1904 Season

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1904 Season Season
Leadership Joseph W. Dusenbury
The Olentangy Park Company
New Attractions Ye Olde Mill or Auquarama
Circle Swing
Palace of Illusions
Arcade
Pony and Camel Track
Palm Garden
The Colonnade
Theater Manager W.W. Prosser
Band(s) Wendell S. Powell's Olentangy Band

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The Olentangy Park, Theater, and Zoological Garden opened for the 1904 season on Sunday, May 15, 1904.[1] Wendell S. Powell's Olentangy Band returned to play afternoon and evening performances.[2]

Park Improvements

The park expanded to comprise over 100 sq. acres. The Ball Grounds were enclosed and a large grandstand was added. The Dancing Pavilion and bowling alleys were enlarged and improved. Rare and interesting birds and animals were added to the zoo, growing it to be three times larger than the previous season.[2] The park spent over $50,000 (over $1.67 million in 2023) on improvements and new attractions.[3]

Bear Attack

Peter Duffy, an attendant at the park's zoo, was attacked by a Himalayan bear when feeding the animals raw meat. Duffy was carrying the meat in a basket when the bear reached out of its cage to grab it. He became angry and opened the cage to confront the bear and take back the meat. The bear attacked Duffy causing lacerations all over his body. Other attendants saved Duffy, who survived.[4]

Passenger Station Restored

The passenger station for the park blew down during a wind storm the prior autumn. The Columbus Railway and Light Company restored the station using a concrete foundation that extended 5 feet into the ground.[5]

Rides and Attractions

New Colonnade

Main Article: Colonnade

The Colonnade was a 270-ft. (82.3 m) long building lined with columns and built to the east of the theater and offered refreshments and amusements."[2][6]

New Funhouses

The Castle Mystic, also called the Mystic Castle, this funhouse was described in the Columbus Sunday Dispatch as "full of mirth and mystery," while Palace of Illusions was "entertaining, mystifying, and instructive."[2] The House That Jack Built was also listed in an ad.[7]

Mystic Castle

Main Article: Castle Mystic

This attraction had the endless tunnel, the haunted swing, the rocky pass, the collapsable platform, the grotto, Kelly's slide, Jacob's ladder, the fountain of youth, the observatory, the magic mirror, the drunkard's pathway, Dooley's art gallery, the mysterious elevator, and other features. It was constructed under the personal supervision of J.W. Zarro of Cincinnati.[6]

Palace of Illusions

Main Article: Palace of Illusions

This attraction had magical illusions, ghost shows, and other "weird and uncanny effects never before seen in Columbus." It was also constructed under the supervision of J.W. Zarro.[6]

New Ye Olde Mill or Auquarama

Main Article: Ye Olde Mill (First)

The Ye Olde Mill or Auquarama was a new water ride where boats with upholstered seats carry riders through "gloomy caverns, fantastic grottos, and unsurpassed scenery" with a torrent of water by an immense water wheel. After floating through subterraneous passages, they emerge into rooms containing electrically lighted scenic effects in scenes showing cotton plantations and Black musicians playing banjos. The next scene was based on Dante's Inferno with weird and ghostly effects, followed by "The Rock of Ages" with water flowing around a rock with a center of natural flowers. From there, riders pass through Arctic regions, then, under the sea with serpents and numerous "uncanny figures of every description." Mirrors were placed to enhance the immersive ride. The ride looped around to the start for the next set of riders.[6]

The ride was constructed under the supervision of C.B. and N.A. McDaniel of New York City and cost $15,000 (over $500,000 in 2023).[6]

New Circle Swing

Main Article: Circle Swing

The Giant Circle Swing consisted of a 75-foot (23 m) tall steel tower (some sources say 90 feet (27.5 m)) which revolves around a vertical shaft. Connected to this shaft at the top of the tower were six radiating arms described as being "like spokes of a great wheel or legs of a gigantic spider. Steel cables extended from the arms to carry cars of passengers. An electric motor at the base spun the arms, cables, and cars with centrifugal force raising the cars over 30 feet (9 m) above the ground at the full speed of 40 mph (64 kph). The circle created at its widest was 120 feet (36.5 m) in diameter. It was built by the North Penn Iron Company of Philadelphia and cost over $8,000 ($266,784 in 2023) to construct.[6]

Zoo

Main Article: Zoological Garden

The zoo was expanded to be three times the size. One of the additions included a large pressed brick animal house.[6]

Other Rides and Attractions

Olentangy Park Theater

Main Article: Olentangy Park Casino and Theater

Vaudeville returned for the 1904 season with two sets of performances daily throughout the season.[1] The Dusenbury Brothers made a deal with the Vaudeville Managers Association of America to obtain a vaudeville franchise for Columbus.[8] W.W. Prosser of Columbus was hired to manage the casino and J.K. Burke, former manager of Minerva Park, booked acts from New York.[9][8][2]

Week of May 15

Acts and performances:[10][11]

  • Frederick Bond and Co.
  • Soto Sunetaro, "The Great Japanese Wonder"
  • Mlle Latina
  • Mooney and Holbein, Australian tourists, singing, dancing, and comedy
  • Georgia O'Ramey, comedy
  • Eddie Mack, dancing comedian and monologist
  • American Vitagraph showing pictures such as the great train robbery based on a real robbery on the Northern Pacific Railway

Music

Wendell S. Powell's Olentangy Band with 30 musicians returned to play afternoon and evening performances at both the theater and the Dancing Pavilion.[2][12]

Outdoor Performances and Stunts

Activities

Other Activities

Ball Grounds

Main Article: Ball Grounds

The ball grounds were enclosed and a large grandstand was added. The park hired N.A. McCoy as the manager of the ball grounds, clubs, and teams from Columbus and the surrounding areas. There were games every day with special games on Sundays and holidays.[2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Vaudeville for Olentangy." Sunday Columbus Dispatch. 6 March 1904. Pg. 4.
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 "Grand Opening Olentangy Park, Theater and Zoo." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 24 April 1904. Pg. 4.
  3. ↑ "Grand Opening Olentangy Park, Theater and Zoo." The Columbus Evening Dispatch. 25 April 1904. Pg. 4.
  4. ↑ "Peter Duffy has Narrow Escape from Angry Bear at the Olentangy Zoo." The Columbus Evening Dispatch. 22 March 1904. Pg. 1.
  5. ↑ "Olentangy Station Restored." The Columbus Evening Dispatch. 10 May 1904. Pg. 10.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 "Olentangy Park, a Coney Island Rival" The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 1 May 1904. Pg. 4.
  7. ↑ Ad. The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 24 April 1904. Pg. 4.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Vaudeville at Olentangy." The Columbus Evening Dispatch. 20 March 1904. Pg.4.
  9. ↑ "Notes." The Columbus Evening Dispatch. 17 March 1904. Pg.4.
  10. ↑ "Olentangy Theater." The Sunday Columbus Dispatch. 8 May 1904. Pg. 4.
  11. ↑ "Olentangy Park: Bill for the Opening." The Columbus Evening Dispatch. 10 May 1904. Pg. 4.
  12. ↑ "Olentangy Park: Its Many Attractions." The Columbus Evening Dispatch. 3 May 1904. Pg.4.
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