 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
FREEDOMLAND
Photos from the short-lived Bronx theme park
"Mommy, daddy, take my hand. Take me out to Freedomland!"
If you grew up in the New York City area in the early 1960s you might remember that slogan from the radio and television commercials for Freedomland, an ill-fated theme park constructed in the Bronx. I believe it was the first major theme park on the East Coast, opening on June 19, 1960. Freedomland was shaped like a giant map of the United States, with a variety of rides and live shows based on events from the American past. Guests could help fight the Chicago Fire, or travel through a Civil War battlefield. There were steam trains and Indians, mule rides and antique cars.
Sadly, Freedomland didn't fare too well, and on September 14, 1964 the owners filed for bankruptcy. Years later I had the opportunity to work with one of the builders, C.V. Wood, on a park project in Australia and asked him why he thought Freedomland had failed. He attributed it to mis-reading the New York unions, weather and the impact of the World's Fair. Instead of bringing visitors from outside the area to the park, the Fair instead diverted local sightseers who figured they could see Freedomland after the Fair had closed. The money ran out though before the Fair ended, and Freedomland was torn down for a housing project.
Terms of the sale: These photos are offered for your personal use only and cannot be resold, redistributed or used online in any fashion without prior written permission. They are copyrighted images and I retain the copyright. If you have any questions on this please let me know before buying.
$10 plus postage
I accept checks, money orders or credit cards through
PayPal. Click the button below to use PayPal or click
here for an order form.
There is a total of 44 pictures and 144 MB. The original slides were professionally scanned and digitally cleaned to produce some bright images of days long gone. Here's a detailed list of the photo subjects:
Pana-Vue CS6551 - Approaching Satellite City.jpg 5,129 kb CS6553 - Space Rover, Satellite City.jpg 8,380 kb CS6554 - Moving Sidewalk, Satellite City.jpg 5,922 kb CS6611 - Great Chicago Fire.jpg 6,217 kb CS6612 - Chicago Street Scene.jpg 9,812 kb CS6613 - Chicago Fire House.jpg 7,887 kb CS6614 - Chicago RR Station.jpg 5,237 kb CS6652 - Rocket Blast-off Satellite City.jpg 7,384 kb Set 1 - 1964 001 - San Francisco - Chinatown.jpg 1,422 kb 002 - Sante Fe Railroad.jpg 1,421 kb 003 - Chicago Fire and Canadian sternwheeler.jpg 1,263 kb 004 - Chicago - Brass Rail Steak House.jpg 1,128 kb 005 - Chicago - building ruins.jpg 1,423 kb 006 - Moss Leather Company.jpg 2,098 kb 007 - Jail and Stage Coach office.jpg 1,271 kb 008 - Sante Fe Railway bridge - Old New York.jpg 1,525 kb 009 - Sante Fe Railway.jpg 1,859 kb 010 - Indian village.jpg 1,617 kb 011 - Buccaneers entrance.jpg 1,573 kb 012 - Antique car ride (blurry).jpg 1,652 kb 013 - Stage performers.jpg 1,706 kb 014 - Stage performers.jpg 1,333 kb 015 - Stage performers.jpg 1,457 kb 016 - Lionel Hampton.jpg 1,274 kb 017 - Lionel Hampton.jpg 1,404 kb Set 2 - 1960 001 - The Canadian steamboat.jpg 4,538 kb 002 - Elsie's Boudoir barn.jpg 4,691 kb 003 - Antique car ride.jpg 3,167 kb 004 - Horse-drawn streetcars.jpg 4,488 kb 005 - Pert paddlewheeler.jpg 4,709 kb 006 - Steam train crossing bridge.jpg 3,526 kb Set 3 - Sept 1960 001 - Boy on deck of American steamboat.jpg 3,870 kb 002 - Woman on deck of American steamboat.jpg 3,272 kb 003 - Carousel.jpg 4,464 kb 004 - Bucaneer ride.jpg 3,220 kb 005 - Western characters.jpg 3,738 kb 006 - Digger O'Toole and gunfighters.jpg 3,922 kb 007 - Burro Trail and skyway.jpg 4,564 kb Set 4 - 1960 001 - Chuck Wagons.jpg 3,018 kb 002 - Cattle.jpg 3,774 kb 003 - Chuck Wagons #2.jpg 1,938 kb 004 - Stage coaches from sky way.jpg 2,049 kb 005 - The American steamboat.jpg 1,696 kb 006 - wishing well.jpg 2,098 kb
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|