1901 Season

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1901 Season Season
Leadership Joseph W. Dusenbury
The Olentangy Park Company
New Attractions Dining Hall, Restaurant
Band(s) The Fourth Regiment Band

Olentangy Park opened for the 1901 season on Sunday, May 19, 1901. The Fourth Regiment Band, made of 30 musicians, played during the afternoon and evening.[1]

The lease for the land above the Bathhouse and east of the Olentangy River under the Columbus Railway Company expired, so the owner, Nora H. Ramlow, rented it to the amusement park for five years starting June 1, 1901. It was leased for $150 per year ($5,238 in 2022).[2]

Improvements to the Park

The Columbus Street Railway Company started its plans to construct a new steel trestle bridge to replace the wooden one that went from High Street to Olentangy Park that had been there since the park was opened. It was to be "the finest in size of any in the state" with two tracks instead of one.[3] The bond was filed on June 13.[4]

A new dining hall and restaurant were added during for the 1901 season opening.[1]

Lawsuits

The Olentangy Park Company was sued for $155.19 ($5,419 in 2022) by the Central Union Telephone Company for operating a line during the 1899 and 1900 seasons.[5] The phone company said the phone line was operated from September 1, 1899, through May 1, 1900. The park company said it was only operated at the park during the summer of 1899, then it was placed in the home of John Beck, one of the park's tenants. They continued to dispute what was owed to the phone company over the line's use in the winter.[6]

Otto L. Hays and David Mackey, owners of the ball grounds sued the park company over relocating fences on the east and south sides to cut through streets. The fight was said to be over a disagreement over Hays and Mackey wanting to raise the rent of the ball grounds of $1,400 ($48,886 in 2022) and the park refused.[7][8] Two days later, the old fences were removed. Dusenbury said the fences were put in place two years ago and went up the Hays-Mackey property line.[9] Robert Turner, owner of "The Villa" prior to the park being built, was brought into the suit with Dusenbury claiming the new fences marked where Turner planned to open a saloon next to the park. Judge Badger granted a restraining order on May 13, 1901, against any interference with the fence until the true lot line could be determined.[10]

Notable Events

Accidents

On June 30, Frank E. Grove and Frank Roddy were injured on the Water Toboggan. The slide broke in two while they were halfway down. Grove's right foot was caught in the rollers and three of his toes were broken. His leg was wrenched and the right side of his body was bruised. Roddy was thrown off the ride and received bruises.[11]

Flooding

In July, cloudbursts flooded the Olentangy River enough for the pontoon bridge to be swept away.[12]

Rides and Attractions

Theater and Stunt Performances

Main Article: Olentangy Park Casino and Theater

Week of May 19 (Opening Week)

Edward M. Favor and Edith Sinclair headlined during opening week, performing along with the Ahrens; Professor Colin's comedy dog act; the McCann Family; Lawson and Numon; and Kelly and Mason. Edison's Kinetoscope made an appearance. Outdoors, the Melrosas, a high-wire bicycle act performed on ropes 60 feet in the air.[1]

Week of May 26

This week, the main show was Kita Mura's troupe of 14 "Japs" in "characteristic and daring feats." Other acts included Patti Rosa, singer; May Wentworth, in monologue; May Wentworth and Company performing "A Woman's Dilemma;" the Clipper quartet in a blackface singing and comedy act; and the Edison Kinetoscope.[13]

Week of June 2

Bartholomew's Famous Trained Horses were the spotlight of this week. Other performances included Francelli and Lewis in "lyric novelties;" Maddox and Wayne in "The Bellboy and Thespian;" Koppe, comedy club juggler; Frank Jones and Lillian Walton presenting "Our Country Cousins;" Brothers La Nole, comedy gymnasts; and the Edison Kinetoscope with new views. Outdoors, Prince Schuman showed his skills on a steel high wire.[14]

Week of June 9

George W. Monroe, original monologist and character actor performed. Other acts included Joseph Alderman, xylophone soloist; The Knight Brothers, dancing comedians; Merritt and Murdock, presenting "A Little Game of Tag;" and Little Elsie, "The American Cissy Loftus." Outdoor stunts were by Hilton, performing marvelous feats on a swinging ladder; and the Two Cleos on the trapeze, twice per day. The Edison Kinetoscope showed "Kippy, the Tramp Juggler."[15]

Week of June 16

This week, Stuart Barnes and Mabel Sisson headlined, presenting "A Mysterious Pill." Xylophonist Joseph Adelman stayed for another week. They performed along with Beatrice Golden, the singing comedienne; The Martelles, Harry and Emma, bicycle experts; Girdelier, aerial act; and Dr. Swindler, the "Silent Sorcerer." The theater also had a special extra feature showing and Bunth and Rudd Company, famous comedy acrobats. New kinetoscope views were also shown. Little Elsie performed Sunday afternoon and evening.[16]

Week of June 23

Harry Ward's Minstrels performed with a troupe including Ward and Walter Wilson, comedians; Harry Sylvester and Will Frank, singers; La Rose, European contortionist; The Harmonic Four; and Monroe and Doyle. Other acts included Miss Sadie Hart, in acrobatic song and dance; Bobby Gaylor in "Peck's Bad Boy" and Hoyt in a "Bunch of Keys;" and James St. Belmo, the "Man Fly," in a balancing and quick change act. Outdoors, the St. Belmos performed a double trapeze and "leap for life."[17]

Week of June 30

Charles E. Grapewine, assisted by Miss Anna Chance and Company presented "Above the Limit." Other performers this week included Calahan and Mack, Irish comedians; Humes and Lewis, The Clown and the Circus Girl; John J. Welch, singing dancing comedian; Ricci and Chandler, presenting the lyric comedy, "O'Brady's Election;" and Tom Hardy, acrobatic tramp. The Edison Kinetoscope showed new views. There was a special extra attraction outdoors: Three original Watson Sisters, assisted by Juan De Zemora in an aerial act.[18]

Week of July 7

This week, Miss Flo Irwin and Walker Howley presented the sketch, "The Gay Miss Con." Other acts included "Dion-Cato," a singing electrical novelty act with Miss Rita Redmond as soloist; Harris and Walters in "A Dark-Eyed Widow," introducing "The Lampost Inspector," "The Dutch Detective," and "Miss Kolum from Kolumbus;" Lozelle, a gymnast; John Donahue and Mattie Nichols, acrobatic singing and dancing comedy duo; Harvey, chin balancer; and K.R. Moore, called the "Monarch of the Swinging Wire." Dion-Cato used lighting and stereopticon slides to create effects on and around Redmond. Samuel E. Morris and Burt Cutler directed bands, offering concerts in the afternoon and evenings.[19]

Music

The Fourth Regiment Band, made of 30 musicians, played during the afternoon and evening during the opening of the park.[1]

On May 26, Liberati and his famous military band performed an outdoor evening performance.[20]

Samuel E. Morris and Burt Cutler directed bands, offering concerts in the afternoon and evenings during early July.[19]

See Also

Activities

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Olentangy Park: Opening of the Season." Columbus Evening Dispatch. The Drama Section. 19 May 1901. Pg. 12.
  2. ↑ "Steel Trestle." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 27 April 1901. Pg. 8.
  3. ↑ "Steel Trestle." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 28 May 1901. Pg. 7.
  4. ↑ "Bond was Filed." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 13 June 1901. Pg. 12.
  5. ↑ "Brevities." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 7 January 1901. Pg. 7.
  6. ↑ "Scrap Over Olentangy Telephone." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 2 June 1901. Pg. 10.
  7. ↑ "Beat the Injunction." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 27 April 1901. Pg. 7.
  8. ↑ "Olentangy Park Fences." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 11 May 1901. Pg. 6.
  9. ↑ "Short Items." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 13 May 1901. Pg. 7.
  10. ↑ "Olentangy Park Fence." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 13 May 1901. Pg. 6.
  11. ↑ "Hurt on Toboggan." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 1 July 1901. Pg. 10.
  12. ↑ "Olentangy on a Rampage." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 5 July 1909. Pg. 8.
  13. ↑ "Olentangy Park: Vaudeville." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 27 May 1901. Pg. 9.
  14. ↑ "Olentangy Park: Vaudeville." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 2 June 1901. Pg. 12.
  15. ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 9 June 1901. Pg. 12.
  16. ↑ "Olentangy Park: Vaudeville." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 16 June 1901. Pg. 12.
  17. ↑ "Olentangy Park" The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 23 June 1901. Pg. 12.
  18. ↑ "Olentangy Park: Vaudeville." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 1 July 1901. Pg. 9.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Olentangy Park: Vaudeville." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 7 July 1901. Pg. 16.
  20. ↑ "Amusements: Olentangy and Minerva Parks - Liberati's Band." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 25 May 1901. Pg. 9.
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