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'''Kiddieland''' (or '''Kiddieland Park''') was a small amusement park which operated at the [[Alabama State Fairgrounds]] from [[1948]] to the mid 1980s. | '''Kiddieland''' (or '''Kiddieland Park''') was a small amusement park which operated at the [[Alabama State Fairgrounds]] from [[1948]] to the mid 1980s. | ||
The park | The park was planned by the [[Alabama State Fair Authority]], newly reorganized under the ownership of the City of [[Birmingham]], as an effort to combat juvenile delinquency. It was aimed at primarily at younger children and was seen as the successor to the [[East Lake Amusement Park]], which closed during the [[Great Depression]]. ''[[Birmingham News]]'' city editor [[Vincent Townsend]] chaired the subcommittee responsible for developing the attraction. | ||
The | The $100,000 park opened on [[June 5]], 1948. Special guests that week included [[Joe Rumore]] and [[Happy Wilson]]'s [[Golden River Boys]], as well as the [[Industrial High School]] band and Captain J. P. Snyder's trained bears. Ernest Norris of [[Southern Railways]] dedicated the park's miniature train | ||
The park and each ride within it boasted a neon-lit entrance arch created by [[Dixie Neon]]. | [[WSGN-AM]] and the ''News'' sponsored a weekly contest during the first summer, inviting kids to send short essays to [[Miss Ann]], who read comic strips over the air, describing which character they'd like to bring to the park. The winning boy and girl would be crowned King and Queen of Kiddieland and have their pictures in the newspaper. The park's bandstand featured "hillbilly shows" and concerts on Sundays. The entertainments were broadcast live on WSGN. Admission and parking were free, with most rides costing 9¢ for children and 10-20¢ for adults. Free rides were given to "underprivileged groups" during special events sponsored by the park and local civic clubs. | ||
Many of the park's thrill rides were supplied by the National Amusement Device Company (NAD) of Dayton, Ohio. William L'Horbe, Jr and Charles Paige from NAD provided design and consulting for the park's development. The park and each ride within it boasted a neon-lit entrance arch created by [[Dixie Neon]] for $10,000. | |||
Previously open only to white patrons, Kiddieland was closed on [[January 1]], [[1962], along with all of [[List of Birmingham parks|Birmingham's city parks]]], in defiance of a court order to end [[segregation]]. The parks were reopened to all comers by the newly-installed [[Birmingham City Council]] in July [[1963]]. | |||
After the majority of the original rides were dismantled, the site continued to be used for traveling carnivals, such as [[Spring Fling]] and [[Fall Carnival]], which were subsidized by the city of [[Birmingham]]. | After the majority of the original rides were dismantled, the site continued to be used for traveling carnivals, such as [[Spring Fling]] and [[Fall Carnival]], which were subsidized by the city of [[Birmingham]]. | ||
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==Rides and attractions== | ==Rides and attractions== | ||
* "Kiddie Merry-Go-Round" (three abreast model built by Allan Herschell) | |||
* "Kiddie Merry-Go-Round" | * Large Ferris Wheel (No. 5 model, supplied by NAD) | ||
* Ferris Wheel | * Kiddie Ferris Wheel (supplied by NAD) | ||
* "Airplane Ride" | * "Airplane Ride" swing ride (made by Smith & Smith) | ||
* "Auto Ride" cars | * "Auto Ride" cars | ||
* "Scrambler" | * "Scrambler" | ||
* "Comet Junior" roller coaster | * "Comet Junior" roller coaster (built by National Amusement Device Co. with 750 feet of track and 14' vertical drop) | ||
* "Caterpillar" roller coaster | * "Caterpillar" roller coaster | ||
* Clowns on Tricycles | * Clowns on Tricycles | ||
* Swans and Turtles | * Swans and Turtles | ||
* "Flying Skooter" swing ride | |||
* Chair swing | |||
* "Rock-O-Plane" | |||
* "Auto Scooter" bumper cars | * "Auto Scooter" bumper cars | ||
* "The Little Navy U Drive It 'Speed Boats'" | * "Spitfire" | ||
* "Tilt-A-Whirl" | |||
* "The Little Navy U Drive It 'Speed Boats'", operated in the parks former swimming pool with 10 fiberglass gas-powered boats from National Amusement Device Co. | |||
* "Laff in the Dark" dark ride ("pretzel") | * "Laff in the Dark" dark ride ("pretzel") | ||
* "Laugh Land" funhouse | * "Laugh Land" funhouse | ||
* "Penny Arcade" and "Shooting Gallery" | * "Penny Arcade" and "Shooting Gallery" | ||
* "Kiddieland Zoo" petting zoo | * "Kiddieland Zoo" petting zoo (exhibiting "Mary's Little Lamb", "The Three Little Pigs", "Brer Fox", "Brer 'Coon" and other storybook characters | ||
* Crosley miniature fire engine rides | |||
* Bandstand gazebo | * Bandstand gazebo | ||
* Pony rides and pony-pulled buggy rides | |||
* Jeep ride | |||
==Little Southerner== | |||
{{main|Little Southerner}} | |||
The "Little Southerner" miniature train was a replica of "[[The Southerner]]" streamliner which stopped in Birmingham on its route between New Orleans, Louisiana and New York, New York. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* "[http://www.birminghamrewound.com/features/kiddieland_grandopen.htm Boy, Oh, Boy! Kiddieland Open! It's Fun, It's Thrillin', It's Super!]" (May 1948) ''Birmingham News'' - via [[Birmingham Rewound]] | * "[http://www.birminghamrewound.com/features/kiddieland_grandopen.htm Boy, Oh, Boy! Kiddieland Open! It's Fun, It's Thrillin', It's Super!]" (May 1948) ''Birmingham News'' - via [[Birmingham Rewound]] | ||
* Walling, Keith (July 31, 1948) "[http://books.google.com/books?id=e0UEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA56&ots=UMXy6daQIh&dq=%22Kiddieland%22%20birmingham&pg=PA56#v=onepage&q=%22Kiddieland%22%20birmingham&f=false Small Fry Are Big Shots]" ''Billboard'' | |||
* Smith, Jerry (October 25, 2004) "[http://www.stclaircountyal.com/timemachiine/time018.html Kiddieland]". StClairCountyAl.com | |||
* Hollis, Tim (May 2010) "[http://bhammag.com/bhammag/places-may10d.aspx Iconic Entertainment: Kiddieland was a magical attraction for generations of Birmingham children]" ''Birmingham'' magazine. | * Hollis, Tim (May 2010) "[http://bhammag.com/bhammag/places-may10d.aspx Iconic Entertainment: Kiddieland was a magical attraction for generations of Birmingham children]" ''Birmingham'' magazine. | ||
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[[Category:Alabama State Fairgrounds]] | [[Category:Alabama State Fairgrounds]] | ||
[[Category:1948 establishments]] | [[Category:1948 establishments]] | ||
[[Category:1948 buildings]] | |||
[[Category:1980s disestablishments]] | [[Category:1980s disestablishments]] |
Revision as of 20:43, 12 May 2010
Kiddieland (or Kiddieland Park) was a small amusement park which operated at the Alabama State Fairgrounds from 1948 to the mid 1980s.
The park was planned by the Alabama State Fair Authority, newly reorganized under the ownership of the City of Birmingham, as an effort to combat juvenile delinquency. It was aimed at primarily at younger children and was seen as the successor to the East Lake Amusement Park, which closed during the Great Depression. Birmingham News city editor Vincent Townsend chaired the subcommittee responsible for developing the attraction.
The $100,000 park opened on June 5, 1948. Special guests that week included Joe Rumore and Happy Wilson's Golden River Boys, as well as the Industrial High School band and Captain J. P. Snyder's trained bears. Ernest Norris of Southern Railways dedicated the park's miniature train
WSGN-AM and the News sponsored a weekly contest during the first summer, inviting kids to send short essays to Miss Ann, who read comic strips over the air, describing which character they'd like to bring to the park. The winning boy and girl would be crowned King and Queen of Kiddieland and have their pictures in the newspaper. The park's bandstand featured "hillbilly shows" and concerts on Sundays. The entertainments were broadcast live on WSGN. Admission and parking were free, with most rides costing 9¢ for children and 10-20¢ for adults. Free rides were given to "underprivileged groups" during special events sponsored by the park and local civic clubs.
Many of the park's thrill rides were supplied by the National Amusement Device Company (NAD) of Dayton, Ohio. William L'Horbe, Jr and Charles Paige from NAD provided design and consulting for the park's development. The park and each ride within it boasted a neon-lit entrance arch created by Dixie Neon for $10,000.
Previously open only to white patrons, Kiddieland was closed on January 1, [[1962], along with all of Birmingham's city parks], in defiance of a court order to end segregation. The parks were reopened to all comers by the newly-installed Birmingham City Council in July 1963.
After the majority of the original rides were dismantled, the site continued to be used for traveling carnivals, such as Spring Fling and Fall Carnival, which were subsidized by the city of Birmingham.
Rides and attractions
- "Kiddie Merry-Go-Round" (three abreast model built by Allan Herschell)
- Large Ferris Wheel (No. 5 model, supplied by NAD)
- Kiddie Ferris Wheel (supplied by NAD)
- "Airplane Ride" swing ride (made by Smith & Smith)
- "Auto Ride" cars
- "Scrambler"
- "Comet Junior" roller coaster (built by National Amusement Device Co. with 750 feet of track and 14' vertical drop)
- "Caterpillar" roller coaster
- Clowns on Tricycles
- Swans and Turtles
- "Flying Skooter" swing ride
- Chair swing
- "Rock-O-Plane"
- "Auto Scooter" bumper cars
- "Spitfire"
- "Tilt-A-Whirl"
- "The Little Navy U Drive It 'Speed Boats'", operated in the parks former swimming pool with 10 fiberglass gas-powered boats from National Amusement Device Co.
- "Laff in the Dark" dark ride ("pretzel")
- "Laugh Land" funhouse
- "Penny Arcade" and "Shooting Gallery"
- "Kiddieland Zoo" petting zoo (exhibiting "Mary's Little Lamb", "The Three Little Pigs", "Brer Fox", "Brer 'Coon" and other storybook characters
- Crosley miniature fire engine rides
- Bandstand gazebo
- Pony rides and pony-pulled buggy rides
- Jeep ride
Little Southerner
The "Little Southerner" miniature train was a replica of "The Southerner" streamliner which stopped in Birmingham on its route between New Orleans, Louisiana and New York, New York.
References
- "Boy, Oh, Boy! Kiddieland Open! It's Fun, It's Thrillin', It's Super!" (May 1948) Birmingham News - via Birmingham Rewound
- Walling, Keith (July 31, 1948) "Small Fry Are Big Shots" Billboard
- Smith, Jerry (October 25, 2004) "Kiddieland". StClairCountyAl.com
- Hollis, Tim (May 2010) "Iconic Entertainment: Kiddieland was a magical attraction for generations of Birmingham children" Birmingham magazine.
External links
- Kiddieland feature on Birmingham Rewound
- home video from Kiddieland on YouTube