1915 Season
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Leadership | The Olentangy Park Company Joseph W. Dusenbury, president William J. Dusenbury, manager |
---|---|
New Attractions | Roller Skating Rink (Portable) Sea-Land-Whirl |
Theater Manager | Mr. Kimball |
Stock Company | Mary Servoss Company |
Band(s) | Cincione's Italian Union Concert Band |
Park Size | ~100 acres |
The Olentangy Park and Theater opened for the 1915 season on Sunday, April 25, 1915.[1] Cincione's Italian Union Concert Band provided the music on opening day.[2] Opening for Sundays only at first, more than 20,000 people visited the park on opening day.[3] The park was open daily beginning May 23[4] after the main season being postponed from May 9.[5] The park was "nearly 100 acres" and more than 100 different kinds of amusements.[6]
Billy O'Hara started a "Jitney Bus" business and transported visitors to the park along with the High Street and Oak Street streetcar lines.[7][8]
For ride and attraction changes, see the Rides and Attractions section.
Notable Happenings
Automobile Contest
The Ohio Auto Sales Company held a drawing for an automobile and other prizes at the park on June 25, 1915. Entry tickets were given upon purchases of their products at nine participating stores.[9] The prizes included:
- A $785 ($24,530 in 2025) Dodge Bros. Auto six-Passenger Touring Car
- A $400 ($12,500) Choice Building Lot in Highland Gardens Addition, purchased from the Dominion Land Company
- A $75 ($2,344) Cabinet Victrola
- A $37.50 ($1,172) Wardrobe Trunk made by the Stallman Trunk Company
- 50 prizes each of $5 ($156) leather suitcases
Rides and Attractions
New Roller Skating Rink
Main Article: Roller Skating Rink (Portable)
A Kenyon Portable Roller Skating Rink was built just north of The Fun House[10][11][12] and operated by E. W. Nelson of Washington Court House, Ohio.[13] The structure was a Kenyon Portable Rink measuring 130 feet (39.6 meters) by 50 feet (15.2 meters).[14] It was described as being under canvas, but Kenyon Rinks were portable buildings. By July, the park listed the rink for sale "on account of death."[15] Nelson planned to open a new skating rink later.[16]
New Sea-Land Whirl
Main Article: Sea-Land-Whirl
The Sea-Land-Whirl was similar to a Merry-Go-Round, with six boats, each having steps and sitting up to ten passengers. The boats hung on axils and revolved around a center pole while the boats rocked back and forth, creating a rowing sensation.[17] Cars were made to "represent vessels for navigating water or air, and are to rock, or oscillate mechanically"[18] and give an imitation of a ride on the rough sea.[19]
It was created by the Sea Land Whirl Amusement Service Company[20][18] and was located in the park's north end.[21]
Motion Pictures
Motion pictures were shown in the Theater on Sundays after the first two weeks.[22]
List of Rides and Attractions
- Arena
- Bandstand (South)
- Bandstand (North)
- Bathing Pavilion
- Box ball alleys
- Canoe Club Boathouse
- Carousel
- Children's Playground
- Circle Swing
- Colonnade
- Dancing Pavilion
- Double Whirl
- Electric Autos
- Ferris Wheel
- Figure Eight Toboggan
- Floral Conservatory & Greenhouse
- The Fun House
- Gypsy Camp
- Merry-Go-Round (1)
- Merry-Go-Round (3)
- Millrace and Fish Pond
- Miniature Railway
- Motion Pictures
- Palm Garden
- Pony and Camel Track
- Roller Skating Rink (Portable) NEW
- Scenic Coaster
- Sea-Land-Whirl NEW
- 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
Motion pictures were shown in the Theater on Sundays after the first two weeks.[22]
Rex Beach's big photo-production, "The Spoilers," with William Farnum, was shown on May 23.[23][24]
Mary Servoss Company
The Mary Servoss Company performed every weekday May 31 to Labor Day.[22][23]
Members
- William H. Barwald, stage director
- Robert Elliot, leading actor
- William H. Evarts
- Marcella Forrester
- Donald Gallaher
- Virginia Howell
- Ruth Hunter
- Charles Husted
- Manart Kippen
- Robert M. Middlemass
- Edna May Oliver
- Anthony Schaefer, scenic artist
- Mary Servoss, leading actress
- Hazel Turney
- Gavin Young, stage manager
Shows
Week of May 31: "Within the Law"
Music
Cincione's Italian Union Concert Band provided the music on opening day[2] and the following week at the North Band Shell with Frank Carbone and H. J. Selby orchestras.[5]
On Saturday, May 22, the Jeffrey Choral Society gave free entertainment in the Theater for Jeffrey Manufacturing Company employees.[25]
Activities
List of Activities
- Baseball
- Bathing
- Billiards
- Boating
- Bowling - All year activity
- Dancing
- Dining and Refreshments
- Football
- Fortune Telling
- General Games
- Moving Pictures
- Picnics
- Pony Rides
- Swimming
References
- ↑ Advertisement. The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. April 11, 1915,. Page 5.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. April 18, 1915. Page 5.
- ↑ "April Weather Records Broken by Sunday's Heat: Park Reaps Benefits." Columbus Evening Dispatch. April 26, 1915. Page 3.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. May 8, 1915. Page 18.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. April 29, 1915. Page 18.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. May 5, 1915. Page 18.
- ↑ "Regular 'Jitney Bus' Line to Be Launched." Columbus Evening Dispatch. February 13, 1915. Page 3.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. April 24, 1915. Page 10.
- ↑ Advertisement. The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. January 3, 1915. Page 20.
- ↑ "Park Opening." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch, April 11, 1915. Page 43.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch, April 18, 1915. Page 45.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch, April 25, 1915. Page 44.
- ↑ Reynolds, Earle. 1915. "National Skating Association News." The Billboard, June 12, 1915. Vol. 27. Issue 24. Page 29.
- ↑ Fitzgerald, Julian T. 1915. "Skating Rink News." The Billboard, April 3, 1915. Vol. 27. Issue 14. Page 29.
- ↑ The Billboard, July 3, 1915. 27 (27): 86.
- ↑ Fitzgerald, Julian T. 1915. "Skating Rink News." The Billboard, October 30, 1915. Vol. 27. Issue 44. Page 30.
- ↑ "Has Proposition for New Factory." The Tribune (Coshocton, Ohio), September 16, 1914. Page 1. Accessed through Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80087755/has-proposition-for-new-factory/.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 "'Whirl' Is Big Success at the Fair." The Tribune (Coshocton, Ohio), October 11, 1914. Page 5. Accessed through Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80087879/whirl-is-big-success-at-the-fair/.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch, April 18, 1915. Page 45.
- ↑ "Corporation Is Dissolved." The Tribune (Coshocton, Ohio), September 9, 1915. Page 1. Accessed through Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80087241/corporation-is-dissolved/.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch, April 25, 1915. Page 44.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 "Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. April 22, 1915. Page 18.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. April 25, 1915. Page 5.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. May 9, 1915. Page 5.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. May 14, 1915. Page 24.