1911 Season
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| Leadership | Joseph W. Dusenbury Will J. Dusenbury |
|---|---|
| New Attractions | Double-Whirl Electric Autos Millrace and Fish Pond |
| Theater Manager | Harry O. Stubbs Charles H. Wilson |
| Stock Company | Stubbs-Wison Players |
| Band(s) | J. Wylie Powers Band |
The Olentangy Park and Theater opened for the 1911 season on Sunday, April 23, 1911.[1] It was originally planned for April 9, 1911,[2][3] but was postponed due to bad weather.[4]
Park Improvements
Two new rides were added: the Double Whirl and the Electric Autos. A millrace and fish Pond were also added.[5] New cement walkways were laid and new globe lamps and fancy light poles were added throughout the park.[3]
Notable Events
One thousand of 16-candle-power electric lights that were stored in the stockroom at the rear of the restaurant were stolen in May, soon after the park's opening.[6]
Rides and Attractions
New Double Whirl
Main Article: Double Whirl
The Double Whirl was a steel structure with a dome 30 feet (9 meters) tall that spun horizontally. Each of its six steel arms had a six-seat Ferris wheel that spun vertically. The ride was covered in electric lights to add a sense of wonder at night.[7][8][3]
New Electric Auto Ride
Main Article: Electric Autos
The Electric Automobile ride, also known as the Racing Autos and Mechanical Autos was installed near the Loop-the-Loop.[7][3]
List of Rides and Attractions
- Arcadia
- Automatic Vaudeville
- Band Shell
- Bathing Pavilion
- Boathouse
- Bowling alleys
- Carousel
- Children's Playground
- Circle Swing
- Colonnade
- Dancing Pavilion
- The Destruction of Johnstown
- Dear Old Coney Island
- Double Whirl NEW
- Electric Autos NEW
- Ferris Wheel
- Figure Eight Toboggan
- Floral Conservatory
- Japanese Village and Garden
- Loop-the-Loop
- Love's Voyage
- Merry-Go-Round (1)
- Merry-Go-Round (3)
- Millrace and Fish Pond New
- Miniature Railway
- Motion Picture Exhibit
- Museum of Ornithology
- Ocean Wave
- Ye Olde Mill
- Penny Arcade (Midway)
- Pony Track
- Scenic Coaster
- Shoot-the-Chutes
- Shooting Gallery
- Snake Den
- Swings
- Temple of Mirth
- Water Toboggan
- Whirlwind
- Zoological Garden
Theater, Vaudeville, and Stunt Performances
Olentangy Park Theater
Main Article: Olentangy Park Casino and Theater
T park showed moving pictures, illustrated songs, and vaudeville for 5 cents ($1.66 in 2024).[7][3] The Nellie Booth Company of eight people performed one-act dramas and comedies in May.[9] Dollie Diamond sang for the illustrated songs that played after the performances.[10]
From May 22 to 27, the Pythian Association of Franklin County printed the operetta "Aurora." Four hundred people took part in the production, and the proceeds went into the fund to furnish the new Pythian castle that was to be erected on East Long Street.[11]
Stubbs-Wison Players
The Stubbs-Wison Players returned as the Olentangy Stock Company, with Franklin Ritchie as the leading man and Miss Van Duzer as the leading woman.[12] The company was engaged at the park for sixteen weeks, starting on May 28.[3]
Members
- Franklin Ritchie
- Miss Van Duzer
- Robert Ames
- James Hagan
- Ruby Hoffman
- Edward Poland
- Adelaide Overholt
- Frank Sylvester
- Aldrich Bowker
- LeRoy Ames, child actor
Performances
Week of May 29: "The Girl I Left Behind Me"
Week of June 5: "A Woman's Way" by Grace George
Week of June 12: "Caught in the Rain" by William Collier
Week of June 19: "The Chaperons" by Maxine Elliot
Week of June 26: "The Truth" by Clyde Fitch
Week of July 3: "The Gentleman from Mississippi"
Week of July 10: "Brown of Harvard"
Stunts and Outdoor Shows
Music
The J. Wylie Powers Band band played free concerts twice a day[3]
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
- ↑ Advertisement, "The Columbus Evening Dispatch," April 6, 1911. Page 12.
- ↑ "Olentangy Opening." The Columbus Evening Dispatch," March 25, 1911. Page 10.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 "Olentangy." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch," March 26, 1911. Page 10.
- ↑ "Postponement of Olentangy Park Opening." "The Columbus Evening Dispatch," April 6, 1911. Page 14.
- ↑ "Olentangy." The Columbus Evening Dispatch," April 22, 1911. Page 10.
- ↑ "1000 Lights Stolen." The Columbus Evening Dispatch. May 1, 1911. Page 3.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Advertisement, The Columbus Sunday Dispatch, March 26, 1911. Page 41.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch, May 14, 1911. Page 5.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Evening Dispatch, May 6, 1911. Page 10.
- ↑ The Columbus Evening Dispatch, May 6, 1911. Page 10.
- ↑ "Plot of 'Aurora' Gives Room for Many Specials." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch, May 7, 1911. Page 12.
- ↑ "Coming Stock." The Columbus Evening Dispatch, March 10, 1911. Page 20.