Pinterest. Nice neon sign at night. No scary clowns. Whew! I love this one because it stood out apart from other clown themed trolley parks and local theme parks signs or entrances. Well designed and well lighted. No broken lights! One of better signs. Could have gotten much better by adding one more creature or feature on the right side because it was too much space inside the square. You noticed? OR one creature less. Oh wait! If you look real careful, its Humpy Dumpy egg fall off the sign! It would flash him falling down! Clearly this sign had some animations! Clever, An A+ for effort here!
I really like that! Not many signs had that features. You may more recalled signs in Las Vegas that moved like that.
I really like that! Not many signs had that features. You may more recalled signs in Las Vegas that moved like that.
Kiddieland Amusement Park Roller Rink 3833 East Harry Street, Wichita, KS
Another local amusement park was in Whichita, Kansas along with the Joyland and of course, there were connection between the two amusement park in some ways. Yes, a few of them. They started in 1945 by the four Consolver brothers, George, J L., B. G. "Tex", and N. C.,
The 30 acre sports center recreation area was on 3833 East Harry Street. The Wichita Eagle reported the following on Saturday, April 21, 1962 that the park was sold during that winter of 1961 - 62 by the four Consolver brothers, George, J L., B. G. (Tex), and N. C. The new operators were Meadowlark, Inc. It was an corporation of area business and professional men. They purchased the property includes two miniature golf courses [36 holes], a driving range, a kiddie amusement park, two swimming pools, and a roller skating rink.
But that new ownership was short lived. By Sunday, March 10, 1968, The Wichita-Eagle Beacon reported the announcement of a plans for construction of a shopping mall on the Kiddieland site, with construction to start that summer. Apparently that was the new owners wanted to do. It was a business trick to break a promise to keep operating a business but apparently they had something else in mind.
Many of the Kiddieland rides were dispersed elsewhere in 1968 because of a business plan to convert to a shopping mall. Some rides went to Joyland Amusement Park which outlast the Kiddieland. And yes, Kiddieland had a roller skating rink that they sold the wooden floor to Joyland Amusement Park for their new roller skating rink at the Joyland Amusement Park. See that link to finish the story of this rink. I was Kiddieland Roller Rink and it became Joyland's Skating Rink.
The Organ --
The park had a Mammoth Military Band Organ, also known as a Wurlitzer Style #160, which was the largest of Wurlitzer’s early models. It was built around 1905 by the DeKleist Musical Instrument Works and was sold by the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company. It contained 486 wood and brass pipes and used two perforated paper music rolls, producing the effect of a military brass band of 20 to 25 musicians. This particular model was designed primarily for the roller rink industry. In 1915, it was taken back to the Wurlitzer factory and modified into a Wurlitzer Style 165. It was sold to W.P. Brown of Coffeyville, who owned and operated the Silurian Springs Bath House, which also featured a roller rink, for which the organ provided music for several years. In the 1930s it went into storage; it was heavily water damaged, and some of its brass parts were later stripped off during World War II scrap metal drives. In 1948, Jess Gibbs of Parsons, purchased it and began the painstaking work of restoration. In 1950 he sold the restored instrument to the Ottaway family, who installed it in the park. They added Louie, an automated/animatronic clown who sat before the keyboard and "played" it. Louie and the Mighty Wurlitzer had been a fixture there ever since, creating a sound that resonated through the entire park. It was one of only two mammoth model organs still in existence and, until the park closed, was the only one in public view. Its current whereabouts and conditions are unknown. (Source Wikipedia)
The Interior.
75 feet x 175 feet
The Exterior.
The Stats:
Rink Size: 75' x 175'. Floor: Wood. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: N/A.
Type of Building: N/A.
Roof: N/A.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: (Overall)-- 1945 to 1968. Rink floor sold to Joyland Amusement Park for new roller rink so in a way Kiddieland was still operational in a "way".
Reason for Closure: Operator wanted to convert to shopping mall.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: The Active Age - Kiddieland; Wikipedia - Joyland Amusement Park with connection to Kiddieland;
Date of issue: 13 February 2021.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.
The 30 acre sports center recreation area was on 3833 East Harry Street. The Wichita Eagle reported the following on Saturday, April 21, 1962 that the park was sold during that winter of 1961 - 62 by the four Consolver brothers, George, J L., B. G. (Tex), and N. C. The new operators were Meadowlark, Inc. It was an corporation of area business and professional men. They purchased the property includes two miniature golf courses [36 holes], a driving range, a kiddie amusement park, two swimming pools, and a roller skating rink.
But that new ownership was short lived. By Sunday, March 10, 1968, The Wichita-Eagle Beacon reported the announcement of a plans for construction of a shopping mall on the Kiddieland site, with construction to start that summer. Apparently that was the new owners wanted to do. It was a business trick to break a promise to keep operating a business but apparently they had something else in mind.
Many of the Kiddieland rides were dispersed elsewhere in 1968 because of a business plan to convert to a shopping mall. Some rides went to Joyland Amusement Park which outlast the Kiddieland. And yes, Kiddieland had a roller skating rink that they sold the wooden floor to Joyland Amusement Park for their new roller skating rink at the Joyland Amusement Park. See that link to finish the story of this rink. I was Kiddieland Roller Rink and it became Joyland's Skating Rink.
The Organ --
The park had a Mammoth Military Band Organ, also known as a Wurlitzer Style #160, which was the largest of Wurlitzer’s early models. It was built around 1905 by the DeKleist Musical Instrument Works and was sold by the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company. It contained 486 wood and brass pipes and used two perforated paper music rolls, producing the effect of a military brass band of 20 to 25 musicians. This particular model was designed primarily for the roller rink industry. In 1915, it was taken back to the Wurlitzer factory and modified into a Wurlitzer Style 165. It was sold to W.P. Brown of Coffeyville, who owned and operated the Silurian Springs Bath House, which also featured a roller rink, for which the organ provided music for several years. In the 1930s it went into storage; it was heavily water damaged, and some of its brass parts were later stripped off during World War II scrap metal drives. In 1948, Jess Gibbs of Parsons, purchased it and began the painstaking work of restoration. In 1950 he sold the restored instrument to the Ottaway family, who installed it in the park. They added Louie, an automated/animatronic clown who sat before the keyboard and "played" it. Louie and the Mighty Wurlitzer had been a fixture there ever since, creating a sound that resonated through the entire park. It was one of only two mammoth model organs still in existence and, until the park closed, was the only one in public view. Its current whereabouts and conditions are unknown. (Source Wikipedia)
The Interior.
75 feet x 175 feet
The Exterior.
The Stats:
Rink Size: 75' x 175'. Floor: Wood. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: N/A.
Type of Building: N/A.
Roof: N/A.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: (Overall)-- 1945 to 1968. Rink floor sold to Joyland Amusement Park for new roller rink so in a way Kiddieland was still operational in a "way".
Reason for Closure: Operator wanted to convert to shopping mall.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: The Active Age - Kiddieland; Wikipedia - Joyland Amusement Park with connection to Kiddieland;
Date of issue: 13 February 2021.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.