1913 Season
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| Leadership | Joseph W. Dusenbury Will J. Dusenbury |
|---|---|
| New Attractions | Kiss Waltz The Fun House |
| Park Size | 125 acres |
The Olentangy Park and Theater opened for the 1913 season on Sunday, April 27, 1913. The opening featured free performances, including band and orchestra concerts; the M. W. A. Drum and Trumpet Corps; a cabaret show with singing, dancing, and vaudeville acts; and various open-air attractions.[1][2]
Notable Happenings
Canoe Stolen
A canoe was stolen in January from the Boathouse. It had a green body, open mahogany gunwales, and was double riffed.[3]
March 1913 Flood
A major flood affected Central Ohio on March 25, 1913. By the next day, manager J. W. Dusenbury reported that the Olentangy River had receded two feet from the initial flooding and that the canoes at the Boathouse were safe. The canoes stored there were valued between $3,000 ($95,546 in 2024) and $4,000 ($127,394) and belonged to the members of the Canoe Club.[4] During the opening week, the Republican Glee Club gave concerts every evening, including Sunday for the benefit of the flood sufferers.[5] The Dusenbury Brothers donated the use of the theater that week.[2]
Small Fire
On the morning of April 14, 1913, a fire started in one of the powerhouses that provided power for one of the park's rides, causing $10 ($319 in 2024) worth of damage.[6]
Rides and Attractions
Boathouse to be Remodeled
In early 1913, flooding damaged the dam on the Olentangy River south of the park within a year of being built. As part of the repairs, managers J. W. Dusenbury and W. J. Dusenbury planned to raise the river to a "good boating level" and remodel the Boathouse to accommodate more boats. They planned to reinforce and reconstruct the dam as one of the first permanent dams in Central Ohio. They planned to remove the Bowling Allies and replace them with lavatories and shower baths. The boathouse could keep 110 boats at the park before renovations were started. Work on the boathouse was planned to begin in April.[7] A cartload of new boats was shipped in for the park's opening.[2]
New Kiss Waltz
Main Article: Kiss Waltz
The Kiss Waltz, also known as Thurston's Kiss Waltz, was a track ride proposed to be moved to Olentangy Park in 1913 after its debut at Luna Park the previous year. It was invented and built by famous magician Howard Thurston[8][9][10], a Columbus native.[11] The ride consisted of barrels on a track that traveled through caverns and dark places. A man and woman each ride a barrel, holding each other in the position of waltzing.[11]
New Fun House
Main Article: The Fun House
The Fun House was built just north of the second Dancing Pavilion by C. Rarick. It was two stories and included a human roulette wheel, bull-moose glide, rolling waves, funny stairs, an electric floor, a rainstorm, a wire maze, comic slides, and more.[1][12][13][14]
List of Rides and Attractions
- Band Shell
- Bathing Pavilion
- Boathouse
- Bowling alleys
- Carousel
- Children's Playground
- Circle Swing
- Colonnade
- Dancing Pavilion
- Double Whirl
- Electric Autos
- Ferris Wheel
- Figure Eight Toboggan
- Floral Conservatory & Greenhouse
- The Fun House NEW
- Japanese Village and Garden
- Kiss Waltz NEW
- Loop-the-Loop
- Merry-Go-Round (1)
- Merry-Go-Round (3)
- Millrace and Fish Pond
- Miniature Railway
- Motion Picture Exhibit
- Museum of Ornithology
- Ocean Wave
- Palm Garden
- Pony and Camel Track
- Scenic Coaster
- Shoot-the-Chutes
- Shooting Gallery
- Snake Den
- Swings
- Water Toboggan
- Whirlwind
- Zoological Garden
Theater, Vaudeville, and Stunt Performances
Olentangy Park Theater
Main Article: Olentangy Park Casino and Theater
During the opening week, the Republican Glee Club gave concerts every evening, including Sunday.[1]
Outdoor Acts
Music
The M. W. A. Drum and Trumpet Corps performed during the opening of the park.[1]
Activities
List of Activities
- Baseball
- Bathing
- Billiards
- Boating
- Bowling - All year activity
- Dancing
- Dining and Refreshments
- Football
- Fortune Telling
- General Games
- Picnics
- Pony Rides
- Swimming
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Olentangy Park." Columbus Sunday Dispatch, April 13, 1913. Page 5.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Olentangy Park." Columbus Sunday Dispatch, April 20, 1913. Page 5.
- ↑ Lost and Found notice, Columbus Evening Dispatch, January 29, 1913. Page 12.
- ↑ "Says River Falling." Columbus Evening Dispatch, March 26, 1913. Page 5.
- ↑ Advertisement. Columbus Sunday Dispatch, April 13, 1913. Page 5.
- ↑ "Blaze in Skyscraper." Columbus Evening Dispatch, April 14, 1913. Page 2.
- ↑ "Canoeists are Promised Good Accommodations." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch, February 23, 1913. Page 9.
- ↑ "Amusement apparatus." Google Patents. US Patent US1083308A https://patents.google.com/patent/US1083308A
- ↑ "Amusement apparatus." Google Patents. US Patent US1099951A https://patents.google.com/patent/US1099951A
- ↑ "Amusement apparatus." Google Patents. US Patent US1099952A https://patents.google.com/patent/US1099952A
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Thurston's New Device." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 28 November 1912. Pg. 12.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch, April 27, 1913. Page 51.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch, May 18, 1913. Page 41.
- ↑ "Summer Opening of Olentangy Park." Marysville Journal-Tribune (Marysville, Ohio), April 15, 1913. Page 4. Accessed through Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/marysville-journal-tribune-summer-openin/123751335/