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Cleveland Amusement Park Memories
For more than seventy-five years these boisterous, colorful, exciting meccas fulfilled the fantasies of entertainment-hungry Clevelanders. Each park had its own distinct personality, its own peculiarities, and its own alluring array of popular attractions.
Each park had its own unique smells. At Euclid Beach it was the stately sycamores and the unforgettable odor of the lake and of damp earth beneath the pier. At Puritas Springs the odor of warm oil on the chain of the Cyclone coaster signaled a thrilling ride.
And of course there were the sounds. The chatter of Monkey Island at Luna Park, the sharp reports of the Shooting Gallery at Geauga Lake, the splash of a boat at the end of White City's Shoot-the-Chutes, and the cackles of Laughing Sal at Euclid Beach's Surprise House.
And let's not forget the music . . . Liberati's nationally known band at Luna Park; a smaller concert band at White City, and the giant Gavioli band organ in the Skating Rink at Euclid Beach.
More than just business establishments, the parks were the birthplace of treasured memories for children and adults alike. These pages re-create the park atmospheres in which those memories were born. If you never visited these parks, let your imagination run wild and enjoy the parks that thrilled your parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. And if you remember Euclid Beach, Puritas Springs, old Geauga Lake Park, and the others, savor this scenic excursion into the past.
Reviews
“Lavishly illustrated with well-produced black-and-white photos.” - Alliance Review
“Chronicles the history and trends of Cleveland amusement parks with 192 beautiful black-and-white photos, dating from the 1890s to the 1970s. The reader also gets vivid first-hand accounts of people who either worked at the parks or frequented them.” - Cleveland Jewish News
“Methodically details the racial and class obstacles that amusement parks crashed through during their peak years. More important, it gives a photo-filled history of all the local parks that existed in the 1940s through 1970s.” - Scene Magazine
About David & Diane Francis
Dave and Diane Francis are the authors of ten books about parks and summer resorts, including Cedar Point: Queen of American Watering Places; Ohio's Amusement Parks; The Golden Age of Roller Coasters; and Chippewa Lake Park. They are members of the Organization of American Historians, the American Historical Association, and the National Amusement Park Historical Association. They live in Wadsworth, Ohio.
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