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Riverview
Posted by:
slickchick
()
Date: March 04, 2013 03:44PM
Anyone remember this amusement park?
Re: Riverview
Posted by:
nordsider
()
Date: March 05, 2013 02:29PM
Yes, I remember Riverview, during the 40s, in the company of my parents; and also in the mid 50s, especially the sounds of the Bobs and the screams from its riders, wafting through the opened classroom windows at Lane Tech H. S., on a warm day. ;-)
Re: Riverview
Posted by:
Lance Grey
()
Date: March 05, 2013 03:06PM
Its timely to have this carli URL I've recently been working out:
[b]04-23-1953[/b]
Aerial shows barge traffic at the Belmont Bridge looking slightly S/E
Copelin Commercial / James S. Parker collection
Here's the link: http://collections.carli.illinois.edu/cgi-bin/getimage.exe?CISOROOT=/uic_pic&CISOPTR=6579&DMSCALE=100.00000&DMWIDTH=1750&DMHEIGHT=2000&DMX=0&DMY=0&DMTEXT=%20Belmont&REC=14&DMTHUMB=0&DMROTATE=0
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/05/2013 03:07PM by Lance Grey.
[b]04-23-1953[/b]
Aerial shows barge traffic at the Belmont Bridge looking slightly S/E
Copelin Commercial / James S. Parker collection
Here's the link: http://collections.carli.illinois.edu/cgi-bin/getimage.exe?CISOROOT=/uic_pic&CISOPTR=6579&DMSCALE=100.00000&DMWIDTH=1750&DMHEIGHT=2000&DMX=0&DMY=0&DMTEXT=%20Belmont&REC=14&DMTHUMB=0&DMROTATE=0
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/05/2013 03:07PM by Lance Grey.
Re: Riverview
Posted by:
Richard Stachowski
()
Date: March 05, 2013 09:45PM
[b]Our family went on 2 cent night.[/b]
Re: Riverview
Posted by:
nordsider
()
Date: March 05, 2013 11:24PM
When I was a little kid, I enjoyed the pellet rifle shooting galleries the most; and thought that Aladdin's painted face on his castle was creepy. And, the African-American men employed by Riverview to sit above a water tank, taunting one to throw a baseball at a nearby target to release a lever to dunk them, a cruel act for a kid.
Re: Riverview
Posted by:
Diogenes9561
()
Date: March 06, 2013 10:07PM
My family lived near Roscoe and Oakley (in what is now the trendy Roscoe Village) from about 1954 to 1963 so we were only about 3 blocks from the main entrance to Riverview. Quite a few of the people in the neighborhood worked there and did quite well, as I recall.
The rides...memorable. Rollercoasters: the Silver Flash, the Fireball, the Comet, the Wild Mouse, and the legendary Bobs. Then, there were rides from older times: the Caterpillar, the Whip, the Tunnel of Love, the Chutes, and the Merry go Round. The amusements: the Freak Show, the African Dip described in the previous post, the Fascination casino, the live monkeys riding the little mechanical horses.
I can still see it with the cheesy lighting, I can smell the popcorn and the foulness of the river, and I can still hear the cheesy music, the clanking of the roller coasters, the screams of the riders on the first hill of the Flash... has it really been gone 46 years this year?
The rides...memorable. Rollercoasters: the Silver Flash, the Fireball, the Comet, the Wild Mouse, and the legendary Bobs. Then, there were rides from older times: the Caterpillar, the Whip, the Tunnel of Love, the Chutes, and the Merry go Round. The amusements: the Freak Show, the African Dip described in the previous post, the Fascination casino, the live monkeys riding the little mechanical horses.
I can still see it with the cheesy lighting, I can smell the popcorn and the foulness of the river, and I can still hear the cheesy music, the clanking of the roller coasters, the screams of the riders on the first hill of the Flash... has it really been gone 46 years this year?
Re: Riverview
Posted by:
daveg
()
Date: March 07, 2013 10:15AM
Nice write-up Diogenes (aka Mycroft?)
Re: Riverview
Posted by:
zorchvalve
()
Date: March 09, 2013 11:42PM
Ithink that there was also the silver streak or gray streak
Re: Riverview
Posted by:
Diogenes9561
()
Date: March 11, 2013 11:05PM
"Ithink that there was also the silver streak or gray streak"
It was the Blue Streak. The Silver Flash was the first coaster just on your right as you entered the park at the main entrance on Western Avenue and walking west past it going towards the back of the park was the Blue Streak. It was a covered coaster and looked just like the Flash but the cars were a nondescript robin's egg blue.
That is, until about 1961 when the old blue cars disappeared, the first hill was reworked into a more vertical drop into a tunnel, open Bobs-type cars were brought in, and it was renamed the Fireball. It was probably a business decision as the Blue Streak was sort of lame but the Fireball's first hill was definitely memorable.
Not as memorable as the Bobs, though.
It was the Blue Streak. The Silver Flash was the first coaster just on your right as you entered the park at the main entrance on Western Avenue and walking west past it going towards the back of the park was the Blue Streak. It was a covered coaster and looked just like the Flash but the cars were a nondescript robin's egg blue.
That is, until about 1961 when the old blue cars disappeared, the first hill was reworked into a more vertical drop into a tunnel, open Bobs-type cars were brought in, and it was renamed the Fireball. It was probably a business decision as the Blue Streak was sort of lame but the Fireball's first hill was definitely memorable.
Not as memorable as the Bobs, though.
Re: Riverview
Posted by:
jak378
()
Date: March 12, 2013 01:23PM
I believe that there was another of the milder coasters named the Greyhoundthat had partially covered cars that were made to resemble the Burlington Zephyr.
Nothing compared to the Bobs anywhere.
Nothing compared to the Bobs anywhere.
Re: Riverview
Posted by:
murphman
()
Date: March 20, 2013 04:12AM
Having been closed when I was two, and always in the area these days I wonder if anyone can tell me where the main entrance was. Near as I can figure it was just south of Roscoe on Western. Im curious as to the exact location.
Re: Riverview
Posted by:
nordsider
()
Date: March 21, 2013 09:53AM
murphman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Having been closed when I was two, and always in
> the area these days I wonder if anyone can tell me
> where the main entrance was. Near as I can figure
> it was just south of Roscoe on Western. Im curious
> as to the exact location.
In 1916, the Chicago Daily News had given the address of the Riverview Park location at 3300 North Western Avenue. I presume then, that it was also the location at the entrance. School Street is at 3300 North; and Roscoe is at 3400 North.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Having been closed when I was two, and always in
> the area these days I wonder if anyone can tell me
> where the main entrance was. Near as I can figure
> it was just south of Roscoe on Western. Im curious
> as to the exact location.
In 1916, the Chicago Daily News had given the address of the Riverview Park location at 3300 North Western Avenue. I presume then, that it was also the location at the entrance. School Street is at 3300 North; and Roscoe is at 3400 North.
Re: Riverview
Posted by:
shekaago
()
Date: March 21, 2013 06:16PM
I found a few maps of Riverview and it looks like the Main Entrance is just north of School on Western. Below is a link to one of the maps...
[url=http://blogs.suntimes.com/shinyobjects/assets_c/2009/11/riverview-thumb-520x407-13290.jpg]Map of Riverview[/url]
[url=http://blogs.suntimes.com/shinyobjects/assets_c/2009/11/riverview-thumb-520x407-13290.jpg]Map of Riverview[/url]
Re: Riverview
Posted by:
jak378
()
Date: March 21, 2013 06:39PM
I don't know about the rest of you that remember going to Riverview in its heyday, but when I look at a map of it now, it is astounding just how small it was. As a kid, inside the place it seemed to go on forever.
Re: Riverview
Posted by:
murphman
()
Date: March 21, 2013 07:03PM
Thanks for the info. And, yes everyone that I ever heard discuss the place described it as HUGE! I suppose as kids, everything looks larger. Usually stop for a beer across the street after work next to the old Henry's Hamburger joint and wondered where the entrance was. Thanks again!
Re: Riverview
Posted by:
222psm
()
Date: March 23, 2013 11:55AM
My parents as newlyweds went to Riverview in 1967 the last year it was open.
Re: Riverview
Posted by:
Kchi
()
Date: March 23, 2013 02:47PM
At one time I thought I read that they were going to knock down the elevated roadway at Western and Belmont that was built so that through traffic could bypass the entrance to the park. Was this ever done?
Re: Riverview
Posted by:
Jeff_Weiner
()
Date: March 23, 2013 03:28PM
Kchi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> At one time I thought I read that they were going
> to knock down the elevated roadway at Western and
> Belmont that was built so that through traffic
> could bypass the entrance to the park. Was this
> ever done?
It was on CDOT's list of projects as of 2010, when I took early retirement, but the viaduct is still up and open to traffic.
-------------------------------------------------------
> At one time I thought I read that they were going
> to knock down the elevated roadway at Western and
> Belmont that was built so that through traffic
> could bypass the entrance to the park. Was this
> ever done?
It was on CDOT's list of projects as of 2010, when I took early retirement, but the viaduct is still up and open to traffic.
Re: Riverview
Posted by:
tomcat630
()
Date: March 24, 2013 08:15PM
Overpass was built in mid-late 50's I think. Only 10 or so years later, the park it was built for, closed.
It's planned to get torn down.
It's planned to get torn down.
Re: Riverview
Posted by:
murphman
()
Date: March 25, 2013 07:13AM
Ive heard it was to be torn down. I drive it at least three times a week and hope they leave it alone. Traffic is bad enough over there, without it it would be a disaster. They have razed the United American Cab Co headquarters on Belmont and Clybourn, and I heard maybe the 19th district police station may go also. More banks and CVS or perhaps a condo to replace them. UGH!
Re: Riverview
Posted by:
Jeff_Weiner
()
Date: March 25, 2013 12:23PM
murphman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ive heard it was to be torn down. I drive it at
> least three times a week and hope they leave it
> alone. Traffic is bad enough over there, without
> it it would be a disaster. They have razed the
> United American Cab Co headquarters on Belmont and
> Clybourn, and I heard maybe the 19th district
> police station may go also. More banks and CVS or
> perhaps a condo to replace them. UGH!
Last time I went through that intersection was about a month ago, and the viaduct was still up. Also, my brother-in-law probably would have said something, since he lives down the street, and is a probation officer in the court that is adjacent to the 19th District Police station. He has said the County has no plans to close the court, but how that might affect the Police station, I don't know.
It takes several months to tear down one of those viaducts, if I remember from the demolition of the Archer overpass at Ashland. And the City would have to install some sort of temporary support for several traffic signals mounted on the deck and columns. Something like that is done in good weather, and would merit daily mentions in traffic reports.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ive heard it was to be torn down. I drive it at
> least three times a week and hope they leave it
> alone. Traffic is bad enough over there, without
> it it would be a disaster. They have razed the
> United American Cab Co headquarters on Belmont and
> Clybourn, and I heard maybe the 19th district
> police station may go also. More banks and CVS or
> perhaps a condo to replace them. UGH!
Last time I went through that intersection was about a month ago, and the viaduct was still up. Also, my brother-in-law probably would have said something, since he lives down the street, and is a probation officer in the court that is adjacent to the 19th District Police station. He has said the County has no plans to close the court, but how that might affect the Police station, I don't know.
It takes several months to tear down one of those viaducts, if I remember from the demolition of the Archer overpass at Ashland. And the City would have to install some sort of temporary support for several traffic signals mounted on the deck and columns. Something like that is done in good weather, and would merit daily mentions in traffic reports.
Re: Riverview
Posted by:
riverviewfan
()
Date: August 20, 2013 03:41AM
jak378 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I believe that there was another of the milder
> coasters named the Greyhoundthat had partially
> covered cars that were made to resemble the
> Burlington Zephyr.
The Greyhound did NOT have covered trains, and did not need them because it was so mild. The Comet, Flash, and Blue Streak had the covered trains.
> Nothing compared to the Bobs anywhere.
There were Bobs coasters built by the Prior & Church company in several different amusement parks including Cedar Point, Coney Island, and Detroit. The Chicago Bobs is widely thought to be the best of the bunch though, with the Coney Island Tornado coming in a close second.
-------------------------------------------------------
> I believe that there was another of the milder
> coasters named the Greyhoundthat had partially
> covered cars that were made to resemble the
> Burlington Zephyr.
The Greyhound did NOT have covered trains, and did not need them because it was so mild. The Comet, Flash, and Blue Streak had the covered trains.
> Nothing compared to the Bobs anywhere.
There were Bobs coasters built by the Prior & Church company in several different amusement parks including Cedar Point, Coney Island, and Detroit. The Chicago Bobs is widely thought to be the best of the bunch though, with the Coney Island Tornado coming in a close second.
Re: Riverview
Posted by:
Johnny Sauganash
()
Date: August 24, 2013 12:03AM
One of the alderman in the area told me last year that it was going to come down in 2013.
Subsequently, it turned out the city doesn't have the money to get the job done yet.
http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130507/roscoe-village/western-belmont-overpass-rumors-of-its-demise-are-slightly-exaggerated
It will be a mess when they do take it down, but maybe at the same time they will finally fix the bridge over the river just south of there, which is quite literally crumbling. A hazard for drivers and pedestrians alike.
Subsequently, it turned out the city doesn't have the money to get the job done yet.
http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130507/roscoe-village/western-belmont-overpass-rumors-of-its-demise-are-slightly-exaggerated
It will be a mess when they do take it down, but maybe at the same time they will finally fix the bridge over the river just south of there, which is quite literally crumbling. A hazard for drivers and pedestrians alike.
Re: Riverview
Posted by:
tomcat630
()
Date: August 25, 2013 06:51PM
Rumor is that Mayor RJ Daley wanted to turn Riverview into an industrial park. He pushed through getting it closed for City Hall connected land developers.
Re: Riverview
Posted by:
riverviewfan
()
Date: September 02, 2013 12:49AM
tomcat630 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Rumor is that Mayor RJ Daley wanted to turn
> Riverview into an industrial park. He pushed
> through getting it closed for City Hall connected
> land developers.
Nope, City Hall only found out about Riverview's closing about two weeks before the actual business meeting that Riverview's sale was completed at, and they really weren't interested. (Weren't interested in buying the Carousel either.) The developer who was a front for Arvey Corp. (Mr. Grimm) had made an offer two years prior, but failed to come up with the money. With the backing of Arvey for 1967, the deal was made.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Rumor is that Mayor RJ Daley wanted to turn
> Riverview into an industrial park. He pushed
> through getting it closed for City Hall connected
> land developers.
Nope, City Hall only found out about Riverview's closing about two weeks before the actual business meeting that Riverview's sale was completed at, and they really weren't interested. (Weren't interested in buying the Carousel either.) The developer who was a front for Arvey Corp. (Mr. Grimm) had made an offer two years prior, but failed to come up with the money. With the backing of Arvey for 1967, the deal was made.
Re: Riverview
Posted by:
WayOutWardell
()
Date: September 03, 2013 01:38PM
Riverviewfan-
By chance do you have any information on an early attraction called 'Creation'? I've seen it in postcards, but recently saw a b&w photo of the same building renamed 'War Of The Worlds' and wondered what both of those attractions were about.
By chance do you have any information on an early attraction called 'Creation'? I've seen it in postcards, but recently saw a b&w photo of the same building renamed 'War Of The Worlds' and wondered what both of those attractions were about.
Re: Riverview
Posted by:
riverviewfan
()
Date: December 07, 2013 06:13PM
WayOutWardell Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Riverviewfan-
> By chance do you have any information on an early
> attraction called 'Creation'? I've seen it in
> postcards, but recently saw a b&w photo of the
> same building renamed 'War Of The Worlds' and
> wondered what both of those attractions were
> about.
Why yes, yes I do. Both attractions were simulators/dramatizations. The former was a simulation of the Biblical version of Creation, while the latter was depicted a fictional naval battle where the US Navy defeated the combined naval powers of the Western world. Lots of nice photos and info about them in Ralph Lopez's and Derek Gee's book, "Laugh Your Troubles Away - The Complete History of Riverview Park". They're also covered in the companion DVD documentary.
Available at the www.riverviewparkchicago.com website store link below:
https://ssl37.chi.us.securedata.net/riverviewparkchicago.com/merchantmanager/
Both make great Christmas gifts!
Riverviewfan
-------------------------------------------------------
> Riverviewfan-
> By chance do you have any information on an early
> attraction called 'Creation'? I've seen it in
> postcards, but recently saw a b&w photo of the
> same building renamed 'War Of The Worlds' and
> wondered what both of those attractions were
> about.
Why yes, yes I do. Both attractions were simulators/dramatizations. The former was a simulation of the Biblical version of Creation, while the latter was depicted a fictional naval battle where the US Navy defeated the combined naval powers of the Western world. Lots of nice photos and info about them in Ralph Lopez's and Derek Gee's book, "Laugh Your Troubles Away - The Complete History of Riverview Park". They're also covered in the companion DVD documentary.
Available at the www.riverviewparkchicago.com website store link below:
https://ssl37.chi.us.securedata.net/riverviewparkchicago.com/merchantmanager/
Both make great Christmas gifts!
Riverviewfan
Re: Riverview
Posted by:
Bruce Kelleher
()
Date: March 07, 2014 04:41PM
If any of you are on FB, there's a Remembering Riverview group. Also, I Grew up at Hamlin Park, I went to Lincoln & Belmont before it turned into a ghosttown, Lathrop Homes Alumni Chicago for those who lived around that area.
Re: Riverview
Posted by:
Villa1939
()
Date: March 08, 2014 09:55PM
River view was the most exciting event in my life as a child in the 40's. As we approached the park on the old green hornet street car, the first thing I could see was the parachute drop. It was many years before I rode it and I only did it once. I guess it seems tame now, but that ride and the Bobs were the scariest thing in the park. We always went on two cent nights as nickel nights were too expensive. As we left Riverview there was always the hot dog man with the best hot dogs I have ever eaten.
