Eldorado Amusement Park Explained

Eldorado Amusement Park was a 25-acre (10.12 ha) amusement park that opened in 1891 in the Highwood Park section of Weehawken, New Jersey.[1] [2] It operated as an amusement grounds through 1894,[3] after which time the main building, the Casino, was used to host boxing matches and other athletic events and vaudeville performances.[4] [5] A massive fire in the early morning of November 4, 1898, destroyed the building.[6]

Founding

Eldorado was formed by local prominent political and business leaders through the creation of the Palisades Amusement and Exhibition Company[7] [8] [9] with Bolossy Kiralfy, one of the Kiralfy Brothers, being named as General Manager/Amusement Director.[8] One of the principals of the company was Hillric J. Bonn; he was the founder of street railways and he directly or indirectly owned large parcels of land in Hudson County, New Jersey.[10] [11]

The Palisades Amusement And Exhibition Company also published the show program for Auguste Francioli's Egypt Through Centuries in 1892.[12] [13]

Attractions and themes

In 1891, Kiralfy's King Solomon's Mine was the opening production in the park's amphitheater[14] Augusto Francioli's 'Egypt Through Centuries' was the theater's 1892 season show, one of numerous Egyptian Theaters of the 19th and 20th centuries in America. The five acts depicting 110 years of Egyptian history depicted, in some part, the virgin sacrifice to Osiris.[14] Kiralfy's King Solomon show was also produced during the Eldorado's 1893 season.[15]

The park stated it was "the most beautiful amusement resort in the world"[16] with the amphitheatre having a claimed seating capacity from 12,000[17] or 15,000 persons.[8]

Subsequent use

The park was the location of "The Castle" which was the studio of Karl Bitter[18] until 1898.[19] Residential neighborhoods[1] and commercial development now occupy the original area.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Beck, Henry C.. Tales and Towns of Northern New Jersey. 1983. Rutgers University Press. November 25, 2012. 286. 9780813510194.
  2. Book: Real Estate Record and Builders' Guide, Volume 74. 1904. F.W. Dodge Corporation. November 25, 2012. from "Highwood Park" on the south which was the scene of the former Eldorado festivals.
  3. "Eldorado to Reopen". Evening [Jersey] Journal. April 28, 1894. p. 6
  4. "North Hudson [news]". Evening [Jersey] Journal. Nov. 29, 1895. p.4
  5. "Events in the Ring". Evening [Jersey] Journal. March 29, 1897. p. 4
  6. Eickmann, Walter T. "Eldorado," in History of West New York, New Jersey. Golden Jubilee Committee, West New York. 1948. p. 72-77
  7. Web site: Weehawken Time Machine website. December 3, 2012.
  8. News: A Big Amusement Scheme. New York Times. December 14, 1890. December 3, 2012.
  9. Web site: Palisades Amusement and Exhibition Company.
  10. Book: New Jersey. Court of Chancery, New Jersey. Prerogative Court, New Jersey. Court of Errors and Appeals. 1907. 69. Court Of Chancery. New Jersey. Prerogative Court. New Jersey. Court Of Errors And Appeals. New Jersey.
  11. Web site: John Hillric Bonn. Genealogical History Of Hudson And Bergen Counties New Jersey.
  12. Web site: Egypt through the Centuries. Augusto Francioli. Francioli. Augusto. 1892.
  13. Book: Weehawken. 9780738562681. Sherman. Lauren. Gaulkin. Ellen Robb. 2009.
  14. Book: Sherman, Lauren. Weehawken. 2009. Arcadia Publishing. 32–33. Ellen Robb Gaulkin. November 25, 2012. 9780738562681.
  15. News: New Features At Eldorado - A Thrilling Aerial Feat by a Female Trapeze Performer. New York Times. August 6, 1893.
  16. Web site: Program page from 'Egypt Through Centuries'(ca.1892). WeehawkenHistory.org.
  17. Web site: Program page back 'Eldorado '(ca. 1892). WeehawkenHistory.org.
  18. Web site: The Castle and Bitter Studio (undated photograph). WeehawkenHistory.org. December 3, 2012. March 3, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234654/http://www.weehawkenhistory.org/view_item.php?id=20060008&back=0&category=Karl%20Bitter.
  19. Book: Grissom, Carol A.. Zinc Sculpture in America: 1850-1950. 2009. Associated University Presse. November 25, 2012. 431. 9780874130317.

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