Riverview Amusement Park Chicago Freak Show

Our video documentary and companion book laugh your troubles away the complete history of riverview park are the only well researched and thorough histories of the park available.

Riverview amusement park chicago freak show. By stan holden very year nearly per sons go to chicago s riverview park to have fun. Belmont remembers visiting the amusement park at least once as a child. Riverview park opened in 1904 and was located at western and belmont avenues near the current site of lane technical high school.

Tares a bill schmidt keeps them thrilled and safe at chicago s riverview world s largest amusement park. The bobs at riverview was a huge attraction for chicago amusement park fans. That was the crown jewel of chicagoland.

Photo chicago riverview amusement park freak show entrance i went into this show when i was a very young boy and always regretted it 1950s visit the post for more. They are unusual and memorable people who once walked the midway riverwalk and bowery of riverview amusement park on chicago s north side. Memories and a few postcards are some of the only things left of riverview amusement park.

Most are now buried in chicago area cemeteries among our own families and everyday chicagoans. Riverview park was an amusement park in chicago illinois which operated from 1904 to 1967 it was located on 74 acres 30 ha in an area bound on the south by belmont avenue on the east by western avenue on the north by lane tech college prep high school and on the west by the north branch of the chicago river it was located in the roscoe village neighborhood of chicago s north center. Sadly they now exist only in our memories.

The park closed in 1967. Schmidt goes there to have trouble. Chuck wlodarczyk riverview publications the little dipper was a kiddieland favorite in melrose park.

Chicago riverview amusement park nearly everyone remembers a favorite amusement park from their youth but if you lived in chicago before 1967 there s a good chance riverview was yours. Riverview s 72 acres neon lighted p a r k. The park has given many baby boomers some of the fondest memories of their childhood as it has for alice belmont a resident living in a northwest suburb of chicago.

Promoted as one of the greatest amusement parks in the world riverview had little competition with rides and attractions spreading across 74 acres. The freak show featured betty lou williams the world s only living four legged girl. Article by shirley j jackson.

Marshall brodien 16 center is the talker barker at the riverview park freak show in the 1950s.