1918 Season

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1918 Season
Leadership Will D. Harris Amusement Company
Will D. Harris, operating lessee
Jacob F. Luft, assistant manager

The Olentangy Park Company
Joseph W. Dusenbury, president
William J. Dusenbury
Pre-season March 31, 1918 - May 19, 1918
Season May 26, 1918 - Sept. 1, 1918
Post-season Sept. 7, 1918 - Sept. 29, 1918
New Attractions Ye Olde Mill (rebuilt)
Over-the-Top
The Whip
Stock Company Grau Musical Comedy Company
Stock Manager Matt Grau
Band(s) Philip Cincione Band
Harris' Olentangy Park Orchestra (directed by Charles Parker)
Park Size 100 acres
Tagline "The Outdoor Wonderland of Ohio"
"1000 Joys for Young & Old"

Olentangy Park opened its season on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1918. It was open on Sundays only during its pre-season.[1] The park was improved by 150 workers by the second Sunday.[2] Due to demand, it opened on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays after May 5, with the Dance Pavilion open only on Sundays.[3][4] The park fully opened for daily operation on May 26, 1918.[1] Charles Parker and his new 15-piece orchestra, "Harris' Olentangy Park Orchestra," performed in the Dancing Pavilion while Philip Cincione's Band gave free concerts throughout the season.[5][6] Prices remained the same as the previous season,[7] and parking for automobiles was free. Despite it being the earliest opening date among the Central States for an amusement park, about 11,000 people visited on opening day, and 25,000 on the second Sunday.[8][9][4]

Will D. Harris and his new company, Will D. Harris Amusement Company, leased the park from J. W. and W. J. Dusenbury, and their company, the Olentangy Park Company, maintained ownership. Harris organized the Will D. Harris Amusement Company with $50,000$1.06 million in 2025 dollars capital stock, to take over the park's management,[10] signing the lease in January 1917, starting on March 5, 1917, and lasting four years and eight months. The total rental was $125,000$2.66 million in 2025 dollars.[11] Harris would often pretend to be a parkgoer to gather feedback about what attendees felt about the park and its rides.[12]

The Dusenbury Brothers retired from active business to go to France to do war work. They closed a lease on the Grand Opera House on State Street and the Vernon Theater on Mt. Vernon Avenue, both in Columbus. Harris leased the Grand. Jacob F. Luft and W. Shelly Pletcher leased the Vernon for four years starting May 5, 1918, managed by the latter. Harris paid $15,000$319,336 in 2025 dollars rent for the Grand and kept it a motion picture house. Luft was also hired by Harris as an assistant manager of the theater, Olentangy Park, and the Piccadilly Theater, also taken over by Harris.[13]

The park began its post-season on Sept. 7, 1918, switching to Saturdays and Sundays only until closing fully at the end of September.[14][15] The park saw well over 800,000 visitors by Sept. 1, breaking the previous record, 750,000 from the previous season.[16]

Improvements to the Park

Manager Harris spent $250,000$5.32 million in 2025 dollars on improvements for the 1918 season[1] adding two major attractions, Over-the-Top and The Whip, and rebuilding Ye Olde Mill.[17][18][5] The rides were repainted and checked for safety.[19]

Due to the growing demand, Harris had to increase the size of the parking lot to accommodate more than 1,000 automobiles. He added special police officers and attendants for increased safety and to protect belongings in poor weather. The number of each license plate was recorded on a numbered tag to prevent auto theft. It was estimated that 80 percent of the parkgoers used automobiles to travel to the park. There was an incident where a parkgoer's electric car's tire blew, but the attendants were able to replace the tire by the time the parkgoer left. In another instance, a parkgoer's car's radiator was refilled with water.[20]

For ride and attraction changes, see the Rides and Attractions section.

Lawsuits

Maude Thomas sued the Olentangy Park Company, with the help of attorney Paul Good, for $1,000$21,289 in 2025 dollars in damages from when two roller coaster cars collided on July 4 and her back was injured.[21]

Rides and Attractions

New Over-The-Top

Main Article: Over-the-Top / The Racer

Manager Harris began building the Derby Racer.[22] Later named Over-the-Top, sometimes styled as "Over the Top," the racer roller coaster had two cars that started at the same point in time, and the occupants of each raced to see who would win. Only four of these types were constructed in the world when the building began. The Columbus Sunday Dispatch claimed it was "one of the most expensive park rides that have been invented "[17] and cost more than $250,000$5.32 million in 2025 dollars to build.[23] It was 82 feet tall and 1.25 miles in track length.[22] More than 5,000 parkgoers rode the Over-the-Top on its opening day.[3]

New Whip Ride

Main Article: The Whip

The Whip was a flat ride where riders got whipped around the corners, where they changed direction. Over 1,700 parkgoers rode the ride on opening day.[2]

Rebuilt Ye Olde Mill

Main Article: Ye Olde Mill (2)

Ye Olde Mill was redesigned and rebuilt further north than the original ride, which burned down in 1911. The ride was built along new lines, and electrical lighting was installed throughout the ride, where riders encountered weird scenes.[17] It was the only ride in the country at the time to use concrete channels for the water to carry boats "through the brilliantly-lighted and wonderfully-decorated channels, which extend in a zig-zag way for almost a mile."[18] More than 2,200 people rode the ride on opening day.[24]

Swimming Pool

Main Article: Swimming Pool

The Swimming Pool was painted inside and out with white enamel,[19] springboards were added, and 2,000 new bathing suits were received.[25] The pool was used by 1,000 bathers on its opening day despite cold and rainy weather.[26] The Central Y.M.C.A. secured the pool on June 21 to provide free swimming for the 1,500 boys who attended their six week swimming course.[27] Season tickets were discounted to $3$63.87 in 2025 dollars for any and all times at the end of July to last until the park closed for the season.[28] Almost 50,000 swimmers enjoyed the pool during the first three weeks of August.[29]

In August, Albert McMahon of the 26th Company, stationed at the Columbus Barracks, claimed he equalled the world record for the 25-yard dash held by C. M. Daniels in the park pool.[30]

Zoo

Main Article: Zoological Garden

In August, United States Navy member Roy E. Rife of Columbus was training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station near Chicago. He wanted to visit home and sent his father, Charles W. Rife, a letter asking to find a way to secure an animal for the zoo that was newly installed at the camp. Charles was able to reach out to Olentangy Park manager Harris to secure four trained bears for his son and two other Navy members, Ellis Early and Harold Rolmyard, both of Cincinnati, to retrieve. This was their way of getting a furlough. The bears weighed about 800 lbs. and were valued at $500$10,645 in 2025 dollars each.[31]


List of Rides and Attractions

Theater, Vaudeville, and Stunt Performances

Olentangy Park Theater

Main Article: Olentangy Park Casino and Theater

Matt Grau gathered the Olentangy Park stock under the name of "Grau Musical Comedy Company"[32] and the season was to begin the week of Monday, June 10, 1918,[33][34][35] but the first show opened on Monday, June 3.[32] Grau wanted musical comedy acts all season and spent close to $10,000$211,787 in 2025 dollars per week to secure the actors.[35]

Before opening, the Northwood Avenue School presented "The Fairies of the Seasons" on May 17, and child star Verna Fulton performed "The Pipes of Pan."[36]

Indianola School performed "Bargain Day at Bloomstein's" starring Carrie Kilbourne and twenty-nine other dancing girls on June 1.[37]

The theater company moved to the Grand Theater, owned by Will D. Harris, to continue performing through the winter.[38]

Dispatch Contest

There were 23 pieces of a photograph in the May 26 issue of the Columbus Sunday Dispatch of "the pretty maidens from 'The Grau Musical Comedy Club.'"[39] Readers who cut out the pieces and placed them together properly could send them in to Dispatch with the advertisers' information to be entered into a contest with the following prizes:

  • First place prize - One entire box for three performances on June 3, June 10, and June 27, an $18 value$381 in 2025 dollars
  • Second place prize - One entire box for two performances on June 4 and June 11, a $12 value$254 in 2025 dollars
  • Third place prize - One entire box for Wednesday night, June 5, and two box seats for June 12 and June 19, a $10 value$212 in 2025 dollars
  • Fourth place prize - One entire box for Monday night, June 3, and two box seats for June 10, an $8 value$170 in 2025 dollars
  • Fifth place prize - One entire box for Tuesday night, June 4, and two box seats for June 6, a $6 value$127 in 2025 dollars
  • 25 other winners, a varying number of orchestra seat tickets for different performance dates, ranging from $1 to $3$21.18 to $63.54 in 2025 dollars

Winifred S. Fink was awarded first prize on June 2.[40]

Stock Company Members

[32][41]

  • Flavia (or Flavio) Arcoro, actress
  • Arthur Burckly, actor
  • Margaret Crawford, actress
  • Rajal Cuttes
  • Berta Donn, lead actress
  • Mary Dunigan, actress
  • Roger Gray, lead actor/comedian, director
  • Henrietta Hausen
  • Dan Marble, general utilities
  • George Natanson, actor
  • Ralph Nichols, orchestra leader
  • Ditmar Poppen, actor/comedian
  • Earnest Rand, costumer
  • Sid Riley, scenic artist
  • Ferne Rogers, actress/prima donna
  • Della Rose, actress
  • Chorus of 16 women and at least eight men

Berta Donn was only 18 years old and was described as "very pretty."[35] Actress Della Rose had several accidents and incidents happen during the season, including falling from a windmill prop that made her limp for weeks, her husband died in the war, and an automobile accident that gave her two gashes on her face.[42] Carl Currier, one of the chorus members, was drafted to serve in the war in July.[43]

After the season ended in late August, the stock company went on to perform at the Grand Theater.[44]

Performances

Tickets were 25 cents$5.32 in 2025 dollars to 75 cents$15.97 in 2025 dollars.[45]

Dates Performance Writer Genre Headliners Notes
June 3-9, 1918 "The Firefly" Comedy Berta Donn [32]
June 10-16, 1918 "The Red Mill" Comedy [46]
June 17-23, 1918 "A Modern Eve" Comedy [46]
June 24-30, 1918 "Robin Hood" Comedy [47]
July 1-7, 1918 "Princess Pat" Comedy [47]
July 8-14, 1918 "Naughty Marietta" Comedy [48]
July 15-21, 1918 "The Folly of Columbus" Comedy [49]
July 22-28, 1918 "Little Boy Blue" Comedy [50]
July 29 to Aug. 4, 1918 "The Only Girl" Comedy [51]
Aug. 5-11, 1918 "The Chocolate Soldier" Comedy [52]
Aug. 12-18, 1918 "The Red Widow" Comedy [53]
Aug. 19-25, 1918 "The Mikado" Comedy [54]

The Aug. 12 performance of "The Red Widow" was cancelled due to a storm interfering with the electric lighting system at the park.[55]

Musical Performances

Charles Parker created a large new orchestra named "Harris' Olentangy Park Orchestra." They performed in the Dancing Pavilion ballroom while Philip Cincione's Band returned this season and gave daily free outdoor concerts.[5][6]

Students from the Northwood School took part in an operetta named "The Fairies of the Seasons" in the Theater on May 17. Interactive dances were given by Margaret Davies, Verna Fulton, and Aleta Campbell. Boys in costume performed an elk frolic, and Isabelle Young did patriotic readings.[56]

Activities

List of Activities

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "The New Olentangy." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. March 23, 1918.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "After Week's Improvement." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. April 7, 1918. Page 6.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Park Open Three Days Weekly." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. May 5, 1918.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Free Parking for Automobile." Columbus Evening Dispatch. May 16, 1918. Page 20.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Good Music for the Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. March 31, 1918.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Big Orchestra for Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. April 11, 1918. Page 22.
  7. ↑ "No Advance in Prices." The Billboard. June 22, 1918. Vol. 30. Issue 25. Page 29. Accessed through Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/sim_billboard_1918-06-22_30_25/page/28/mode/2up
  8. ↑ "Maybe Bathing Today." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. May 12, 1918. Page 6.
  9. ↑ "Olentangy Opens Earliest of Most American Parks." Columbus Evening Dispatch. April 6, 1918. Page 12.
  10. ↑ "Incorporate Park Company." Columbus Evening Dispatch. Jan. 16, 1918. Page 9.
  11. ↑ "Park Lease Filed." Columbus Evening Dispatch. Jan. 18, 1918. Page 14.
  12. ↑ "Goes Incognito." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. April 7, 1918. Page 6.
  13. ↑ "Dusenbury Brothers Will Go To France." The Moving Picture World. May 11, 1918. Page 884. Accessed through Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/movpicwor361movi/page/884/mode/2up
  14. ↑ "Park Open Till Labor Day." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. Aug. 25, 1918.
  15. ↑ "Park and Its Days." Columbus Evening Dispatch. Sept. 7, 1918. Page 12.
  16. ↑ "Park Excels All Records." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. Sept. 1, 1918. Page 5.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 "Lavish Park Plans." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. Sept. 23, 1917.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Park Novelties." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. March 31, 1918.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Real Opening of Park Season." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. May 26, 1918.
  20. ↑ "In Outdoor Garage." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. July 28, 1918. Page 4.
  21. ↑ "Damage Suits Filed." Columbus Evening Dispatch. Sept. 3, 1918. Page 6.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Are You Going Over the Top?" Columbus Evening Dispatch. April 27, 1918. Page 12.
  23. ↑ "Quarter Million Spent." Columbus Evening Dispatch. April 25, 1918. Page 24.
  24. ↑ "New 'Old Mill' Is Popular." Columbus Evening Dispatch. April 4, 1918. Page 24.
  25. ↑ "Bathing Pool Open This Week." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. May 19, 1918. Page 5.
  26. ↑ "Bathers That Bloom in the Spring." Columbus Evening Dispatch. May 21, 1918. Page 20.
  27. ↑ "Plan Swimming Meet." Columbus Evening Dispatch. June 5, 1918. Page 6.
  28. ↑ "Bargain Swimming Tickets." Columbus Evening Dispatch. July 31, 1918. Page 18.
  29. ↑ "Park Open Till Labor Day." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. Aug. 25, 1918. Page 6.
  30. ↑ "Record of Daniels." Columbus Evening Dispatch. Aug. 19, 1918. Page 8.
  31. ↑ "Secures 4 Bears for Zoo at Camp; Given Furlough." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. Aug. 4, 1918. Page 1.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 "Park to Open With 'The Firefly.'" The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. May 19, 1918.
  33. ↑ "Tenor Lend for Park Stock." Columbus Evening Dispatch. April 24, 1918. Page 18.
  34. ↑ "Park Stock Plan." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. May 5, 1918.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 "Picking for Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. May 12, 1918.
  36. ↑ "Child Dancer in Fairy Operetta." Columbus Evening Dispatch. May 17, 1918. Page 19.
  37. ↑ "Pupils to Play at Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. May 30, 1918. Page 18.
  38. ↑ "Park Cast to Stay," The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. Aug. 4, 1918.
  39. ↑ "Olentangy Park Theater." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. May 26, 1918. Page 25.
  40. ↑ "Winners in Theater Advertising Contest." Columbus Evening Dispatch. June 2, 1918. Page 8.
  41. ↑ Maxine, David. 2020. "The Pandemic Performance of 1918." The Wizard of Oz on Broadway, Nov. 26, 2020. Accessed on May 14, 2022. https://www.vintagebroadway.com/2020/11/ [1]
  42. ↑ ""Miss Rose in Accident"." Columbus Evening Dispatch. July 9, 1918. Page 16.
  43. ↑ "Actor Called by Draft." Columbus Evening Dispatch. July 27, 1918. Page 10.
  44. ↑ "Park Cast to Stay." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. Aug. 4, 1918. Page 4.
  45. ↑ "Park's Great Opening Day." Columbus Evening Dispatch. May 27, 1918. Page 16.
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 "'A Modern Eve' This Eve." Columbus Evening Dispatch. June 17, 1918. Page 18.
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 "DeKoven Breaks Record." Columbus Evening Dispatch. June 29, 1918. Page 10.
  48. ↑ "Rotarians Make Merry." Columbus Evening Dispatch. July 9, 1918. Page 16.
  49. ↑ "Olentangy Park Company to Play Winter Run at Grand Theater." Columbus Evening Dispatch. July 10, 1918. Page 18.
  50. ↑ "Park's Future Repertory." Columbus Evening Dispatch. July 13, 1918. Page 10.
  51. ↑ "From Two Continents." Columbus Evening Dispatch. July 27, 1918. Page 10.
  52. ↑ "Theater is Comfortable." Columbus Evening Dispatch. Aug. 1, 1918. Page 16.
  53. ↑ "Sweet Outlook for 'Chocolate.'" Columbus Evening Dispatch. Aug. 5, 1918. Page 14.
  54. ↑ "Bargain Swimming Tickets." Columbus Evening Dispatch. July 31, 1918. Page 18.
  55. ↑ "Storm Prevents Performance." Columbus Evening Dispatch. Aug. 13, 1918. Page 14.
  56. ↑ "Northwood School Operetta." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. May 12, 1918. Page 6.


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