#david forsyth

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[johnnyonespur]

Lakeside

Stuff I’ve learned about (so far) Lakeside Amusement Park from reading Denver’s Lakeside Amusement Park: From the White City Beautiful to a Century of Fun, by David Forsyth:

The Cyclone roller coaster dates from 1940.

The Satellite Ride is from 1958, while The Whip is from 1913.

The dock and lighthouse are from 1938; the Hurricane, Loop-o-Plane, Rock-o-Plane, and Roll-o-Plane are all from the late 1930s.

The Tower of Jewels is 150′ high and 30′ square. You used to be able to go up there to an observation deck.

The fancy marble backbar in the Eatway was rescued from the old Denver Union Station.

The only things that are original to the 1908 park are the Tower of Jewels, the Merry-Go-Round, and the miniature train (which has since been modified).

Architect Richard Crowther did the art-deco-style ticket booths at the Hurricane, Cyclone, and Whip.

The Matterhorn is from 1974.

So far, I’ve read about three people who died at Lakeside, all on the Cyclone. One was in 1944 (the ride’s brakes stopped working--the ride was stopped, but further down the track than where it should have stopped. A lady climbed out, fell and hit her head, and later died), and two guys (both servicemen) in the later 1940s who died when standing up on the ride and hitting their heads on the structure. On the other hand, Elitch’s had a fire in the Tunnel of Love boat ride that killed six people, all in one go. So, you know...

Reading the book is really cool, and I can’t wait to go back with my newfound Lakeside knowledge, but I have to say, some of what’s gone or no longer accessible is disappointing. Like, I understand that you don’t need a swimming pool, and a ballroom is probably obsolete. But I would love to have the observation deck on the Tower of Jewels open. Or the fancy Casino restaurant, with its open porches. Or the theater.

Honestly, if Lakeside did historical tours, where they took you into all the old buildings, I would pay $200 for that ticket.

[gdusil]

Education • Photo Restoration • 51 • Gabičko • High School

• Physics was my passion as far back as high school. It’s thanks to Mr. V. Cantlon, my grade 13 physics teacher from Aldershot Secondary School.  He was also my favorite teacher from middle school.  The subject wasn’t particularly my strong point, but I felt I enjoyed the subject enough to pursue it into my undergraduate studies.

• My other favorite teacher was Mrs. L. Tessler, my ninth and…

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Alexander, Felicia, and John of Another World photographed by Robert Milazzo for a cover story for the June 17, 1997, issue of Soap Opera Magazine.