White City Amusement Park, 63rd Street and South Parkway (Martin Luther King Dr.), Chicago, Illinois. (1905-1933)

The World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 left Chicagoans with an appetite for various new amusements and entertainment. They might not have the original White City anymore, but they could have something similar to White City Amusement Park on a much smaller scale.

White City's land before construction began.

Advertising sign for White City Construction Company.

The "Scene Palace" is under construction, and a roller coaster is in the background. 1904

White City opened on May 27, 1905, on fourteen acres of a former cornfield at 63rd Street and South Parkway (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive) in the Greater Grand Crossing and Woodlawn community areas. It captured some of the zeitgeist of the original White City, with its Beaux-Arts buildings and even a miniature grand basin, of sorts, that served as the landing pool for the park's "Shoot the Chutes" ride.

White City even had an answer to the Eiffel Tower, a giant "Electric Tower" that could be seen from 15 miles away. It was a beacon to the masses, a shining sign that the happiness brought by that 1893 fair could still be found. There was a giant Ferris wheel, too. 

Joseph Beifeld, the owner of the Sherman Hotel, organized the financing for White City and served as President of the company in the park's earliest days. He insisted on charging only 10 cents for admission so that more people could enjoy what White City offered:

“I'm glad of one thing, boys... we will give the people of Chicago an opportunity to enjoy themselves as they have never dreamed of. When I think of the hot, stuffy theatres in Chicago on summer evenings, when I think of the absolute barrenness of the lives of so many thousands of men, women, and children there who have no place to go for clean, unobjectionable entertainment and pleasure, I'm glad that we are going to build White City, from humanitarian principles if for no other reason.”

White City introduced the world to the Goodyear Blimp, first assembled at the park.

Among the many attractions, White City offered a Ballroom (featuring the "All-Star White City Orchestra"), a Casino, a Chinese Theatre, a White City Roller rink, a Bowling Alley, a penny arcade, a "Pep" Roller Coaster, Giant Racing Coaster; the Flash; Shoot the Chutes; the Canals of Venice (a pretty water ride); Water Scooters; Dodgem; Lindy Loop; Seaplane; Giant Ferris wheel; The Whip; a Miniature Railroad; and the House of a Thousand and One Trouble (funhouse); Illusion Show; Freak Show; Midget City; Mechanical City; Hug House (funhouse); Fire & Flame exhibition; Baseball Park and Athletic Field; Picnic grounds; and A beer garden. White City included a spacious outdoor theatre.

There was a special section of the park devoted to kiddie rides.

The "Lindy Loop" (not Looper), a Spillman ride of the mid-1920s and early 30s was similar to the later Herschell "Looper", but a little bit different. The cars resembled old-fashioned sleighs. Instead of runners, they were mounted on crescent-shaped rails, with the curve down and the ends up. A rounded canopy at the top, attached to the ends, gives the whole thing the look of two circles or wheels with the sleigh between them. Eight units were mounted on an undulated circular track, like on a Caterpillar ride. The sleighs were mounted so that they could roll forward and backward on the crescent-shaped rails. As the track moved up and down the hills, the sleighs began rolling back and forth. At maximum speed, depending on passenger weight, they would roll quite a lot, climbing the rails. Passengers had no control over the movement, "The action resembled a demented lawn swing on a skateboard." by the late Stan Barker.

Similar action to the "Lindy Loop" ride.

The Mysterious Sensation (a funhouse), in particular, is one of the greatest novelties in the history of White City. It was likened to Riverview's Aladdin's Castle and a Haunted House mixed together. It was billed as one of the most unique entertainment features ever exhibited anywhere.

There was free parking for 1000 motorcars. White City had various concession stands around the park. One could pick out almost anything they want in the line of novelties, useful articles, and even edibles. The concessions sold silk umbrellas, floor lamps, aluminum-ware, silverware, dolls, candy, bags, overnight cases, clocks, vases, glassware, and other items too numerous to classify. 

While the park did offer a happy diversion for many, it was for whites only – even as the neighborhood surrounding the park became increasingly populated by African Americans as a result of the Great Migration.

However, the great depression and the ongoing problems from the fires of 1925 and 1927 negatively impacted White City. Although 1930 still wasn't too bad for White City, with each successive year, attendance declined, and by 1933, the company that operated it was unable to pay the taxes that were due, causing the park to be placed in receivership and forced to close in 1933.

Bird's Eye View of White City. 1905

THE WHITE CITY ROLLER RINK

The same anti-black policies that had beset the amusement park also applied to the roller rink at the park. The rink was still open, and in the 1940s, it became the site of demonstrations and brawls as Blacks fought for their right to roller skate indoors. 

In 1942, the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) was involved in one of these rallies.
In 1946, the Congress of Racial Equality sued the management of the rink, saying it was violating the Illinois Civil Rights Law. Eventually, the White City roller rink (which was named White because of the million electric light bulbs) closed in 1949. The roller Rink changed its name to Park City and was desegregated. However, the Park City rink closed in 1958.

In the 1950s, the 694-unit Parkway Gardens housing project was built on the site.

Visit Our White City Souvenir Shop.

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White City Amusement Park Attractions

1905 detailed descriptions with photographs and illustrations in PDF.

• Automatic Vaudeville
• Ballroom
• Beautiful Venice 
• Boats and Gondolas
• Bumps, A New and Novel Pastime 
• Camp of Gypsies
• Chinese Theatre
• College Inn Restaurant
• Cummins' Wild West Indian Congress
• Double Whirl Ride
• Electric Theatre [Moving Pictures] 
• Fire Department
• Fire Show
• Flying Airships
• Fun Factory 
• Gum Chewers [Zeno Gum Vending Machines]
• Hereafter 
• Infant Incubators 
• Johnstown Flood
• Merry-Go-Round 
• Miniature Railroad
• Observation Wheel 
• Over and Under the Sea
• Photograph Gallery [White City Photo Company]
• Puzzle Garden
• Scenic Railway
• Shooting the Chutes
• Simian City [aka: The Dog, Pony and Monkey Circus or The Animal Circus]
• Temple of Music
• The Midway  
• Toboggan [aka: Figure 8 & Double Circle]
• White City's Hospital 

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1905 WHITE CITY ADVERTISEMENTS

White City Opening Day Advertisements

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PHOTO ALBUM

A scene in the Fire Show. 1905

White City Free Circus. 1905

Hot Dogs, Chicago Style — No Ketchup.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Fairyland [Amusement] Park at Harlem Avenue and 40th Street in Lyons, Illinois. (1938-1977)

Fairyland Park opened in 1938 at Harlem Avenue and 40th Street in Lyons, Illinois. The site was a known "gypsy camp" for almost two decades before Fairyland Park.

The proprietors of Fairyland Park, Richard and Helen Miller Sr., began their association with the business Miller Amusements of La Grange, Illinois, a traveling carnival operated by Richard's brother Charles. Initially, the park was mostly a stationary version of the country fair type carnival rides with an eleven-car Ferris Wheel, a pint-size steam train that chugged around the grounds, a Tilt-A-Whirl, Bumper Cars, a Roller Coaster, a Merry-Go-Round, Hand-Crank Cars, Chair-O-Plane, Model Race Track, Pony Rides and various games among its twenty or so attractions.

This is an ad for Bowman Dairy Company for customers to save 4 Bowman bottle caps or carton tops, which entitles you to a 4-ride ticket for 25¢, except Sundays and holidays at the following parks; Fun Fair in Skokie; Kiddytown 95th & Stony Island, Chicago; Fairyland in Lyons; Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago; Kiddytown, Harlem and Irving Park Road, Chicago; and Sauzer’s Kiddyland in Dyer, Indiana. —Chicago Tribune May 15, 1956.

By 1955, the park had evolved into a five-acre complex with most smaller attractions housed in a large, heated building. Another transition occurred when Richard Miller died in 1965 and one of his sons, Alfred, took over management with his wife, Georgia Miller.

"Truly fascinating for kiddies, delightful for parents," a promotional pamphlet claims, "Fairyland Park is sure to please you no matter what your age." The park featured a "choice selection of the most popular rides and attractions for a thrill a second. Ideally located among shady trees," the pamphlet added, "Fairyland's picnic grove is the perfect spot for any outing."

The park remained operational until 1977. But before it closed, almost 3 million customers had passed through its gates, 73,000 in the last season. Rescued from Fairyland Park were various components of the vintage Merry-Go-Round, including hand-carved horses, originally acquired from the sale of equipment after the closure of the White City Amusement Park. 

Records show Georgia Miller died in 2004.

VISIT OUR FAIRYLAND PARK SOUVENIR SHOP

VIDEO

Fairyland Park 1974

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

American Distilling Company, Pekin, Illinois. (1894-1920)

When Everett Woodruff Wilson was born in Peoria in 1861, during the first year of the Civil War, patriotism for the United States was in the Midwest air. Born in England, his grandfather, Henry Wilson, had emigrated to America early in the history of the Republic, settling initially in Poughkeepsie, New York. In the 1830s, perhaps following the national push Westward, he took his family and headed to Peoria, Illinois.

That is where Everett's father, John, was educated, grew up, married a local Peoria girl named Emily Woodruff and became a highly successful Peoria businessman. Eventually he occupied the presidency of the Cave Valley Land & Cattle Company, a large and wealthy organization doing business in southern Illinois was the president of the Elk Grove Land & Cattle Company of Kansas, and the chief stockholder in the street railway company of Topeka, Kansas.

John Wilson also had an interest in making whiskey. A man named C.J.D. Rupert in 1861 had founded an early distillery in nearby Pekin, Illinois, and called it the Hamburg Distillery. Sometime during the 1870s, John bought out the owner and became president of the company. At the age of 18, apparently at his father's behest, Everett left Peoria for Pekin to work in the Hamburg Distillery. The 1880 census found him there, listing his occupation as "bookkeeper." A year later, he was managing the whole operation.

About 1885, John Wilson decided to take his distillery into an early attempt at a Midwest "Whiskey Trust," an effort to diminish competition and increase whiskey prices. The scheme failed in 1886 when some liquor producers balked at the restrictions. The New York Times headlined: "Whiskey Pool Gone to Smash." The following year, John Wilson joined the somewhat more successful Distillery and Cattle Feeders Trust. He shut down the Hamburg Distillery in return for shares in the Trust.

Temporarily out of a job, Everett kept busy. No doubt, with his father's financial backing, in 1887, he became a co-founder of the German American Bank of Peoria, organized with a capital of $10,000 ($270,929 in today's money). He also was sent briefly to Topeka to look after his father's investment in the street railway company. Everett also found time to marry. His bride in 1885 was Anna C. Wanschneider of Peoria. They would have three sons: John, born in 1886; Rowland, 1892, and Douglas, 1898.

At the same time Everett Wilson was immersing himself in local politics. In 1886, at the age of 26, he was elected as alderman of the First Ward of Pekin on the Republican ticket. He served until 1893 when he was elected mayor, a post he held for two years. A popular leader, he was elected again for the 1899-1900 mayoralty term. Wilson continued to be active in politics out of office and 1916 was a delegate to the Republican National Convention from Illinois. He also was a co-founder of the business organization that became the Pekin Chamber of Commerce.

In 1891 the derelict Hamburg Distillery was destroyed by fire. One year later the plant of a new distillery was erected on the site at 1301 S Front Street in Pekin Illinois. Everett Wilson was one of the incorporators of the new liquor company, one that boasted capitalization of $100,000 ($2,554,084 in today's money).

The plant covered six acres and the distillery had a capacity of four thousand bushels of grain per day. It was chartered as the American Distilling Company and Everett Wilson became its first president. 

The new distillery used a wide range of brand names, including "American Pride", "Cologne Springs", "English Dry Gin", "Hopedale Rye", "Juniper Berry Gin", "Longwood", "Meadwood", "Old American Rye", "Old Colony Gin", "Pekinil Gin", "Silver Run Bourbon", "Silver Run Gin", and "Three Star Spirits." American Pride was its flagship brand, with a picture of a beautiful woman on the label that also showed up on a tip tray. In 1908, American Distilling absorbed a conglomerate of three other distilleries and                                                  continued to add whiskey-making capacity.

TIP TRAY

The American Distilling now had a daily grain capacity of 6,000 bushels. An advertising flyer emphasizes "free from all trusts and other combinations," ignoring the Wilsons' earlier alignment with the by-now-failed Distillery and Cattle Feeders Trust.

A post card from about 1910 shows the expansion that had occurred at American Distilling under Everett's leadership. 

That prosperity also allowed him to move his growing family into a newly constructed mansion on South Fifth Street in Pekin, described by a contemporary as "one of the most beautiful in the city." Shown here, it may also depict his wife Anna with one of their sons.

As Prohibition loomed, the firm made a lunge at being considered a medicinal product. It advertised: "If You Use Whiskey at all - American Pride IS WHAT YOU WANT! For Medicinal or Potable Purposes of Any Kind." To an extent the ploy worked. During Prohibition, unlike most others, Wilson's distillery changed its name to the American Commercial Alcohol Corporation and stayed open by producing industrial alcohol.

Before the end of Prohibition, Wilson and his associates sold the distillery. With Repeal came a new era in whiskey production. The emphasis now was on a New York sales office and marketing agents to bring American Distilling's revitalized brands back into the market. In his '70s, Wilson watched from the sidelines as new management added imported liquors to the rye and bourbon produced in Pekin. In 1938 Everett Wilson, the man who built American Distilling, died, age 77. During his lifetime he had been called by a contemporary publication: "One of the most popular and highly esteemed men of the county."

American Distilling's plant survived a disastrous fire and explosion in 1954 that killed three workers and injured several others. Through the years under multiple owners and name changes the Pekin distillery continued to produce alcohol for beverage, industrial and fuel applications. M.G.P. Ingredients - then known as Midwest Grains - purchased the Pekin plant in 1980. After closing briefly in 2009, it reopened in 2010 under ownership by the Illinois Corn Processing Co. The distillery that Everett Wilson built, the home of American Pride Bourbon, now was making ethanol.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.