dollars tax was added to every 5 or 10-cent92 cents or $1.85 in 2025 dollars sale, a 2-cent37 cents in 2025 dollars tax was added for every 15 and 12-cent$2.77 and $2.22 in 2025 dollars sale, and a 3-cent55 cents in 2025 dollars tax for every 25 and 30-cent$4.62 and $5.55 in 2025 dollars sale, and so on. These taxes applied to tickets and refreshments with special taxes for the theater, dance pavilion, bowling alleys, billiard tables, shooting gallery, games, fortune telling, arcades, and other features. Harris paid a war tax for the two years prior but did not raise prices, but felt it was needed for the 1919 season.[7]

Lawsuits

In June, W. J. and J. W. Dusenbury sued and wanted to cancel the lease held by Will D. Harris and the Park Amusement Co. Harris, who took over the park on March 5, 1917, and subleased it to the Park Amusement Co. earlier in the season,[21] asked that a receiver be appointed for the park company and the park. The Dusenbury brothers alleged that the Park Amusement Co. was conducting gambling on the park grounds in violation of the lease terms. Harris said he remained in control of the Park Amusement Co. and changed the company's name from his name as a stockholder. Since he was in control, he claimed the proceeds from the park were to go toward the payment of the debts of the original Will D. Harris Co. However, when W. N. Furguson was made theater manager, Harris was thrown out, and the profits were distributed to the park company instead. Harris' application for a receiver was originally continued until Furguson could attend court.[22]

In July, attorney Eugene Morgan, for the benefit of the creditors of Harris, filed a lawsuit asking for a receiver or trustees for all property turned over to the Park Amusement Co. last spring. The Electric Sales Company, a creditor of Harris, wanted $775$14,326 in 2025 dollars. Harris, Ferguson, David Armstrong of Jackson, Ohio, and J. P. Russell were named as defendants. Since Harris turned over his interests consisting of 496 shares in the Will D. Harris Co. and the leasehold on the park, creditors were not able to collect anything from Harris.[23] This led Judge M. G. Evans of the Franklin County courts to deny the request to appoint a receiver after Judge Kinkead had already heard the case. The Park Amusement Co. said they'd give a bond to pay the debts assumed by Harris after they determined what they were for Olentangy Park and not allow funds to pay for the Grand Theater, which Harris continued to operate.[24]

Later in July, other creditors filed lawsuits against Harris. They included Charles H. Towson of Lancaster, who said he lent Harris $1,500$28,010 in 2025 dollars; John T. Dundon, with a claim of $1,684$31,446 in 2025 dollars for lumber; attorney F. A. Siegel, who said he had Harris's promissory note for $1,500$28,010 in 2025 dollars; and W. L. Arnett, who said he lent Harris $1,000$18,673 in 2025 dollars.[25]

Judge Kinkead also refused to appoint a receiver and ordered the Park Amusement Co. to give a bond of over $10,000$184,855 in 2025 dollars, guaranteeing the payment of debts of the park.[26]

Jacob Luft, park manager, later sued the Park Amusement Co. for his salary of $1,600$33,886 in 2025 dollars, stating that he was hired on May 1, 1918, to manage the theater for $50$1,059 in 2025 dollars per week and worked 16 weeks. In 1919, he was hired to work for $100$1,848 in 2025 dollars per week and worked 10 weeks. He said he was only paid $200$3,697 in 2025 dollars of the $1,800$33,274 in 2025 dollars owed.[27]

Injuries

Dora Young sustained a broken arm in a fall at the Swimming Pool on July 5.[28]

Other Notable Events

Strike Closure

Manager J. D. Cleary closed the park on Wednesday, Sept. 3, due to the streetcar strike. A major Mardi Gras celebration started the previous evening.[29][30] The park reopened four days later on Sunday, Sept. 7, and Mardi Gras celebrations continued the next day.[31]

Emancipation Day Celebration

The park held an Emancipation Day event on Sept. 22 that opened the park exclusively for visitors of color. The event featured contests judged by athlete Dave Smallwood at the north end of the park grounds and was advertised to the greater central Ohio area.[32]

Rides and Attractions

Improvements to the Swimming Pool

Main Article: Swimming Pool

A new system was added to the Swimming Pool to make it more efficient, allowing the park to serve 15,000 visitors per day. Bathers were slowed by a haphazard process of checking in their street clothes to change into the park bathing suits the previous year, and in 1919, the checking room was enlarged, and a larger staff was there to help along the east side of the bathing house. Valuables were checked in another room with sealed and signed envelopes for security. A shower on the south part of the bathing house forced swimmers through before entering the pool, cleaning visitors and acclimating them to the chilled water. City water was always running into the pool to keep it clean.[33] By July, nearly 10,000 bathing suits were available.[14]

Al Josephs, also known as "Old Dandy Joe," was the chief lifeguard at the pool. He had 35 years of lifeguard experience and had a connection with the park for 20 years. He previously was a lifeguard at Rockaway Beach, Long Island, New York, and later, a lifeguard at Coney Island, Atlantic City, Old Orchard Beach (Maine), and other locations. He told the Columbus Dispatch that he believed the pool had seen over 100,000 swimmers in the previous two years without a drowning incident. Josephs's assistant, Mike Pepe, was a former North High School football star and later employed at the Y.M.C.A. as a swimming instructor. Frank Dunigan, an expert swimmer and diver, was Josephs's second assistant.[34]

Season tickets for the pool went on sale around June 1 for $6$111.49 in 2025 dollars[35] and $2$37.16 in 2025 dollars in August.[36]

There was a diving contest on August 9.[37]

Fight Reports from North Bandstand

Main Article: Bandstand (2)

Manager Joe Cleary gave reports received by wire of the Willard-Dempsey fight to the park crowd from the north bandstand in June.[38]

Dancing Pavilion

Main Article: Dancing Pavilion (2)

Manager Joe Cleary held dance contests on Wednesday and Saturday nights once the theater season ended, starting with "Victory Night" on Wednesday, July 16.[39]

List of Rides and Attractions

Theater, Vaudeville, and Stunt Performances

Olentangy Park Theater

Main Article: Olentangy Park Casino and Theater

Performances

On April 26, the North High School Thespians performed "Green Stockings," a play by A. E. Mason, at the theater.[40]

On May 17, the Patriotic League Glee Club presented a minstrel show directed by Lillian Sticklin and managed by A. C. Moorhaus.[41] Part of the performance featured women in bear suits presenting the Teddy Bear Glide.[42] Soloists included Jessie Masteller, Florence Ames, Berniece Justice, Ruth Dowd, Lucille Reuppersberg, Linda Furniss, Myra Woodruff, Emma Mohlenpah, Marie Emmelhainz, Louis Cherry, Verna Berger, and Corinne Borchers. In the olio was Margaret Davis, Lucille Wagner, Milfred Root, Florence Ames, and Margaret Davies.[41]

Three hundred participants from North High School performed the operetta "The Conquest of Nations" on Saturday, May 24, the day before the park's opening for daily operation. This was the first time the operetta was performed in Ohio. The solos were performed by Ruth Heizer, Catherine Mackintosh, Pauline Dorn, Charles Medick, and Edgar Sprague. Ruth Caldrewood played the Spirit of Fair Play, Martha Mathews played Utopia, and Katheryn Mathews played Columbia.[43]

Theater's Need for Repairs

A state inspector visited the park in June and told the Dusenbury brothers that the entire theater building had to be rewired, four additional exits had to be provided, new aisles created, stairways strengthened, and other repairs made within 30 days.[22]

The Bafunno and Price Producing Company

Park Amusement Co. president Jacob Luft and the Olentangy Park Theater manager W. N. Furguson agreed to have 14 weeks of musical comedies presented by Antonio "Tony" Bafunno and Alonzo Rice and their own producing company,[44] however, other obligations cut this to six weeks.[45] The season opened June 3 with "Review of Reviews," after being postponed one night. Bufunno previously directed the Musical Players at the Grand Theater, and Price worked with the Henry W. Savage company and was known as a producer and manager of unusual talents. Price was in charge of the productions, while Bufunno was the musical director and in charge of the orchestra. They created Bafunno and Rice Producing Company for their work that summer. The cast had at least 35 members.[13]

Dispatch Contest

There were 23 pieces of a photograph in the May 25 issue of the Columbus Sunday Dispatch of Mina Davenport, the Prima Dona of The Bafunno and Price Producing Company.[46] Readers who cut out the twenty-three pieces and place them together properly could send them to the newspaper with the advertisers' information to be entered into a contest with the following prizes:

  • First place prize - One entire box for three performances on June 2, June 9, and June 16, an $18 value$334 in 2025 dollars
  • Second place prize - One entire box for two performances on June 3 and June 10, a $12 value$223 in 2025 dollars
  • Third place prize - One entire box for Wednesday night, June 4, and two box seats for June 11 and June 18, a $10 value$186 in 2025 dollars
  • Fourth place prize - One entire box for Monday night, June 2, and two box seats for June 9, an $8 value$149 in 2025 dollars
  • Fifth place prize - One entire box for Tuesday night, June 3, a $6 value$111 in 2025 dollars
  • 25 other winners a varying number of orchestra seat tickets for different performance dates, ranging from $1 to $3$18.58 to $55.75 in 2025 dollars

Marie McColley, Gilbert S. Barbee, and Corinnie E. Fisher won the first, second, and third prizes on June 1.[47]

Stock Members

Members included:

  • Antonio Bafunno, musical director
  • Elaine Claire, dancer
  • Mina Davenport, lead actress
  • Betty De Sales, soubrette
  • Clara Louise Evans, actress
  • Lillian Ludlow, actress
  • Harry Murray, actor
  • Tom O'Hare, actor
  • Alonzo Rice, manager
  • Ferne Rogers, lead actress
  • Henry Taylor, lead actor
  • William "Billy" Welp, actor

Stock Performances

Matinees on Wednesdays and Saturdays were 25 and 50 cents$4.62 and $9.24 in 2025 dollars, and every evening at 8:15 for 25cents$4.62 in 2025 dollars, 50 cents$9.24 in 2025 dollars, and 75 cents$13.86 in 2025 dollars. Tickets were first sold at the Wilkin-Redman and Heaton's music stores as well as the park's box office.[48][49] A private phone line was installed at Heaton's Music Store to accommodate those who could not go in person to purchase tickets.[50]

Dates Peformance Writer Genre Headliners Notes
June 2*-8, 1919 "Review of Reviews" Comedy Mina Davenport The first performance was postponed for one day due to a late delivery of costumes.[51][13]
June 9-15, 1919 "Alma" or "Alma, Where Do You Live?" Comedy Mina Davenport, Henry Taylor [52]
June 16-22, 1919 "A Knight For a Day" Comedy Mina Davenport, Henry Taylor Also said to be "A King but for a Day"[53][54]
June 23-29, 1919 "Madame Sherry" Comedy Mina Davenport, Henry Taylor [55]
June 30 to July 6, 1919 "The Firefly" Comedy Ferne Rogers [56]
July 7-13, 1919 "The Girl of My Dreams" [57] Comedy Henry Taylor, Ferne Rogers

Other Acts

Circus acts were performed twice a day in August. There was also a special stage at the south end of the Shoot-the-Chutes pool with unusual electrical effects.[58]

Here are some of the acts:

Aug. 3-9:

  • The Five Flying Herberts and the Omar Sisters[58]
  • Ringamons, trapeze, high wire, and tumbling act[59]

Aug. 10-16:

  • Leroy and Alexander, comedy triple trapeze act and an act from Chicago[60]
  • Samayoa, from France, slack wire act

Aug. 17-23:

  • Sterling Rose Trio, a woman and two men who perform aerial gymnastics, strength tests, holding and revolving by the teeth, etc.[61]
  • The Bluches, a fast comedy act involving clowns

Aug. 24-30 (Ohio State Fair Week):

  • C. A. Chandler did a 95-foot dive from an electrically-lit ladder headlong into a net and balloon ascension and parachute leap[62] The act was postponed for a day due to a missed connection when the balloon was to be delivered.[63]

The park management reached out to the world heavyweight boxer Jack Dempsey to have an exhibit at the park on July 13, but Dempsey's request for $5,000$93,366 in 2025 dollars was too high.[64]

Musical Performances

A 20-piece jazz orchestra provided live music for the park's Dancing Pavilion on opening day.[2][3]

The Rainbow Division Band of 40 members played for several weeks.[65]

Parker's Orchestra performed at the Dance Pavilion for a "Victory Night" in August.[58]

Activities

List of Activities

References

  1. ↑ "Anticipating Park Sunday." Columbus Evening Dispatch. April 11, 1919.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Park Opens Sunday." Columbus Evening Dispatch. April 4, 1919.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "The Big Park Opens." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. April 6, 1919.
  4. ↑ "Bathing Pool's Premiere." Columbus Evening Dispatch. May 31, 1919. Page 12.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Park Open for Summer" The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. May 25, 1919.
  6. ↑ "Park Gate Charge Changed." Columbus Evening Dispatch. April 12, 1919. Page 12.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Park Tax Problem." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. April 13, 1919.
  8. ↑ "Rural Folk Visit Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. Aug. 17, 1919. Page 6.
  9. ↑ "The Children's Paradise." Columbus Evening Dispatch. May 3, 1919. Page 12.
  10. ↑ "Convenient for Motorists." Columbus Evening Dispatch. April 18, 1919. Page 42.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Olentangy Park." The Billboard. April 26, 1919. Vol. 31. Issue 17. Page 46. Accessed through Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/sim_billboard_1919-04-26_31_17/page/46/mode/2up
  12. ↑ "Olentangy Open Today." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. April 27, 1919.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Authors of Musical Comedy Success to Direct Coming Olentangy Stock." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. May 11, 1919.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "May Pass Million." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. July 6, 1919.
  15. ↑ "Gay Scenes at Mardi Gras." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. Sept. 12, 1919. Page 40.
  16. ↑ "Park Open on Sundays." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. Sept. 14, 1919. Page 5.
  17. ↑ "Incorporate Park Company." Columbus Evening Dispatch. Jan. 16, 1918. Page 9.
  18. ↑ "Cleary to Aid Luft." Columbus Evening Dispatch. April 25, 1919.
  19. ↑ "Olentangy Park Taken Over By New Management." Columbus Evening Dispatch. April 18, 1919. Page 1.
  20. ↑ "No More Musical Stock." Columbus Evening Dispatch. April 19, 1919.
  21. ↑ "Owners Sue To Oust Lessee of Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. June 18, 1919. Page 1.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Three-Cornered Fight for Park Opens in Court." Columbus Evening Dispatch. June 24, 1919. Page 1.
  23. ↑ Reynoldsburg News Gazette (Reynoldsburg, Ohio). July 10, 1919. Page 8. Accessed through Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/newsgazette1917000news/page/n583/mode/2up
  24. ↑ "Rejects Request for Receiver for Park Co." Columbus Evening Dispatch. July 7, 1919. Page 1.
  25. ↑ "Lancaster Man Files Suit For Collection of Money Against Manager of Olentangy Park." Lancaster Eagle-Gazette (Lancaster, Ohio). July 22, 1919. Page 4. Accessed through Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/lancaster-eagle-gazette-lancaster-man-fi/179694865/
  26. ↑ "Refuses to Appoint Receiver for Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. July 28, 1919. Page 1.
  27. ↑ "Sues Park Company." Columbus Evening Dispatch. June 24, 1919. Page 20.
  28. ↑ "Sustains Broken Arm." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. July 6, 1919. Page 6.
  29. ↑ "Olentangy Park Closed." Columbus Evening Dispatch. Sept. 3, 1919. Page 2.
  30. ↑ "Strike Closes Olentangy." Columbus Evening Dispatch. Sept. 4, 1919. Page 30.
  31. ↑ "Mardi Gras Is Resumed." Columbus Evening Dispatch. Sept. 8, 1919. Page 20.
  32. ↑ "Another Celebration at Olentangy Park." Ohio State Monitor, Sept. 20, 1919. Page 3. Accessed through Ohio Memory. https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p16007coll28/id/326/rec/1
  33. ↑ "Fast Check System." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. June 8, 1919.
  34. ↑ "Guarding the Pool." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. July 27, 1919. Page 5.
  35. ↑ Advertisement. The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. June 1, 1919. Page 7.
  36. ↑ "To Make August Record." Columbus Evening Dispatch. July 27, 1919. Page 5.
  37. ↑ "Concerts at Olentangy." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. July 27, 1919. Page 6.
  38. ↑ "To Receive Fight Reports." Columbus Evening Dispatch. June 30, 1919. Page 22.
  39. ↑ "Prizes Offered Dancers." Columbus Evening Dispatch. July 14, 1919. Page 16.
  40. ↑ "Miss Rhae M'Carty." Columbus Evening Dispatch. April 25, 1919.
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 "Girls in Minstrel Cast." Columbus Evening Dispatch. May 15, 1919. Page 25.
  42. ↑ "Girls will Don Teddy Bear Suits for Minstrel Show." Columbus Evening Dispatch. May 15, 1919. Page 12.
  43. ↑ "North High to Give Patriotic Operetta." Columbus Evening Dispatch. May 22, 1919. Page 6.
  44. ↑ "Musical Cast Yet Likely." Columbus Evening Dispatch. April 26, 1919. Page 12.
  45. ↑ "News of Farewell Week." Columbus Evening Dispatch. July 9, 1919. Page 26.
  46. ↑ "$100 in Tickets Free to 'The Review of Reviews' Opening Attraction of Bafunno and Price's Producing Co. at Olentangy Park Theater." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. May 25, 1919. Pages 8-9.
  47. ↑ "Miss Marie M'Colley Wins Dispatch Contest." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. June 1, 1919. Page 14.
  48. ↑ "Sale of Opera Seats." Columbus Evening Dispatch. May 29, 1919. Page 20.
  49. ↑ "Sale Now at Heaton's." Columbus Evening Dispatch. June 23, 1919. Page 18.
  50. ↑ "Arrange Downtown Phones." Columbus Evening Dispatch. June 27, 1919. Page 38.
  51. ↑ "Lack of Costumes Postpones Park Premiere; New Lead at Keith's; Broadway Musical Act." Columbus Evening Dispatch. June 3, 1919. Page 24.
  52. ↑ "Promises Well for Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. June 6, 1919.
  53. ↑ "Pity the Poor Actor." Columbus Evening Dispatch. June 12, 1919. Page 30.
  54. ↑ "Second Week of Stock." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. June 8, 1919.
  55. ↑ "19 Songs in 'Mme. Sherry'." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. June 21, 1919. Page 14.
  56. ↑ "Ferne Rogers for Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. June 24, 1919. Page 26.
  57. ↑ "Hits of Park Piece." Columbus Evening Dispatch. July 7, 1919. Page 26.
  58. ↑ 58.0 58.1 58.2 "Free Circus and Concerts." Columbus Evening Dispatch. Aug. 5, 1919. Page 22.
  59. ↑ "High-Class Circus Acts, Including Flying Herberts, are Booked for Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. Aug. 2, 1919. Page 12.
  60. ↑ "Sunday Opening at Olentangy." Columbus Evening Dispatch. Aug. 9, 1919. Page 12.
  61. ↑ "At Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. Aug. 17, 1919. Page 32.
  62. ↑ "Daring Dive into Net." Columbus Evening Dispatch. Aug. 21, 1919. Page 26.
  63. ↑ "Balloon Is Delayed." Columbus Evening Dispatch. Aug. 25, 1919. Page 20.
  64. ↑ "Will Not Come." Lancaster Eagle-Gazette (Lancaster, Ohio). July 9, 2025. Page 6. Accessed through Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/lancaster-eagle-gazette-will-not-come/179693888/
  65. ↑ "Rainbows for the Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. June 23, 1919. Page 18.


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