Amusement Parks and Recreation in the 1950s
Post War recreation in the 1950s and 1960s included the growth and expansion of amusement parks like Palisades Park and Coney Island at an affordable price.
Americans growing up in the 1950s or 1960s may still recall the radio and television jungle for Palisades Amusement Park that urged people to “come on over.” The post-war years saw average Americans driving more than they ever had and amusement parks like Palisades Park on the cliffs above the Hudson River facing New York City was a favorite destination. For those without cars, fleets of local bus lines brought people from all over New Jersey as well as through New York’s Port Authority bus hub to the magical 38 acres near Fort Lee and Cliffside Park.
The Rise of Amusement Parks in Post War America
Palisades Park was one of many venues that offered a day of fun and escape. Like Coney Island in New York, it had been established for many years, beginning as a “trolley park” in 1898. Years of evolution, new owners, and fresh capital investment turned many such parks into meccas for the everyday working person looking for family entertainment. Vince Gargiulo, executive director of the Palisades Amusement Park Historical Society, writes that the park “was a peaceful place where everyone felt comfortable, safe, and happy.”
The popularity of such parks was evident nationally. Disneyland opened in California in 1955. In 1964, the New York World’s Fair attracted record crowds. Imitators like New York’s short-lived “Freedomland” opened in 1960 but closed four years later, failing to achieve an acceptable profit margin. Parks became “themed,” while snack bars offered hot dogs, hamburgers, and fries, amusement park staples that seemed to taste better consumed in a throng of people. The vinegar used to prepare Palisades' fries made them irresistible. The sweetly enticing smell of cotton candy was everywhere. In Freedomland, a popular ride in the San Francisco section simulated the 1906 earthquake. Urban amusements parks were an extension of rural state and county fairs, but stayed open most of the year.
In addition to the proliferation of amusement parks and theme parks, Americans visited local attractions that offered a day of fun and entertainment. This included zoos and game farms like the Catskill Game Farm in upper New York. Other day trips might be to single themed attractions like Fairy Tale Forest or the Gingerbread Castle in northern New Jersey.
PalisadesPark as an Affordable Day Trip Offering Variety
Palisades Park brought together hundreds of thousands of people, many of them new Americans, immigrants fleeing post-war Europe. Advertisements boasted that ten cents would buy a day of fun at a time postage stamps were selling for four cents (1960). Not only did the park include rides such as the Cyclone Roller Coaster, prominently located in the center of the park, but a swimming pool with wave-making machines that featured a waterfall, beach sand, and salted water. For those unable to travel to Asbury Park, Atlantic City, or Seaside Heights at the “Jersey Shore,” this was the next best thing.
The park that popularized the “tunnel of love,” according to legend, also featured a fun house, a world-class carousel, and a “Kiddieland” with rides for young children. Palisades Park closed in September 1971 after the land was sold to developers for $12.5 million who turned the acreage into high-end condominiums. No longer would the lights of one of the most popular attractions be seen from the shores of New York City.
The Lure and Mystique of Amusement Parks
Throughout the nation in the last two decades, other amusement parks have had to close due to declining attendance, high maintenance and insurance costs, and the willingness of deep pocket developers to turn these sites into high profit producing properties. In the summer of 2009, Six Flags filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
1950s and 1960s Amusement Parks like Palisades Park, as well as many other attractions geared toward weekend family outings, offered an escape as well as a day of fun. They brought people today from all backgrounds and immigrant ethnicities and played a significant role in Americanizing children growing up in immigrant households.
Sources:
- Vince Gargiulo, Palisades Amusement Park (Charleston, SC: Arcadia, 2005)
- Palisades Amusement Park Historical Society website
- Family memoirs, pictures, and artifacts
No comments:
Post a Comment