1922 Season

From Olentangy Park Wiki
Revision as of 23:54, 23 November 2025 by Parkadmin (talk | contribs) (→Olentangy Park Theater: Added info)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

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

1922 Season
Leadership The Olentangy Park Company
Joseph W. Dusenbury, president
William J. Dusenbury
Joseph F. Luft, manager
Pre-season April 16, 1922 - May 28, 1922
Season Began May 29, 1922
New Attractions Carousel (1922)
Casino (2)
Dodgem
Joy Mill
Photographic Gallery (4)
Red Devil
Band(s) "Saxy" Strahl's Orchestra
Carboni's Melody Boys
Park Size 100 acres

Olentangy Park opened its 1922 season on Easter Sunday, April 16, 1922.[1][2] Prices on tickets were reduced, and the War Tax was not added to the cost.[3] It was only open on Sundays until May 28, then opened for daily operation.[4][5] The park closed ...

In May, Assistant Prosecutor Wilbur E. Benoy told Franklin County commissioners that the City of Columbus might annex 64 acres north of the park, with the possibility of annexing the park itself in the future. This would make land on three sides of the park part of the city while the park remained outside city bounds, but still in Franklin County.[6]

Park Improvements

The Dusenbury Brothers added a new artistic iron fence along the High Street frontage for one-third of a mile. The fence had a concrete base with artistic brick columns every 50 feet. The parking lot was enlarged.[7] A new administrative building was added.[8] They tore down the Colonnade and the restaurant building,[1] and replaced it with a new restaurant and refreshment stand.[9] The parking space near the High Street entrance was improved. They constructed a new concrete bridge across the ravine where the Photo Gallery was located.[10] The grounds were graded, and new walks were added.[7]

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

Notable Events

Rare Bird Sighted

Mrs. W. H. Williams, employed at the Normandie Hotel, saw an Evening Grosbeak feeding on elm tree seeds in the ravine, just north of the main High Street entrance. She spotted it on Wednesday, April 26, and it was still seen days later. It was one of the rarest species to reach Ohio, having been seen only twice in the state before, and never near Columbus. It was also considered a mid-winter bird. It looks similar to a sparrow in shape, but is much larger with a stout green bill. It is light gray with white on its wings and yellow feathers on the back of its head. The bird is generally seen only in western Alberta, Canada. It had not been seen in Ohio since 1860.[11][12]

Rides and Attractions

New Casino

Main Article: Casino (2)

The first Dancing Pavilion building was remodeled into a big refreshment building, the Casino (2), to serve customers attending shows at the Open-Air Stage.[1]

New Dodgem

Main Article: Dodgem

The Dodgem was a bumper car ride. It was housed in a building that was 80 feet by 150 feet,[1] and had a porch that wrapped around for onlookers. The floor was covered in steel, and overhead wire netting was stretched. Fancy upholstered cars, mounted on wheels that could turn in any direction, with each car holding two to four riders, were placed on the floor. An electric motor in the cars and trolleys that extended to the overhead wire netting generated an electric current to operate each car.[13] It was the second Dodgem built after the first one was built for Atlantic City.[14]

New Red Devil

The Red Devil replaced the Scenic Coaster.[1][7] It was said to be the "fastest and longest riding device in the country." It had long and steep dips that gave riders the sensation of going over hills.[2]

Main Article: Carousel (1922)

A big circular carousel building and carousel was built just south of the Circle Swing.[7] Many articles say it was the building that was new, but also that it housed "one of the largest and most complete amusements of this character [carousels] in the country," suggesting the Grand Carousel or one of the other merry-go-rounds were moved there when the old Dancing Pavilion building was updated to become the Casino (2).[15]

Children's Playground Enlarged

The Children's Playground was enlarged when the move of the Whip added space.[7][14]

Joy Mill Enlarged

Main Article: Joy Mill

The Joy Mill was remodeled and enlarged.[7][14]

The Whip Moved

Main Article: The Whip

The Whip was moved from the Grove to the north end, between the Whirlwind and Shoot-the-Chutes.[1]

List of Rides and Attractions

Theater and Vaudeville

Olentangy Park Theater

Main Article: Olentangy Park Theater

The Dusenbury Brothers donated the use of the Theater to the Crestview School District on June 1 and the Knights of Pythias on June 9 and 10.[16]

The Crestview Junior High School Girls' Glee Club and the Boys' and Girls' chorus sang musical numbers on June 1. The Roy Warblers organization performed a whistling set. The performances were under the charge of Grace Hafford.[17]

The theater opened for the season on ...

Vaudeville

Vaudeville acts began on May 26 and were held at the Amphitheater.[9]

Week of May 26

  • Fiju Tamamato, slack wire artist
  • Collins and Dunbar, song and dance
  • Louise Ezcella, novelty act
  • La Hommedien Bros., comedy acrobatic bar act
  • Carbone's Orchestra
  • The Rainbow Band

Stunts and Outdoor Shows

Music

"Saxy" Strahl's Orchestra performed in the Dancing Pavilion.[18]

Carboni's Melody Boys were also listed as a musical act for the park's opening.[3]

Sports

There were aquatic events at the pool by the Allegheny Mountain Association.[4]

Activities

Dancing in the Dancing Pavilion was from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.[3]

List of Activities

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Spring Building at Olentangy." The Columbus Dispatch. March 24, 1922. Page 14.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Park Opens Today." The Columbus Dispatch. April 16, 1922. Page 8.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Advertisement. The Columbus Dispatch. April 16, 1922. Page 8.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Olentangy Season Opens Sunday." The Columbus Dispatch. May 26, 1922. Page 44.
  5. ↑ "Park Now Open Daily." The Columbus Dispatch. May 28, 1922. Page 8.
  6. ↑ "Annexation Ruling." The Columbus Dispatch. May 4, 1922. Page 17.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 "Big Improvement at Park." The Columbus Dispatch. April 2, 1922. Page 8.
  8. ↑ "At Olentangy." The Columbus Dispatch. April 17, 1922. Page 24.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Pool to Open Soon." The Columbus Dispatch. May 21, 1922. Page 8.
  10. ↑ "Future of Olentangy Park." The Columbus Dispatch. July 17, 1921. Page 29.
  11. ↑ "Evening Grosbeak, Rare Bird, Seen at Olentangy Park." The Columbus Dispatch. April 29, 1922. Page 1.
  12. ↑ "Our Distinguished Bird Visitor." The Columbus Dispatch. May 3, 1922. Page 4.
  13. ↑ "On the 'Dodgem'." The Columbus Dispatch. April 9, 1922. Page 7.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 "New Amusement Devices." The Columbus Dispatch. April 30, 1922. Page 8.
  15. ↑ "Park is Open Today." The Columbus Dispatch. April 23, 1922. Page 7.
  16. ↑ "Donate Use of Theater." The Columbus Dispatch. May 25, 1922. Page 7.
  17. ↑ "Will Present Concert." The Columbus Dispatch. May 28, 1922. Page 2.
  18. ↑ "Park to Open Easter." The Columbus Dispatch. April 9, 1922. Page 8.
Retrieved from "http://olentangypark.com/wiki/index.php?title=1922_Season&oldid=15037"