Welcome to Part 2 of our Remembering Freedomland special feature. Today, we will be continuing our interview with Ben Rossi, a former entertainer of the now defunct park. If you missed Part 1 then be sure to read it here. Thanks again to Ben for taking the time to answer our questions. Now on to the interview.
Freedomland closed for good after the 1964 season. How and when did you learn that the park was closing forever? How did it make you feel?
As I recall, it was only several weeks into the 1964 season. At that time, I was told that the park was having financial difficulties and that the decision had been made to lay off all the performers. However, I was also told that the park was to continue operating, at least through the conclusion of the 1964 season, and that the park would like to retain some entertainment if at all possible. Accordingly, I was asked if there was any way I could think of to make money operating as an independent contractor. After thinking it over, I and only about 3 other performers, floated the idea of putting on shows daily in what had been the Pepsi Cola Opera House, and charging admission. Ultimately, “the executives”, (the term used for management in those days) agreed and so continued on throughout the 1964 season. As it turns out, I was fortuitously able to make more from these shows (sometimes 6 or 7 per day) than my earlier contract provided, so I was a pretty happy guy and a very lucky one, as well. Of course, the news of the park’s possible permanent closing was sad for all concerned, and the news came amidst all sorts of rumors, including that the park would re-open, that only part of the park would reopen (about two-thirds as I recall) and the most prevalent, that the two-year World’s Fair was the final blow for Freedomland, and that the land was going to be redeveloped for other purposes.
It’s such a shame that such a fantastic sounding park such as Freedomland had to close its doors. At least it was able to stay open for a few years, unlike recent park failures such as Wild West World and Hard Rock/Freestyle Music Park. Do you know what happened to the land and the attractions after the park closed?
Of course I left the area after the conclusion of the 1964 season, but did learn later that the property (mostly the parking lot, as I understand it) was turned into the now-existing Co-Op City. I believe there is also a shopping center now occupying part of the property but this is only what I know from others, as I have never been back.
Through some of my research I found out that two of the dark rides actually ended up at Cedar Point, Earthquake and the Pirate Ride, while Tornado landed at Kennywood. Is Freedomland comparable to any theme parks or themed lands within a theme park around today?
Notwithstanding the new technologies of today that did not exist at that time, I would rank Freedomland only second to Walt Disney World, keeping in mind that Disney had, and has, many more resources to call upon, including its characters, the animated film library, all the “imagineering” talent from its motion picture studio, and of course the immediate name recognition. However, if I was comparing the quality of all parks, as they existed on their respective opening days – in that time period – I would personally rank Freedomland number one. That conclusion is in no way meant to diminish Disneyland, but Freedomland was larger (about 210 acres), and was themed to our rich American history, as opposed to Disney fantasy. Moreover, like Disney, Freedomland had access to some of the best entertainment talent and creative minds in the world, many of whom were from New York City, and others that migrated east who also worked on the construction of Disneyland.
After working in the park for four of its five seasons, what did you do when the after the park closed? Did you ever work in the theme park industry again?
The answer to that question would be yes, definitely! In fact, my life since Freedomland has been mostly within the theme park industry. After leaving Freedomland, I worked at a smaller park called Floridaland, near Venice, Florida, first as Entertainment Director, then Creative Director for our Dinner Theater, and eventually General Manager. Other parks included Pioneer City and Pirate’s World, both in Florida, Storytown and Gaslight Village, in Lake George, New York, then later I became the Corporate Director of Live Shows, for National Recreation Service, owners of Ghost Town in the Sky, Frontierland and Six Gun Territory. National also owned several older parks, including Willow Grove, Ghost Town in the Glen, and Fontaine Ferry Park, in Louisville. In December, 1978, I joined the Entertainment Division at Walt Disney World, where I eventually became General Manager of Resort Entertainment. I remained with Disney through the opening of Epcot, in 1982, and then left the company in 1984, to form Benros International Productions. Our new company produced theme park shows, both nationally and internationally. In fact, soon after in 1985, I contracted with Walt Disney World to produce a stunt show in the Frontierland section of the Magic Kingdom. That show continued for about 9 years. During that time, I also worked as a consultant for Disney on both the Indiana Jones stunt show, and the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show, for what was then to be Euro Disney. Finally, for about 20 years, I operated Benros International Productions, producing shows for Bellewaerde Park, in Belgium, Phantasialand, in Germany, Leofoo Park in Taiwan and several of the Six Flags parks, here in the United States.
You’ve certainly had quite the career it seems! Floridaland is another park I have never heard of before. Perhaps that will have to be the subject of our next feature! From your point of view, why did the Freedomland fail and close its gates after only five seasons?
The prevailing wisdom is that Freedomland closed because of the two-year New York World’s Fair, which came along in 1964, then continued through the summer of 1965. However, there are other reasons given, such as too short a regular season, primarily June, July and August, and the very harsh winters which caused mandatory and very expensive rehabs each spring. Then there were the to-be-expected New York union problems, which were almost too numerous to count, all of which I’m told combined to drive payrolls to heights never before seen within the amusement industry. Finally, there were other more sinister rumors about Freedomland’s demise, including those that implied that it was all just part of a grand scheme, with motives and strategies too convoluted for most of us to easily wrap our minds around. Nevertheless, such allegations still persist to this day.
Wow, that kind of sounds like the whole Cedar Fair/Geauga Lake conspiracy theory all over again. Thanks again to Ben for taking the time to answer our questions.
In parting, I can only say for myself that I loved Freedomland and would like to include a passage from the Freedomland section of my website, located at http://www.benros.com, which probably sums up fairly accurately my lasting impression of Freedomland. It reads:
“Of all the theme parks with which I have been associated, including the fabulous and remarkable Walt Disney World, none has left me with nostalgic recollections as treasured as those of Freedomland USA, because of the park’s straight-forward celebration of America, and her illustrious history.”
For more information be sure to visit Ben’s Freedomland section on his website.
Can’t get enough Freedomland? For even more information check out Bob Mangel’s website. This Saturday, Bob has actually organized a 50th anniversary remembrance day at Barnes & Noble on the actual former site of the park. He is doing a presentation that day and seeing other fans of the park.
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