Michael R. Virgintino Interview Part 3
Dublin Core
Title
Michael R. Virgintino Interview Part 3
Description
Michael R. Virgintino, the author of Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive History, talks about the real reason why Freedom U.S.A. closed and how some of ts rides where sold to other amusement parks.
Creator
Yonkers Public Library
Source
Michael R. Virgintino
Publisher
Yonkers Public Library
Date
5/13/2019
Relation
Interview with Michael R. Virgintino:
http://archive.ypl.org/items/show/594
Interview with Michael R. Virgintino Part 2:
http://archive.ypl.org/items/show/660
http://archive.ypl.org/items/show/594
Interview with Michael R. Virgintino Part 2:
http://archive.ypl.org/items/show/660
Format
MP3
Identifier
2019.029,003
Oral History Item Type Metadata
Interviewer
Michael Walsh
Interviewee
Michael R. Virgintino
Location
Grinton I. Will Library
Original Format
MP3
Time Summary
00:26-Freedomland U.S.A. lasts 5 seasons.
00:36-The 1964 World's Fair did not close Freedomland.
1:38-William Zeckendorf Sr. owner of land where Freedomland was built.
2:12-Land where Freedomland was built was originally by the Butler family who were part owners of Yonkers raceway.
3:56-Land transaction between the Butler family and Zuckendorf.
5:00-Freedomland breaks ground in 1959.
5:16-Zuckendorf's company Webb and Knapp begins losing money.
5:46-Book-keeping problems.
6:36-Zuckendorf borrowing money for mortgages and expenses.
7:28-In June 1964, Zuckendorf sells 25 million dollars of land that houses part of Freedomland to the Pension Fund of the Teamster's Union.
9:40-Plans to save Freedomland U.S.A.
11:57-Freedomland meant to last five years.
13:15-Pilings in ground to test overflow from Hudson River.
14:50-Tornado ride sold to Kennywood and then Storytown.
16:15-Ads about rides at Freedomland being available for sale.
16:55-San Francisco section part of Freedomland blocked off.
17:20-Staff informed of possible layoffs.
17:50-September 15, 1964 Freedomland files for bankruptcy.
18:55-Buccaneer and Earthquake rides sold to Cedar Point.
20:22-Storytown purchases Danny the Dragon.
21:36: Clark's Trading Post purchases Chicago Train Station and Santa Fe Train Station.
23:50-Teamster's Union Pension Fund saved with building of Co-Op City.
25:05-Plaque to Freedomland U.S.A.
26:35-"Freedomland just a placeholder for the land"-Zuckendorf quote in newspaper.
28:41- Rumor that amusement park owner Charlie Wood found Freedomland records that contradict each other.
30:00-Flooding in Co-op City.
00:36-The 1964 World's Fair did not close Freedomland.
1:38-William Zeckendorf Sr. owner of land where Freedomland was built.
2:12-Land where Freedomland was built was originally by the Butler family who were part owners of Yonkers raceway.
3:56-Land transaction between the Butler family and Zuckendorf.
5:00-Freedomland breaks ground in 1959.
5:16-Zuckendorf's company Webb and Knapp begins losing money.
5:46-Book-keeping problems.
6:36-Zuckendorf borrowing money for mortgages and expenses.
7:28-In June 1964, Zuckendorf sells 25 million dollars of land that houses part of Freedomland to the Pension Fund of the Teamster's Union.
9:40-Plans to save Freedomland U.S.A.
11:57-Freedomland meant to last five years.
13:15-Pilings in ground to test overflow from Hudson River.
14:50-Tornado ride sold to Kennywood and then Storytown.
16:15-Ads about rides at Freedomland being available for sale.
16:55-San Francisco section part of Freedomland blocked off.
17:20-Staff informed of possible layoffs.
17:50-September 15, 1964 Freedomland files for bankruptcy.
18:55-Buccaneer and Earthquake rides sold to Cedar Point.
20:22-Storytown purchases Danny the Dragon.
21:36: Clark's Trading Post purchases Chicago Train Station and Santa Fe Train Station.
23:50-Teamster's Union Pension Fund saved with building of Co-Op City.
25:05-Plaque to Freedomland U.S.A.
26:35-"Freedomland just a placeholder for the land"-Zuckendorf quote in newspaper.
28:41- Rumor that amusement park owner Charlie Wood found Freedomland records that contradict each other.
30:00-Flooding in Co-op City.
Files
Collection
Citation
Yonkers Public Library, “Michael R. Virgintino Interview Part 3,” Yonkers Public Library Archive, accessed May 1, 2024, http://archive.ypl.org/items/show/661.