1911 Season
Leadership | The Olentangy Park Company Joseph W. Dusenbury, president William J. Dusenbury, manager |
---|---|
Opening Day | April 23, 1911 |
Closing Day | September 17, 1911 (Daily) October 29, 1911 (Season) |
New Attractions | Double-Whirl Electric Autos Millrace and Fish Pond Wonderland |
Theater Manager | Harry O. Stubbs Charles H. Wilson |
Stock Company | Stubbs-Wison Players |
Band(s) | J. Wylie Powers Band |
Park Size | 125 acres |
The Olentangy Park and Theater opened for the 1911 season on Sunday, April 23, 1911.[1][2] It was originally planned for April 9, 1911,[3][4] but was postponed due to bad weather.[5] The park closed except for Sundays starting September 17, 1911.[6] The park remained open on Sundays until October 29, 1911. Over 1 million people visited the park this season.[7]
Park Improvements
Two new rides were added: the Double Whirl and the Electric Autos. A millrace and fish pond were also added.[8] New cement walkways were laid, and new globe lamps and fancy light poles were added throughout the park.[4]
In July, the Columbus Railway and Light Company laid new grooved rails on North High Street to the park, costing the company $70,000 ($2.3 million in 2024). They wanted to lay "T" rails but received threats of lawsuits.[9]
For ride and attraction changes, see the Rides and Attractions section.
Major Fire
Main Article: Midway Fire of 1911
On July 16, 1911, a fire destroyed five (or seven[10]) attractions along the Midway, including the Ye Old Mill, The Destruction of Johnstown, the Penny Arcade, Dear Old Coney Island, and the Temple of Mirth. Park management and the fire department believed the fire was intentionally caused and incendiaries were used. The loss was estimated to be $15,000 to $50,000 ($496,642 to $1,655,474 in 2024). Two other fires were also found and extinguished the same evening.[11]
Two men, J. Andrews, 87, and Earnest Parsons, 19, were slightly burned that night when a fire broke out around 9:!5 p.m. in the Old Mill attraction. The fire was believed to have been ignited from a discarded cigarette or incendiary. They were on the second floor of the building when they panicked and jumped, landing on the steps below, which were already burning. They were taken to the Protestant hospital. Andrews could walk home after treatment, but Parsons's injuries were worse. Although rumors were spread that several people were injured and died, manager Dusenbury and the fire department believed they were the only injuries, and no one died.[12] However, some other publications reported seven people were injured and at least 1,000 people fled in panic.[10]
It was possibly arson due to other fires around the park that night. A band member discovered one of the other fires in one of the theater boxes at 6:30 p.m. and extinguished it with a chemical. However, State Fire Marshal Zuber investigated the fire and didn't think it was arson due to there being a large crowd on a Sunday night.[13] Some reports said the fire was believed to have been caused by faulty wiring.[14]
The destroyed buildings were frame structures, and most of them were lined with burlap. The firefighters arrived too late to save the five buildings but were able to save the Dancing Pavilion, which was only partially burned. Its survival is partially attributed to its steel frame. The water damaged the dance floor. Manager Dusenbury said the buildings were not insured. Events for the week were not canceled.[12]
The debris of the destroyed buildings was cleaned up by July 22.[15]
Other Notable Events
Lights Stolen
One thousand 16-candle-power electric lights stored in the stockroom at the rear of the restaurant were stolen in May, soon after the park's opening.[16]
May Day Outing
On May 17, the North Side Chamber of Commerce had a large outing with Attorney General Hogan speaking.[17] Senator Albert J. Beveridge of Indiana was to be the principal speaker, but he was held up in Washington, D.C. Instead, Mayor Marshall welcomed visitors, and Governor Harmon delivered an address.[18] The day featured daylight pyrotechnics, nighttime fireworks, balloon ascensions, parachute leaps, acrobatic acts, four wrestling matches, the Old Guard Drum Corps, outdoor vaudeville, moving pictures, band concerts, orchestra music, canoe regatta, water sports, swimming races, athletic contests, Fink's Comedy Dog and Mule Circus, Professor Karl Hoenig and his twenty-five boy singers, and other features. Harry Hill's old timers' frontier exhibition, with trick and fancy riding, trick roping and lariat throwing, bucking broncos, relay races, the pony express, Roman hippodrome riding, and the famous bucking bull, was also a free feature.[19] Cornetist Helen Roling performed a solo.[20] There was also an excursion from Lancaster, Ohio, the same day.[21] The day saw 80,000 attendees.[22]
Retail Merchants' Outing
The Retail Merchants' Association held an outing at Olentangy Park on Wednesday, August 2, 1911. Stores in the area closed at 4:30 p.m., and employees headed to the park for a picnic supper, ice cream, baseball, open-air vaudeville performances, a double balloon ascension, parachute drops, a performance of "Liberty Hall," and fireworks. It was the first time an open-air vaudeville performance was given free at the park. The dancing pavilion was open only to merchants' employees.[23] The tickets were also good for the next day due to rain during the event.[24]
Balloon Fire
On Sunday, August 6, one of the balloons used in the ascensions and parachute drops caught fire from the flame supplying the heat. A park employee threw a bucket of oil on the fire, thinking it was water, destroying the balloon. No one was hurt in the incident.[25]
Buckeye Club Outing
The Buckeye Club held a major outing on August 26. They gave out 100,000 tickets and arranged for a supply of 300 gallons of free coffee. Several races were held at the event.[26]
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.[27][28][4]
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.[27][4]
Coney Island Fire
Main Article: Dear Old Coney Island
The Dear Old Coney Island structure caught fire on May 28. Duke, a performing dog from the neighboring Destruction of Johnstown exhibit, found the fire and alerted attaches, who extinguished the fires with a few buckets of water. The attractions were houses in structures of wood and burlap, so fire was a concern.[29][30]
List of Rides and Attractions
- Automatic Vaudeville
- Bandstand (South)
- Bandstand (North)
- Bathing Pavilion
- Boathouse
- Bowling alleys
- Box ball alleys
- Carousel
- Children's Playground
- Circle Swing
- Colonnade
- Coney Island
- Crazy House
- Dancing Pavilion
- Double Whirl NEW
- Electric Autos NEW
- Ferris Wheel
- Figure Eight Toboggan
- Floral Conservatory & Greenhouse
- Japanese Village and Garden
- Gypsy Camp
- Johnstown Flood
- Loop-the-Loop
- Merry-Go-Round (1)
- Merry-Go-Round (3)
- Millrace and Fish Pond New
- Miniature Railway
- Motion Picture Exhibit
- North Arcade
- Ocean Wave
- Ye Olde Mill
- Palm Garden
- Pony and Camel Track
- Scenic Coaster
- Shoot-the-Chutes
- Shooting Gallery
- Snake Den
- Swings
- Temple of Mirth
- Water Toboggan
- Whirlwind
- Wonderland NEW
- 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).[27][4] The Nellie Booth Company of eight people performed one-act dramas and comedies in May.[31] Dollie Diamond sang for the illustrated songs that played after the performances.[32]
On May 19 and 20, the Republican Glee Club gypsy minstrels performed. Tickets were 25 cents ($8.28 in 2024).[33][34]
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.[35]
Manager Dusenbury added five-foot gates across the theater's promenade and at the foot of the balcony stairs to eliminate the noise from passer-bys during the plays. The gates folded and were similar to those used on streetcars. This was to replace the low fences and gates people had climbed over in the past.[36]
The theater closed for the season with the last performances during the Labor Day picnic on September 4, 1911.
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.[37] The company was engaged at the park for sixteen weeks, starting on May 28.[4]
The Stubbs-Wison Players included:
- Robert Ames
- Aldrich Bowker
- Maude Burns
- LeRoy Clemons, child actor
- William L. Gibson
- James Hagan
- Carl Harbaugh
- Ruby Hoffman
- Franklin Jones
- Nance Naylor
- Adelaide Overholt
- Alfred Perry
- Edward Poland
- Franklin Ritchie
- Earl Shenn
- Frank Sylvester
- Miss Van Duzer
- Dorothy Wilson
- Thomas "Tom" Wise
Performances
Week of May 29: "The Girl I Left Behind Me"
Week of June 5: "The Daughters of Men" by Charles Klein
Week of June 12: "Brown of Harvard"
Week of June 19: "Merely Mary Ann"
Week of June 26: "Man of the Hour"
Week of July 3: "The Gentleman from Mississippi" - attendees on opening night received a souvenir
Week of July 10: "The Wrong Mr. Wright" by George Broadhurst
Week of July 17: "Are You a Mason?"
Week of July 24: "Sauce for the Goose"
Week of July 31: "Liberty Hall"
Week of August 6: "The Wolf"
Week of August 13: "Brown's in Town"
Week of August 20: "The Bachelor"
Week of August 27: "Cousin Kate" by Ethel Barrymore
Vaudeville
The first ever free open-air vaudeville show at the park was performed on August 2 during the Retail Merchants' Outing. The acts included The Great Burtinos, wire artists; Professor Curtiss and his trained bears and dogs; M'lle Aline, juggler and hoop manipulator; Jack Richards, a terpsichorean player, the upside-down man; Miss Frazee, flying trapeze; Glenny and Miller, acrobatic comiques, and an attempt at suicide.[23]
Stunts and Outdoor Shows
Starting May 28, Carver's Trained Horses performed at the park. Dr. William Frank Carver (billed as W. F. Carver) showed off his trained animals, including Bossie, the famous bucking cow, and high-diving horses ridden by "The Girl in Red." The horses would dive 40 feet (12.2 meters)[38] or 50 feet (15.24 meters)[39]into a pool of water. "The Girl in Red" was a character played by different women, including Miss Lorenz,[40] similar to other stunts at the time. The performances would often include a version of a story describing an exciting escape from bandits that inspired the act. Still, it was most likely from plunging on horseback off a bank into a deep hole in Medicine Creek in Nebraska.[41] One of the act's horses, Little Powder Face, had a diving record of 85 feet (26 meters).[42] Originally planned for one week, the show was given a contract to run for the rest of the summer. The show presented free shows starting June 10, the first time the show performed for free.[43]
Anderson's trained Esquimo dogs performed during the week of the Buckeye Republican Club outing on June 24.[44]
Virginia Adams, 19, performed a balloon ascension and parachute drop from 2,000 feet for the first time on July 2.[45][46]
On July 4, Henry Gehring, the middle-weight champion wrestler of the world, wrestled Young Pardello, a middle-weight champion wrestler from Europe, in the "big stadium" (possibly the Aerodrome) where the Carver Show usually performs.[47]
Professor Raub performed a couple of balloon ascensions and parachute drops the week of July 9.[48]
Mille Essie Fay and Company came to the park with their trained horse "Arabia" the week of July 17. The group came from Coney Island, New York. They performed under a large lit canvas erected in the Grove, just west of the main walk.[49][50]
Professor Raub returned with Professor Morman to perform a double balloon race on July 30, 1911.[51]
For the Buckeye Republican Club outing on August 26 and the three weeks following, Professor S. B. Erieg performed "Slide for Life," where he slid while on fire down a wire strung from the Shoot-the-Chutes flagstaff to the lagoon.[52][53]
Ed Morman made a novel balloon ascension with a double parachute drop on September 10.[54]
Music
The J. Wylie Powers Band played free concerts twice a day.[4]
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 Park." The Bucyrus Evening Telegraph (Bucyrus, Ohio), April 12, 1911. Page 3. Accessed through Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bucyrus-evening-telegraph-olentangy/156893936/
- ↑ "Olentangy Opening." The Columbus Evening Dispatch," March 25, 1911. Page 10.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 "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 Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch, September 23, 1911. Page 10.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch, October 8, 1911. Page 5.
- ↑ "Olentangy." The Columbus Evening Dispatch," April 22, 1911. Page 10.
- ↑ "Paving of North High Street Starts Monday." The Columbus Evening Dispatch, July 7, 1911. Page 1.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Fire Causes Panic." Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California), July 17, 1911. Page 5. Accessed through Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/oakland-tribune-1911-07-17/page/n3/mode/2up?q=%22Olentangy+Park%22
- ↑ Photographs, The Columbus Evening Dispatch, July 17, 1911. Page 1.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Suspect Arson in Destructive Fire at Olentangy Park." The Columbus Evening Dispatch, July 17, 1911. Page 1.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park Fire Not Work of Arsonist." The Columbus Evening Dispatch, July 18, 1911. Page 3.
- ↑ "Fire Panic in Park Resort." The New York Times, July 17, 1911. Page 18.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Evening Dispatch, July 22, 1911. Page 10.
- ↑ "1000 Lights Stolen." The Columbus Evening Dispatch, May 1, 1911. Page 3.
- ↑ "Hogan One of Speakers." The Columbus Evening Dispatch. May 12, 1911. Page 9.
- ↑ "Beveridge Not Coming." The Columbus Evening Dispatch, May 17, 1911. Page 8.
- ↑ "North Side Outing." The Columbus Evening Dispatch, May 9, 1911. Page 14.
- ↑ Photograph, The Columbus Sunday Dispatch, May 17, 1911. Page 14.
- ↑ "Sister Cities Join." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch, May 14, 1911. Page 3.
- ↑ "Eighty Thousand at North Side Outing." The Columbus Evening Dispatch, May 18, 1911. Page 15.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 "All Ready for the Merchants' Outing at Olentangy Park." The Columbus Evening Dispatch, August 1, 1911. Page 9.
- ↑ "Merchants Had Fun in Spite of the Rain." The Columbus Evening Dispatch, August 3, 1911. Page 3.
- ↑ "Oil, Instead of Water." Columbus Evening Dispatch, August 7, 1911. Page 3.
- ↑ "Give 100,000 Tickets to Buckeye Club Outing." Columbus Evening Dispatch, August 25, 1911. Page 3.
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 Advertisement, The Columbus Sunday Dispatch, March 26, 1911. Page 41.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch, May 14, 1911. Page 5.
- ↑ "Blaze in Olentangy Attraction and Gives Alarm." The Columbus Evening Dispatch, May 29, 1911. Page 3.
- ↑ "Local Coney Island is Also Visited by Fire." Columbus Evening Dispatch, May 29, 1911. Page 3.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Evening Dispatch, May 6, 1911. Page 10.
- ↑ The Columbus Evening Dispatch, May 6, 1911. Page 10.
- ↑ "Minstrels to Be Repeated." The Columbus Evening Dispatch, May 17, 1911. Page 14.
- ↑ "Will Repeat Minstrels." The Columbus Evening Dispatch, May 17, 1911. Page 6.
- ↑ "Plot of 'Aurora' Gives Room for Many Specials." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch, May 7, 1911. Page 12.
- ↑ "Olentangy: Extra Gates." The Columbus Evening Dispatch, June 14, 1911. Page 16.
- ↑ "Coming Stock." The Columbus Evening Dispatch, March 10, 1911. Page 20.
- ↑ Photograph, The Columbus Sunday Dispatch, May 21, 1911. Page 7.
- ↑ "Carver's Trained Horses." The Columbus Evening Dispatch, May 24, 1911. Page 14.
- ↑ "Olentangy." Columbus Evening Dispatch, August 16, 1911. Page 12.
- ↑ "William Frank Carver." Wikipedia.org, Last modified on June 14, 2024. Accessed on August 31, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Frank_Carver
- ↑ "Horses That Dive." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch, May 21, 1911. Page 3.
- ↑ "Olentangy: The Carver Show." The Columbus Evening Dispatch, June 14, 1911. Page 16.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Evening Dispatch, June 24, 2011. Page 10.
- ↑ Advertisement, The Columbus Evening Dispatch, July 1, 1911. Page 5.
- ↑ "Covets Air Fame." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch," July 2, 1911. Page 32.
- ↑ "Gehring to Wrestle Pardello in City." The Columbus Evening Dispatch," June 29, 1911. Page 13.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch, July 9, 1911. Page 33.
- ↑ "New Features at Olentangy." The Columbus Evening Dispatch, July 18, 1911. Page 12.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Evening Dispatch, July 24, 1911. Page 10.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Evening Dispatch, July 29, 1911. Page 10.
- ↑ "Olentangy." Columbus Evening Dispatch, August 24, 1911. Page 16.
- ↑ "Olentangy." Columbus Evening Dispatch, August 25, 1911. Page 14.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch, September 9, 1911. Page 10.