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1733 Amusement Park
Kearney Daily HUB
July 13, 1925 – Peck’s Bad Boys will play for a dance
at the 1733 Amusement Park on Wednesday evening of this
week, and the Gulf Coast Seven is scheduled for the dance on
Saturday night.
-- The 1733 Amusement Park swimming pool, freshly filled,
attracted hundreds of people from miles around, who wished
to cool off during the week-end.
July 18, 1925 – Prohibit Parking on Highway North of
the 1733 Park – County Board Takes Up Problem of Congested
Traffic – Long article beginning with a resolution passed by
the County Board to prohibit parking along the highway
running on the north side of the amusement park for the half
mile beginning at the northeast corner of Section 6-8-16
[currently the corner of 62nd Ave and Highway 30 by Bamfords]
any “longer than necessary to discharge or take on
passengers” and vehicles should be driven at a speed no
greater than is “reasonable and proper”
The resolution was necessary because of the congestion in
traffic in the area since the opening of the 1733 Amusement
Park, especially after the pool opened and the weather has
been hot.. Also at night when the colored lights on the
fountain are visible from the highway there may be as many
as three lines of cars parked leaving only one lane open.
An added problem was that because of the excellent condition
of the road from the end of Watson Boulevard [the seedling
mile from the tail race to Thirsty’s] to the amusement park,
motorists were tempted to “see what the car will do.”
“Frequent curves in the road, the passing of several
culverts and a small bridge along the route is not
sufficient to deter some drivers from making the attempt.
Several accidents have occurred, people have sustained
bruises, cars have been smashed, fortunately no fatal
accidents. It is not necessary for anyone to park outside
the Amusement Park limits.
May 26, 1926 – Green Hill – Mr. and Mrs. Isaac
Perkins Mr. and Mrs. Lew Zimmers and family spent Sunday
afternoon at the 1733 park.
June 2, 1926 – --Peck’s Bad Boys are due to furnish
the music at the 1733 amusement park on Wednesday evening.
June 8, 1926 – [Advertisement for Peck’s Bad Boys
dance. Says there is a dance every Wednesday and Saturday]
June 11, 1926 – The Collegians of Lincoln will fill
the bill at the 1733 park dance Saturday evening and a
record crowd is expected.
July 23, 1926 – [Advertisement for the Arcadians; also an ad
for the movie “Along Came Ruth”]
February 3, 1927 – Dance Saturday – Russ Nichols and
his Navy Dance Orchestra will play for a dance at the 1733
park Saturday, Feb. 5th. Everybody come.
April 23, 1927 – One More Dance This Season - Within
a few short weeks one of the most successful clubs ever
originated in Kearney will have passed out of existence.
Kearney’s Mid-Winter Dance club will have its last dance
within a short time – and then it will belong to the ages.
Just when the last dance will take place has not been
announced but it will be quite soon, is designated as a
spring party, is to be held at the 1733 Amusement park and
has a large committee in charge. ……
April 27, 1927 – Tourist Houses at Park – 1733
Amusement Park Making New Improvements for Summer – Year by
year the equipment at the 1733 Amusement Park grows in
completeness, gradually assuming the aspect of the large
project it really is. Principal of the additions made this
year is the addition of half a dozen small houses for the
use of tourist[s] who do not have tents. Placed just west of
the large dance hall, the houses, or rather one long house,
extends west with the opening on the south facing a large
field. The long shed-like building encloses six rooms for
the sleeping quarters of the tourists and a garage for each
car.
May 3, 1927 – The ladies of St. Luke’s are giving a
dance on Tuesday evening of next week, May 10, at the 1733
amusement park.
May 27, 1927 – Four Inches of Rain. – Considerable
wind and hail damage was suffered west of Kearney according
to word received. At the 1733 amusement park many of the big
trees were stripped, hail pounded through the roofs of some
of the tourist cottages and it was estimated over four
inches of rain fell. It was the most severe storm which
swept that section in many years, the Hub was informed. How
far north this storm extended could not be learned.
June 11, 1927 – [The ladies of the St. Luke’s Guild
were not going to stop meeting during the summer. They had
three events planned, the first being a dance at the 1733
amusement park on the evening of May 17. There were no
details about the entertainment except that the Pecks would
furnish the music. Only the Mid-Winter Dance Club had bigger
dances than the St. Luke’s Guild. Many older people as well
an younger ones attended.]
June 17, 1927 – The ladies of St. Luke’s guild are
sponsoring a dance at the 1733 amusement park tonight. Karl
Bartz and his Black and Gold Orchestra will furnish the
music.
June 18, 1927 – [A description of the dance was given
in the Society column on page 4.]
June 27, 1927 – [on the night of July 4th there would
be dances at all the halls including the 1733 amusement
park.]
July 5, 1927 – “Old Time Dance” Come to the Old Time
Dance at the 1733 park, Wednesday, July 6.
July 6, 1927 – [The Old Time Dance was mentioned
again in the Local Brevities column.]
July 7, 1927 – [dance Saturday night at 1733
amusement park with Carl Bartz and his orchestra.]
July 13, 1927 – --Students at the Teacher’s college
enjoyed an evening at 1733 park last night, swimming and
dancing being the chief amusements.
July 18, 1927 – --The first instruction in the six
day Red Cross life saving course is to be given at the 1733
park this evening between seven and eight o’clock.
July 23, 1927 – [Dance that night at 1733 park with
music by the Arcadians.]
--“Three Wise Crooks” is the feature to be shown at the 1733
park on Saturday night, with a comedy also on the bill.
July 29, 1927 – Dance – To the tune of Karl Bartz and
his Black and Gold Orchestra, at the 1733 park, Saturday
evening.
August 6, 1927 – [dance at 1733 tonight, Carl Bartz
and Black & Gold Orchestra]
August 13, 1927 – Social Calendar – Monday - ….Dance
1733 park 9:45 p.m.
Tuesday - …. Dance 1733 park 9:45 p.m.
August 20, 1927 – --“Uneasy Payments,” a picture
built around a Charleston contest and a transparent slicker,
is the feature which will be shown at the 1733 Amusement
park, Sunday evening.
August 31, 1927 – --There will be dances at the 1733
park on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights this week,
sponsored by the American Legion.
September 2, 1927 – [reminder of dance that night at
1733 sponsored by the American Legion]
September 22, 1927 – [dance that night at 1733 with
Karl Bartz and Orchestra]
January 14, 1928 – Dance to Ray Bredenberg and his
Metropolitans at the 1733 Park, Saturday, Jan. 14th. Radio
Broadcasters.
May 31, 1928 – Dance—Dance. – At the 1733 Park
Thursday evening, May 31st. Everybody come and have a good
time. Hear Ray Bredenberg and his Metropolitan orchestra.
June 27, 1928 – Dance—Dance. – To that teasing rhythm
of the Trubadours, Lincoln’s popular 8-piece dance band, 733
Park, Thursday, June 28.
July 3, 1928 (Tuesday) – [A description of 4th of
July activities which included a dance at 1733 Park with 25
cents admission fee.]
The City band will play a concert Wednesday
evening at 1733 park, as part of the Veterans of Foreign
Wars celebration. The concert will begin at eight o’clock.
July 7, 1928 – --A party will be held by the summer
school students next Tuesday at the 1733 park. Swimming and
dancing will be the forms of entertainment.
July 9, 1928 – [party mentioned again in Local
Brevities]
July 24, 1928 – --A benefit dance it to be given by
the National Guard tomorrow evening at the 1733 park, with
the Midway Hotel orchestra furnishing music for the event.
The dance is being given in order to raise a mess fund for
the boys at their annual camp.
July 25, 1928 – [same as the day before and adds the
information that Guy Hite is leader of the orchestra]
July 26, 1928 – [The dance was well attended and
netted “a nice little sum” for the Guard.]
August 8, 1928 – Dance to Guy Hite’s Midway Hotel Orchestra
Friday evening, August 10th, at the 1733 Park.
September 4, 1928 – --An old time dance will be held
at the 1733 park on Wednesday evening, with music by a good
four piece orchestra.
September 26, 1928 – Dance to Guy Hite and his Midway
Hotel orchestra at the 1733 park, Friday evening.
October 9, 1928 – Come to the Old Time Dance
Wednesday evening at the 1733 Park.
October 10, 1928 – Dance to Guy Hite and his Midway
Hotel orchestra at the 1733 park, Friday evening.
May 22, 1929 – PARK OPENING ON FRIDAY- Amusement
Devices Have Been Installed – The 1733 park will be opened
to the public this Friday, Charles Bartz, owner and manager,
announces. Everything will be in readiness on that day
including the many new entertainment devises installed.
An outstanding event of
opening night will be the appearance of George Belshaw and
his Brunswick Recording Orchestra, of eleven instruments.
They will play to a dance on Friday night.
Guy Hite and his Midway
Hotel Orchestra is to play for the Sunday night dance, it
was announced. Dances will be booked regularly on Friday and
Sunday nights during the season.
The dance hall has been
overhauled and greatly improved, but most conspicuous
improvements will be noticed about the grounds. Many
entertainment devices have been installed by a Denver firm.
They include the miniature railway, operated by steam, the
mixup swing, and others.
The pool will not be
available to bathers until a later date.
June 14, 1929 – --There will be a dance at the 1733
park tonight, the Collegians of Lincoln furnishing the
music.
--The swimming pool at 1733 park has been filled and bathers
are already taking advantage of it in spite the cool
weather.
--Word has been received here that at least part of the
orchestra, the Collegians, who play here for a dance
tonight, will arrive by airplane.
July 23, 1929 – Dance at 1733 park Wednesday night
October 12, 1929 – [in the Society column] The date
for the B. P. O. Doe charity ball has been set for November
8, at the 1733 park. A colored orchestra, the Bostonians,
has been chosen to furnish the music. Mrs. Gilbert
Matthewson is in charge of the ticket committee, and tickets
will be available next week.
November 7, 1929 – [reminder of B. P. O. Doe dance
the next night.]
1934-1942 –
Public notices of applications for licenses to operate dance
hall at amusement park
November 1934 –
an evening of wrestling at 1733 Park
March 1935 –
Boxing match
June 15, 1945 –
300 to 400 couples danced at opening of 1733 Amusement Park
July 5, 1945 –
5000 persons passed through the gates of 1733 Amusement Park
on July 4th
August 24, 1945 –
License granted by county to Kenneth Penrod to operate
public dance hall and other amusements at 1733 Amusement
Park
January 29, 1946
– Bartz Funeral Services Will Be Held Thursday.
He operated
1733 Park
October 10, 1946
– Old 1733 Ranch and Farm Bring 427,600 at Sale
The 1733 Park, an
old Kearney landmark, and a farm north of Riverdale, part of
the Augusta Bartz estate, were sold at auction
January 14, 1947
– Brevities
Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Nelson gave a wedding dance for their friends
Thursday night at 1733 Park
Society Notes
The bride has been
employed at the Kearney Creamery and the bridegroom has been
managing a filling station and lunch room near the 1733 park
where they will live.
1951 - The 1733
Ballroom west of Kearney on Highway 30 will get a new face
lift this summer. Work will include planting hedge,
installing a white rail fence, planting bluegrass, painting
the building and putting in a new front.
November 22, 1951
– Annual fireman’s ball held at 1733 Park
January 24, 1952
– March of Dimes dance held at 1733 Park with proceeds going
to Buffalo County polio fund
January 28, 1953
– Polio benefit dance held at 1733 Park ballroom. Seven
local musicians, including Carl Christensen donated their
services and Penrod donated the use of the ballroom.
December 15, 1954
– County granted license to 1733 Park, dance
1955 – called
1733 Ballroom
March 16, 1955 –
Red Cross benefit square dance. Postponed due to weather,
held in May
July 25, 1955 –
Louis Armstrong and his concert group featured
October 1, 1955 –
Annual Homecoming dance held at 1733 Ballroom concluded
KSTC’s 50th anniversary celebration
February 8, 1956
– March of Dimes benefit dance
March 14, 1956 –
License to operate dance hall issued to L B. Sunderman and
James Bamford
March 17, 1956 –
Kearney Volunteer Firemen’s annual fund raising dance
April 3, 1956 –
Square dance club dance
April 11, 1956 –
Red Cross benefit with 5 bands
September 1956 –
Annual Homecoming dance held at 1733 Ballroom
March 17, 1957 –
Kearney Volunteer Firemen’s annual fund raising dance
September 1957 -
Annual Homecoming dance held at 1733 Ballroom
When was the 1733 dance hall blown down?
(Phone call on April 12, 2017 from Bill Nichol)
Bill and his wife were returning to Kearney
from Denver in late April 1964.
They
ran into a storm at Gothenburg and did not drive out of it until Odessa.
It was after dark,
of course, but as they drove passed the 1733 dance hall site, he could see
in the headlights that it was all flat in the ground.
He said it was a big
building, about 100 feet by 150-200 feet with booths around the edge.
Bill also remembers
the swimming pool south of the dance hall
[the dance hall and swimming pool were probably
all that was left if the amusement park features of past years]
As a high school student,
his father and his friends used to swim there in the 1930's
There
was a diving tower about 25 feet high.
The game was to dive into a tractor tire inner
tube. The trick was to avoid the valve stem.
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