The Freedomland Timeline

May 1, 1959	Freedomland project announced by William Zeckendorf, president of the real estate firm of Webb & Knapp, Inc
May 21, 1959	City Planning Commission approves map change to aid Freedomland
May 25, 1959	C.V Wood, Jr. president of Marco Eng. Corp. of LA and General Manager, Disneyland from 1954 - 56, announces Freedomland project at news conference. Cost estimated at 16 million dollars.
May 26, 1959	Full description of the Freedomland project as written up in the New York Times. Cost estimated at 65 million dollars.
June 12, 1959	Estimate board gives full final authorization
July 21, 1959	Freedomland stock is offered to the public
August 12, 1959	R.E. Carpenter, Jr. is elected director
August 26, 1959	Groundbreaking ceremonies begin
March 24, 1960	Six small unfinished buildings are razed by fire
April 29, 1960	Park attractions described in NY Times
May 11, 1960	Bank of NY branch to operate in Freedomland as a model bank of 1850
June 12, 1960	Freedomland, USA nears completion
June 18, 1960	Freedomland, USA is dedicated with 5,000 people in attendance
June 19, 1960	Freedomland, USA officially opens in the Bronx with 25,000 people in attendance
June 19, 1960	Freedomland, USA debuts on the Ed Sullivan show as Disneyland’s equal on East Coast
June 20, 1960	Freedomland is forced to stop selling tickets because of traffic snarls
June 25, 1960	Ten hurt as stagecoach overturns in Great Plains section of Freedomland; park denies any involvement in forcing photographer to expose picture of accident
June 26, 1960	Three victims hospitalized; one with a snapped spine
August 28, 1960	Front office robbed of $28,836 by four armed men making their getaway in a boat
September 12, 1960	Three held in robbery incident
September 18, 1960	Freedomland reduces amount of open days
September 20, 1960	International Recreation Corp. considers purchasing three NYC hotels from Zeckendorf Hotels Corp. to provide more working capital
October 5, 1960	Three companies file liens totaling $140,000 against Webb & Knapp
November 11, 1960	Lien filed by Turner Construction Company for $3,648,000
May 24, 1961	Freedomland needs eight million in refinancing to bring the park out of debt.
June 10,1961	International Recreation Corp. approves giving Webb & Knapp total company control
June 11, 1961	Freedomland’s second season opens
June 19, 1961	Families and guests of UN delegates attend Freedomland
August 18, 1961	Three jailed for1960 robbery
November 7, 1961	W. Zeckendorf Jr. named Chairman, R. Levy is named President and G.A.Hamid, Jr. is named Executive VP
March 21, 1962	A.K. Moss named Executive VP and General Manager
May 27, 1962	Freedomland’s third season opens
June 28, 1962	Announce special "family vacation" admission
August 13, 1962	Benny Goodman Orchestra in concert at Freedomland
September 5, 1962	Benjamin Moore sues to void their lease for exhibit space and collect $150,000 in damages ;also sues for "historical and educational" changes in parks character to appeal to teens and jazz enthusiasts
September 21, 1962	NYS Supreme Court dismisses suit
Summer, 1963	Addition of bumper cars, a roller coaster and a Last Supper made of wax
April 22, 1964	NY World’s Fair opens
July 1, 1964	Webb & Knapp transfers 60% interest in International Recreation Corp. and its subsidiary Freedomland, to National Development Corp.
September 14, 1964	Freedomland files for bankruptcy. Sites World’s Fair as loss of patronage.

Copyright ©2000
Susan Friedman

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