1902 Season

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1902 Season Season
Leadership Joseph W. Dusenbury
The Olentangy Park Company
Stock Company Olentangy Stock Company

Olentangy Park opened for the 1902 season on Sunday, May 18, 1902.[1] The opening week presented a Grand Musical Festival, featuring Signor A. Liberati's Famous Military Band and Concert Company, assisted by opera singers, who performed twice daily.[2] Souvenir sheet music of some of Liberati's compositions were given to patrons. Patrons were invited to request performances for specific days ahead of time.[1] Manager Joseph W. Dusenbury said 23,000 people attended the opening Sunday.[3]

Harry DeMuth, of Lancaster, was re-engaged as the park's advertising agent.[4]

Trolley Power Issues on Opening Sunday

The trolley cars were used so much on that opening Sunday, that the feed wire connections burned out at Spring and High streets, visibly smoking until the power at the central station was turned off. This was caused by a break the Friday prior that disabled a large engine at the power plant. Even after working to repair, and eventually removing smaller engines to replace the large ones, materials were not available to do so in time. This cut the horsepower to a third of the strength it normally had to run the trolley cars. The break was fixed by noon the following Monday.[5]

Continued Pushback from Religious Groups

Religious groups including the North Congregational Church published resolutions about not approving of the park operating on Sundays. This is a continued effort ever since the theater opened in 1899.[6]

Lawsuits

In March 1902, the Olentangy Park Company sued John Field for $250 (around $8,660 in 2022) on a contract for $450 (around $15,600) for the program privilege during the season of 1899.[7] The judge ruled the park company should receive $174.25 (around $6,040) because Field already paid $100 ($3,465) and did not receive credit.[8]

Rides and Attractions

Olentangy Park Theater

Main Article: Olentangy Park Casino and Theater

The prices were the following: Night performances: 10 cents, 20 cents, and 30 cents ($3.47, $6.93, and $10.40 in 2022). Boxes: 50 cents ($17.33). Matinee performances: (10 cents, 15 cents, and 20 cents ($3.47, $5.20, and $6.93).[9] They were sold at Mykrantz's Pharmacy, 13 S. High St.

After the first week, the Olentangy Stock Company performed performances at the theater. The performers included Olive Oliver and Eugene Moore.[10] Ads at this time indicate performances would no longer be on Sundays, conflicting with ads and articles in Sunday issues of the Columbus Dispatch. Matinees were every day except Monday and Saturday. Box seat prices also were no longer listed.

The local Musicians Union fought with Manager Dusenbury over the theater's orchestra being non-union members.[11]

Signor A. Liberati's Famous Military Band and Concert Company, assisted by opera singers, performed twice daily during opening week (May 18-25) both outdoors and at the Theater.[2]

Olentangy Park Stock

Members

The Olentangy stock company included:

  • Olive Oliver
  • Eugene Moore
  • Grace Fisher
  • Kate Blancke
  • Frederic L. Power
  • Harry Mestayer
  • Helen Wilson

Performances

The stock company started off rocky by beginning an hour late for their first performance and having too long of breaks between acts, forcing the orchestra to play as many as three songs while the stage was being set.[12]

Dates Performance Writer Genre Headliners Notes
May 26-June 1, 1902 "The Charity Ball" David Belasco Comedy [13]
June 2-7, 1902 "Lady Windermere's Fan" Comedy [14]

Music

Signor A. Liberati's Famous Military Band and Concert Company, assisted by opera singers, performed twice daily during opening week.[2] The band consisted of 40 musicians and the opera singers included Signor Guillio Di Santis and Madame Cleopatra Vicini. Liberati was a cornet player as well as a leading band and orchestra leader.[15][1]

Activities

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Olentangy Park: Opening Week." Sunday Columbus Dispatch. 11 May 1902. Pg. 16.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Ad. Sunday Columbus Dispatch. 4 May 1902. Pg. 16.
  3. ↑ "Olentangy Park: Opening of the Season." Monday Columbus Dispatch. 19 May 1902. Pg. 9.
  4. ↑ "Brevities." Thursday Columbus Dispatch. 15 May 1902. Pg. 5.
  5. ↑ "Power Gave Out." Monday Columbus Dispatch. 19 May 1902. Pg. 5.
  6. ↑ "After Olentangy Park." Monday Columbus Dispatch. 26 May 1902. Pg. 7.
  7. ↑ "Brevities." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 24 March 1902. Pg. 7.
  8. ↑ "Justices' Court." Saturday Columbus Dispatch. 12 April 1902. Pg. 7.
  9. ↑ Ad. Sunday Columbus Dispatch. 11 May 1902. Pg. 16.
  10. ↑ Ad. Sunday Columbus Dispatch. 25 May 1902. Pg. 16.
  11. ↑ "Musicians in Arms." Tuesday Columbus Dispatch. 27 May 1902. Pg. 7.
  12. ↑ "Olentangy Park: Charity Ball." Monday Columbus Dispatch. 26 May 1902. Pg. 9.
  13. ↑ Ad. Saturday Columbus Dispatch. 24 May 1902. Pg. 9.
  14. ↑ "Olentangy Park: Lady Windermere's Fan." Saturday Columbus Dispatch. 1 June 1902. Pg. 26.
  15. ↑ "Olentangy Park." Monday Columbus Dispatch. 5 May 1902. Pg. 11.
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