And during the war years, when gasoline was in short supply, the parks became increasingly popular for city folks unable to travel distances for summer getaways.Īmusement parks were also affordable. Carlin’s Park, at Reisterstown Road and Druid Park Avenue (also known as Park Circle), was an easy walk for many people. 32 to Liberty Heights to visit Gwynn Oak. 26 “red rocket” streetcar to Bay Shore Park in southeastern Baltimore County near Fort Howard (and disembark just beyond the roller coaster under which the streetcar passed) or the No. Because they were in and around the city, getting to them was easy. The parks were popular for several reasons. In the early 1920s, Baltimore boasted more than half a dozen amusement parks. In between, Baltimoreans- white Baltimoreans, that is- came by streetcar, school bus and on foot, with sweethearts or Sunday school classmates, to swim, ice skate, sashay across ballroom floors, play games of chance and ride dozens of inventive rides.
It was described in a Sun article as “notorious,” “ribald” and “a wild place” where the “only prohibition there was against smoking opium in the Old Mill.” And the era ended in the early 1970s with the drawn-out closure of Gwynn Oak Park.
Not so long ago, however, there was another species of amusement park.īefore Disney World and Space Mountain, Six Flags and steel roller coasters, you could ride the Racer Dip, the Mountain Speedway or the Sea Swing at one of Baltimore’s legendary amusement parks, sprawling entertainment complexes that were as affordable as they were grand.īaltimore’s amusement park era began in the late 19th century with the opening of places like the racy Hollywood Park, which was located on Back River and Eastern Avenue.
#Reggy spin block movie#
Today’s amusement parks fall into two categories: corporate Disney empires that feature attractions linked to movie blockbusters or trademarked characters- think “Pirates of the Caribbean” or Cinderella’s Castle- or the tantalizingly seedy carnivals that wander through town initiating the start of summer.
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