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]

In June, Henrietta B. Bugher, the ex-wife of Henry T. Chittenden, filed an equitable relief suit against Chittenden's property, asking for the foreclosure of a mortgage, causing liens on the property, and a receiver. This property included Olentangy Park. The property the park sat on, along with other parts, was to receive 6 percent interest, but this interest allegedly went unpaid since July 1, 1901. Only $10,000 ($346,525 in 2022) has been paid on the property where $50,000 ($1,732,628) was owed. Bugher wanted the mortgage satisfied by the sale of Olentangy Park as well as the property on Cussins Street.[9]

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). Children were free at matinees except on Sundays and holidays.[10] They were sold at Mykrantz's Pharmacy, 13 S. High St.

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]

After the first week, the Olentangy Stock Company performed performances at the theater. The performers included Olive Oliver and Eugene Moore.[11] Matinees were every day except Monday and Saturday. Box seat prices also were no longer listed in ads at this time.

The local Musicians' Union fought with Manager Dusenbury over the theater's orchestra being non-union members.[12] After warning about calling the orchestra to strike, the Musicians' Union and Dusenbury came to an agreement by June 14.[13]

There was a rumor in June 1902 that actor Harry Mestayer accidentally stabbed actress Helen Wilton with a foil (a type of fencing sword). Dusenbury said it was untrue.[14]

Olentangy Park Stock

Members

The Olentangy stock company included:

  • Olive Oliver
  • Eugene Moore
  • Algernon Tassin
  • Frederic L. Power
  • Harry Mestayer
  • Walter Daniels
  • Louis Fierce
  • Ralph Chandler
  • Grace Fisher
  • Kate Blancke
  • Helen Wilson
  • Pearl Harris
  • Gladys Wilcox

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.[15]

Dates Performance Writer Genre Headliners Notes
May 26-June 1, 1902 "The Charity Ball" David Belasco Comedy [16]
June 2-8, 1902 "Lady Windermere's Fan" Comedy [17]
June 9-15, 1902 "A Gilded Fool" Henry Guy Carleton for Nat Goodwin Comedy [18]
June 16-22, 1902 "The Banker's Daughter" Comedy [19]
June 23-29, 1902 "The Butterflies" Henry Guy Carleton Comedy [20]
June 30-July 7, 1902 "The Nominee" Leander Richardson Comedy [21]
July 8-14, 1902 "Ingomar" Maria Lovell (translator) Comedy [22]
July 16-21, 1902 "Friends" Edwin Milton Royle [23]

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.[24][1]

Outdoor Performances and Stunts

Starting Wednesday, June 25, 1902, Professor Lawrence H. Kenner performed hypnotism on crowds every night.[25]

From July 8-12, the Spotted Elk's Indian Village and Wild West Show performed in the afternoon and evening. The performers also performed water sports. Their camp was located behind the theater across the Olentangy River.[22][23] One of the performers fell from their horse while riding near Rich and High streets and injured her leg.[26]

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. ↑ "H.T. Chittenden Sued." Friday Columbus Dispatch. 13 June 1902. Pg. 7.
  10. ↑ Ad. Sunday Columbus Dispatch. 11 May 1902. Pg. 16.
  11. ↑ Ad. Sunday Columbus Dispatch. 25 May 1902. Pg. 16.
  12. ↑ "Musicians in Arms." Tuesday Columbus Dispatch. 27 May 1902. Pg. 7.
  13. ↑ "Park Orchestras." Saturday Columbus Dispatch. 14 June 1902. Pg. 7.
  14. ↑ "Brevities." Wednesday Columbus Dispatch. 18 June 1902. Pg. 6.
  15. ↑ "Olentangy Park: Charity Ball." Monday Columbus Dispatch. 26 May 1902. Pg. 9.
  16. ↑ Ad. Saturday Columbus Dispatch. 24 May 1902. Pg. 9.
  17. ↑ "Olentangy Park: Lady Windermere's Fan." Sunday Columbus Dispatch. 1 June 1902. Pg. 26.
  18. ↑ "Olentangy Park: Stock Company." Sunday Columbus Dispatch. 8 June 1902. Pg. 26.
  19. ↑ "Olentangy Park: Stock Company." Monday Columbus Dispatch. 16 June 1902. Pg. 9.
  20. ↑ "Olentangy Park: Stock Company." Monday Columbus Dispatch. 23 June 1902. Pg. 9.
  21. ↑ "Olentangy Park: Stock Company." Sunday Columbus Dispatch. 29 June 1902. Pg. 9.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Olentangy Park." Sunday Columbus Dispatch. 6 July 1902. Pg. 15.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Amusements—Olentangy." Saturday Columbus Dispatch. 12 July 1902. Pg. 3.
  24. ↑ "Olentangy Park." Monday Columbus Dispatch. 5 May 1902. Pg. 11.
  25. ↑ "Olentangy Park: Stock Company." Sunday Columbus Dispatch. 29 June 1902. Pg. 26.
  26. ↑ "Brevities." Tuesday Columbus Dispatch. 8 July 1902. Pg. 10.
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