The Otto Klein Story

 

by Kevin Frantz NapervilleGhosts.com

copyright 2007

 

The Otto Kline story is an awe-inspiring epic while at the same a gut-wrenching horror.  He was the young Naperville boy with a dream, a dream he worked hard to make reality.  And in so doing, he earned the respect of his peers, the love of his fans, and a dignified place in the annals of Naperville’s illustrious history.

 

Otto Kreinbrink was a young Naperville boy growing up at the turn of the century, born in Naperville in 1887. Naperville at that time was at a crossroad as progress was beginning to creep into many facets of Naperville lives – including Otto’s.

 

Otto’s education was uneventful at the Naperville School. The school had about 300 students and 200 books. In an effort to keep order the guidelines were simple: try not to spit on the floor, bring a sponge to clean your slate, and do not use your knife to cut into your desk.

 

Young Otto grew up in a rustic Naperville: In the late 1800’s an eel was caught in Mill street pond weighing 10 and a half pounds!  As well, rattlesnakes were not uncommon along the river.

 

Christmas in Naperville was growing in popularity during Otto’s boyhood - children wouldn’t hang their stockings at the fireplace, they would hang it at the foot of their bed.  The Hamilton Daniel’s drug store (on Washington Street, west side, between VanBuren and Jefferson) was a favorite hangout of children, especially during Christmas time.  Dr. Daniels had a Santa Claus hanging over the counter for the children to enjoy. No doubt Otto’s parents would have frequented this Naperville gem. 

 

Naperville looked quite a bit different too. In the 1800's the Streets were two feet lower than the sidewalks, to allow for an easier exit from a horse drawn carriage.  There were hitching posts along the streets and gas powered light poles.  Water St, now Chicago Ave, was the center of town.  The telephone was available in Naperville in the mid 1880’s.

 

In 1895 an incredible new form of entertainment called the “moving picture theater” was set up in a tent on Washington, near Jefferson, during the summer months.  Otto may have been inspired to the grand scale of his passion after watching a rugged cowboy short film on a hot summer night. Of course there was also the local inspiration of the Beckman Harness shop, and Naperville horse shows to fuel his fire. 

 

By 1900 Naperville’s population had grown to 2,600, and this boy Otto was determined to be a stand out. He poured himself into his love of horses and riding. Every available moment he spent focused on becoming the greatest trick rider ever.  He was going to be somebody, somebody important, no matter how hard he had to work.

 

And work he did. 

 

There was a horse pen at the west end of Spring Avenue, and Otto, everyday after school, would sneak in and ride one of the horses - he most often had to ride bareback!  On Chicago Avenue, near the Naperville Country Club, there was another stable, and Otto used to practice his horse riding tricks there.

He was about 16 when he took as a stage name his mother’s maiden name – Kline.  He then kissed his mom on the forehead and headed to Montana to find fame, fortune, and his dream.  There, anyone who would give him a chance to show his stuff, was glad they did. This kid was special, he was goin’ places that was clear. 

 

As the years went by, Otto proved himself to be one-of-a-kind.  He went on to win metals at Pendleton, Oregon, and Denver. He performed in such shows as Arizona Joe, Buffalo Bill, Annie Oakley, Sitting Bull, and others. He was living his dream. Naperville couldn’t be more proud.

 

At 26 he began performing with Barnum & Bailey.  At 27 he received first honors in the Famous Stampede Day in Winnipeg Canada, as well as Cheyenne’s Frontier Day contest.  At 28 he married a beautiful aerialist performer and was the featured performer at New York’s Madison Square Garden.  Not bad for a Naperville boy with a dream.

 

It was Tuesday, April 20th, 1915.  Madison Square Garden, afternoon show.  Over 5,000 fans had come to experience the finest riders and performers in the world.

 

That morning Otto had received a telegram from his wife of one month. It explained that her show in Baltimore had been cancelled, so she was coming to New York on Saturday to be with him.  Otto was beside himself excited.

 

The Tuesday show had gone exceptionally well.  Otto, being the featured performer, closed the festivities.  He performed many of the stunts and shenanigans that his fans had come to expect and be thrilled by.  He was finishing up with a genuine crowd pleaser; he called it the Vault Trick.  Basically, the horse runs past him at full gallop, Otto vaults up and mounds the horse without touching the reins - as the horse flies past him! Unbelievable.

 

Otto stood at one end of the arena, Kitty, his favorite horse, at the other end.  He whistled to her and she began running toward him.  Her nostrils flared.  Her hoofs threw up dirt from the ground as the thunderous pounding grew more intense.  Otto bent his knees slightly, turning toward her.  He smiled as she closed in on him.  He looked into her eyes as her head went past him and he leapt into the air.

 

In that split second Otto Klein lay on the ground, unconscious, his head split open gushing blood in the dirt. Something had gone terrible wrong. Otto missed his mark, falling behind Kitty, as her right forefoot struck him squarely in the forehead. Before anyone could react, Kitty stopped on a dime and walked back to Otto.  She knew she’d hurt him.

 

Otto was taken to Bellevue hospital. Never regaining consciousness. He died 3 hours after the accident.

 

How could he have made such an error?  Riding was second nature to him.  Some of his friends felt that his wife’s letter was responsible for his accident, in that he may have been reoccupied in anticipation of her arrival.  Others feel that a cut on his hand, from a loose tack on a saddle horn, may have weakened his hand or caused the loss of concentration.  The wound was serious enough for Otto to mention it in a letter to his wife just two days before his death.  Those who saw the wound described it as an ugly gash on the hand he used for the Vaulting Trick.   We’ll never know.

 

His wife accompanied Otto’s remains to Naperville cemetery where he was laid to rest, a tombstone befitting a gentle cowboy giant graces his gravesite. His fellow performers commissioned the cowboy tombstone - a stone that will forever mark the burial place of a true Naperville son.

 

At one time his photographic image was on the stone but a few too many tear-stained touches have taken their toll.  For many years a chamber was next to the headstone, so that his fans could leave messages to him, as well as flowers.

 

Otto’s reputation won him awards and friends all over the country, but he was always a Naperville boy inside. 

 

 

 

Adios Buckaroo.