["itemContainer",{"xmlns:xsi":"http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance","xsi:schemaLocation":"http://omeka.org/schemas/omeka-xml/v5 http://omeka.org/schemas/omeka-xml/v5/omeka-xml-5-0.xsd","uri":"http://archive.ypl.org/items/browse?tags=Michael+R.+Virgintino&sort_field=added&sort_dir=a&output=omeka-json","accessDate":"2026-03-07T10:41:02-05:00"},["miscellaneousContainer",["pagination",["pageNumber","1"],["perPage","10"],["totalResults","3"]]],["item",{"itemId":"594","public":"1","featured":"0"},["fileContainer",["file",{"fileId":"680"},["src","http://archive.ypl.org/files/original/c711f7818a6984a850eb716a57a939cf.mp3"],["authentication","56003b54076c9eb3e81b31f95e0cbabb"]]],["collection",{"collectionId":"23"},["elementSetContainer",["elementSet",{"elementSetId":"1"},["name","Dublin Core"],["description","The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/."],["elementContainer",["element",{"elementId":"50"},["name","Title"],["description","A name given to the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5881"},["text","Freedomland U.S.A."]]]],["element",{"elementId":"41"},["name","Description"],["description","An account of the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5882"},["text","This collection contains oral history interviews with author Michael R. Virgintino, author of <em><strong>Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive</strong></em><strong> History</strong>, about the Freedomland U.S.A. amusement park. Photographs are included to provide a visual guide to the interviews.<br /><br />Mr. Virgintino explains the history of the land (originially owned by the Butler family who were owners of Yonkers Raceway) and how it was transformed to Freedomland U.S.A. by real estate developer William Zuckendor. Co-Op City currently resides on top of the land that was once Freedomland U.S.A."]]]],["element",{"elementId":"39"},["name","Creator"],["description","An entity primarily responsible for making the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5883"},["text","Freedomland U.S.A."]]]],["element",{"elementId":"48"},["name","Source"],["description","A related resource from which the described resource is derived"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5884"},["text","Michael R. Virgintino\r\nBilly Collins\r\n"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"45"},["name","Publisher"],["description","An entity responsible for making the resource available"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5885"},["text","Yonkers Public Library"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"42"},["name","Format"],["description","The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6664"},["text","MP3\r\nJPEG"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"38"},["name","Coverage"],["description","The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"11523"},["text","Freedomland U.S.A, 1960-1964."]]]]]]]],["itemType",{"itemTypeId":"4"},["name","Oral History"],["description","A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge."],["elementContainer",["element",{"elementId":"2"},["name","Interviewer"],["description","The person(s) performing the interview"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5878"},["text","Michael Walsh"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"3"},["name","Interviewee"],["description","The person(s) being interviewed"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5879"},["text","Michael Virgintino"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"4"},["name","Location"],["description","The location of the interview"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5880"},["text","Grinton I. Will Library"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"16"},["name","Time Summary"],["description","A summary of an interview given for different time stamps throughout the interview"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6665"},["text","1:31-7 Themes at Freedomland U.S.A.\r\n1:50-Freedomland U.S.A. sparked interest in American history for Michael R. Virgintino.\r\n2:45-Michael R. Virgintino began writing about Freedomland 20 years ago.\r\n3:04-9 years ago Freedomland memory page is created on Facebook.\r\n4:51-Publisher approaches Michael R. Virgintino eight years ago  about writing a book.\r\n5:15-Book is put together by combining articles and online posts.\r\n6:38-Met 15-20 people who worked at Freedomland U.S..A.\r\n8:25: Newspaper ad about Freedomland was found in a newspaper from Sydney, Australia.\r\n9:27-People with connection to Freedomland reached out to Michael R. Virgintino after the book was published.\r\n10:29-Talking to character actors.\r\n11:51-Spoke to a woman who worked in hospitality at Freedomland that hosted celebrities.  \r\n13:11-Michael R. Virgintino describes the Civil War ride at Freedomland.\r\n14:11 Similarities of audio-animatronics at Disneyland and Freedomland.\r\n15:17-Cornelius Vanderbilt Wood, creator of Freedomland, working at Disneyland before creating Freedomland U.S.A.    "]]]]]],["elementSetContainer",["elementSet",{"elementSetId":"1"},["name","Dublin Core"],["description","The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/."],["elementContainer",["element",{"elementId":"50"},["name","Title"],["description","A name given to the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5870"},["text","Interview with author Michael R. Virgintino."]]]],["element",{"elementId":"41"},["name","Description"],["description","An account of the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5871"},["text","Michael R. Virgintino talks about writing the book <em><strong>Freedomland U.S..A.: The Definitive History</strong></em> and the history of the amusement park."]]]],["element",{"elementId":"48"},["name","Source"],["description","A related resource from which the described resource is derived"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5873"},["text","Michael R. Virgintino"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"45"},["name","Publisher"],["description","An entity responsible for making the resource available"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5874"},["text","Yonkers Public Library"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"40"},["name","Date"],["description","A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5875"},["text","4/16/2019"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"42"},["name","Format"],["description","The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5876"},["text","MP3"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"43"},["name","Identifier"],["description","An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5877"},["text","2019.029.001"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"46"},["name","Relation"],["description","A related resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6719"},["text","Michael R. Virgintino Interview Part 2:<br /><a href=\"http://archive.ypl.org/items/show/660\">http://archive.ypl.org/items/show/660</a><br /><br />Michael R. Virgintino Interview Part 3:<br /><a href=\"http://archive.ypl.org/items/show/661\">http://archive.ypl.org/items/show/661</a>"]]]]]]],["tagContainer",["tag",{"tagId":"79"},["name","Freedomland"]],["tag",{"tagId":"84"},["name","Michael R. Virgintino"]]]],["item",{"itemId":"660","public":"1","featured":"0"},["fileContainer",["file",{"fileId":"747"},["src","http://archive.ypl.org/files/original/ad19438deac3b8a07f2404603c36e1e2.mp3"],["authentication","834882c6c628ddb4ba46459e7c037bfa"]]],["collection",{"collectionId":"23"},["elementSetContainer",["elementSet",{"elementSetId":"1"},["name","Dublin Core"],["description","The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/."],["elementContainer",["element",{"elementId":"50"},["name","Title"],["description","A name given to the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5881"},["text","Freedomland U.S.A."]]]],["element",{"elementId":"41"},["name","Description"],["description","An account of the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5882"},["text","This collection contains oral history interviews with author Michael R. Virgintino, author of <em><strong>Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive</strong></em><strong> History</strong>, about the Freedomland U.S.A. amusement park. Photographs are included to provide a visual guide to the interviews.<br /><br />Mr. Virgintino explains the history of the land (originially owned by the Butler family who were owners of Yonkers Raceway) and how it was transformed to Freedomland U.S.A. by real estate developer William Zuckendor. Co-Op City currently resides on top of the land that was once Freedomland U.S.A."]]]],["element",{"elementId":"39"},["name","Creator"],["description","An entity primarily responsible for making the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5883"},["text","Freedomland U.S.A."]]]],["element",{"elementId":"48"},["name","Source"],["description","A related resource from which the described resource is derived"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5884"},["text","Michael R. Virgintino\r\nBilly Collins\r\n"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"45"},["name","Publisher"],["description","An entity responsible for making the resource available"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5885"},["text","Yonkers Public Library"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"42"},["name","Format"],["description","The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6664"},["text","MP3\r\nJPEG"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"38"},["name","Coverage"],["description","The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"11523"},["text","Freedomland U.S.A, 1960-1964."]]]]]]]],["itemType",{"itemTypeId":"4"},["name","Oral History"],["description","A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge."],["elementContainer",["element",{"elementId":"2"},["name","Interviewer"],["description","The person(s) performing the interview"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6529"},["text","Michael Walsh"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"3"},["name","Interviewee"],["description","The person(s) being interviewed"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6530"},["text","Michael R. Virgintino"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"4"},["name","Location"],["description","The location of the interview"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6531"},["text","Grinton I. Will Library"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"7"},["name","Original Format"],["description","The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6532"},["text","MP3"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"11"},["name","Duration"],["description","Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.)"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6533"},["text","27:34"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"16"},["name","Time Summary"],["description","A summary of an interview given for different time stamps throughout the interview"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6717"},["text","00:27-Freedomland-Shaped like the U.S.A.\r\n1:15-Little Old NY 1850s-1900\r\n1:32-Recreation of a bank that was functional.\r\n1:52-Breweries sponsored by F&M Shaefer.\r\n2:15-Tugboats.\r\n2:55-Horse-drawn street cars.\r\n3:41-Candy shops, ice cream parlor\r\n4:00-Recreation of original Macy's that was a function store.\r\n4:43: Horseless carriage ride-New England part of Freedomland.\r\n4:58-Welch's grape juice bar.\r\n5:13-Glass blowers and Morgan Press shop.\r\n5:51-Old Chicago-1871\r\n6:05-Chicago fire attraction.\r\n7:05-Recreation of the Great Lakes-sternwheelers.\r\n7:45-Chippewa war canoes.\r\n8:32-Chicago train station.\r\n9:03-Great Plains 1803-1900.\r\n9:12-Fort Cavalry-Old West setting.\r\n10:50-Stagecoach rides.\r\n11:08-Native American village.\r\n11:40-Mule-Go-Round\r\n12:03-Pony Express.\r\n12:30-San Francisco 1906-Earthquake attraction.\r\n13:30-Chinese restaurant.\r\n13:38-A &W root beer stand.\r\n13:48-Sea park.\r\n14:30-Northwest fur trapper ride.\r\n15:41-Old Southwest of 1890-Wild West theme, Casa Loca, Mine caverns.\r\n18:09-Hacienda restaurant sponsored by Libby's.\r\n18:20-Mexican market.\r\n18:36-New Orleans-Mardi Gras.\r\n18:45-Buccaneer ride.\r\n20:29-Tornado ride.\r\n22:02-Danny the Dragon train ride.\r\n22:51-Civil War attraction.\r\n23:46-Satellite City-Space attractions\r\n25:09-Wooden outdoor dance floor.\r\n25:27-Performances by Glenn Miller, Louie Armstrong, The Temptations. Stevie Wonder, etc."]]]]]],["elementSetContainer",["elementSet",{"elementSetId":"1"},["name","Dublin Core"],["description","The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/."],["elementContainer",["element",{"elementId":"50"},["name","Title"],["description","A name given to the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6520"},["text","Michael R. Virgintino Interview Part 2"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"41"},["name","Description"],["description","An account of the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6521"},["text","Michael R. Virgintino, author of <em><strong>Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive</strong></em><strong> History</strong>, talks about the layout of Freedomland U.S.A. and some of its attractions."]]]],["element",{"elementId":"48"},["name","Source"],["description","A related resource from which the described resource is derived"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6523"},["text","Michael. R. Virgintino"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"45"},["name","Publisher"],["description","An entity responsible for making the resource available"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6524"},["text","Yonkers Public Library"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"40"},["name","Date"],["description","A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6525"},["text","5/6/2019"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"46"},["name","Relation"],["description","A related resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6526"},["text","Interview with Michael R. Virgintino:<br /><a href=\"http://archive.ypl.org/items/show/594\">http://archive.ypl.org/items/show/594<br /><br /></a>Inteview with Michael R. Virgintino Part 3: <br /><a href=\"http://archive.ypl.org/items/show/661\">http://archive.ypl.org/items/show/661</a>"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"42"},["name","Format"],["description","The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6527"},["text","MP3"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"43"},["name","Identifier"],["description","An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6528"},["text","2019.029.002"]]]]]]],["tagContainer",["tag",{"tagId":"84"},["name","Michael R. Virgintino"]]]],["item",{"itemId":"661","public":"1","featured":"0"},["fileContainer",["file",{"fileId":"748"},["src","http://archive.ypl.org/files/original/c1c44e6f9993868e8c64de4f6de25c21.mp3"],["authentication","cc9f1b95a9264e606af7d61875e708d8"]]],["collection",{"collectionId":"23"},["elementSetContainer",["elementSet",{"elementSetId":"1"},["name","Dublin Core"],["description","The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/."],["elementContainer",["element",{"elementId":"50"},["name","Title"],["description","A name given to the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5881"},["text","Freedomland U.S.A."]]]],["element",{"elementId":"41"},["name","Description"],["description","An account of the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5882"},["text","This collection contains oral history interviews with author Michael R. Virgintino, author of <em><strong>Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive</strong></em><strong> History</strong>, about the Freedomland U.S.A. amusement park. Photographs are included to provide a visual guide to the interviews.<br /><br />Mr. Virgintino explains the history of the land (originially owned by the Butler family who were owners of Yonkers Raceway) and how it was transformed to Freedomland U.S.A. by real estate developer William Zuckendor. Co-Op City currently resides on top of the land that was once Freedomland U.S.A."]]]],["element",{"elementId":"39"},["name","Creator"],["description","An entity primarily responsible for making the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5883"},["text","Freedomland U.S.A."]]]],["element",{"elementId":"48"},["name","Source"],["description","A related resource from which the described resource is derived"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5884"},["text","Michael R. Virgintino\r\nBilly Collins\r\n"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"45"},["name","Publisher"],["description","An entity responsible for making the resource available"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5885"},["text","Yonkers Public Library"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"42"},["name","Format"],["description","The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6664"},["text","MP3\r\nJPEG"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"38"},["name","Coverage"],["description","The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"11523"},["text","Freedomland U.S.A, 1960-1964."]]]]]]]],["itemType",{"itemTypeId":"4"},["name","Oral History"],["description","A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge."],["elementContainer",["element",{"elementId":"2"},["name","Interviewer"],["description","The person(s) performing the interview"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6542"},["text","Michael Walsh"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"3"},["name","Interviewee"],["description","The person(s) being interviewed"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6543"},["text","Michael R. Virgintino"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"4"},["name","Location"],["description","The location of the interview"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6544"},["text","Grinton I. Will Library"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"7"},["name","Original Format"],["description","The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6545"},["text","MP3"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"16"},["name","Time Summary"],["description","A summary of an interview given for different time stamps throughout the interview"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6718"},["text","00:26-Freedomland U.S.A. lasts 5 seasons.\r\n00:36-The 1964 World's Fair did not close Freedomland.\r\n1:38-William Zeckendorf Sr. owner of land where Freedomland was built. \r\n2:12-Land where Freedomland was built was originally by the Butler family who were part owners of Yonkers raceway.\r\n3:56-Land transaction between the Butler family and Zuckendorf.\r\n5:00-Freedomland breaks ground in 1959.\r\n5:16-Zuckendorf's company Webb and Knapp begins losing money.\r\n5:46-Book-keeping problems.\r\n6:36-Zuckendorf borrowing money for mortgages and expenses.\r\n7:28-In June 1964, Zuckendorf sells 25 million dollars of land that houses part of Freedomland to the Pension Fund of the Teamster's Union.\r\n9:40-Plans to save Freedomland U.S.A.\r\n11:57-Freedomland meant to last five years.\r\n13:15-Pilings in ground to test overflow from Hudson River. \r\n14:50-Tornado ride sold to Kennywood and then Storytown.\r\n16:15-Ads about rides at Freedomland being available for sale.\r\n16:55-San Francisco section part of Freedomland blocked off.\r\n17:20-Staff informed of possible layoffs.\r\n17:50-September 15, 1964 Freedomland files for bankruptcy. \r\n18:55-Buccaneer and Earthquake rides sold to Cedar Point.\r\n20:22-Storytown purchases Danny the Dragon.\r\n21:36: Clark's Trading Post purchases Chicago Train Station and Santa Fe Train Station.\r\n23:50-Teamster's Union Pension Fund saved with building of Co-Op City.\r\n25:05-Plaque to Freedomland U.S.A.\r\n26:35-\"Freedomland just a placeholder for the land\"-Zuckendorf quote in newspaper.\r\n28:41- Rumor that amusement park owner Charlie Wood found Freedomland records that contradict each other.\r\n30:00-Flooding in Co-op City.\r\n"]]]]]],["elementSetContainer",["elementSet",{"elementSetId":"1"},["name","Dublin Core"],["description","The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/."],["elementContainer",["element",{"elementId":"50"},["name","Title"],["description","A name given to the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6534"},["text","Michael R. Virgintino Interview Part 3"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"48"},["name","Source"],["description","A related resource from which the described resource is derived"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6536"},["text","Michael R. Virgintino"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"45"},["name","Publisher"],["description","An entity responsible for making the resource available"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6537"},["text","Yonkers Public Library"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"40"},["name","Date"],["description","A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6538"},["text","5/13/2019"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"46"},["name","Relation"],["description","A related resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6539"},["text","Interview with Michael R. Virgintino:<br /><a href=\"http://archive.ypl.org/items/show/594\">http://archive.ypl.org/items/show/594</a><br /><br /><span>Interview with Michael R. Virgintino Part 2:<br /><a href=\"http://archive.ypl.org/items/show/660\">http://archive.ypl.org/items/show/660</a><br /></span>"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"42"},["name","Format"],["description","The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6540"},["text","MP3"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"43"},["name","Identifier"],["description","An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6541"},["text","2019.029,003"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"41"},["name","Description"],["description","An account of the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6546"},["text","Michael R. Virgintino, the author of <em><strong>Freedomland U.S.A.:  The Definitive History, </strong></em><strong> </strong>talks about the real reason why Freedom U.S.A. closed and how some of ts rides where sold to other amusement parks.<br /><br /><br />"]]]]]]],["tagContainer",["tag",{"tagId":"79"},["name","Freedomland"]],["tag",{"tagId":"84"},["name","Michael R. Virgintino"]]]]]