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rare and highly collectible c. 1930's american depression-era single-sided riverside amusement park "do not stand up" cautionary porcelain enameled sign
  • rare and highly collectible c. 1930's american depression-era single-sided riverside amusement park "do not stand up" cautionary porcelain enameled sign
  • rare and highly collectible c. 1930's american depression-era single-sided riverside amusement park "do not stand up" cautionary porcelain enameled sign
  • rare and highly collectible c. 1930's american depression-era single-sided riverside amusement park "do not stand up" cautionary porcelain enameled sign
  • rare and highly collectible c. 1930's american depression-era single-sided riverside amusement park "do not stand up" cautionary porcelain enameled sign
  • rare and highly collectible c. 1930's american depression-era single-sided riverside amusement park "do not stand up" cautionary porcelain enameled sign
  • rare and highly collectible c. 1930's american depression-era single-sided riverside amusement park "do not stand up" cautionary porcelain enameled sign
  • rare and highly collectible c. 1930's american depression-era single-sided riverside amusement park "do not stand up" cautionary porcelain enameled sign
  • rare and highly collectible c. 1930's american depression-era single-sided riverside amusement park "do not stand up" cautionary porcelain enameled sign
  • rare and highly collectible c. 1930's american depression-era single-sided riverside amusement park "do not stand up" cautionary porcelain enameled sign
  • rare and highly collectible c. 1930's american depression-era single-sided riverside amusement park "do not stand up" cautionary porcelain enameled sign
  • rare and highly collectible c. 1930's american depression-era single-sided riverside amusement park "do not stand up" cautionary porcelain enameled sign
rare and highly collectible c. 1930's american depression-era single-sided riverside amusement park "do not stand up" cautionary porcelain enameled sign

rare and highly collectible c. 1930's american depression-era single-sided riverside amusement park "do not stand up" cautionary porcelain enameled sign

SKU: UR-19698-14
documented c. 1930's hard to find and highly collectible all original american depression era riverview amusement park "do not stand up" cautionary or warning sign fabricated by the veribrite sign company, chicago, il. the single-sided rectangular-shaped die cut steel amusement park ride sign contains a porcelain enameled finish with bold cobalt blue lettering against a solid white background. the outdoor sign does contain surface rust and general wear consistent with age. the outer edges of the sign contains small holes four mounting purposes. riverview park was an popular amusement park located on the north side of chicago. riverview opened in 1904 and closed (and was subsequently demolished) in 1967. riverview amusement park was (sometimes disputably) billed as "the world’s largest amusement park" throughout its 64-year popularity. german sharpshooter park, as the area that would become riverview was known as during the late 1800’s, was a shooting range and picnic grounds owned by the wealthy schmidt family. soon after its opening in 1904, wilhelm’s son george began to expand the park with ideas he had picked up in europe from parks such as tivoli gardens. one of these ideas was riverview’s famous 70-horse carousel, commissioned from a group of swiss-italian carvers employed by the philadelphia toboggan company and installed in 1908. riverview’s popularity grew during the early 1900’s as a ballroom and a roller rink were built for entertainment during the winter season. the riverview boosters club, started in 1919, sponsored events such as an armistice day party and membership drives throughout the early twenties. during prohibition, the many beer-drinking german patrons of riverview found the park’s picnic grounds continuing to flow freely with beer, even with some interruptions from federal agents. chicago political machines also made good use of the popularity of riverview during the 1920’s. mayor "big bill" thompson sponsored free childrens’ days at riverview and paid the western ave. streetcar fare during the summer. the great depression of the 1930’s greatly affected riverview, as it did most entertainment industries. during the early 1930’s a devastating fire burned down one of the earlier fun houses, called the bug house, and sections of the derby racing coaster. even without excess cash flow, chicagoans continued to find ways to go to riverview as is evidenced by george schmidt’s introduction of the foot-long hot dog during the thirties. riverview was most known for the "bobs roller coaster." other popular coasters included the comet, silver flash, fireball and the jetstream. aladdin's castle was a classic fun house with a collapsing stairway, mazes and turning barrel. shoot the chutes, hades, the rotor, tilt-a-whirl, wild mouse, the tunnel of love and the flying cars were just a few of the many classic rides. "the pair-o-chutes at riverview park'll shake us up all day" is a line from the beach boys' song "amusement parks u.s.a." from their 1965 album summer days (and summer nights!!). the closing of riverview at the end of the 1967 season was a shock to many people. real estate prices in that downtown area were rising rapidly and the union labor and private police and fire departments, not to mention yearly repairs on the aging rides, cost the park more and more money. the park was purchased by a lasalle street investment firm on october 3, 1967 for an estimated 6.5 million dollars and promptly demolished. the merry-go-round and several smaller artifacts were saved. the former grounds are now home to riverview plaza shopping center, the belmont district police station, devry university, a manufacturing company and richard clark park, part of the chicago park district. the south end of clark park has a wooded area where many of the riverview park foundations are still visible and is currently used as a bicycle dirt jump and pump track park maintained by the chicago area mountain bikers. a sculpture entitled riverview by local artist jerry peart stands in front of the police station.

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