A TV Ringmaster, His Sidekick And His Daughter

“Many times, I accompanied Dad to his gig as ringmaster when Freedomland added a circus in 1961,” recalled Lynn Lavalette of Cos Cob.

Her father, Claude Kirchner, was a pioneer in children’s television—the ringmaster of Terrytoon Circus on New York City’s WOR-TV from 1956 to 1962 and then Merrytunes Circus on the same station through September 1963. Earlier in his career, Kirchner hosted the nationally broadcast Super Circus.

Many performers and television personalities, including Kirchner and Clownie, his wisecracking sidekick, appeared at Freedomland’s Hollywood Arena before thousands of children and their parents.

“…we’d head over to the circus arena where Dad would change into his ringmaster suit and boots in a trailer," continued Lavalette in a new book about Freedomland U.S.A. "Sometimes he'd drive already dressed in his suit...I would hang out behind the scenes for a bit before heading out to scout the park."

Freedomland U.S.A. – The Definitive History documents the entire story from conception to bankruptcy of one of the most innovative and beloved theme parks in America. It is available on Amazon and other online retailers at the suggested retail price of $24.95.

Freedomland U.S.A. (visit the Facebook group) was celebrated as the “Disneyland of the East.” While it survived only five seasons (1960-1964), to this day the park is recalled by baby boomers who enjoyed the American history-themed attractions, the many shows at the Hollywood Arena and the celebrity entertainers who performed at the Moon Bowl music venue with the world's largest outdoor dance floor.

Among Lavalette’s favorite park attractions was the Casa Loca crooked house, where soda cans rolled uphill on slanted tables and water seemed to flow in an opposite direction. Lavalette has dedicated a Facebook page to her father, Clownie and his television shows.

The History Of Freedomland

Freedomland U.S.A. was conceived and built by C.V. Wood and his Marco Engineering Company. Known to many as Woody, he was Disneyland’s first employee and he brought Walt Disney’s imagination to life by leading the team that built that park. He then created Marco Engineering to build theme parks and other venues across the country. Several continue to prosper.

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Group presentations about the history of Freedomland U.S.A. can be scheduled by contacting Freedomlandusa@yahoo.com .

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Unknown to Woody and the general public at the time, landowner William Zeckendorf, Sr., local politicians, city planners and construction unions considered the park a “placeholder” until property variances permitted significant development on the marshland. The variances provided the green light for the construction of Co-op City, the largest cooperative housing community in the world. A shopping center was added about a decade later and an indoor mall was constructed on the remaining undeveloped land during 2012.

To this day, many people remain convinced that the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair contributed to Freedomland’s demise. The book refers to this conclusion as an urban legend and provides the documentation that releases the fair for any blame in the closing of the beloved park.

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Mike Virgintino is the author of Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive History, the story about America's theme park located in The Bronx. Published by Theme Park Press, it can be found on Amazon, eBay and Goodreads.