Pleasure Island: 1959-1969

Pleasure Island: 1959-1969
Author: Robert McLaughlin
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
Total Pages: 96
Release: 2014
Genre: History
ISBN: 1467121207

Pleasure Island opened on June 22, 1959, in Wakefield, Massachusetts. Designed by Marco Engineering of Los Angeles, it was the second of three innovative theme parks built across America to mimic Disneyland. Pleasure Island was conceived by William Hawkes, president of Child Life magazine, and with support from Boston's Cabot, Cabot & Forbes and local and national investors, the vision of the park was brought to life. Just by passing through a turnstile, children and the young at heart could leave the present and enter into a world of the past. Clipper Cove was a replica of an old New England fishing village, and Goldpan Gulch re-created the Old West. With state-of-the-art attractions and national and local live entertainment, Pleasure Island became one of the top-grossing parks in the nation. Known as the "Disneyland of the East," the park was enjoyed for 11 seasons, until its closing in 1969.

Images of Modern America

Images of Modern America
Author: Robert McLaughlin
Publisher:
Total Pages: 95
Release: 2014
Genre: Amusement parks
ISBN:

Pleasure Island opened on June 22, 1959, in Wakefield, Massachusetts. Designed by Marco Engineering of Los Angeles, it was the second of three innovative theme parks built across America to mimic Disneyland. Pleasure Island was conceived by William Hawkes, president of Child Life magazine, and with support from Boston's Cabot, Cabot and Forbes and local and national investors, the vision of the park was brought to life. Just by passing through a turnstile, children and the young at heart could leave the present and enter into a world of the past. Clipper Cove was a replica of an old New England fishing village, and Goldpan Gulch re-created the Old West. With state-of-the-art attractions and national and local live entertainment, Pleasure Island became one of the top-grossing parks in the nation. Known as the "Disneyland of the East," the park was enjoyed for 11 seasons, until its closing in 1969.

Pleasure Island

Pleasure Island
Author: Robert McLaughlin
Publisher: Arcadia Library Editions
Total Pages: 130
Release: 2009-06
Genre: History
ISBN: 9781531642242

Billed as Boston's answer to Disneyland, Pleasure Island opened on June 22, 1959. William Hawkes, president of Childlife Magazine, and executives at Cabot, Cabot and Forbes collaborated with Marco Engineering of Los Angeles to build what was called the "Disneyland of the East." Pleasure Island rose from the wetlands off of Route 128 into an 80-acre theme park. Through photographs, Pleasure Island recalls memories of boat rides to Pirate Cove, searching for the great white whale, driving a Jenney car, getting dizzy in the Slanty Shanty, and taking a ride on Old Smoky. At Pleasure Island, children and children at heart entered into a world that traditional amusement parks could not provide, where character actors continually put on a show and the entire park was the stage.

Magic Mountain

Magic Mountain
Author: Robert McLaughlin
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
Total Pages: 96
Release: 2016
Genre: History
ISBN: 1467134759

Nestled in the foothills of Golden, Colorado, construction began on Magic Mountain just two years after Disneyland's opening season. Through never-before-seen photographs, Magic Mountain tells the exciting story of the first attempt in America to spread the Disneyland model. The dream of a theme park in Colorado was conceived by Walter F. Cobb and designed by Marco Engineering of Los Angeles. The park saw tens of thousands of visitors, even during the construction period. They witnessed live gunfights and playhouse melodramas and took a ride on the Magic Mountain railroad. Unfortunately, the park closed at the end of its premier season in 1960, but it would eventually evolve into Heritage Square. For over 40 years, this venue brought fun and entertainment to the young and young at heart, following Cobb's vision of a clean, entertaining, and educational park for the whole family.

Freedomland: 1960-1964

Freedomland: 1960-1964
Author: Freedomland: 1960-1964
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
Total Pages: 96
Release: 2015
Genre: History
ISBN: 1467123153

Freedomland opened on June 19, 1960, in the Baychester section of the Bronx, New York. Historically themed attractions and costumed cast members were located throughout the seven sections. Designed by Marco Engineering of Los Angeles for International Recreation Corporation, it was the third and largest innovative theme park built across America to mimic Disneyland. Constructed in the shape of the United States and presenting 200 years of American history, Freedomland was intended to be both exciting and educational. In addition, Freedomland offered national and local stars, big bands, and daily entertainment events. Professional character actors also worked throughout the park. Through photographs, Freedomland: 1960-1964 takes a tour of all seven sections of Freedomland and more. Although it was open for just five seasons, the park's guests and cast members were fortunate to have their very own "Disneyland of the East."

Magic Mountain

Magic Mountain
Author: Robert McLaughlin
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
Total Pages: 96
Release: 2016-04-25
Genre: Travel
ISBN: 1439655944

Nestled in the foothills of Golden, Colorado, construction started on Magic Mountain just two years after Disneyland's opening season. Through never-before-seen photographs, Magic Mountain tells the exciting story of the first attempt in America to spread the Disneyland model. The dream of a theme park in Colorado was conceived by Walter F. Cobb and designed by Marco Engineering of Los Angeles. The park saw tens of thousands of visitors, even during the construction period. They witnessed live gunfights and playhouse melodramas and took a ride on the Magic Mountain Railroad. Unfortunately, the park closed at the end of its premier season in 1960, but it would eventually evolve into Heritage Square. For over 40 years, this venue brought fun and entertainment to the young and young at heart, following Cobb's vision of a clean, entertaining, and educational park for the whole family.

Playing with History

Playing with History
Author: Molly Rosner
Publisher: Rutgers University Press
Total Pages: 154
Release: 2021-05-14
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 197882209X

Since the advent of the American toy industry, children’s cultural products have attempted to teach and sell ideas of American identity. By examining cultural products geared towards teaching children American history, Playing With History highlights the changes and constancies in depictions of the American story and ideals of citizenship over the last one hundred years. This book examines political and ideological messages sold to children throughout the twentieth century, tracing the messages conveyed by racist toy banks, early governmental interventions meant to protect the toy industry, influences and pressures surrounding Cold War stories of the western frontier, the fractures visible in the American story at a mid-century history themed amusement park. The study culminates in a look at the successes and limitations of the American Girl Company empire.