Cleveland Amusement Park Memories [Paperback]

David Francis (Author), Diane Francis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2004

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.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

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.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Gray & Company Publishers (October 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1886228892
• ISBN-13: 978-1886228894
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,026,610 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great memories, March 6, 2008

By 

Linda Lyons Graff "Happy Valentine" (Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cleveland Amusement Park Memories (Paperback)

I bought this for my husband for Valentine's Day and he loved it. We both enjoyed being nostalgic and reminiscing about our youth at some of these parks. Great gift for Clevelanders old enough to remember.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars those were the days, May 7, 2009

By 

L.A.Cotton "larry's good eats" (Tampa,FL) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cleveland Amusement Park Memories (Paperback)

i cant begin to calculate how many hours I spent as a youth at Euclid Beach Park and Geauga Lake as well, everyone had an opinion about who had the best coasters, I always thought Geauga Lake had the best one but Euclid Beach just had more. This book does an excellent job in bringing back all the good memories of a time that was special in this baby boomers life, at that particular time these parks were just about the coolest thing going and made living in Cleveland fun.