Riverview: Kingdom of Magic (1991)

Low-budget documentary on Chicago's legendary Riverview Amusement Park, originally released for home video distribution in 1991. This is the 1992 re-release commemorating the 25th anniversary of the park's closure in 1967.
Contains a beautiful collection of color home video - including on-ride footage from several of the park's roller coasters - filmed by the late Clarence Hintze & George Berbert. This film is a work of the duo, and narrated by the latter.
Transferred from the VHS copy my grandparents received as a gift back in the day. There is an official, 2005 DVD release of this doc, but I'm not sure where or how to obtain it.
Produced by: Tim Young
Released through: Kelleher, Russell & Young, Inc.

[@Laine2539]

So sad that a place that brought so much joy to so many was so carelessly torn down without a thought to preserve more of it.

[@TheKurtsPlaceChannel]

Very well-made video and so many memories this place held. Thanks for posting this.

[@thomashogan2724]

Family went every summer. I was about seven years old, no one wanted to take me on the parachute ride, mom ended going up with me. Years later I ended up in the 82nd. Airborne Div. Thank you RiverView.

[@nicku2584]

Good one 😂

[@stevepaul6955]

I wish they could have kept Riverview open for a few more years because I got over my fear of roller coasters in 1968 and I would have loved to have ridden the Bobs and the Fireball .

[@tgish1]

Amazing documentary! Thank you

[@tka1528]

Riverview was the best while growing up in the 60's , lived at California & Addison so it was very close, use to also goto the roller rink, those we're the days!

[@abubakrabdullah6626]

I really enjoyed this film. My last visit was in June 1966, the last day of school. I loved the park and have very fond memories of my many visits.

[@marydepew8062]

When I was a child in the 1960s, my mother would tell us stories of going to Riverview, and the park took on mythical proportions for me. I never tired of hearing stories of the Bobs, the Shoot the Chutes, the Parachutes, and other rides, and trying to imagine her as a teenager. I amazes me to see that I've been on many of these rides in other amusement parks over the years, so Riverview doesn't seem as imaginary as it did when I was a kid. Although I was eight years old when it closed, for some reason we never went to the park, and to this day I'm sorry I missed it. We lost my mother in 2013, but I feel like I shared a part of her history when I watched this. Thank you so much for sharing the video.

[@AtlantaGymFan]

From 1956 through 1964, when we moved to Atlanta, my dad took me and a friend to Riverview every summer and I looked forward to it all year round!

[@kerma17]

Well, this is the Best about beloved Riverview. I had just giving up here on you-tube of ever finding a decent documentary about Riverview ..I remember this great amusement park of the 20 th century from my childhood from1950's until early 60's.. you would think the city of Chicago would have tons of films about this park; even as a kid every summer a new TV ad about Riverview would mark the beginning of summer for many children & teens in Chicago...I think about how N.Y.C reveres Cony Island ..& how the city of Chicago did not of it great treasure Riverview ..(best film color footage of the world famous Bob's I have seen),, ,,Thanks for sharing this wonderful document about Chicago's great amusement Park" Riverview ".. !!!

[@normaearnisse3106]

Wish I could of experience going to Riverview ! Wasn’t born yet when they were open and when they closed it’ .

[@stevenpiehl6199]

Enjoy hearing about the history of the place always wondered when it closed. Went there in the early 60s barely a memory anymore, but I do remember the freak shows of course the Bob’s all the other crazy rides. I don’t think I was old enough to go on the shoots.

[@georgelake3467]

I have fond memories of Riverview. The first time I went was with my grandfather and cousin. At that time the only roller coaster I went on was the Silver Streek. I was terrified.

[@musclecarfan74]

I was born in 1974, I have no memories of this park. My dad didn't have any either as I recall as a kid from Waukegan, his family never went there. I heard the Bottoms Up ride ended up going to Mariott's Great America, until being removed when Orlean's Orbit was moved to that location.

[@timlabell]

I was born in 1958 and I don't remember it . I'm wondering if you were born in1974 your father must have been born in 1954 or so. He's older than I am. He should have 🙏 know a little about Riverview if he lived in Waukegan IL. 😊

[@gregoryjobringembackbeasle320]

Man, that place was fun!!

[@jthoen61]

My uncle took me and my mom (I was 5) to Riverview the last year it was open.

[@TheRolfano]

I must’ve been five and all I remember was the tiny little railroad track with these little hand cards that you’d pedal with your arms and go underneath the larger roller coaster. Does anybody remember that ride?

[@caliendosbandanapoletanach5213]

RIP Clarence Hintze & George Berbert

[@susanmaclean2313]

Does anyone know what became of that MAGNIFIENT carousel? I loved that ride, the horses were suberbely carved and decorated

[@jonreVHS]

It still runs at Six Flags over Georgia

[@stevenpiehl6199]

I thought I should reply to this question I do know what happened to many of those beautiful horses. A friend of mine purchased maybe 20 of them at least 45 years ago refurbished them and placed them throughout his Mc mansion in Barrington Hills

[@highwaymaintainer]

Went there as a small kid, then attended Lane Tech H.S. which was right next to where it was, ended up becoming a Police Station

[@TomandAmyinthePI]

My oldest Brother went to Lane Tech...Class of '67

[@thomasharris737]

I went to lake view high school.we live on Oakley st and my girlfriend live on roscoe st about 2 blocks from the park we go every weekend and take friends and visiting family members there

[@stevenpiehl6199]

My father went to Lane Tech in the ladder 40s but he mostly went to Riverview probably why he didn’t graduate

[@whothefoxcares]

NEVER eat buttered popcorn before riding #THEBOBS

[@gowest5145]

I was teken to this park when I was very young. I didn't realize it was only white.

[@Engrphotog21]

A Disney copyright lawyer might get a little excited over the title of this.

[@boataxe4605]

And that would be very ironic since Walt Disney grew up in Chicago and Riverview inspired him to build Disneyland.

[@rspister]

@@boataxe4605 he spent a very short amount of time there.

[@timlabell]

I was 8 years old when riverview closed. My parents never took me to that place and I don't think they ever went there themselves. Kinda Sucks. 😫 having that great place and never going. Parents??🙄🥱