1960’S FREEDOMLAND USA AMUSEMENT PARK, NEW YORK CITY AND BOSTON MASSACHUSETTS TOUR (SILENT) XD51204

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This film consists of "dailies" shot by Norman Schley, a skilled filmmaker from Wisconsin who made travelogues. Here Schley captures the short lived amusement park known as Freedomland USA, sights in New York City and Boston, Massachusetts.
Freedomland USA was located in the Bronx, New York. It closed down in 1964, after only four years of operation, due to competition from the New York World’s Fair and mismanagement of finances. The park contained costumed guests and over forty attractions. It was to act as an East coast Disneyland. The developer, Cornelius Wood also helped to build and manage Disney. Today the only remaining piece of the park is a bronze commemorative plaque.
This film provides viewers with an up close peek into the park. It opens with aerial shots (:15) and small train cars taking guests into the park (:32). State seals are pictured over the park entryway (:55). A yellow trolley bus (1:04) passes in front of the Continental National Insurance building (1:05). Harbor tug boats with names like ‘Pert’ and ‘Tootsie’ deliver guests to the dock (1:23). Guests enjoy patio side refreshments (1:40). Employees are seen dressed as noblemen (2:16). Tourists snap photographs (2:35). Two horses pull a trolley through the park (2:49). A small brass band parades (2:59). The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 is depicted (3:45). Guests look at a map of the park which is shaped like the USA (3:53). The western themed area (4:04). A sign for the Pony Express Calvary Station (4:34). Guests ride atop an American Express Stage coach (4:44). The guests move past teepees set up on the grounds (4:57). An aerial shot captures buffalo (5:03). The Western Salon’s Opera House appears at (5:27). Rodeo men conduct stunts with a rope lasso (5:31). Children play around on the merry go round (5:35) as a band blasts tunes from the gazebo (5:51). Firemen put out a fire on the Great Chicago Fire attraction (6:14). A red double decker ferry takes park guests across the waters (6:47). Park officials handle hand held radios (7:01). Colorful go karts zip around the track (7:47). A series of US flags from over the years is pictured including the Betsy Ross Flag from 1776 (8:27). The Solomon R Guggenheim Museum opened in 1959 (5:49). New York City Hall follows (10:25) as a trolley passes in view. Traffic signs direct drivers to Uptown or to ‘Tavern on the Green’ (10:58); the historic restaurant established in 1934. A view follows from a stage coach entering the city (11:33) as the Essex (11:52) and Hampshire House are captured (11:56). The film goes to the airport (12:58) and the United Airlines terminal (13:08). Within the airport, Detecto Scales are viewed (13:56) as well as a waitress taking traveler’s order (13:59). The Bunker Hill monument is captured rising at the site of the Bunker Hill Battle in Boston, Massachusetts (15:57). The Massachusetts State House and it’s golden dome is pictured (15:59). An obelisk stands on the Granary Burying Grounds for the relatives of Benjamin Franklin (16:03). Though Franklin himself is buried in Philadelphia, his place of birth was Boston. The Tremont Temple Chapel is visited (16:38). A sign points to the location of the Boston Massacre (16:45). Dock Square (16:58) sits in downtown Boston near Faneuil Hall. The square was known as a center for commerce though today sits as a popular tourist attraction. A statue for Sam Adams (17:00) stands in front of Faneuil Hall. The tower of Old North Church is pictured (17:10). Sail boats in the harbor (17:21) preclude the white tower of Faneuil Hall (17:24). The Old North Church tower is seen again (18:10). The coastline of the city is captured (18:47) from a car on the road. William Barton Rogers’ name is read across the front of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (18:55) established in 1861. Norman Schley takes a wide angle of the school here (19:06). Modern brick apartment homes line the streets (19:22). The Gibson House is pictured (19:26). A yellow colonial style home appears (19:36). Schley and his wife are pictured walking over a small bridge (20:14) prior to a grave dedicated to British Soldiers (20:28) at the Minute Man National Historic Park in Concord. Visitors to Walden Pond State Reservation can view Walden pond (20:56) as well as the site of Thoreau’s’ hut in the woods (21:27).
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFi...

[@R32R38]

After it closed it became the site of the huge Co-op City residential and commercial development. A persistent rumor says that the developer wanted to build Co-op City all along and used Freedomland as a "placeholder" during the long approval process, but it's likely untrue.

[@theotherohlourdespadua1131]

I would like to know how building a multi-million dollar theme park as a "placeholder" makes any sense...

[@R32R38]

@@theotherohlourdespadua1131 The story goes that various legal requirements meant that the builder would lose development rights to the site if he let it sit vacant for the several years it would take to get financing and land-use approval for Co-op City, he had to build *something,* and figured that Freedomland was about the cheapest thing he could build. Co-op City was sure to be so profitable to built that Freedomland's construction costs would not be a deal-breaker.

[@johncashwell1024]

The TH-cam channel Defunctland did a really good episode on Freedomland.

[@scratchdog2216]

Know of the Co-Op but never knew this part. Neat piece of local history. Thanx.

[@jfchonors8873]

Love those people trying to figure out how to use a walkie-talkie

[@rapman5363]

Great soundtrack to this video!

[@jojohns1949]

Co-op City is now on the site for freedom land USA

[@robertnegron9706]

Yes I remember going there as a child. Watching ferry boats in the water there. Years later I lived in coop city.

[@Stacker-qt3sv]

Damn, I miss that country! What was it's name again?

[@opop9507]

@@octavius8562 wheres the ailiens

[@rambojambone4586]

@@octavius8562 Oh, you were thinking this is Switzerland!

[@drmarkintexas-400]

🏆🏆🏆👍🇺🇲🙏
Thank you for sharing.

[@royreali8852]

Was that Forrest Gump riding the trolley near the beginning?

[@paulbklyn4742]

Mommy & Daddy take my hand, take me out to Freedomland,, home of Digger O'toole

[@johnp139]

Hmmm, the things that people used to think were fun.

[@tom7601]

In 100 years people will think we were all retarded back in 2020’s.

[@AlejandroGarcia-tm4ob]

I wanted to live those days, that was my dream

[@albear972]

As Chris Rock once said, Grand opening! June 19, 1960. Grand closing! September 13, 1964.
At 3:40 that's supposed to be Confederateland after they got whooped by the Yankees following the Civil war.

[@oldtvnut]

No, that's the great Chicago fire.

[@johnp139]

Why the hell would people dress like THAT to go to a theme park?!?

[@tom7601]

Why not?

[@rambojambone4586]

What should they have worn?

[@mackpines]

Who's here because of Defunctland?