Chicagoist Weekend Theater: Home Movies From Riverview Amusement Park

By Lisa White in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 7, 2015 8:40PM

We're big fans of the Chicago Film Archives here at Chicagoist and the hard work they do to preserve and showcase Chicago's history through film. We also remember fondly Riverview Amusement Park, a highlight for many Chicago children growing up. Today we enjoy some footage CFA has shared from a home movie collection of Riverview and the many rides and attractions that kept the park busy with crowds.

Once located at Belmont and Western, Riverview had a variety of rides and fun attractions for families to enjoy. Unfortunately the park was shuttered and demolished in 1967, the only reminder of a bygone era being the Western-Belmont overpass which was originally opened in 1962 to help alleviate traffic from Riverview. Now it soon will be a piece of history as well.

Thanks to the family of Henry Wilczynski we can relive a fun part of the past and imagine riding the many rides of Riverview. Wilczynski was a baker (we've shared some of his cookies on film before) and his nephew donated the footage to CFA. As DNAinfo Chicago points out, the Wilczynski family collection contains 19 reels of home movies.

Let's jump into the past and pick out our favorite rides to enjoy. Obviously a big standout was the parachute jump, although we also like the spinning contraption at the 49 second mark that vaguely looks like two hot dogs in the air. And who would pass up a chance to attend the free atomic energy exhibit? Although the film is silent, we can perfectly imagine the cheers from happy riders and amusement park music piped through the air on a sunny afternoon.