Noontime Nuggetz: How About A Trip Back To Willow Grove Amusement Park?
This is actually way before our time, but yep, Willow Grove Park existed — from 1896 until 1975, no less. This footage, compiled from the ’50s, ’60s and early ’70s, is from a forthcoming DVD from the folks who bring you The Secret Cinema.
Update: The Secret Cinema that does screenings around the city has nothing to do with the Secret Cinema that posted this clip to YouTube. Go figure. See note in the comments.
January 9th, 2012 at 7:38 pm
Music Capital of America. And this is what they were rocking out to, way back in the day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6Dd0EaEbqg
January 9th, 2012 at 7:46 pm
50,000 would show up to hear John Philip Sousa rock the pavilion: http://www.wgpark.com/page.asp?page=8
January 10th, 2012 at 12:52 am
That Youtube post is NOT brought to you by my Secret Cinema, and I have never issued any DVDs. That film looks pretty cool, but I sure wish whoever posted it chose another
name.
They appear, from their other Youtube offering, to be based in Philadelphia, so it sure seems likely they know about the project I’ve been doing as the Secret Cinema for 20 years now.
Since I’ve started Secret Cinema, there have been a growing number of things called Secret Cinema. Some I don’t mind (the techno band that has been around as long as me,
for example), but I hate when it’s attached to film-viewing related projects that came later. It’s doubly exasperating to see someone doing that in Philly, and with the same kinds of old orphan films that I have championed for so long.
Jay Schwartz
The Secret Cinema
http://www.thesecretcinema.com