Riverview Amusement Park (circa 1952, Chicago)

[@maryrowe8121]

Growing up in Chicago was wonderful in the sixties and seventies. Riverview Park was walking distance from my grandma's house and we went there often. Thank you for sharing this video. If only I was able to time travel id go there today.

[@EdgarTurner-uh6jy]

In the early sixties our aunts took us to Riverview at least once a year. My favorite ride was the Bobs roller coaster.

[@davidrasch3082]

I well remember Riverview Park. I was born and raised in Chicago.

[@MrJumper282003]

Thanks so much for sharing this video. My mom and aunt went here as kids, and always told me stories about their time there, so it’s nice to see this. I was born in 74, seven years after it closed:-(

[@Imjuslookinatthis]

I remember the slogan was, laugh your troubles away and I did! I screamed and hollered too!!!

[@lauracahill5735]

My dad grew up in Hammond, just outside of Chicago. He was always telling me about taking the bus into Chicago when he was ten with his two best friends and spending the day at Riverview. Glad someone recorded this and put it on KZbin. My dad would have loved to see it.

[@mattanderson6336]

A shame we can’t be 10 years old anymore and go by ourselves into the city.

[@calme-dx2dp]

I vaguely remember Riverview.

[@jamiepastman5594]

thank you for this. i was born in 1959 and lived in Niles, just a few miles from Fun Fare. The wild Mouse there was my first coaster, and seeing the helicopter ride gave me shivers, it was my first ride ever.

[@andrewpetik2034]

My father was 21 in 1952.... he lived in Highland Park, a Northern suburb of Chicago, he talked about how he and his siblings would go to Riverview when they were home for the summer......and I am near tears thinking about how they may very well have been at the park while this video was taken. The only one of the 5 siblings left now, the youngest of them, is my Aunt. She gave me a souvenir that she had gotten from a trip to the park in June of 1967 with her then fiance, now deceased, husband. The park was razed later that year.

[@richardblayneamerican8149]

We grew up in Des Plaines. Dad took us to Riverview twice, both times at night; a magical time with everything lighted. I particularly remember 'Alladin's Castle'; Alladin's eyes moving back and forth atop the display. Also 'shoot the chutes' water ride, ascending that ride in the boat on a dark watery tunnel before we went flying down into the water.

[@Kwameking1]

Thank you for the memories 55 years later.

[@marilynhudson8426]

RIVER VIEW, WAS THE BOMB. LOTS OF GREAT TIMES. I, WAS SO SAD WHEN IT CLOSED IN. 1967

[@cjsews]

I was born in 1952. I remember Riverview well as my father took me there several times every summer. A really great place. Thank you for this video, as it is one of the best to show more close-up videos of the rides. Many Riverview videos are at too much of a distant view. Thank you again. Riverview, I miss you!

[@ericanthony1982]

My dad told me about this place when he was a kid in the 50s and how they used to go on the shoots. I now work on the grounds of the old Riverview location. Crazy how things change

[@AtlantaGymFan]

We moved to Chicago in 1956 and my dad took me and a friend every summer until we moved to Atlanta in 1965. What a fun place!

[@cathybrinton4754]

This will jog a few memories. 🩷

[@MattPerk7]

I really wish that I could have experienced this place. Everybody talks about how great it was.

[@bdarley6958]

I remember going there as a kid. Had a blast. Parachutes were very scary. I almost fell out. Safety straps were awful. When you hit the top, you hit hard and I slid out of the seat, but my daddy saved me...lol. Spent a lot of time between this place and Wrigley Field!!

[@crabbyhayes1076]

A family friend got stuck on the top, as the parachute wouldn't release. Workers had to climb the tower and use long poles to dislodge the mechanism. He ended up spending hours in one of those flimsy cloth strap seats, and got an awful sunburn. I guess lawyers didn't treat such incidents the same in those days.

[@roberthill799]

Watching the Cubs sounds much more terrifying.

[@eliasmertens9313]

Those trains of the roller coaster looked super funky. Same with that parachute tower. All the same it's sad that Riverview Amusement Park is gone.

[@rondreger6209]

It's hard to believe this was shot in 1952...it looked almost the same in the 1960's when my mother and grandmother took us there. It was a magical place. My grandmother spent hours playing Skee Ball as my brother and I would go on all the rides. It was a real heart breaker when they closed it. Gone but not forgotten.

[@coasterguy5886]

Great video. Got to visit this park as a kid growing up in Chicago. Brings back fond memories!

[@barbarastratman508]

Great video. Great memories of summer trips there.

[@runee1977]

Great video! My parents have many stories and memories of Riverview. My mom and her siblings have a picture on the crescent moon. It's nice to have a visual of the place.

[@helenadair32]

We still have our cresent moon photo

[@kathyhollist7731]

Love it! Thanks for the memories! Loved the Bobs, Fun House and Chute the Chutes!

[@Southgate210]

I've loved Riverview back when I was 8 years old (1965) and to this date (2018) I love amusement parks small to large. The over blown drama of the, 'theme parks,' can be a bit much and too crowded but for the most part they give me a place to really/really feel safe and just forget about the real realities of life I have to face when its time to go back home! So I'm now 61 and drives across the USA going to whatever State/Amusement Parks I choose! So great of times!

[@Diogenes-ty9yy]

My family lived around Roscoe and Oakley, about 3 blocks from Riverview, from about 1956 to 1963. We went a lot on summer evenings; the sounds of the rollercoasters, the shill calling people for the freak show, the rancid smell of the Chicago river, and the thrill of riding the Bobs. Good times, good memories. I've lived in Orlando. Florida, now for 39 years, been to Disney maybe 3 times, it's just too sanitary compared to Riverview.

[@peterhunterxxxxx]

Thanks for posting. The color on the film really is rich and makes me nostalgic. I was 6 years old when I got to enjoy the vibe and the odd smell of the park. The stank of the Chicago River water permeated the water rides. Funny how we remember the oddest moments in our youth...Sadly, I never got to ride the "Bobs" as a short little squirt. Thanks for the memories.

[@mattanderson6336]

3:44 We were visiting my aunt & uncle in August 1960 and we went to Riverview. My dad wanted to go on the parachute drop but being only seven it was a bit too intimidating for me so dad went with another lady in line. Still it was a fun day at the park.

[@Nanbebe7]

Being born in 1960 I only remember 1 trip to Riverview. The ride that went fast and you stuck to the wall while the floor dropped was the best. The Bobs were fun too. I also remember Santa’s Village. By my teens we had Great America or Adventure.

[@OldBethelite]

Not only did we have Riverview; we also had the numerous small kiddielands around the Chicago area. Summer evenings…ahhh!

[@joes2516]

I remember Riverview well as a kid we went there every summer and the short ride from Peterson and Western felt like a long trip! There used to be a guy standing by the front gate selling flutes for a nickle.....I was only 10 when it closed but I'll never forget it!

[@Deborah-kz1bv]

Joe S I know what you mean. We lived at Sheffield, and Newport, but, the ride to get to Riverview seemed to take forever. I can still remember asking, are we almost there?

[@crabbyhayes1076]

We went there on a school trip in 6th grade. What a great time we had.

[@michaelmiddleton7539]

As a little kid I loved that place. My brother took me several times. One time we got stuck on the rollor coster (BOB) Now i am 61 years old and watching this old video I have to say feelings rush back in.

[@sharonrizzo2540]

As kids we couldn’t wait to go to Riverview. My dad would take us when he was on vacation. To us, it was like Disneyland.💙

[@stormgirl09]

im only 27 so this place closed down way before my time....but i wish it was opened. I love Great America and i do prefer bigger parks to the smaller ones but still i think it would of been nice to have a park even closer. this may sound weird to many but i dont drive even if i am 27. So i count on public transportation or others. Getting here on my own would be easier then trying to find a way to Great America if friends arnt around.Also which Old Chicago still existed too. nice to get your amusement park fix during the winter time.

[@johnschulien]

Beautiful footage!

[@pamkarczewski2045]

RODAR BEST RIDE EVER when your plastered against the wall ,I'm 69 years old ,loved Chicago and loved Riverview. Grew up on south side so many memories!!!!!!!

[@badguy1481]

OMG! I thought I'd NEVER see photos of one of my favorite amusement parks of all time. The Bobs.....Aladdin's Castle...the Rotor..the water slide (whatever they called it!...Shoot the Shoots?)

[@castrochristian103]

I was having lunch with my girlfriend yesterday at portillos in Schaumburg and they had photos of this amusement park and it looked interesting! so glad they have footage of the park.

[@alanroberts7916]

Somewhere they must have the commercials for Riverview. I lived there until I was 14 and only was lucky enough to go there one time.

[@alanvognar5476]

In 1967, the year it closed, I was 17. My best girlfriend and I went on the Bobs . I believe it was 25 cents. You could "ride again" for a nickle. We went 17 times in a row for our age. Also, the young man in charge must have been flirting with us. It is one of my favorite memories.

[@badguy1481]

The Bobs was a "figure of merit" for us kids. If you had the guts to go on it...you had bragging rights.

[@carstarsarstenstesenn]

thanks for sharing that awesome memory. i wish we still had this or a different theme park in chicago

[@ismokkekkush420]

So it was a ‘pay-per-ride’ model similar to a carnival? Rather than the ‘entrance fee’ model that current amusement parks use?

[@luftwaffe6521]

That could have been my dad flirting with the girls…

[@bethbartlett5692]

Thank you for this Post!!! Oh, the emotions/memories - I wasn't there until the early 60's - but it bring back some great memories. Mom and Dad ownes a restaurant across the street, our primary location - learned to dance in the back kitchen "The Peppermint Twist", many trips across the street - I wad 3 and 4, sisters were 14 and 15! Love my Chicago earl childhood - was a great start - wish we had not had to leave to go to Te- my dad's home. I get to Wrigley - EVERY CHANCE I GET. God bless Chicago and all the folks there - hope and pray for better time, peace and patience in this city.

[@schwinnstingrayguy3757]

I used to go here all the time, Kelvyn Park High School class of 1949. Anyone else go there?

[@jameslang4797]

Interesting flat ride at 3:07 named Flying Saucer. Kinda reminds me of a flat called The Tempest or maybe a sit-down version of the Scat ride that operates at Beech Bend or Bay Beach. Anyone on here ever ever seen this ride before either at a park or a traveling fair or carnival ?

[@a1wireless1964]

So many good times, You could laugh your troubles away. spent alot of time there it's hard to believe that it's gone and that almost no trace of it is there ever being in type any existence

[@DawnYogaCare]

Thank you. Vaguely remember. Deeply appreciated.

[@N9CQX]

The 1952 movie was about the same year I went there with the St. Luke's church picnic. At minute 5:00 is the Fly-O-Plane. I banged my head on the inside metal wall and got a nice goose egg. I later worked the Spill-the-Milk concession there for two years, 1960 & 61.

[@tubedude54]

I used to live in NW Indiana back in the 60's when I was a kid. All we heard on local radio and Tv was ads for Riverview! Always wanted to go but never got to. Now it seems pretty tame compared to the theme parks of today. Seem to recall another park in chytcago called 'Old chytcago' which was totally indoors .. never went there either.

[@danbeau9404]

Old Chicago was not in Chicago, it was on highway 55 Southwest of Chicago. the town was Bolingbrook and it became a preferred residence for Jocks. Jordan's house, if you want to call it that, was there, Jim McMahon and a lot of other Bears and other team players from Chicago teams. I lived in Chicago most of my life and never went to Old Chicago once. Most of us thought it was an overpriced tourist trap. They spent a great deal of time luring the travelers who went on 55 and little effort in getting the locals. Maybe that's why it closed.

[@spuzzlightyeartoo]

Pretty awesome, but slightly dark, but still awesome footage of a amusement park in Chicago. Half of these rides are instant whiplash, and one half of these are like, will put you in a contraption, spin you around, and see what happens. That roller coaster was hella unique. I've never seen fully endlosed roller coaster cars before? Very wild and reccomended!

[@boataxe4605]

Now we have to drive fifty miles to ride a roller coaster, Damm progress!

[@516choochoo]

And pay 55 $ to get in and wait an hour in line for each decent ride

[@TheSmoothjazzy1]

Went to riverview as a young child, thinking we were travelling a long way, like it takes to get to Six Flag's, when only after it close, we found out it was only on the northwest side of Chicago! 0o

[@GeorgeConnelly-x3l]

I cry every time i think about how it wss abruptly sold amd torn down in sept 1967

[@quentinkirk3870]

I Work At The Mariano's On Western,Everyone Over 59 Remembers Riverview, My Mom Took Me Their The Last Year it Was open,I was All But Three Years old

[@Papag53]

Thank you

[@janegrant4396]

I was always told how wonderful this place was.But they never took us to Riverview,before it closed in67’. I remember watching the ad on WGN, about the park, and also the last commercial ad that the park was closing! I guess it was’nt just meant to be.

[@taledarkside]

very clear film. My dad went here, while I grew up with dispensa's kiddie kingdom

[@Dulcimertunes]

taledarkside now KK is a tall towering building

[@DeloWillis]

Omgoodness hootrayyy I LOVED GOING TO RIVERVIEW AMUSMENT PARK EVERY SUMMER IN THE 60’s great fantastic FUNNNNNN I DREAD WHEN I HEARED IT CLOSED😢

[@bernardovazquez3098]

🔴 IS LIKE A TIME MACHINE THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO...!!👍👍

[@alanroberts7916]

The commercials for this place were great. One ride I didn't see was a spinning round cage that had people standing in a circle while the whole thing started to spin faster and faster until because the walls were tilted back you would start to slide up the wall. Like the parachutes the best rides were the home made ones !!!

[@christinedoyle9212]

I love Riverview. The parachutes❤❤❤

[@zayraroa]

wow so at one point Chicago had its own Disney land !? whattttt wish that was still here .. i was born 1993 way way after it got closed down :/ looks like it was such a fun place !!

[@jeopardy60611]

I went to Lane Tech High School, so I was aware of where Riverview was located, being where there is now a shopping mall down the street from Lane Tech. I went to an alumni event, and an older alum told me he could see the rides from the 4th floor biology classroom. The movie shows the outside of a ride called the Rotor, which was also at Old Chicago, and Great America had that ride at one time, calling it Cajun Cliffhanger.

[@danhogan4093]

I graduated Lane Tech 6/63, you could see Riverview from there. Spent happy days at Riverview. In 67 was a US Marine in Viet Nam. Om Thanksgiving day in 71 or thereabouts I took my Bultaco MX bike and rode through the abandoned park.. What a sad experence. A cold and cloudy day, the horrific state of the place. Especially depressing was Aladins castle, the paint was faded and dirty. The silence and memories of the past overwhelemed me. I get a similar feeling now.

[@boataxe4605]

Aladdin’s castle was torn down along with the entire park in the fall/winter of 67 and spring of 68. The only building left in 71 was the roller rink, but it burned down that year. I too used to ride MX Bikes there in the early to mid 70’s, almost went into the showboat pond once, it was still there until they built the police station.

[@jeopardy60611]

@@boataxe4605 my father had a friend who started a chain of arcades that he named Aladdin’s Castle. My understanding is that the original place was a funhouse. I heard that there was a floor where someone could blow air up, and they would hit the button to turn on the air every time a girl walked past wearing a skirt, and it would make the skirt shoot up.

[@boataxe4605]

@@jeopardy60611 Wow, I used to go to one quite often, still have a few tokens! And the story about the jet of air blowing up dresses is true. Just imagine the lawsuits and maybe even criminal charges if a park had such a thing today!

[@wanderingquestions7501]

We use to go there when we were kids!!

[@russellmakar579]

The Bobs, The Fireball and the Wild mouse were my favorites.

[@jamesfan2]

was always jealous of how the kids at Lane Tech high school could go next door to Riverview any time. (Of course, I cut classes a number of times to do the same thing from my h.s., but they could go any time

[@russellmakar579]

+jamesfan2 Ever go to to Lenny's?

[@jamesfan2]

don't think so

[@russellmakar579]

+jamesfan2 It was a greaser hangout/ hot dog joint right across the street from Lane, I hung out there in 69 and 70 when my buddy attended Lane Tech. No Duper's allowed...lol

[@highwaymaintainer]

@@russellmakar579 attended Lane starting in 1974, and I remember greasers and nobody today knows what I'm talking about when I say Dupers lol

[@denali9449]

@@highwaymaintainer Hell, I was a Duper. But in our northern suburb, the line between Dupers and Greasers got pretty blurry when it came to cars. Looking back on it now, we did create an interesting picture in the 60's. Guess it was really more a matter of 'cars guys' than anything else.

[@FriendofDorothy]

Our parents took us there when we were kids. This footage is great, but it does not show the two wildest rides in the park: the Aladdin Fun House (briefly pictured in the background in this video) was really wild, and The Rotor, which had the distinction of allowing anyone considering going on the ride to hear the live sound effects of people experiencing the floor dropping out from under their feet and being held up by centrifugal force. It was the most twisted ride in the park.

[@TheTabwinner]

I had forgotten about the Rotor. Thanks for mentioning it.

[@boataxe4605]

The rotor ended up at Great America, renamed The Cajun Cliffhanger.

[@georgelake3467]

I use to go to this park in 1955

[@jat6547]

I lived Belmont and Western. Closed the year I was born

[@roofieclaudio5800]

It was the best. I was little but, great park.

[@RobertLuckett69]

Ive..goosebumps..just..like..yesterday..whered ..the..time..go!!!!much..simpler..and..safer..times..sigh

[@patmarotta778]

I was there in 67 but couldn't go on any of the rides because I was too young.

[@stormgirl09]

also i wonder whats better modern day drop tower or the parachute drop. and also the modern chute the chute water ride or the old school one like shown in this video. Like i notice old fashioned ones arnt even remotely as steep as modern ones and seem to go down a tad slower however they do have those bounces towards the end which you dont see on modern ones.

[@danmurphy2450]

Visited a few times when I was a mere lad. Long ago...Alas!

[@cardinalrobbins9453]

I never got to go, but my dad LOVED this place. "Safety regulations? We don't NEED no safety regulations!" Seeing this, you can tell that it's a disaster waiting to happen, but no one really cared about ride accidents back then. It looked like tremendous fun!

[@boataxe4605]

It actually had a great safety record, on par with and in some cases exceeding today’s parks. Six people were killed over a 60 year period, and three of those were Darwin’ed for standing up on a roller coaster.

[@statenisland5743]

I was 5 when i remember going there🤗🤗🤗

[@damonjames2824]

wow!! I wasn't around than, kind of makes me wish that I was, theres nothing like that around anymore.

[@billvoigt3048]

Good Times !!

[@SuperBeachbum74]

Went in the parachute, thought I’d have a coronary at 14 !

[@quentinkirk3870]

Can Someone please tell me Is The Street That Shows Aladdin's Head On Western or Belmont?

[@boataxe4605]

Belmont

[@Deborah-kz1bv]

I can't even stand to see Aladdin's Castle in pictures,film,etc. I was about eight, when I went into Aladdin's Castle. Immediately after entering, my dad,and I were in what I would call a rat's maze. I had a complete freak out, panic attack, meltdown. That's how,and when I learned I suffer from claustrophobia. The employees rushed in, because I guess they thought someone was being killed inside. . .

[@quentinkirk3870]

Is That Street Western Or Belmont?

[@eyeofhorus_1]

@@quentinkirk3870 I’m pretty sure it was at the NW corner of Western and Belmont. I went there frequently but my memory now is unsure of the exact location. I was hoping there would be signs indicating what ride the footage was highlighting throughout this video.😢Unfortunately I had to guess at most of them but still enjoyed the trip down memory lane. Thanks

[@lindaosika7648]

Saw the guy sweeping up.

[@schmitty139]

Is as American 🇺🇸 as it gets..I remember Riverview Amusement park..I lived at Irving & Western ..I think it was near Western near Belmont or Addison. On the Chicago River..

[@dcotai2902]

The last two years... Southside gangs.. Hell at riverview... Western Ave buses.. direct.. 😢😮😢

[@jerroldkazynski5480]

I liked the little race cars operated by monkeys. LA freeway commuters reminded me of them in the 80s.

[@STEVENSCHIRO-x2u]

I remember taking my grandchildren there in 1955. I was 60 years that year. 2024 and still kicking .still looking for chicks😮

[@JhondTorstenson]

So you're now 60+45+24 = 129 yrs old!!! Math mistake or miracle??!!

[@eyeofhorus_1]

@@JhondTorstenson😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@Christreality]

"laugh your troubles away" ! ; "The Bobs"

[@riverdealer]

i wish i was able to go there but they closed the year i was born

[@WishMeLuckMetalDetecting]

Hi. I am a metal detectorist and I shot a metal detecting video in the area where this park was located. I would like to ask your permission to incorporate a portion of this video and share it with my viewers. A link to this video and this channel will be displayed in the description. Let me know. Thank you.

[@chicagofilmarchives]

Glad you like the film! Can you email us at [e-mail] to discuss your video?

[@johnleon9475]

My mom and dad took my brother and i to Riverview a number of times when we were kids. Loved that park !! I was hoping to find a vid of "Popeye" one of the freak show attractions there. but could not find a video of him on youtube. Anyone else remember Popeye and do you know if he is on youtube? Please reply with a link. Much appreciated. Sad day when Riverview closed.

[@chicagofilmarchives]

Hi John, you might be interested to watch another film CFA holds called "The Tattooed Lady of Riverview." It's not on KZbin, but you can view the entire 15-minute film on our website. If you watch to the very end, I think you might find Popeye. www.chicagofilmarchives.org/collections/index.php/Detail/Object/Show/object_id/23408

[@johnleon9475]

@@chicagofilmarchives Thanks for the link. Much gratitude !! Never thought i would see Popeye again. He is just as freaky as i remember him when i was a kid 60 years ago. Cheers and thanks again John Leon

[@grandmag5577]

What a wonderful ,safe time to have experienced. Yes, I took the bus there and loved every minute of it. Carny games and freak shows….mostly fake 🤣. You could stay on a ride and pay a nickel to ride again…….it will never happen again

[@pioneerzephyr33]

I was 11 when they tore it down. Got a taste of the fun. It wouldn't make it today with all of the violence in Chicago.

[@mariocisneros911]

A Diamond in the inner city and a great tourist draw. Why replace it with a shopping center when there are thousands in the city. The city could have helped them $ like they do today and extend there calender twice as long. Not from Memorial day to Labor day , but all fridays- sundays (weekends) April 1st to October 31 . Most modern parks do that today .

[@pioneerzephyr33]

Area 3 Chicago police headquarters at that location now. No hint that it was ever there.

[@machete454]

What a great place it was,to bad the the people in the neighborhood ruined it

[@HermanRCT]

I love these old Luna Park videos!

[@starguard4122]

DeVry Institute of Technology has a School built at that location now

[@dxx7570]

😂Maclaine said it best. I can't believe it ...all gone.

[@dickiegreenleaf750]

Like Great America soon. Just a memory. Trash ruins everything

[@SuperBeachbum74]

I was born 1952

[@beezertwelvewashingbeard8703]

Some of these rides look like they were made from surplus war material.

[@denali9449]

Yeah, so?

[@tsfullerton]

Wow, women in dresses and skirts...what a concept.

[@pommelhorsepommelhorse8731]

The Caterpillar

[@kittehbear23]

this was the ultimate park, it made what you dreampt up, become reality. the "handout hordes" caused this park to fall. now days parks have little innovation, boring.

[@davidr1122]

By the 1960's attendance was way off and the park was in need of over 1.5 million dollars in repairs and renovations. Here is the bottom line why Riverview Amusement Park closed. Economic reason that was good for the owners on October 3, 1967 the Lasalle Street Investment Group purchased Riverview Park for an Estimated 6.5 Million Dollars and our beloved Riverview was promptly demolished. To give you an idea of how money this was today this would be about 85+ million dollars.