Saturday, April 1, 2017

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.


White City Amusement Park Attractions
1905 detailed descriptions with photographs and illustrations in PDF.

1905 WHITE CITY ADVERTISEMENTS
White City Opening Day Advertisements
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.
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