Originally Posted By AutoPost This topic is for Discussion of <a href="http://www.LaughingPlace.com/Latest.asp?I1=ID&I2=74531" target="_blank"><b>Latest: JHM: "Freedomland" looks back at "The Disneyland of the East"</b></a> <p>Jim Hill reviews this new Arcadia Publishing release. He also talks up a book signing that will be held this coming Saturday at the Barnes & Noble which was built right where Freedomland U.S.A. used to be located</p>
Originally Posted By brotherdave I never got to go to Freedomland, but was fortunate enough to ride three of its dark rides at other parks. The San Francisco Earthquake ride and the Buccaneer Ride moved to Cedar Point (Bucaneer was renamed Pirate Ride there) and the Tornado went to Kennywood. A few years later, Tornado was sold to Great Escape in New York where it operated into the 90s. Earthquake operated into the 80s at Cedar Point, while Pirate Ride closed in 1996. All three were designed by Arrow Development (just like many of Disneyland's original rides). Now, all three are history, just like the original park where they were located. Funny thing is, the Buccaneer predated Pirates of the Caribbean by seven years. There were some definite similarities from the Buccaneer and PotC in terms of scenes. I wonder if the Imagineers, or even Walt himself, possibly was influenced by this. The ride was located in a New Orleans section of the park as well. Hmmm..... Don't know for sure if there was any correlation or not, but there's definitely some "coincidences" to be sure. Just to let everyone know, the three Arrow designed rides were "C-Ticket" in quality, similar to the early Fantasyland dark rides. Hokey, but fun use of black lights and dark sets. Kind of a hybrid ride between the old style dark ride and the more modern heavily themed rides of today.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt This image of Freedomland is eerily like an alternate Disneyland circa the late 1950s: <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/bananaphone5000/GORILLLAS/Freedomland2-9_60.jpg&imgrefurl=http://gorillasdontblog.blogspot.com/2007/06/freedomland-september-1960.html&usg=__2QNTYqDl_L2McBUA5Dg3GddL-m8=&h=886&w=1300&sz=93&hl=en&start=4&sig2=aN-RP4gqbYkJgfqq7FIemQ&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=xtYsXsRC5FvLkM:&tbnh=102&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dfreedomland%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-USfficial%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=z1QcTNPhJdSNnQeuvoC1Cw" target="_blank">http://www.google.com/imgres?i...euvoC1Cw</a>
Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1 I must admit, even with my knowledge of theme parks, I had NEVER heard of this place. The pictures are intriguing - almost a Nara Dreamland(google it)look to it.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Freedomland was built by DL's master builder who had a falling out with Walt Disney about a year or so after DL opened, so the similarities were more than deliberate. Both parks where literally built and designed by many of the same people. It was a very large and elaborate park that cost almost twice what DL did. Take a look at this video tour I found: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpWcFZ-_LqU" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...cFZ-_LqU</a>
Originally Posted By sjhym33 I went to Freedomland as a kid. I grew up in NYC and remember going the first year it was open. I was young but I remember the Chicago fire. I am looking forward to getting the book to see what other memories it stirs. Growing up in NYC was fun as an amusement park junkie. We had Freedomland for a short time but a favorite was Palisaides Amusement park which we visited several times each summer. It sat across the river from NYC. Today the site has apartments on it but there is a small garden with a plaque commemorating the park. In NJ we had Seaside Heights (now infamous because of Jersey Shore) but my favorite place was Keansburg. Lots of seaside type rides, games and restaurants.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo This place looked fantastic. Thanks for the video link Hans. It really is a shame it didn't last.
Originally Posted By MRPV57 I grew up right outside Freedomland. I have written a series of seven articles about the park with some interesting pictures and links: <a href="http://americanhistory.suite101.com/article.cfm/50-years-ago-freedomland-usa-appeared-on-the-map" target="_blank">http://americanhistory.suite10...-the-map</a> I also attended the 50th anniversary commemoration and wrote about it: <a href="http://www.examiner.com/x-31765-Long-Island-Marketing-and-Communications-Examiner~y2010m6d22-Freedomland-celebrates-50th-Anniversary" target="_blank">http://www.examiner.com/x-3176...iversary</a>
