Beverly Park (amusement park)

Beverly Park was located in the city of Los Angeles, just outside the city limits of West Hollywood, California. The location was in a rural area suitable for attractions and rides for children. The park was located next to the largest drugstore in the world and close to Ponyland, an amusement site owned and operated by Leo "Pat" Murphy and his wife, Viva Murphy at 8536 Beverly Boulevard. The park initially measured 200 by 200 feet (0.91 acre), doubling in size in the first four years to reach 400 by 200 feet (1.83 acres) by 1947. == History ==

Origins Beverly Park was affectionately known and referred to as "Kiddieland", as it was mainly targeted to children. The "Kiddieland" phenomenon was not a franchise in its original sense, but a general noun identifying amusement parks designed specifically for children. Redondo Beach, West Los Angeles, Woodland Hills and Westchester were among the locations in Los Angeles County where Kiddielands were built. The concept of "Kiddieland" was born after World War II, as the amusement park industry expanded due to the post-war economic situation and the baby boom that occurred until the 1960s. During the 1950s, both the employment rate and social welfare in the surrounding area improved, allowing people to divert their thoughts from conflict and post-war austerity to a new lifestyle, based on innovation and pleasure. Opening Frock & Meyer Company built Beverly Park in 1943 in West Lost Angeles, when the park opened. In 1945, Dave Bradley purchased the park from them with his partner Donald Kaye, under the name of his ride manufacturing company named Bradley & Kaye Amusement Company. The lot already contained some old rides (a carousel, Dodgem bumper cars and a Ferris wheel) abandoned by a bankrupt carnival. These were later restored by Bradley and incorporated into the new park. David Bradley was born in California on May 11, 1911. The two decided to start a family and adopted two twins, John and Laura. Beverly Park benefited from its proximity to Hollywood and was a popular place for movie stars who brought their families, hoping to get some "quality time" (and a good opportunity to take photos of their children) into their busy schedule. Many Hollywood film stars of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, including Carol Burnett, Errol Flynn, Lana Turner, Norm Crosby, Kirk Douglas and Dan Duryea, visited the park's attractions with their children. Famous musicians such as John Lennon and Sonny & Cher used to bring their children and families there. In Beverly Park's heyday, Bradley was developing plans to cover the entirety of Beverly Park by having it roofed, so that the park could stay open in times of bad weather, such as rain or snow. This ambition never came to fruition due to the closing of the park. One of the most famous rides restored by Bradley was the 1916 C. W. Parker carousel which appeared in other amusement parks throughout South California such as Ocean Park Pier and Looff Hippodrome on the Santa Monica Pier. == Amenities ==

Food stands Beverly Park had a number of food stands selling popcorn, hot dogs, cotton candy and peanuts. These snacks were packed in striped paper bags, which made them easily recognizable and added value to the overall feel and atmosphere of the park. During the thirty years of existence of the amusement park, the old rides were modified or sold, while new rides were created and implemented in the park. For example, the Little Dipper was sold after many years to other engineers, while decorative animals including "Tony the African Lion" and "Susy the California Black Bear" were exhibited in circus wagons. == Marketing and publicity ==

Bradley publicized the park extensively, including regular coverage in Billboard (magazine). He also did not discourage gate-crashers, and marketed into both the local community and Hollywood with his Birthday Book and Guest Book initiatives. "Birthday Book" In addition to engineering innovations, David Bradley also developed early initiatives in advertising to children such as what was known as the "Birthday Book". This was a book containing all the birth dates of the children living within the area of the park that he could obtain. In doing so, he made it possible to send each of them a balloon and a greeting card for his or her birthday, during which they could enjoy the rides, balloons, clown cakes, favors and refreshments offered by Bradley. "Guest Book" Besides the Birthday Book, Bradley created a "Guest Book", which contained the signatures of many famous people who were regular clients of the park. These included Glenn Ford, Charles Boyer, Bob Hutton, Robert Walker, Mary Pickford, Paul Henreid, Ann Rutherford, Ingrid Bergman, Judy Garland, Charles Chaplin, Oona O'Neil, Cleatus Caldwell, Norman Taurog, Kay Kyser, Jack Carson, Ken Murray, Joan Bennett, Walter Wanger, Franchot Tone, Brian Donlevy, Roy Rogers, Margaret O'Brien, John Garfield and many others. The guest book was not only a fun way for visitors to see which celebrities had visited the park, but it also contributed to improve its reputation. == Kiddieland site in the present day ==

The original site of Beverly Park is now the location of the Beverly Center Shopping Mall, The park site was originally occupied by underground oil wells which can still be found underneath the modern buildings. == In popular culture ==

Books Beverly Park has been widely referenced in popular fiction, including books by: • Hartman, et al. • Carrie White • Andrew McAleer • Bruce Kimmel • Jay Jennings Jay Jennings, a US film producer and author, used to visit Beverly Park frequently when he was a child. Alfred Hitchcock, the director, engaged Bradley to work as a technical advisor for the carousel used in this movie. Remembering Beverly Park During the last twenty years of the park's operations, from 1954 to 1974, the site was filled with up to 30,000 visitors on a single weekend. Beverly Park's popularity is still widely remembered by many Los Angeles area citizens who used to enjoy its rides. During the fall of 2020, the City of West Hollywood's Art Division presented "Remembering Beverly Park", an exhibition shown at the West Hollywood Library. The event was intended to bring the memory of Beverly Park to life by displaying photographs taken from Jay Jennings' book dedicated to the amusement park: ''Beverly Park: L.A.'s Kiddieland, 1943–74''. == Photo Gallery ==

File:Motorama 2.jpg| Beverly Park's ride named Motorama, Los Angeles, California, U.S. File:Ponyland 3.jpg| Family at Beverly Park, Los Angeles, California, U.S. File:Ponyland 4.jpg| Child at Ponyland, Los Angeles, California, U.S. File:Kid on a pony.jpg| Child riding a pony, Ponyland, Los Angeles, California, U.S. == See also ==