Memories Of Freedomland U.S.A. Are Here For The Holidays

Baby boomers are nostalgic for the 1950s and 1960s. For the boys and girls who now are 60-plus, the American history theme park that was known as Freedomland U.S.A. continues to rekindle fond memories.

Freedomland was conceived and built by C.V. Wood. 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 a company, Marco Engineering, to build theme parks and other venues across the country. Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington and the community of Lake Havasu, Arizona, continue to prosper. The northeast Bronx marshland that featured Freedomland U.S.A., which lasted five seasons from 1960 until 1964, eventually became the site of the Co-op City residential community and its adjacent shopping center.

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New Book Is A Hit

Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive History is a new book that documents the history – from conception to bankruptcy -- of the park and captures the memories of kids and teens who traveled with their families, scouting and other groups, and on church and school trips to The Bronx from throughout the east coast of the country.

Published by Theme Park Press, the world's leading independent publisher of books about the Disney company and its history, its films and animation, and its theme parks, the 300+-page tale about one of the most innovative and beloved theme parks in America includes first-time interviews with park employees and never-before published photographs. The suggested retail price is $24.95 for the book and $7.99 for the Kindle version. It can be purchased on Amazon, Goodreads, eBay and other online sites.

Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive History features stories about the building of the park and background about the various attractions from the recreation of the Chicago Fire to a trip on a bull boat in America’s untamed wilderness on the Northwest Fur Trapper attraction. Dark rides included the Earthquake of San Francisco, a Buccaneer attraction and the Tornado recreation in the New Orleans section of the park, and a Mine Caverns ride deep into the earth in the Old Southwest.

The book is filled with documentation about the more than 150 celebrities of the day who appeared at the park. They included entertainers (Paul Anka, Louis Armstrong, The Four Seasons, Benny Goodman, The Lennon Sisters, The Three Stooges), New York’s radio disc jockeys (Herb Oscar Anderson, Scott Muni, Murray the K, Jack Sterling), hosts of local television shows for kids and teens (Officer Joe Bolton, Clay Cole, Sonny Fox, Claude Kirchner, Chuck McCann, Captain Jack McCarthy) and many other celebrities from movies, music, radio, stage and television.

Urban Legend Dismissed

Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive History provides the personal stories of park employees such as character actors who portrayed gunslinger Billy the Kid and cowgirl star Annie Oakley, hospitality hosts, restaurant staff and parking attendants, and those who operated some of the attractions, including the popular Great Lakes sternwheelers. A section of the book includes memories from baby boomers who, as kids, were in awe of the park’s fun and excitement.

The book also puts to rest an urban legend – the closing of Freedomland U.S.A. had nothing to do with the arrival of the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair.