1924 Season

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1924 Season
Leadership The Olentangy Amusement Co.
Leo Haenlein
Elmer Haenlein
Pre-season April 20 - May 18, 1924
Season Began May 25, 1924
Park Size Between 66 and 100 acres

Olentangy Park opened its 1924 preseason season on Easter Sunday, April 20, 1924, and operated on Sundays only until May 25, 2024, when it began operating daily.[1][2][3] 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.[4]

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.[5] After the sale, the property operated under the name The Olentangy Amusement Co. A Columbus Dispatch article about the sale said the property consisted of 66 acres.[6]

Park Improvements

The new management refinished the Ballroom's floor and added a new roof to the building. The new floor was done by Anderson and Barnhart.[7] The park also updated the lighting scheme and added numerous tables to the picnic area near the Olentangy River.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10] The park advertised that it had no gambling or offensive attractions.[1] Although restaurants have been a feature of the park, this season's ads had more focus on them.

Radio Added

A contract was made with the Entreckin Electric Co. for a receiving station and radio display at the park. They added a large speaker for parkgoers to hear broadcasts. The radio show included "all special devices calculated to improve service." An expert was installed to maintain and operate the equipment and answer guests' questions about radio.[11]

Notable Events

Death of Clyde the Elephant

Clyde, a three-ton elephant, broke loose from from his tether post and drowned in the Olentangy River on May 28. He performed as part of the Nadurahs, a vaudeville troupe, which was playing at the park. He was stored in a shed near the Whirlwind ride on Tuesday and was scared by the noise created by nearby construction workers. The park staff was able to corral him in the north field, but he escaped again the following morning. It was believed his trunk had caught under the chains on his legs, holding his head underwater.[12]

Grocers' Picnic

The 26th annual Grocers' Picnic was held on Wednesday, June 18. Carl Tarvey, chairman of the parade committee of the Columbus Retail Grocers' Association, held a massive parade in the morning. At the park, it held a bathing revue.[13] The association's minstrel committee performed shows in the Theater in the evening, making it the first performance there in two years.[14]

Rides and Attractions

Swimming Pool

Main Article: Swimming Pool

Sand was shipped from Lake Erie to the park to create a sand beach at the edge of the Swimming Pool. It cost the park $50,000$976,368 in 2026 dollars and took a trainload of 36 cars to transport.[15] A filtration and purification plant was constructed to make the water "as pure as the water we drink." The water cascaded into the pool over a rocky formation, with colored lighting at night. The pool and beach opened on Decoration Day, May 30.[16][17][18]

List of Rides and Attractions

Theater and Vaudeville

Olentangy Park Theater

Main Article: Olentangy Park Theater

The Columbus Retail Grocers' Association's minstrel committee performed shows in the Theater on the evening of their annual picnic on June 18, making it the first performance there in two years.[14]

Vaudeville and Amateur Acts

Vaudeville and amateur acts were shown at the Open-Air Theater starting Monday, May 26, and every Monday at 7:30 p.m. for the rest of the season. The acts were rewarded with prizes based on the level of applause from the audience.[19]

Performances

May 26:[20]

  • Ray Bush, singer and pianologist
  • Givens and McCollum, dancers
  • Mowrey Brothers, acrobats and gymnasts
  • Martha Steelman, toe dancer
  • Howard Boles

Givens and McCollum and Ray Bush won first place. The Mowrey Brothers won second place, and Steelman won third.[21]

Outdoor Stunts

Daredevil Doherty returned to the park the week of May 26 to perform his stunt of riding a bicycle down an incline, jumping a big gap, and doing somersaults through fire.[22] He did his stunts at 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. daily, except for the first day due to rain.[20]

Other Performances

May 25:[15]

  • Five Berlo Sisters, diving act
  • The Fearless Greggs, "Automobiles Flying Through Space"
  • Bill Penney's Wild West and Rodeo

Music and Dancing

Eddie Mitchell's orchestra played exclusively for the park this season, playing daily in the Ballroom.[2]

Sports

Athletic Director

Al Haft, a popular wrestling and boxing promoter, was hired as the park's Athletic Director after serving in a similar role since 1921. The park offered boxing on Tuesday nights and wrestling matches on Saturday nights throughout the summer at the Open-Air Theater.[23]

Swimming

The Haenleins brothers applied for membership in the American Athletic Union (A.A.U.) for the year.[24] Hugh Addison, from Ohio Wesleyan University, was the first applicant for membership in the Olentangy Park Swimming Club,[25] but he was unable to compete in the first meet in Chicago due to being struck with the flu.[26]

Boxing

Boxing matches included:[27]

  • Fred McChillds, local amateur heavyweight champion vs. Johnny Hayes
  • Mike "Firpe" Catalogona vs. Tommy Bates

First place prizes included:

  • Diamond stick pins

Activities

List of Activities

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Park to Open Easter Sunday." The Columbus Dispatch. April 13, 1924. Page 91.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Mitchell's for Olentangy." The Columbus Dispatch. April 10, 1924. Page 42.
  3. ↑ "Outdoor Amusements." The Columbus Dispatch. May 3, 1924. Page 16.
  4. ↑ "Takes Olentangy Job." The Columbus Dispatch. April 7, 1924. Page 13.
  5. ↑ "Olentangy Park Sale Closed." Clipper. Aug. 17, 1923. Vol. 71. Issue 28. Page 6. Accessed through the Internet Archive.
  6. ↑ "Olentangy Park is Sold for $250,000." The Columbus Dispatch. Aug. 5, 1923. Page 1.
  7. ↑ The Columbus Dispatch. April 19, 1924. Page 16.
  8. ↑ "Looking Forward." The Columbus Dispatch. Feb. 16, 1923. Page 89.
  9. ↑ "Nook for Kodakers at Olentangy Park." The Columbus Dispatch. April 13, 1924. Page 90.
  10. ↑ "New Parking Plan." The Columbus Dispatch. April 14, 1924. Page 32.
  11. ↑ "Olentangy Furthers Radio." The Columbus Dispatch. April 20, 1924. Page 27.
  12. ↑ "Elephant is Drowned in Olentangy River." The Columbus Dispatch. May 28, 1924. Page 9.
  13. ↑ "Retail Grocers to Hold annual Picnic." The Columbus Dispatch. May 28, 1924. Page 17.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Grocers Plan Parade and Minstrel Show." The Columbus Dispatch. May 21, 1924. Page 58.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Advertisement. The Columbus Dispatch. May 25, 1924. Page 97.
  16. ↑ "Olentangy Park to Open Bathing Pool." The Columbus Dispatch. May 25, 1924. Page 54.
  17. ↑ "Bathing Beach is Olentangy Novelty." The Columbus Dispatch. May 25, 1924. Page 94.
  18. ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Billboard. Aug. 15, 1925. Page 134. Accessed through the Internet Archive.
  19. ↑ "Amateurs to Contest at Olentangy Park." The Columbus Dispatch. May 12, 1924. Page 32.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Olentangy Park Open---Free Variety Tonight." The Columbus Dispatch. May 26, 1924. Page 30.
  21. ↑ "Boxing at Olentangy." The Columbus Dispatch. May 27, 1924. Page 44.
  22. ↑ "Daredevil for Park." The Columbus Dispatch. May 14, 1924. Page 44.
  23. ↑ "Haft to Handle Olentangy Sports." The Columbus Dispatch. April 14, 1924. Page 23.
  24. ↑ "A. A. U. Application." The Columbus Dispatch. March 14, 1924. Page 41.
  25. ↑ "Hugh Addison to Compete." The Columbus Dispatch. March 16, 1924. Page 18.
  26. ↑ "Addison Unable to Enter A. A. U. Meet." The Columbus Dispatch. March 28, 1924. Page 39.
  27. ↑ "First Olentangy Bouts Tuesday." The Columbus Dispatch. May 25, 1924. Page 19.
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