Before Playland

 

The Playland location at OCean beach started as a 19th-century squatter's settlement, "Mooneysville-by-the-Sea". Around 1884, a steam railroad was constructed to bring people to Ocean Beach. At that time Seal Rock Inn had been on Ocean Beach for almost 20 years. The Beach pavilion was built around 1884 and a "Thompson Gravity Railroad" (early roller coaster) was constructed next to the Pavilion. While the Seal rock Inn sported overnight accommodations the Beach Pavilion provided Concerts, dancing and a saloon. By the 1890's, many trolley lines reached the area of Ocean Beach:  The Ferries and Cliff House Railroad,  the Park & Ocean Railroad, and the Sutro Railroad. The better the access, the more people flocked to the beach looking for oceanside entertainment.  The Cliff House had been perched at Lands End since 1863, it now drew locals and tourists. The Sutro Baths had their official opening in March of 1896, drawing thousands of locals to see Sutro's Museums, Restaurants and the baths. As the 19th century came to a close, there was increased interest in the Ocean Beach area for entertainment. A variety of attractions were being opened, all by various independent concessionaires.  The Beach pavilion area started to become populated with Soda stands, Ice Cream stands, an Ostrich Farm and Sheehan's tavern on the corner of Fulton and Ocean Blvd (Great Highway).

 

 

CHUTES AT THE BEACH

 

Word got out to Charles ID Looff (1852-1918), who had come West with his successful Carousel enterprise. Looff was creating new amusement parks in Southern California. Each including one of his Carousels. Charles Looff heard there was a prime up-n-coming area at San francisco's Ocean Beach. He planned to place a Carousel  at Ocean Beach as early as 1904-5. Unfortunately, the Great San Francisco Earthquake hit in 1906 and that Carousel was routed to Luna Park in Seattle.  After the dust settled and San Franciscans were finding a stable footing, the 1915 Pan Pacific Expo was being developed. Looff pulled the intended Ocean Beach carousel from Seattle and had it installed at Ocean Beach around 1914. Charles son Arthur was sent to oversee operations and see what potential this OCEAN BEACH area could provide. Arthur Looff (1888-1970) an engineer and amusement park organizer by trade dove into the project. Arthur leased the land and built his carousel and Hippodrome housing. Arthur soon met up with John Friedle (1876-1950) owned a Shooting gallery and "Babyland" a knockdown game. Looff first met Friedle at his babyland concession, 1914. Together they planned the layout for Chutes at the beach. Various concessions and concessionaires filled the new Midway.  Arthur Looff over saw rides and Construction. Arthur constructed the Prior and Church Designed Bob Sled Dipper (Bobs) (1920), Figure 8 Coaster (1919) and the Big Dipper (1922).  All of the rides at Chutes at the Beach were purchased new or built onsite, including the Shoot-the-Chutes (1920-21).  

 

 By 1921, "Chutes at the beach"  had ten rides, including the Shoot-the-Chutes. A writer for the San Francisco Chronicle in 1922 reported that “by 1921 the owners had spent $150,000 to produce ten spectacular new rides ("clean, safe, moral attractions") which were open from noon to midnight, everyday.”  Attractions included Arthur Looff’s roller coaster the "Bob Sled Dipper" (also known as "the Bobs") (1921), the Looff-designed Big Dipper roller coaster (1922), Shoot-the-Chutes, the carousel, Aeroplane Swing, the Whip, Dodg 'Em, the Ship of Joy, the Ferris wheel, Noah’s Ark, and almost a hundred concessionaires. 

 

Although Friedle and Looff had a solid working relationship, apparently their wives didn't get along. This should be redundant in a business situation, but this fact seemed to bring about some HOME strife for Looff who agreed to sell off  most of his share of the partnership with the exception of the Looff Hippodrome, the Big Dipper and Chute’s Café (1923). Friedle gained control of the Chutes at the Beach operations, while adding  his brother, William Friedle, to the the payroll for assistance.

 

George and Leo Whitney opened their Quick Photo Studio around 1922. They had pioneered  a fast photo-finishing process that allowed people to take pictures home rather than having to wait days. 1924, the Whitney brothers owned four shooting galleries and a souvenir shop in addition to the quick-photo studio.

 

 

PLAYLAND AT THE BEACH

 

1929. George Whitney became general manager of Chutes at the Beach, after buying off controlling interest from John Friedle. Friedle had gone into exile after a major accident with the Bob Sled Dipper. He feared being sued or being sent to jail.  George Whitney officially changed the parks name to Whitney's-at-the-Beach... It became known as Playland at the Beach. "Playland" was a common amusement park name at the time. Many attractions continued to be operated by independent concessionaires until the Depression. During the Depression when concessions began to fail, George and Leo began to purchase the attractions and concessions outright. The Whitney's bought out the Big Dipper in 1936 and Looff's Carousel and Hippodrome in 1942. That was last piece to be purchased... The Whitney's now owned it all... The entire park!  

 

Through the 40's and into the 50's, Playland kept expanding and changing. George Whitney was called “The Barnum of the Golden Gate” as he went on to buy up the concessions at Playland. The Whitney's also purchased the CLiff House in 1937 and the Sutro Baths in 1952. George bought out his brother Leo in 1952, who retired.  George continued to manage ALL the properties until his death in 1958.

 

PLAYLAND'S  DEMISE

 

Despite all the progress and expansion during the 30's and 40's, the post-war years saw the tearing down of the Chutes in 1950 and the Big Dipper in 1955. Many people today, say this was the death knell for the park. More Concessions and smaller rides were added post 1955. George Whitney died in 1958. His sone George Jr., who had been hired by Walt Disney to be an advisor for Disneyland, returned to run Playland after his fathers death. After George Sr. death his wife/family sold controlling interest in the park to Real Estate developer Bob Frazier. Playland was then ran by George K. Whitney  Jr. and  Bob Frazier. George Jr. built Fun-Tier town as a means to modernize the park. Bob Frazier and George Jr didn't have the same vision. George Jr had grand visions, but Frazier saw CONDOS. Management changed hands often, getting worse each time. Playland was sucked dry of it's life, charm and money. Playland was eventually sold to Jeremy Ets-Hokin (real estate developer). The park was torn down on September 4, 1972 to make way for a condominium complex that never took off. Eventually,Condominiums were built on the Playland property. In 1996, a set of artist created memorials commemorating Playland were erected on the corner of La Playa @ Cabrillo.

 

-Mike Winslow

 

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