Athe definitive history, documents the entire story from conception to bankruptcy of one of the most innovative and beloved theme parks in america. Local author writes book on storied freedomland amusement park. Information about a new dvd now available on freedomland usa, the theme park that was located in the bronx, new york. The theme park, freedomland, is long gone, but one man who helped build it and tear it down celebrates it in a new book. Freedomland theme park was a 60s apple slice of americana. Freedomland amusement park in amusement park collectibles.
The book s name comes from the shortlived american history amusement park that was built in the shape of the united states in the early 1960s in the bronx, where coop city is now. New book about a defunct bronx theme park features connection to quassy amusement park. The park was only open for 5 seasons, but for a ny kid, the park will live forever in my memory. Since this is just a brief introductory history of freedomland u. Jan 05, 2020 the park and its attractions were located on 85 acres by comparison, disneyland attractions occupy 65 acres and palisades amusement park was just 30 acres, with the remaining 120 acres reserved for maintenance and parking. Conceived at a time when theme parks were still a new concept in the amusement park industry, freedomland u. In june, after 47 years of laughter and screams, the heritage square amusement park in golden, colorado had its final ride. Alan brennert awardwinning author, alan brennert, has a new book well worth reading. Billed as new yorks answer to disneyland, freedomland opened on june 19, 1960. Get the best deals on freedomland amusement park when you shop.
Jun 19, 2010 as someone who went to freedomland a number of times as a kid, this book looks very interesting, and i will be looking for it. A the definitive history is a new book that documents the entire story from conception to bankruptcy of one of the most innovative and beloved theme parks in america. Strange overview about a longforgotten amusement park called, for whatever reason, freedomland. Several media works commemorate the former amusement park. Its slogan was the worlds largest entertainment center later, the worlds largest outdoor family entertainment center. Virgintino collection for years, middlebury was the home for a remnant of the freedomland u. After the closing of freedomland, some rides were rescued by other amusement parks, including the tornado adventure, seen here at lake george, ny. The worlds largest entertainment center, bronx, new york. We the italians mike virgintino author of freedomland u. His new novel, palisades park, is a return to his roots. The definitive history of freedomland revealed in thorough. This is the most comprehensive collection of photos and memories ive yet to find.
But fond memories live on among bronxites of a certain age, as do. Freedomland ebook by robert mclaughlin 9781439623664. Celebrating the short, sweet ride of freedomland the new. This book is an exhaustive history of the park, from the early concepts to.
Freedomland was replaced by another oddity the massive coop city, housing over 50,000 residents, and often referred to as a city within a city. See more ideas about park, large entertainment center and new york city. Here, on what had previously been empty marshland from a birdseye view you would see an 85acre amusement park shaped like a miniature continental united states buffered by a 120acre parking lot. In the novel, freedomland referred to an abandoned amusement park which was the scene of an extensive search as well as a reference to the people being locked into their own homes. One amusing result of the airing of the piece is a resurgence of interest in freedomland usa, the 1960s amusement park in the bronx. New book on freedomland dives into the parks many disney. On june 19, 1960 a shortlived, historythemed amusement park opened on what now sits coop city in the bronx. A the definitive history, i document the history of the beloved theme park and tell all who were there, and the many others who wish they had experienced it, about freedomlands proper place on the american theme park timeline. Bronx boat was popular at quassy amusement park patch. However, in addition to the reasons which seem accurate that are mentioned in the article, i think there were also a number of other reasons for freedomlands failure that werent mentioned, at least in the article and i say this as a chauvanistic new yorker. And today it is an italian american, mike virgintino, who tells their story and with it the story of freedomland u. Freedomland was once a thriving allamerican amusement park built on an undeveloped marshland along i95, just northwest of the hutchinson river parkway. The books locales include a place called freedomtown, a strippeddown version of the original that he says is like an imitation of an imitation of american.
Through photographs, freedomland recalls boat rides on the great lakes, putting out a fire in chicago, dancing under the stars at the moon bowl, or taking a train ride all the way to san francisco. Amusement parks, bowling alleys, zoos and fairs are the latest coronavirus casualties. Mary jane clark if you havent read her newest book yet, you must. A the definitive story the tale of americas historythemed park in the bronx. Information on that park, which was open from 19601964 on a nondescript. The books name comes from the shortlived american history amusement park that was built in the shape of the united states in the early 1960s in the bronx, where coop city is now. Now, in a new book, i am able to document the full story of that beloved theme park and to tell all who were there, and the many others who wish they had experienced it, about its proper place in american theme park history. Constructed in the shape of the united states and presenting 200 years of. Sep 27, 2019 a theme park rivaling the size of disneyland once stood in the bronx. Driving down gun hill road in the bronx, after a stop at the home depot or the local chinese buffet, my father would point towards the bay plaza shopping center and exclaim that used to be freedomland.
We the italians mike virgintino author of freedomland. The book s locales include a place called freedomtown, a strippeddown version of the original that he says is like an imitation of an imitation of american. Virgintino presented a brief overview of his book and opened up a discussion with the forum of italian american educators fiame at the morris park community center, 1824 bronxdale avenue. A, we wont go any further into the political story behind the construction and closing of freedomland u. One of the most patriotic amusement parks ever created in the bronx, new york. Athe definitive history is a new book that documents the entire story from conception to bankruptcy of one of the most innovative and beloved theme parks in america.
Freedomland amusement park in amusement park collectibles for. Available now in the palisades amusement park book store. Entering freedomland was like walking into a history book of america for both young and young at heart. Probably the biggest flaw for me was the titular freedomland. In 1953, when walt disney hired wood to create an amusement park to promote his animated movie characters, he became the first employee of disneyland. A historical and family saga set at the legendary palisades amusement park in new jersey, alan calls it a love letter to a cherished part of my childhood. Before regional theme parks proliferated across the american landscape there was freedomland u. If you remember freedomland, tell mommy and daddy to take. Please see the descriptions of each dvd on this website. Just as they had done for america, many italian americans were busy designing and building the amusement park and then working there. Jul 30, 2014 this promotional video provides a rare glimpse at freedomland usa, new york citys shortlived and largely forgotten answer to disneyland that closed 50 years ago this summer. How walt disney envisioned and then built his california theme park is an ofttold tale, but chuck schmidt focuses on the people, the personalities, and the politics who turned walts parkbench fantasy into reality.
Its basically an americana theme park, where you can ride a paddlwheeler, ala the mark twain ride in disneyland, ride in canoes to tour wild terrain, ala the jungle cruise ride in disneyland, ride in the gondolas ala etc etc. Mar 14, 2019 new book about a defunct bronx theme park features connection to quassy amusement park. Dec 21, 2019 freedomland was once a thriving allamerican amusement park built on an undeveloped marshland along i95, just northwest of the hutchinson river parkway. It featured attractions where visitors could enjoy carnival snacks while stepping back in time to old. A the definitive history is a new book that documents the entire story from conception to bankruptcy of one of the most. I did a short podcast on the longforgotten americathemed park back in 2009, and an original advertisement for one of the parks more unusual attractions reenactment of the chicago fire. The dvd freedomland americas theme park volume 2 just released. Freedomland opened on june 19, 1960, in the baychester section of the bronx, new york.
The rise and suspiciously rapid fall of freedomland u. After those three parks demise, wood helped found the first six flags amusement park, six flags over texas. Fifty years ago this weekend, the selfproclaimed disneyland of the east opened in the northeast bronx. A history of freedomland, usa christopher fountain. Ages ago, noah and his wife took their kids to the amusement park freed. Freedomland was a theme park that placed the spotlight, in an. A detailed book about the parks history, freedomland u. Freedomland the gotham center for new york city history. Wood, the selfproclaimed master disneyland builder, wood went east, to. For baby boomers of a certain age, a mention of freedomland u. Zeckendorf announced his plans for freedomland in may 1959.
Coney islands astroland most of the coney island amusement parks dreamland, steeplechase park, luna park were closed by the 1960s, and the last remaining one continues to be at risk due to the. Freedomlands grand opening originally was scheduled for june 1, 1960. Virgintino theme park press, freedomland, on the site where the coop city housing development now stands, was a place where you could ride a horsedrawn. The worlds largest entertainment center freedomland usa. In the novel, freedomland referred to an abandoned amusement park which was the scene of an extensive search as well as a reference to the people being locked into their own homes part of the plot which was short changed imo. Mar 14, 20 one amusing result of the airing of the piece is a resurgence of interest in freedomland usa, the 1960s amusement park in the bronx. Imagine a patriotic playland of wholesome americana, a theme park larger.
Amusement park tickets for sale collectibles for sale. Virgintino has just released the ultimate book on the legendary bronx, new york amusement park freedomland u. This promotional video provides a rare glimpse at freedomland usa, new york citys shortlived and largely forgotten answer to disneyland that closed 50. The park and its attractions were located on 85 acres by comparison, disneyland attractions occupy 65 acres and palisades amusement park was just 30 acres, with the remaining 120 acres reserved for maintenance and parking. Dedicated to the portrayal of american history, this heavily themed extravaganza sought to tell americas story through seven major themed areas, each based upon a different city or. A mustread for anyone interested in the history of the modern theme park, this book. New book on freedomland dives into the parks many disney connections by chuck schmidt posted on posted on may 6, 2019 in researching my book, disneys dream weavers, which dealt with the common thread i felt ran between disneyland, freedomland, the 19641965 new york worlds fair and walt disney world, there were plenty of sources i. In researching my book, disneys dream weavers, which dealt with the common thread i felt ran between disneyland, freedomland, the 19641965 new york worlds fair and walt disney world, there were plenty of sources i could tap into for the three disneyrelated projects. Through photographs, freedomland recalls boat rides on the great lakes. Rare color photos of freedomland, nycs grandiose lost. A the definitive history the tale of americas historythemed park in the bronx. Theme park buildings are 25 stories and freedomland lasted exactly five years.
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