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] Fans were sold to help keep air circulating in the theater.[8]

This season, a new bathhouse called the Bathing Pavilion was erected[9] with a toboggan slide, called the Water Toboggan and more lights were added.[1][10] Stunts became a staple this season as well.[3]

A major storm that rolled through on the night of June 29 caused a fire at the switch house at the entrance twice.[11]

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.[10] 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.[12]

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.[9] Although the push by local religious organizations to lower the number of Sunday amusements continued, the Methodist Ministers' Association said they would not try to stop the theater performances at Olentangy and Minerva parks.[13]

Starting July 8, the theater started trying to institute two intermissions during the evening performances instead of one, most likely to allow people to buy refreshments, but most audience members stayed seated during both intermissions. There was a worry the audience would not like returning home later.[14]

There was a complaint in the Columbus Evening Dispatch about the poor plumbing in the ladies' retiring room and the drinking water at the park.[15]

Week of May 20 (Opening Week)

Edna Bassett Marshall and company returned to perform 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.[16] This was the second year Professor Coin's Dog Circus performed. It was a big troupe of dogs of all shapes, sizes, and colors performed stunts such as punching a bag, standing on their hind legs on a swinging trapeze, turning several somersaults without stopping, bareback riding, rolling in baskets, dancing a ho-down, and a couple waltzing. Ellis rode his bike down an incline and dove off a 50-foot tower into the river below.[10]

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.[17][18][19]

Week of June 3

Hilda Thomas and company performed "Miss Ambition" this week. Other acts included The Solkes, a novelty dancing act of seven people; Ameta, the Dancing Queen, performing electric dances called the Dance of Fire and Parisian Illusions; The Lamb Children; Pierce and Eghert, illustrated songs; Charleton & Terre, singing comedians; Darmody, comedy juggler; and Kinodrome pictures showing "High Street at Its Busiest Time," shot from the front of a streetcar.[20]

Week of June 10

Katherine Osterman headlined in a performance of "The Editor." Ameta, the Dancing Girl, was re-engaged for a second week. Other acts included Joseph Adelman, the world-famous xylophone virtuoso; Pusey and St. John, eccentric comedians; John and Maude Allison, in a comedy sketch called, "How Foolish;" and Stella Reinhart, champion clog and soft shoe dancer. Kinodrome pictures continued with new American, foreign, and local views including "A Practical Joke on a Cabby," "The Miller and the Sheep," "Admiral Dewey receiving the reception committee on the Olympia," "A Visit to a Spiritualist," and "The Filipinos' Retreat."[21]

Week of June 17

This week's performances included Rosa Naynon and her trained troupe of tropical birds, assisted by Clyde Philips; Murphy and Mack, Irish comedy duo in their original character creation, "Skeezie on the Fence;" Frank R. Hoy's Society Entertainers; H.S. Vickers, singing comedian; LeClaire and Hayes, two girls who sang and danced; and Kasten, Duey, and Kasten, comedy trio in songs and mannerisms of the south. The Kinodrome pictures were updated to show new views.[22] Naynon, a gymnast, brought birds composed of Australian and East Indian cockatoos, African and South African macaws and a flock of imported racer fantail pigeons. This was Kasten, Duey, and Kasten's second year at the park. This year, they performed "Christmas Festivities of the South" with duets and character changes. Frank R. Hoy's Society Entertainers introduced the "marionette minstrels," seven life-like puppets with a banjo, violin, flute, cornet, and tambourine. The final act was a pantomime in which a clown, horse, cow, balloon, etc. took active parts. [23] Ollie Young, the Columbus ambidextrous club swinger, was added to the bill later in the week.[24]

Week of June 24

Frederick Hallen and Mollie Fuller performed the one-act comedy play, "A Desperate Pair" by Herbert Hall Winslow. Other performances included Arthur Deming, the "Emperor of Minstrelsy;" Harry C. Stanley and Doris Wilson, returning for their second year, in their sketch "Before the Ball;" Webb and Hassen, premiere acrobats and sensational head balancers; Beatrice Gambles, soprano singer; Udell and Pierce, comedians; and Maude Beale Price.[25] Udell and Pierce performed their sketch, "Kelly's Night Off." The Kinodrome pictures were updated with new views including "Ching-a Ling-Foo Outdone," a panorama of the Modder river in South Africa; "The Impersonator," a troop train carrying Seaforth Highlanders over a temporary bridge in place of one torn down by the Boers; "A Wringing Good Joke," the trenches at Candaba; and "The Man with the Four Heads."[26]

Week of July 1

Ezra Kendall performed his original monologue this week along with the following acts: The Knight Brothers, refined singing and dancing act; Holmes and Waldron, comedy musical artists; Pete Baker, German comedian and yodeler, returning for the second year at the park; Murphy and Andrews, in their sketch, "Opera in a Nutshell;" and The Ivey Comedy Four. Harry C. Stanley and Doris Wilson stayed on for another week.[27] Kindall was well known and wrote his own songs and jokes and even wrote a book of his comedic thoughts. Kinodrome pictures showed a "beautifully colored spectacular production of the English Pantomime, "Cinderella" or "The Silver Slipper."[28] The audience packed the theater so much on opening day that temporary chairs had to be cleared from blocking the exits during intermission. The same crowd barely fit on trolley cars home.[29]

Week of July 8

This week was headlined by the "Great Dilworth Family" [also billed as "The Great Delworth Troupe"], the "premier acrobats of the world;" Oscar P. Sisson and Esther Wallace, in the comedy sketch, "Love Finds a Way;" Richard and Collin in their Irish travesty, "The Cook Lady and the Opera Professor;" the instrumental Williards; and the Sermon Children. The Dilworth Family was made of four women and four men, dressed in evening wear, performing difficult and dangerous feats. They previously performed with the Ringling Brothers Circus. The instrumental Williards represented five nations on their instruments: America, aluminum chimes; England, musical whirls; Turkey, mellow pipes; Guatemala, mammoth octophone; and Japan, bamboo calliope. The Sermon Children were two children of 5 and 9 years old who danced and sang and were billed as "juvenile wonders." Kinodrome pictures showed new views including "A Washerwoman's Mistake," "The Breadwinner," "An Up-to-date Conjour," "The Columbia and the Shamrock Passing," "Jones' Return From a Sleigh Ride," "Panorama of Brooklyn Bridge to New York," "The Folly of Being Cautious," and "Bull Fight Taken at Madrid." Outdoors, the Marvelous Werntz Family, gymnasts, performed an exhibition of the flying trapeze near the Olentangy Ball Grounds.[30][31]

Week of July 15

The headlining act this week was C.F. Galletti's Monkey Comedians. The three monkeys performed racing bicycles, running a barbershop, eating and drinking in a restaurant, prancing on rotating globes, etc.[32] Other acts included McPhee and Hill, novelty gymnasts on the triple bars, returning for their second year at the park; James H. Cullen performing his original monologue and songs; Howard and Bland in "The Rube and the Kid;" and Craig and Ardell, musical comedians. The Kinodrome showed new views.[33]

Week of July 22

Ezra Kendall's "The Half-Way House" was performed by a small cast. Character actor Perkins D. Fisher played Silas Older, a former minstrel man, turned farmer and keeper of a country inn. Fisher's wife played Belle Younger, an actress who registers at the inn. Other performances included Leo Carle, called "The American Fregoli;" Lizzie M. Wilson, a German dialect comedienne, in songs and impersonations; Eddie Moore, Irish [or German] character comedian and dancer; Harry A. Brown, monologue and rapid crayon artist; The Lucados, a novelty balancing and acrobatic act; and the Four Nelson Sisters, acrobats. Carle was an expert violinist, lightning change artist, and impersonator. He played a one-man skit called, "The Betrayed Professor," which had eight characters of different genders. He played all the roles: the hero, villain, leading lady, servant girl, policeman, butler, professor, and betrayed wife.[34]

Week of July 29

Headlining this week were Milton and Dolly Nobles in "Why Walker Reformed." Lizzie M. Wilson continued to perform new songs. Other acts included Frey and Fields, comedy, buck and wing dancing; Zavo and M'ille Hilda, contortionists, Baby Lund, "The Cherub;" and Le Roys, Dutch comedy.[35]

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.[36]

Activities

Off-Season Activities

During the winter months, bowling and trap shooting were available at the park.[37]

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. ↑ Columbus Evening Dispatch. Amusements. 18 July 1900. Pg. 4.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Park Improvements." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 11 May 1900. Pg. 7.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 20 May 1900. Pg. 18.
  11. ↑ "It Was Fierce." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 30 June 1900. Pg. 5.
  12. ↑ "Toboggan Slide for Pleasure Parks." The Street Railway Review. Vol. 11. 1901. Published by Chicago: Street Railway Review Pub. Co. Pg. 89.
  13. ↑ "Against Sunday Shows." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 4 June 1900. Pg. 6.
  14. ↑ The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 8 July 1900. Pg. 4.
  15. ↑ Columbus Evening Dispatch. 16 July 1900. Pg. 4.
  16. ↑ "Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 19 May 1900. Pg. 9.
  17. ↑ "Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 29 May 1900. Pg. 11.
  18. ↑ "Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 30 May 1900. Pg. 9.
  19. ↑ "Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 31 May 1900. Pg. 11.
  20. ↑ "Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. Amusements. 2 June 1900. Pg. 9.
  21. ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. Amusements. 10 June 1900. Pg. 18.
  22. ↑ "Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. Amusements. 16 June 1900. Pg. 9.
  23. ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. Amusements. 17 June 1900. Pg. 18.
  24. ↑ "Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. Amusements. 19 June 1900. Pg. 11.
  25. ↑ "Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. Amusements. 23 June 1900. Pg. 9.
  26. ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. Amusements. 24 June 1900. Pg. 18.
  27. ↑ "Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. Amusements. 2 July 1900. Pg. 11.
  28. ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. Amusements. 1 July 1900. Pg. 18.
  29. ↑ "Scenes at Olentangy." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 2 July 1900. Pg. 5.
  30. ↑ "Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 7 July 1900. Pg. 9.
  31. ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. Amusements. 8 July 1900. Pg. 18.
  32. ↑ "Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. Amusements. 16 July 1900. Pg. 9.
  33. ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. Amusements. 15 July 1900. Pg. 17.
  34. ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. Amusements. 22 July 1900. Pg. 17.
  35. ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. Amusements. 29 July 1900. Pg. 17.
  36. ↑ "Society." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 6 May 1900. Pg. 24.
  37. ↑ "The Traps: Cresents Annual Shoot." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 5 March 1900. Pg. 9.
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