The Digital Research Library of Illinois History Journal™

Monday, January 30, 2017

The Lunchtime Theater - Exploring (H.H. Holmes) “The Devil in the White City," and the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.

THE DIGITAL RESEARCH LIBRARY OF ILLINOIS HISTORY JOURNAL™ PRESENTS

THE LUNCHTIME THEATER.

Exploring “The Devil in the White City." The 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.

[Runtime: 72 minutes]

Historian Tom Buettner discusses the question that often comes up about the 1893 World's Fair, “Did the events written about in Eric Larson’s bestselling book, 'The Devil in the White City,' actually happen?” In his nonfiction novel, Larson weaves a truth is stranger than fiction tale of Daniel Burnham, the brilliant architect who masterminded the construction of the great Chicago World’s Fair of 1893, and Henry H. Holmes (H.H. Holmes), the prolific serial killer who used the fair to lure his victims.

But did the events that inspired 'The Devil in the White City' really happen? Using the research and visuals from the original program, plus information subsequently obtained, Buettner attempts to answer that question. This was a presentation from Monday, June 1, 2015, at the Kalamazoo, Michigan, Public Library.

Sunday, January 29, 2017

Dispensa's Kiddie Kingdom (Amusement Park) on Routes 83 and 38, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. (1975-1984)

Dispensa's Kiddie Kingdom & Castle of Toys was a combination toy store and kiddie amusement park in the Chicago suburb of Elmhurst, Illinois. It was located at the intersection of Routes 83 and 38 (Roosevelt Road) which is in the suburb of Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois.

The Dispensa family operated a portable carnival business in the Chicago western suburbs before settling down to open a toy store, "Dispensa's Castle of Toys" in 1967. The kiddie amusement park, "Kiddie Kingdom," followed in 1975 when the Dispensa family opened a small amusement area next to the toy store when they decided to retire from the mobile carnival business.

They set up many of the carnival rides and offered family fun at a low cost. In the beginning, the tickets cost 6-rides for $1.

The Kiddie Kingdom featured scaled-down rides designed for children under 12 years old. "Kiddie Parks" were a new innovation during the baby-boom years of the 1950s and 1960s, and remained popular well into the 1970s. Kiddie Kingdom had, among other rides, an antique German carousel and a miniature train that circled the five-acre grounds.

The park was in operation until 1984 when along with Dispensa's Castle of Toys, they sold the land. There were no family members interested in taking over the businesses and the offer was quite good. At that time, the property was sold and the rides and attractions were auctioned off by Norton Auctioneers of Michigan Inc.

Click the article to read it.

The property was developed by the firm of Miglin-Beitler, and is now the home of the Oakbrook Terrace Tower. The only thing remaining from the Dispensa empire is a street leading to the Oakbrook Terrace Tower, which the developers kindly named "Castle Drive."

ADDITIONAL READING: Complete History of the Dispensa Carnivals, Castle of Toys and Kiddie Kingdom.

VISIT OUR KIDDIE KINGDOM SOUVENIR SHOP

Compiled by Neil Gale, Ph.D.

TV COMMERCIALS

Dispensa's Castle of Toys TV Commercial circa 1970s