The Interpreter Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 And yes, it's true. In fact, the park's eventual closure was allied to this: ...What Johnson and other African-American children knew was that life isn't fair; they did not have a seat at the table. As Louisvillian Eleanor Jordan recalls, "There was an amusement park not far from where we lived. We didn't have air conditioning when I was growing up. Not many people did then in my neighborhood. My dad would pile us in the car and take us for rides sometimes on really hot evenings. ... [M]y sisters and I, and sometimes my brother would be with us, whenever we passed the amusement park, we would see the lights, the big Ferris wheel that had green lights on it. We would always ask the same question: 'Can we go?' My mother and father would almost simultaneously say, 'No, you can't go.' We'd kind of sit there and then as we passed it, we'd say, 'Well, why can't we go?' That's when there was a deafening silence in the car. My mother's eyes would always fill up with tears, and my father would just kind of look away, and we knew something was wrong. Eventually she'd turn around and she'd say, 'Well, one day we'll be able to go.'"... http://www.courier-journal.com/article/200...ent+in+Kentucky Two things: * Note that the Courier Journal would apparently not even allow a reference to the name of the park. Barry Bingham would have, but Gannett, no way. * For those who think this does not belong here, I beg to differ. Our past is important, as is how much society has changed. This is NOT the place for a political discussion, and I don't intend this to start one. I do think it important that we know the history of the business that entertains and excites us all here. And it is not all pretty. Much of it is. Some of it is not. Still doubt this? See: http://www.newsandtribune.com/opinion/loca..._112175103.html I HIGHLY recommend that story. It also ends somewhat differently than you might expect, if you do not know the Fontaine Ferry story. There are many other sources that say the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WooferBearATL Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Reminds us of how far we have come as a country in such a short period of time. Still a lot of room for improvement but still a lot of movement on civil rights issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beast1979 Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Great to see how far our country has come from things such as this. I'm glad I live in a point in time in which things such as this are not problems anymore. It's good to see that our nation can move on and correct wrongs such as the civil rights of the 60s, giving everyone a fair and decent opportunity to enjoy life in this country. And seeing as how it has an amusement park for a backdrop, it makes for a wonderful story of our history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avatar Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Yes I echo what everyone has pretty much said so far. I enjoy the article very much as it related to the amusement park industry and the way some parks handled the segregation issue. I think much can be learned through that time and how segregation impacted society and business, obviously more than others but also in different ways. I think sometimes we dwell and look down on our past instead of taking pride and joy of how far this country has come and to motivate ourselves to do more in this area. I mean as a whole we are a better country after segregation so we should apply what we have learned and always seek equality of the individual. Interpreter thanks for posting these articles, you have actually peeked an interest in me to seek out more articles of that time and the amusement park industry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KYJoe Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 If you happen to be in Louisville this is a pretty good exhibit at the Frazier museum. http://www.fromyourmemory.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted July 30, 2009 Author Share Posted July 30, 2009 Never before seen video of Fontaine Ferry unveiled: ... Now WHAS11 News has a fascinating new update to that story. Old color film just found in the basement of a local video producer is showing moving pictures of the park never seen before. The memories are captured in color, but in silent film. One thing stands out; no African American faces. Blacks were forbidden entrance until 1964. On opening day five years later, now forty years ago, racial tension sparked a riot that closed Fontaine Ferry that day. It never opened again. The film has been put together on a DVD by Tim Young Productions and turned over to the Frazier Museum. Their exhibit of Fountaine Ferry runs until September 8th.... http://www.whas11.com/topstories/stories/w...k.8b4c506f.html A link to a video appears at the top of the article. If you want to see it, please visit the webpage (to keep us all in compliance with the copyright laws...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveStroem Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 Thanks for the update. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted February 6, 2010 Author Share Posted February 6, 2010 Upon the closing of Kentucky Kingdom, a posted memory of Fontaine Ferry (and if you haven't seen this thread before, I highly commend reading it from post 1): http://www.louisvillemojo.com/blogs/Louisville_Blogs/84680/Weep_Not_for_Six_Flags__but_for_Fontaine_Ferry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.