1924 Season: Difference between revisions
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== Sports == | == Sports == | ||
=== Al Haft is Athletic Director === | |||
Al Haft, a popular wrestling and boxing promoter, was hired to be the park's Athletic Director.<ref>"Haft to Handle Olentangy Sports." ''The Columbus Dispatch.'' April 14, 1924. Page 23.</ref> The park offered boxing and wrestling matches throughout the summer at the [[Open-Air Theater]]. | |||
== Swimming == | == Swimming == | ||
Revision as of 02:44, 30 August 2026
This page is under construction. Please remove this notice when complete.
| Leadership | Olentangy Amusement Co. Leo Haenlein Elmer Haenlein |
|---|---|
| Pre-season | April 20-27, 1924 |
| Season | Began May 1, 1924 |
| Park Size | Between 66 and 100 acres |
Olentangy Park opened for its 1924 preseason season on Easter Sunday, April 20, 1924, and operated on Sundays only until May 1, 2024.[1][2] This was the first season the Haenlein Brothers managed. Former newspaperman and tax collector B. E. Williamson was hired to plan and market the park's events.[3]
The park closed for the year on...
Park Sold to Haenleins
In mid-July 1923, the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas had ordered Miller to sell the property to Leo and Elmer Haenlein. The sale to the Haenlein Brothers and associates was finalized in early August for $250,000$4.87 million in 2026 dollars.[4] After the sale, the property operated under the name Olentangy Amusement Co. A Columbus Dispatch article about the sale said the property consisted of 66 acres.[5]
Park Improvements
The new management refinished the Ballroom's floor and added a new roof to the building. They also updated the lighting scheme and added numerous tables to the picnic area near the Olentangy River.[6] Joseph Katona, in charge of the flowers and shrubbery, helped design more areas of the park to be better backdrops for photographers, called "Kodakers" at the time.[7] The fence along High Street near the entrance was removed, and a new fence was added to the extreme west end of the parking lot, even with the buildings.[8] The park advertised that it had no gambling or offensive attractions.[1]
Rides and Attractions
List of Rides and Attractions
- Arena
- Band Shell
- Bandstand (South)
- Box ball alleys
- Canoe Club Boathouse
- Casino (2)
- Center Bandstand
- Children's Playground
- Circle Swing
- Dodgem
- Dancing Pavilion
- Double Whirl
- Electric Autos
- Ferris Wheel
- Figure Eight Toboggan
- Floral Conservatory & Greenhouse
- The Fun House
- General Playground
- Grand Carousel
- Gypsy Camp
- Horseshoe Courts
- Joy Mill
- Merry-Go-Round (1)
- Merry-Go-Round (3)
- Millrace and Fish Pond
- Miniature Railway
- Motion Pictures
- Ye Olde Mill (2)
- Over-the-Top
- Palm Garden
- Open-Air Theater
- Palmistry
- Photographic Gallery (4)
- Pony and Camel Track
- Red Devil
- Shoot-the-Chutes
- Shooting Gallery
- Snake Den
- Swimming Pool
- Swings
- Theater
- Water Toboggan
- The Whip
- Whirlwind
- Zoological Garden
Theater and Vaudeville
Olentangy Park Theater
Main Article: Olentangy Park Theater
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was shown at the Open-Air Theater starting May 27.[9]
Music and Dancing
Eddie Mitchell's orchestra played exclusively for the park this season, playing daily in the Ballroom.[2]
Sports
Al Haft is Athletic Director
Al Haft, a popular wrestling and boxing promoter, was hired to be the park's Athletic Director.[10] The park offered boxing and wrestling matches throughout the summer at the Open-Air Theater.
Swimming
The Haenleins brothers applied for membership in the American Athletic Union (A.A.U.) for the year.[11] Hugh Addison, from Ohio Wesleyan University, was the first applicant for membership in the Olentangy Park Swimming Club,[12] but he was unable to compete in the first meet in Chicago due to being struck with the flu.[13]
Activities
List of Activities
- Baseball
- Billiards
- Boating
- Box Ball
- Bowling
- Dancing
- Dining
- Fishing
- Fortune Telling
- General Games
- Horseshoes
- Penny Arcades
- Picnics
- Pony Rides
- Swimming
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Park to Open Easter Sunday." The Columbus Dispatch. April 13, 1924. Page 91.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Mitchell's for Olentangy." The Columbus Dispatch. April 10, 1924. Page 42.
- ↑ "Takes Olentangy Job." The Columbus Dispatch. April 7, 1924. Page 13.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park Sale Closed." Clipper. Aug. 17, 1923. Vol. 71. Issue 28. Page 6. Accessed through the Internet Archive.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park is Sold for $250,000." The Columbus Dispatch. Aug. 5, 1923. Page 1.
- ↑ "Looking Forward." The Columbus Dispatch. Feb. 16, 1923. Page 89.
- ↑ "Nook for Kodakers at Olentangy Park." The Columbus Dispatch. April 13, 1924. Page 90.
- ↑ "New Parking Plan." The Columbus Dispatch. April 14, 1924. Page 32.
- ↑ "Park's 26th Birthday." The Columbus Dispatch. May 27, 1923. Page 76.
- ↑ "Haft to Handle Olentangy Sports." The Columbus Dispatch. April 14, 1924. Page 23.
- ↑ "A. A. U. Application." The Columbus Dispatch. March 14, 1924. Page 41.
- ↑ "Hugh Addison to Compete." The Columbus Dispatch. March 16, 1924. Page 18.
- ↑ "Addison Unable to Enter A. A. U. Meet." The Columbus Dispatch. March 28, 1924. Page 39.