Amusement Park Books List


The material is copyrighted © 2006 by Jeffrey Stanton.

Revised March 17, 2006

GENERAL AMUSEMENT PARK & RIDE HISTORY

  • The Outdoor Amusement Industry - by William Mangels (Vantage Press) 1952
    206 page Hardback with some photos.

    A self-published book and the first history of various amusement rides by an amusement ride builder and inventor. Covers some rides like carousels and roller coasters in some detail, but minimal, several pages at best of others.

  • A Pictorial History of the Carousel - by Fred Fried (Vestal Press) 1964
    231 page Hardback with many photos.

    An important and comprehensive history of the carousel, its builders and carvers. He was the first to research this important topic and got most of his facts right, and some of them wrong.

  • The Great American Amusement Parks - by Gary Kyriazi (Cidadel Press) 1976
    256 pages Hardback with hundreds of photos.

    This was the first overview of historic amusement parks in the United States. The first third of the book is about Coney Island, and their are sections about Chicago's Riverview Park and the beach resorts on the Pacific Coast. The last third of the book is about the development of theme parks like Disneyland and others. There are many mistakes, especially with California's beach resorts, but there hadn't been any good books about them when Kyriazi wrote his book.

  • Fairground Art - by Geoff Weedon & Richard Ward (Abbeville) 1981
    312 pages Hardback with hundreds of B&W and color photos.

    This is a book that covers carousels, band organs, etc. in England.

  • Harry G. Traver: Legends of Terror - by Richard Munch (ACE / Amusement Park Books) 1982
    175 pages (paperback) with B&W photos.

    A biography of the designer of numerous amusement park rides, but became famous for his steel terror coasters of the 1920's. He was also the contractor for several of Fred Church's twister coaster, and the author believed at the time that Traver designed them. Unfortunetly the book was reprinted without the revision the author wanted to correct his errors.

  • Art of the Carousel - by Charlotte Dinger (Carousel Art) 1983
    223 pages Hardback with photos.

  • Painted Ponies - by William Manns & Marianne Stevens (Zon International) 1986
    256 pages Hardback with nearly all color photos.

    This is a fabulous book on the history of the carousel and the men who carved them. A "must" purchase for carousel enthusiasts.

  • The Incredible Scream Machine - by Dr. Robert Cartmell (Amusement Park Books) 1987
    252 pages Hardback and paperback editions with photos.

    The first general history of roller coasters and their designers. Its weakness is that the author stopped doing research almost a decade before the book was published. Its weakness is in the 1920's, during the Golden Age of roller coasters.

  • C.W. Parker: Carnival King - by Bob Goldsak (Midway Museum) 1987
    80 pages (paperback) with photos.

    Larger than life character who produced carousels and other rides in Kansas.

  • Garb the Brass Ring - by Anne Dion Hinds (Crown) 1990
    148 pages Hardback with photos

    Book about American carousels.

  • The American Amusement Park Industry: A History of Technology and Thrills - by Judith Adams (Twayne) 1991
    227 pages with some B&W photos.

    Explains the origins of the amusement park industry, its development, and current status.

  • Ferris Wheels: An Illustrated History - by Norman Anderson (Amusement Park Books) 1992
    407 pages Hardback & (paperback) with nearly 500 illustrations (photos, postcards & patent illustrations).

    Traces the history of the popular amusement ride. The definitive book.

  • The Great American Carousel: A Century of Master Craftsmanship - by Fraley Tobin (Chronicle) 1994
    132 pages Hardback B&W and color photos.

    Illustrated history of the artists who carved the horses and animals for carousel manufacters.

  • White Knuckle Ride - by Mark Wyatt (Salamander) 1996
    112 pages Hardback with B&W and color photos.

    Book highlights many of the world's best roller coasters.

  • Roller Coasters: Wooden and Steel Coasters, Twisters and Corkscrews - by David Bennett (Chartwell) 1998
    192 pages Hardback with color photos.

    An illustated book about amusement park rides and roller coasters. Full of mis-information.

  • Roller Coasters, Flumes and Flying Saucers - by Robert Reynolds (Northern Lights) 1999
    192 pages Hardback with photos.

    Biography of Ed Morgan and Karl Bacon, founders of Arrow Dynamics, inventors of the tubular steel roller coaster.

  • The American Roller Coaster - by Scott Rutherford (MBI) 2000
    160 pages Hardback with B&W and Color photos.

    History of the roller coaster from 1884 to the 21st Century.

  • The American Amusement Park - by Dale Samuelson (MBI) 2001
    156 pages Hardback with 175 B&W and color photos.

    History of the development of the amusement park in America with an emphasis on roller coasters.

  • Golden Age of Roller Coasters in Vintage Postcards - by David Francis (Arcadia) 2003
    128 pages (paperback) with 216 small B&W postcards.

    The book's text is contained in the detailed captions.

  • Scary Dark Rides - by Doug Higley ( ) ???
    80 pages (paperback) with 100 illustrations.

    History of dark rides at amusement parks, carnivals and theme parks.

  • The Kid of Coney Island: Fred Thompson and the Rise of American Amusements - by Woody Register (Oxford) 2001
    400 pages Hardback with 35 B&W photos.

    Fred Thompson founded Luna Park at Coney Island. However, the author was much more interested in his career in theater productions, so it may be a disappointment if one is interested in amusement parks.

HISTORY OF SPECIFIC AMUSEMENT PARKS

  • Sodom by the Sea - by Oliver Pilat & Jo Ransom (Doubleday) 1941
    334 page Hardback with some photos.

    A history of Coney Island, New York. While a general history, delves on the seedier aspects of the famous resort.

  • Good Old Coney Island - by Edo McCullough (Scribners) 1957 (REPRINTED 2000 - Rutgers Univ.)
    344 page Hardback with some photos

    McCullough, a ride operator and relative to the Tilyou family, who owned Steeplechase Park, wrote a very entertaining portrait of Coney Island's development. Interesting accounts of the resort's three turn of the century parks and the 1911 Dreamland fire.

  • Goodbye Coney Island, Goodbye - by Paul Hyinsky & Dick Perry (Prentice Hall) 1972
    125 page Hardback with many photos but a sketchy history.

    This is a look at the Cincinnati's "Coney Island" amusement park built on an island on the Ohio River. It was difficult to get to, impossible to expand, and prone to periodic flooding. It was torn down after the 1972 season, and replaced by King's Island which was considerably larger and built in the suburbs.

  • By the Beautiful Sea - by Charles Funnell (Knopf) 1975
    214 page Hardback with photos.

    A history book about Atlantic City, New Jersey and the development of its amusement piers by George Tilyou and others.

  • Riverview: Gone But Not Forgotten - by Chuck Wlodarczyk (Shori Press) 1976
    120 page (paperback) with many photos.

    A good look at historic Riverview Park in Chicago.

  • Euclid Beach Park is Closed for the Season - by Lee Bush & others (Amusement Park Books) 1977
    331 page Hardback with numerous photos, blueprints and maps.

    This history of Euclid Beach, Cleveland's largest park was one of the best histories of an amusement park when it was published.

  • Amusing the Millions: Coney Island at the Turn of the Century - by John Kasson 1978
    120 page (paperback) with many photos.

    This is a history of popular culture, in this case Coney island, New York at the turn of the century. Nicely researched text, but brief.

  • Euclid Beach Park - A Second Look - by Lee Bush & others (Amusement Park Books) 1979
    229 page Hardback with many photos.

    This sequel about Cleveland's defunct amusement park uses photos not in the earlier edition.

  • Atlantic City: 125 Years of Ocean Madness - by ........ (Potter) 1979
    ??? pages Hardback with photos.

  • Early South Jersey Amusement Parks - by Shirley Baileys (South Jersey Publishers) 1980
    56 pages with photos.

    History of 19 smaller amusement parks in the area.

  • I Remember Sunnyside - by Mike Fineley (Brownstone Press) 1981
    144 pages Hardback with photos.

    History of Sunnyside, located on Lake Ontario, west of Toronto, Canada.

  • A Pictorial History of Revere Beach - by Peter McCauley 1981 or 1982
    ??? pages (paperback)

    A look back at the history of Boston's seaside park.

  • Revere Beach's Wonderland - by Edward Nazzaro 1982
    ??? pages (paperback)

    Another look back at the history of one of Boston's seaside parks.

  • The Elitch Garden Story - by Jack Gurtier (Rocky Mountain Writer's Guild 1982
    100 pages (paperback) with photos.

    History of Denver's garden amusement park.

  • Kennywood: The Roller Coaster Capital of the World - by Charles Jacques (Vestal Press) 1982
    201 pages (Hardback) with photos.

    A photo history of Kennywood Park, Pittsburgh, PA's last remaining amusement park.

  • Smile: A Picture History of Olympic Park: 1887 - 1965 - by Alan Siegel (Rutgers) 1983
    176 pages Hardback with photos

    History of another lost park.

  • Coney Island: A Postcard Journey to the City of Fire - by Richard Snow ( ) 1984
    ???? pages (paperback) illustrated with color postcards.

    Color postcards of New York City's seaside resort combined with elaborate descriptions, give a capsule history at the turn of the 20th century.

  • Goodbye Westview, Goodbye - by Charles Jacques (Amusement Park Journal) 1985
    124 pages (paperbound) with 216 B&W photos.

    History of Pittsburgh's other amusement park on its north side from 1906 to its last 1977 season.

  • Myers Lake Revisited - by Jeffrey Brown (Daring Books) 1985
    192 pages Hardback with photos.

    Historic photos and text of this defunct Ohio amusement park.

  • Chippewa Lake Park - by Sharon Kraynek 1986?
    ??? pages Hardback with photos.

    Text of this defunct Ohio park is in diary form.

  • Venice of America: Coney Island of the Pacific - by Jeffrey Stanton (Donahue Publishing) 1987
    176 pages (paperback) with over 200 photos.

    Book's strong text, historic photos (some in color), and 3D aerial perspective maps of its two historic amusement pier districts, details Venice and Ocean Park, California's resort life. Only book that covers the famed Pacific Ocean Park that existed briefly from 1958 - 1967.

  • Myers Lake: Revisited - by Jeffrey Brown (Daring Books) 1988
    154 pages Hardback with photos.

    More photos of this defunct Ohio amusement park.

  • Cedar Point: Queen of American Watering Places - by David and Diane Francis (Daring Books) 1988
    176 pages Hardback with photos.

    A history with photos of the development of this Lake Erie resort in Ohio into America's finest amusement park.

  • San Franciscina Photographs of Playland - by Marilyn Blaisdell 1989
    Spiral bound 57 pages of photos.

    A book of historic photos of San Francisco's seaside beach and Playland , the amusement park that faced the ocean.

  • Fun at Old Cedar Point - by Glenn Everett (Academy Books) 1989
    154 pages with some B&W photos.

    Journey through Ohio's lakeside park on a day during the 1930's.

  • Santa Monica Pier: A History from 1875 to 1990 - by Jeffrey Stanton (Donahue Publishing) 1990
    176 pages with 230 photos.

    A history with photos of Santa Monica, California's amusement pier. Also covers the development of the city's North Beach resort in the 1890's, its beach clubs in the 1920's and its famed Muscle Beach in the 1940's and 1950's.

  • The Giant Dipper: A Pictorial History - by Eric Young (Amusement Park Publications) 1991
    Thin (paperback) with B&W and color photos.

    History of Prior & Church 1925 roller coaster at Mission Beach, California, and its restoration in the early 1990's.

  • Conneaut Lake Park: The First 100 Years - Lee Bush & Richard Hershey (Amusement Park Books) 1992
    175 pages with B&W photos.

    A history of the amusement park published for its centennial.

  • Venice California: Coney Island of the Pacific - by Jeffrey Stanton (Donahue Publishing) 1993
    232 pages (paperback) with 300 photographs.

    This is an expanded edition of his earlier 1987 book about Venice and Ocean Park, California's amusement piers. More photos and a partially rewritten and expanded text.

  • A Century of Fun: A Pictorial History of New England Amusement Parks (Midway Museum Publications) 1993
    138 pages with B&W and some color photos

    Covers Savin Rock, CT; Old Orchard Beach, Maine; Canobie Lake Park; Quassy, and many other defunct amusement parks.

  • Cedar Point: The Queen of American Watering Places (125th Anniversary Edition) 1995
    by David & Dianne DeMali (Amusement Park Books) ???
    222 pages Hardback with over 200 B&W photos.

    Updated version of the history of this famous Ohio amusement park.

  • Palisades Amusement Park: A Century of Fond Memories - by Vince Gargiulo (Rutgers) 1995
    220 pages Hardback with 203 B&W photos.

    While this is a comprehensive history of the New Jersey park that overlooked the Hudson River opposite Manhattan, it was written by an author who had a minimum knowledge of amusement rides. Most of the photos are poor to fair since many are directly from newspapers; includes several pages of color.

  • Luna Park: Cleveland's Fairyland of Pleasure - by David & Dianne Francis (Amusement Park Books) 1996
    157 pages Hardback with B&W photos.

    History of one of Cleveland, Ohio's smaller amusement parks.

  • Chippewa Lake Park Chronicles: 1880 - 1969 - by Sharon Kraynek (????) (????)
    208 pages (spiral bound) 200 B&W photos.

    A history of the defunct Ohio park via a collection of newspaper articles and oral interviews.

  • Chippewa Lake Revisited - by Sharon Kraynek (????) (???) 89 pages (spiral bound) many B&W photos

    A history through newspaper articles, oral interviews, and photos.

  • Hershey Park: The Sweetness of Success - by Charles Jacques (Amusement Park Journal) 1997
    221 pages (paperback) 483 photos with 36 color photos.

    History of the Pennsylvania amusement park.

  • More Kennywood Memories - by Charles Jacques (Amusement Park Books) 1998
    217 pages (paperback) 645 photos with 105 in color.

    This is a sequel to his earlier Kennywood book on this famous Pittsburgh, Pa amusement park.

  • Rhode Island Amusement Parks - by ???? (Arcadia) 1998
    128 pages (paperback) with B&W photos.

    A collection of postcards and photos of Rhode Island's amusement parks.

  • Savin Rock: An Illustrated History - by Bennett Dorman ( ) 1998
    255 pages Hardback with photos.

    History of this defunct Connecticut amusement park.

  • Blackpool Pleasure Beach - by ???? ( ) ???
    ??? pages Hardback with photos.

    A wonderful book on England's largest seaside amusement park.

  • Wildwood by the Sea - by D. Francis & R. Scully, Sr. (Amusement Park Books) 1998
    256 pages Hardback with 452 photos, 32 in color.

    History of this New Jersey seaside resort.

  • Idora Park: The Last Ride of Summer - by Charles Jacques (Amusement Park Journal) 1999
    141 pages (paperback) 250 photos

    History of this Ohio amusement park from 1899 - 1984.

  • Rochester's Lakeside Resorts and Amusement Parks - by Donovan Shilling (Arcadia) 1999
    128 pages (paperback) B&W photos.

    Photos of the city's amusement parks along Lake Ontario.

  • Lincoln Park Remembered - by Joesph McCabe (Spinner Publications) 1999
    200 pages (paperback) with 500 photos.

    History of this New England amusement park from 1894 - 1987.

  • Laugh Your Troubles Away: The Complete History of Riverview Park - by Derek Gee & Ralph Lopez ( ) 2000
    166 pages (paperback) with 265 photos and maps.

    An excellent history of Chicago's famed amusement park.

  • Greetings from Bertrand Island Amusement Park - by Martin & Laura Kane (Arcadia) 2000
    128 page (paperback) 200 B&W photos

    History of the Maryland amusement park in photos.

  • Gravesend: The Home of Coney island - by Eric Ierardi (Arcadia) 2001
    159 pages (paperback) with 120 B&W photos.

    An illustrated history of the village of Gravesend and the beach resort it controlled.

  • Knoebel's: An Amusement Park with a Heart ( ) 2001
    217 page Hardback with 239 B&W photos.

    Commemorates the 75th anniversary of this eastern Pennsylvania amusement park.

  • Cincinnati's Coney Island - by Charles Jacques (Amusement Park Journal 2002
    223 pages (paperback) several hundred B&W and color photographs.

    A through history of Cincinnati's river island amusement park that closed in 1971.

  • Coney Island: Lost and Found - by Charles Denson (Free Press) 2002
    304 pages (paperback) with 300 B&W and color photos.

    Denson, who grew up at Coney Island in the 50's and 60's, and photographed it, covers the its later history in great detail. It is obvious that he is interested in property ownership and traced important parcels from its earliest days.

  • Coney Island: The People's Playground - by Michael Immerso (Rutgers) 2002
    208 pg Hardback Over 100 B&W photos, some color.

    An adequate, well balanced general history of Brooklyn's Coney Island beach resort.

  • Ohio's Amusment Parks in Vintage Postcards - by David & Dianne Francis (Arcadia) 2002
    128 pages with B&W photos

    Small captioned photos show Ohio's mostly defunct amusement parks.

  • Amusement Parks of Pennsylvania - by Jim Futrell (Stackpool) 2002
    212 pages - small paperback with illustrated by postcards and photos.

    A guide to 13 amusement parks in the State with their history in old postcards.

  • Early South Jersey Amusement Parks - by Shirley R. Bailey (???) 2002
    56 pages - small paperback with illustrated by photos.

    A history of 19 amusement parks in southern New Jersey.

  • Chippewa Lake Amusement Park: In the Beginning - by Sharon Kraynek (????) (???)
    2003 260 pages (spiral bound) many B&W photos.

    A history of the defunct Ohio park.

  • Dorney Park - by Wally Ely & Bob Ott (Arcadia) 2003
    128 pg (paperback) small B&W photos

    A Visual history of the Allentown, Pa amusement park from the 1880's to the present.

  • San Francisco's Ocean Beach - by Kathleen Manning & Jim Dickson (Arcadia) 2003
    128 pages (paperback) B&W photos

    This book covers more than Playland at the Beach (only 18 pages), with chapters on Cliff House and Sutro Baths, etc.

  • Coney Island (Portraits of America series) - by John Berman (Barnes & Noble) 2003
    128 pages (paperbound) with B&W photos.

    Mostly a book of over 100 B&W photos chronicling the history of the fames beach resort. The photos are from the Museum of the City of New York, but it is obvious that the author was unfamiliar with the material as 3 of the photos are not from Coney Island.

  • Asbury Park - by Helen Chantel Pike(Arcadia) 2003
    127 pages (paperback) with B&W photos.

    A collection of postcards and photos of New Jersey's Asbury Park amusement park.

  • Bob-Lo Revisted - by Martin Magid (Arcadia) 2003
    127 pages (paperback) with B&W photos.

    A collection of postcards and photos of Michigan's Bob-Lo Island amusement park.

  • Idlewild - by Jeffrey Croshore (Arcadia) 2004
    128 pages (paperback) with B&W photos.

    A collection of postcards and photos of Idlewild amusement park.

  • Kennywood - by David Hahner (Arcadia) 2004
    128 pages (paperback) with B&W photos.

    A collection of postcards and photos of Pittsburgh's Kennywood Park.

  • Sacremento's Oak Park - by Lee Simpson (Arcadia) 2004
    128 pages (paperback) with B&W photos.

    A collection of postcards and photos of Sacremento's Oak Park amusement park.

  • Amusement Park of New Jersey - by Jim Futrell (Stackpool) 2004
    212 pages (paperback) with B&W photos.

    A collection of postcards and photos of various amusement parks of New Jersey.

  • Riverview - by Dolores Haugh (Arcadia) 2003
    128 pages (paperback) with B&W photos.

    A collection of postcards and photos of Chicago's Riverview amusement park.

  • Cleveland Amusement Park Memories - by David & Diane Francis ( ) 2005
    128 pages (paperbound) 8.5 X 10 inch

    Covers various historic amusement parks in the Cleveland area.

  • Venice California - Coney Island of the Pacific (Centennial Edition) - by Jeffrey Stanton (Donahue Publishing) 2005
    288 pages (Hardback) 367 B&W and color photos. Album format 12 x 9 inch.

    This is a greatly expanded edition of the author's 1993 edition to celebrate Venice's 100th anniversary and its rich amusement resort history. Additional research enabled the text in Chapters 2,3,4 and 5 to be doubled, and the text in the final chapter to be quadrupled. About 60 additional photographs, many spectacular were added. Contains seven 3-D aerial perspective maps that details all the attractions on each of its amusement piers. Since it covers the rivalry between Venice and Ocean Park's pier districts, it contains the only history of Pacific Ocean Park that existed between 1958-1967. It is published as a hardback to make it a true coffee table book.

  • Palisades Amusement Park - by Vince Gargiulo (Arcadia) 2005
    128 pages (paperback) with B&W photos.

    A collection of postcards and photos of New Jersey's Palisades Amusement Park.

  • Asbury Park's Glory Days: The Story of an American Resort - by Helen Pike (Rugers) 2005
    207 pages with B&W photos.

    Test and photos of New Jersey's historic Asbury Park.

  • Conneaut Lake Park - by Michael Costello (Arcadia) 2005
    128 pages (paperback) with B&W photos.

    A collection of postcards and photos of Conneaut Lake Park in Ohio.

  • Willow Grove Park - by Old York Historical Society (Arcadia) 2006
    128 pages (paperback) with B&W photos.

    A collection of postcards and photos of Pennsylvania's Willow Grove amusement park.

  • Amusement Parks of New York - by Jim Futrell (Stackpool) 2006
    224 pages (paperback) with B&W photos.

    A collection of postcards and photos of various amusment parks in New York state.



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