Idora Park
Status | Defunct |
---|---|
Opened | 1904 |
Closed | January 1929 (25 years) |
Theme | Trolley park |
Area | 17.5-acre (71,000 m2) |
Idora Park was a 17.5-acre (71,000 m2) Victorian era trolley park in north Oakland, California constructed in 1904 on the site of an informal park setting called Ayala Park on the north banks of Temescal Creek.[1] It was leased by the Ingersoll Pleasure and Amusement Park Company that ran several Eastern pleasure parks. What began as a pleasure ground in a rural setting for Sunday picnics evolved into a complete amusement park visited by many residents of the San Francisco Bay Area. Its popularity declined after the advent of the automobile, and it was closed and demolished in 1929.
History
Opening
The Realty Syndicate constructed the park in 1903[2] on the north banks of Temescal Creek in North Oakland (on a site of present-day Ayala Park). The main gate of the park was located on Telegraph Avenue above 56th Street;[3] and the park was located on the block bounded by Telegraph Avenue, Shattuck Avenue, 56th and 58th streets.[2] When the park opened in 1903, Rodney Ingersoll had erected the first figure-eight "sky railway" on the site. A wall surrounded the park. Admission was 10 cents, and it was open 30 or more weeks per year.
Operations
Idora Park was leased by the Ingersoll Pleasure and Amusement Park Company that ran several Eastern pleasure parks. Originally its name was to be
Idora Park Opera Company
Idora Park was famous for its opera house. In the aftermath of the
In 1908, the company changed names to the Dollar Grand Opera Company and later to the San Carlos Opera Company, which toured nationally.[6]
Rides
Idora Park rides cost 5 cents. Many were advertised as being the "largest" or "first." Rides were renamed regularly. In published descriptions of the park, one finds titles such as Dodge 'em, The Whip, Over the Top, Race Through the Clouds, and the Magic Carpet.
- The Circle Swing, A large round flat disk or bench suspended by chains from a central pole, on which people could sit to swing
- The Social Whirl, a platform inside a structure where people sat until centrifugal force pushed them off
- The Flying Swing, a swings (ride)with cars suspended from a central point that turned fast enough for the cars to become elevated
- Haunted swing
- Barrel-of-Fun
- Trip through Hades
- Helter Skelter, a slide-type ride
- Chutes[7]
- Miniature railway train, a small steam-powered railroad that carried people through the park[7]
- Fadgl auto trains[8]
- Ferris wheel
- Touring cars
- 20-Car Skooter[7]
- Circle Wave
- The Tickler, apparently a ride with a car on a twisting track
- Merry-go-round
- The Mountain Slide, which appeared to be a slide down through a mountain
- The Auto Race Course, a circular track where two full-size electrically powered automobiles, filled with people, raced each other to the finish
- Uncle Henry's Missouri Mule[7]
- Noah's ark[7]
Roller coasters
The park has five traditional roller coasters during its history:
- Ingersoll Figure 8 Toboggan, operated from 1906–1916
- L.A. Thompson Scenic Railway, operated from 1906–1921, (owned and operated by the Thompson Company)
- Race Thru The Clouds, a twin track coaster (dates unknown)
- The Big (or Giant) Dipper, operated from 1922 to 1928,[7] John A. Miller designed at a cost of $60,000
- Skyrocket (or Thunderbolt),[7] operated from 1927 to 1928, also designed by Miller
Attractions
In the early 1900s, Idora Park was also the site of public demonstrations with lighter-than-air and heavier-than-air flying machines, including a balloon-launched glider flight by David Wilkie in a glider designed by
Idora Park boasted the first outdoor public address system and the largest
The walled-in park had a zoo, ostrich farm, performing animal shows, dance hall, racetrack, outdoor amphitheater, Japanese garden, bear grotto, a main street called the Glad Way, and a penny arcade, photo gallery, and shooting gallery.
In 1904 a ballpark with a 3000-seat double deck grandstand was erected, and after the 1906 earthquake, the Pacific Coast League relocated there. The park had the largest roller skating rink in California, the largest west of Chicago, that rented clamp-on skates. A bandstand was at its center. The Mountain Slide had a firework volcanic display on Saturday nights. There were hot-air balloon ascensions, from which the acrobatic team of Frank and Carrie Hamilton parachuted.[10]
At The Laying Hens, participants threw a ball at a wooden hen sitting on a barnyard fence, and if it were hit, it fell over and delivered a hard-boiled egg to eat. The park offered electric souvenirs, table tennis, a musical arcade, a dancing pavilion, a roof garden and grill, lunch counters, open-air concerts, and numerous refreshment booths.
Entertainment
Refreshments
Idora Park was famous for its cream waffles (a recipe later published in the Oakland Tribune in 1972).
Demise
Idora Park was eclipsed by the rise of the automobile and
By the 1930s, the Idora Park neighborhood subdivision was primary an Italian immigrant enclave, which thrived for many years.[18] In 1930, a new roller rink, Rollerland, was constructed facing Telegraph Avenue in the 5400 block.
References
- ^ Rego, Nilda (2012-01-24). "Days Gone By: Idora Park was Oakland's fun-filled predecessor to the Temescal". The Mercury News. Retrieved 2022-03-15.
- ^ ISBN 0-89141-146-1.
- ^ "Those Daring Aerialists With Their Big Balloons". Newspapers.com. Oakland Tribune. July 2, 1967. pp. 93, 98. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
- ^ Alexandra, Rae (March 14, 2022). "5 Long-Lost East Bay Attractions That Should've Been Saved". KQED. Retrieved 2022-03-15.
- ISBN 978-0-615-62916-2.
- ^ a b c "Memorable Idora". Newspapers.com. Oakland Tribune Knave. January 1, 1961. p. 65. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
- ^ The Napa Valley Register. August 3, 1928. p. 4. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
- ^ "Plenty of Fun is Planned For All Tribute Day, June 6". Newspapers.com. Oakland Tribune. May 29, 1917. p. 5. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
- ^ Harwood, Craig S. and Fogel, Gary B. Quest for Flight: John J. Montgomery and the Dawn of Aviation in the West, University of Oklahoma Press 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "Idora Park Roller skating rink". Oakland Tribune. 1970-05-17. p. 155. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
- ISBN 978-0-615-62916-2.
- ^ a b c "Idora Park to Vanish Subdivision to be Made". Oakland Tribune. 1928-12-10. p. 1. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
- ^ Fleming, Becky London (2004). "Some Memories of Daddy - Jack London". Archived from the original on 2005-12-25.
- ^ "Idora Park's Waffle recipe". Oakland Tribune. 1972-08-01. p. 2. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
- ^ "Up For Grabs". Newspapers.com. Oakland Tribune. July 21, 1972. p. 2. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
- ^ "For Central Square". Newspapers.com. Oakland Tribune. July 7, 1929. p. 33. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
- ^ "Idora Park Tract Home Open to View -". Oakland Tribune. 1931-09-13. p. 54. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
- The San Francisco Examiner. February 2, 1992. p. 59 (F-1), 66 (F-8). Retrieved 2022-03-16.
- Clippings file, Oakland History Room, Oakland Public Library, 125 14th Street Oakland CA 94612
- Oakland Enquirer - April 12, 1902, May 6, 1902, November 26, 1903
- Oakland Herald - April 20, 1907
- Berkeley Daily Gazette - February 4, 1943
- Montclarion - July 26, 1978, January 24, 1997
- Oakland Herald April 20, 1907
- Oakland Tribune - July 19, 1908, January 27, 1929, April 26, 1931, June 30. 1929, October 7, 1943, July 23, 1944, & May 10, 1970