1923 Season: Difference between revisions

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Miller became the park's operator for the 1923 season and installed new rides, testing them for safety. He also continued the free band concerts and vaudeville. Thousands of new bathing suits were purchased.<ref>"Pearl Miller to Operate Park." ''The Columbus Dispatch.'' March 25, 1923. Page 82.</ref>
Miller became the park's operator for the 1923 season and installed new rides, testing them for safety. He also continued the free band concerts and vaudeville. Thousands of new bathing suits were purchased.<ref>"Pearl Miller to Operate Park." ''The Columbus Dispatch.'' March 25, 1923. Page 82.</ref>
== Park Improvements ==
The Pony Track and stables were enlarged for the season.<ref>"Parks and Pavilions." ''The Columbus Dispatch.'' May 16, 1923. Page 34.</ref>


==Talk of Annexation==
==Talk of Annexation==
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It was assumed that the Columbus City Council would be asked to purchase the park in May, and the land would be turned into a municipal recreation ground or leased to private management.<ref>"To Consider Purchase." ''The Columbus Dispatch.'' May 21, 1923. Page 11.</ref> The North Side Improvement Association considered widening North High Street between Fifth Avenue and the park. It would have required the removal of overhead telegraph and telephone wires and poles.<ref>"Street Widening to Get Consideration." ''The Columbus Dispatch.'' June 10, 1923. Page 7.</ref>
It was assumed that the Columbus City Council would be asked to purchase the park in May, and the land would be turned into a municipal recreation ground or leased to private management.<ref>"To Consider Purchase." ''The Columbus Dispatch.'' May 21, 1923. Page 11.</ref> The North Side Improvement Association considered widening North High Street between Fifth Avenue and the park. It would have required the removal of overhead telegraph and telephone wires and poles.<ref>"Street Widening to Get Consideration." ''The Columbus Dispatch.'' June 10, 1923. Page 7.</ref>
== Other Notable Events ==
=== Annual Outing for Orphan Children ===
The annual Orphans' Outing Day was held at the park on June 27 by the Columbus Automobile Club. Automobile owners in the area were encouraged to donate the use of their cars from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. to transport children from Broad Street, between High and Third streets, to the park. Lt. Col. Harvey of Fort Hayes arranged to have the children driven back home in army vehicles. The park management provided the children with free rides on the [[Grand Carousel|Merry-Go-Round]] and other rides as well as free vaudeville shows. The Automobile Club supplied a lunch with lemonade and other soft drinks. They gave the children balloons and badges. Major and Mrs. Walter Collins of the Volunteers of America, who collaborated with the automobile club, were in charge of the children during the event. A staff of 20 women, a troop of Boy Scouts, nurses, and orphan home attendants assisted during the event. The children came from the Methodist Children's Home in Worthington, the Hannah Neil Mission on East Main Street, St. Vincent's Orphan Asylum on East Main Street, and the Franklin County Children's Home. The general committee of the Columbus Automobile Club included Charles M. Siebert, Jr., Max Stearn, Major and Mrs. Walter Collins, E. E. Grant, Lt. Col. Harvey of Ft. Hayes, and A. O. Rodrian.<ref>"Orphan Children Looking Forward to Outing Day." ''The Columbus Dispatch.'' June 20, 1923. Page 3.</ref>


==Rides and Attractions==
==Rides and Attractions==
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''Main article:'' [[Shooting Gallery]]
''Main article:'' [[Shooting Gallery]]


A new shooting gallery was added that could accomodate 20 participants at a time.<ref>"Outdoor Amusements." ''The Columbus Dispatch.'' June 19, 1923. Page 28.</ref>
A new shooting gallery was added that could accommodate 20 participants at a time.<ref>"Outdoor Amusements." ''The Columbus Dispatch.'' June 19, 1923. Page 28.</ref>
 
=== Pny Track ===
 
The Pony Track and stables were enlarged for the season.<ref>"Parks and Pavilions." ''The Columbus Dispatch.'' May 16, 1923. Page 34.</ref>


===List of Rides and Attractions===
===List of Rides and Attractions===

Revision as of 23:33, 11 April 2026

This page is under construction. Please remove this notice when complete.

1923 Season
Leadership Perl S. Miller, receiver and operator
The Olentangy Park Company
Joseph F. Luft, manager
Joseph W. Dusenbury, president
William J. Dusenbury
Pre-season April 22, 1923 - May 27, 1923
Season Began May 27, 1923
New Attractions Horseshoe Courts
Shooting Gallery
Band(s) Olentangy Orchestra
Park Size About 100 acres
Tagline "Where everybody goes"

Olentangy Park opened for its 1923 season on April 22, 1923.[1] It was only open on Sundays until May 27,[2] then it began operating daily along with the Swimming Pool and Pony Track.

The park closed except for Sundays again after... The park closed for the season on ...

Dusenburys Forced into Receivership

In December 1922, the Dusenbury Brothers were forced into receivership after the Columbus Railway, Power & Light Co. sued the park's owners. Judge Daniel H. Sowers of Franklin County appointed Perl S. Miller, real estate dealer, as receiver of the Dusenbury interests, which controlled several of the largest amusement concessions in Columbus, and were the largest holders of moving picture theaters at the time. The petition for receiver was directed against Joseph W. Dusenbury, William J. Dusenbury, the Olentangy Park Co., the Hilltop Amusement Co., and the J. W. & W. J. Dusenbury Amusement Co. The Dusenbury Brothers operated Olentangy Park, the Grand Theater, the State Theater, the Vernon Theater, and the Hilltop Theater. At the time, the Hilltop Theater or theater building was completely finished. The State Theater was operating, but the building was not completed. The petition was filed a few minutes after they won a lawsuit against the Dusenburys for $1,242$23,735 in 2025 dollars for power furnished to Olentangy Park. The bond of the receiver was fixed at $25,000$229,322 in 2025 dollars.[3]

Miller became the park's operator for the 1923 season and installed new rides, testing them for safety. He also continued the free band concerts and vaudeville. Thousands of new bathing suits were purchased.[4]

Talk of Annexation

There was a proposal for the City of Columbus to annex the Olentangy, Indianola, and Smith parks, with renewed attention following Olentangy Park's fall into receivership. Councilman Worley opposed the measure, believing it was a way to hide "blue law" reform, since the city charter would prohibit Sunday amusements.[5]

Part of the proposal was to run Olentangy Boulevard through the Olentangy Park site. Miller said the creditors would have to consent before it could be done. Most of the park was under a 99-year lease, and discussions were held about how the park would handle being split into two sections by the proposed street extension.[6]

It was assumed that the Columbus City Council would be asked to purchase the park in May, and the land would be turned into a municipal recreation ground or leased to private management.[7] The North Side Improvement Association considered widening North High Street between Fifth Avenue and the park. It would have required the removal of overhead telegraph and telephone wires and poles.[8]

Other Notable Events

Annual Outing for Orphan Children

The annual Orphans' Outing Day was held at the park on June 27 by the Columbus Automobile Club. Automobile owners in the area were encouraged to donate the use of their cars from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. to transport children from Broad Street, between High and Third streets, to the park. Lt. Col. Harvey of Fort Hayes arranged to have the children driven back home in army vehicles. The park management provided the children with free rides on the Merry-Go-Round and other rides as well as free vaudeville shows. The Automobile Club supplied a lunch with lemonade and other soft drinks. They gave the children balloons and badges. Major and Mrs. Walter Collins of the Volunteers of America, who collaborated with the automobile club, were in charge of the children during the event. A staff of 20 women, a troop of Boy Scouts, nurses, and orphan home attendants assisted during the event. The children came from the Methodist Children's Home in Worthington, the Hannah Neil Mission on East Main Street, St. Vincent's Orphan Asylum on East Main Street, and the Franklin County Children's Home. The general committee of the Columbus Automobile Club included Charles M. Siebert, Jr., Max Stearn, Major and Mrs. Walter Collins, E. E. Grant, Lt. Col. Harvey of Ft. Hayes, and A. O. Rodrian.[9]

Rides and Attractions

New Horseshoe Courts

The park management and the Capital City Horseshoe League agreed to install six up-to-date, well-lit horseshoe courts and reserve them for the league three nights per week. The courts were installed in the center of the park near the Circle Swing, just south of the Dancing Pavilion. A large bulb with a shade was dropped over each peg while the center of the court was lit as bright as day.[10]

Main article: Shooting Gallery

A new shooting gallery was added that could accommodate 20 participants at a time.[11]

Pny Track

The Pony Track and stables were enlarged for the season.[12]

List of Rides and Attractions

Theater and Vaudeville

Olentangy Park Theater

Main Article: Olentangy Park Theater

Vaudeville

Vaudeville was shown at the Open-Air Theater starting May 27.[13]

Week of May 27

  • Maud Fox's Canines in "In Dogdom," featuring Dan, the mind-reading dog
  • Viggo and Dorothy, dancers, in "Styles and Steps"
  • Kirkwood and O'Niell, balancing act, in "Head to Head and Toe to Toe"
  • Hap Hazard and Mary in "Fun on a Wire"

Week of June 3

  • Howard and Louise, balancing act
  • Fowler and Mack in "A Vaudeville Cocktail"
  • Sam Lee in "Chinese Novelties"
  • McGarry Brothers and Margaret Gillispe in "Tips and Taps"
  • Williams and Lee, acrobats

Week of June 10

  • Genero Sisters, contortionists
  • Ray Reed, mimic and comedian
  • Garland and Smith, aerialists
  • "Three Boys" in "Pep, Harmony and Hope," a musical comedy

Week of June 17

  • George La Shay, the wizard of the marimbaphone
  • Tulsa Sisters
  • Demure, Null and Void, dancing, singing, and acrobatic stunts
  • Lou and Elsie Christensen, aerial act

Stunts and Outdoor Shows

Music

The Dancing Pavilion was open from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.[14] The Olentangy Orchestra later became to be known as the "Rainbow Eight" and was conducted by Carl Claspill.[15]

There were weekly Sunday concerts by a variety of performers.[16]

Sports

Horseshoe League

The park management and the Capital City Horseshoe League agreed to install six up-to-date, well-lit horseshoe courts and reserve them for the league three nights per week. The league planned to host their games there in the summer. Its opening was postponed three times and opened on June 26. A special match game was played on Sunday, June 24.[10]

Activities

List of Activities

References

  1. ↑ "Olentangy." The Columbus Dispatch. April 8, 1923. Page 109.
  2. ↑ "Olentangy Open Sunday." The Columbus Dispatch. April 30, 1923. Page 38.
  3. ↑ "Creditors Force Dusenburys into Receivership." The Columbus Dispatch. Dec. 4, 1922. Page 1.
  4. ↑ "Pearl Miller to Operate Park." The Columbus Dispatch. March 25, 1923. Page 82.
  5. ↑ "Worley Objects to Park Annexations." The Columbus Dispatch. April 21, 1923. Page 2.
  6. ↑ "Difficulty Expected." The Columbus Dispatch. May 8, 1923. Page 10.
  7. ↑ "To Consider Purchase." The Columbus Dispatch. May 21, 1923. Page 11.
  8. ↑ "Street Widening to Get Consideration." The Columbus Dispatch. June 10, 1923. Page 7.
  9. ↑ "Orphan Children Looking Forward to Outing Day." The Columbus Dispatch. June 20, 1923. Page 3.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Olentangy Park Gets Horseshoe League Games---Season Open June 26." The Columbus Dispatch. June 17, 1923. Page 32.
  11. ↑ "Outdoor Amusements." The Columbus Dispatch. June 19, 1923. Page 28.
  12. ↑ "Parks and Pavilions." The Columbus Dispatch. May 16, 1923. Page 34.
  13. ↑ "Park's 26th Birthday." The Columbus Dispatch. May 27, 1923. Page 76.
  14. ↑ Cherrington, H. E. "Outdoor Amusements." The Columbus Dispatch. May 6, 1923. Page 79.
  15. ↑ "Outdoor Amusements." The Columbus Dispatch. June 12, 1923. Page 34.
  16. ↑ "Free Vaudeville at Park." The Columbus Dispatch. June 10, 1923. Page 65.
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