Lost Carousels: Steeplechase Island, Pleasure Beach, CT
History of the Bridgeport Ca. 1910 Murphy/Carmel-Illions Carousel and P.T. Barnum’s Pleasure Beach
By William Manns, Reprinted from the CN&T Nov. 1992 (Read the full Issue Online)
Pleasure Beach postcard shows the carousel building.
BRIDGEPORT, CT – Phineas T. Barnum was sometimes referred to as “The Prince of Humbug,” “The Shakespeare of Advertising” and even “The King of Adjectives”· He was a man with a genius for inspiring curiosity, like a circus parade lures spectators to the Big Top, he could convince hundreds of thousands to step right up and inspect the smallest man in the world, exotic animals and strange human feats. Barnum was best known for the creation of his Barnum & Bailey Circus, which he founded in 1880.
In 1850 P. T. Barnum settled in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He had great vision for Bridgeport. A major real estate developer and one-time mayor, Barnum donated large portions of land including Seaside Park, one of the first waterfront parks in America.
One of Barnum’s big dreams was the development of a 37 acre island that was to become known as Pleasure Beach. Unfortunately,
Amusements at Pleasure Beach postcard.
Carmel horses from the Pleasure Beach carousel advertised as going to auction in Nov. 1992
Barnum passed away in 1891 shortly before the park opened. Barnum’s dream for a million dollar playground was taken over by Mr. McMahon and Mr. Wren. They were wholesale liquor dealers and land developers. They opened the Pleasure Beach Amusement Park in 1892.
Within three years, the park boasted a roller coaster, miniature railroad, skating rink, a 5,000 seat coliseum, a merry-go-round (not
the one up for auction on November 29) and steeplechase horses, a bicycle race track and other arcade amusements.
Through the years, the park was devastated by numerous fires. In 1907, the steeplechase horse ride was destroyed. In 1919, the Bridgeport Board of Park Commissioners bought the park. In 1938, they took over full operation.
The beautiful Carmel horses were worthy of a multi-page ad.
Click the cover to read the full November 1992 Issue online. Aten’s SoCal Extravaganza auction results and much more.
The Pleasure Beach carousel came to Bridgeport shortly before World War I. The machine was created by Coney Island ride builder William Mangels. This wonderful carousel features primarily horses created by Russian immigrant, Charles Carmel. The carousel carries several inner row horses carved by Marcus Illions. The Pleasure Beach carousel operated up through World War II as a glittering gem of the carvers’ art.
During the 1950s the park began to deteriorate as did many other local amusement centers. Attendance fell off drastically by the ’60s and the carousel closed for good in 1968.
Since then, the horses have been in storage. At one time, the city had hoped to restore and operate the carousel, and went so far as to have the horses professionally restored by The Carousel Works and R&F Design.
Original Pleasure Beach Carmel horses on display at the Beardsley Zoo.
CURRENTLY:
The Beardlsey Zoo retained a number of the original Carmel horses from the extravagant carousel, and they remain on display today at the zoo, next to the current modern carousel. Beardsley Zoo Online>>>
Fairfield Museum and History Center Exhibit:
Picturing The News: The Distinctive Vision of Harry Neigher and Frank Gerratana
Click for more exhibit info>>>
Ca. 1915 Carmel Carousel at Pleasure Beach, CT – Fairfield-Sun circa 1960 photo.
I found just this one old picture of the carousel while operating online and it is actually part of a new exhibit of vintage cartoons, photos and local and Hollywood celebrity ephemera related to Connecticut. The exhibit, “Picturing The News: The Distinctive Vision of Harry Neigher and Frank Gerratana.” is at the Fairfield Museum through January 18, 2016. Click for the full story on the exhibit>>>
PLEASURE BEACH, STEEPLECHASE ISLAND –
There is some more great history at www.adventurebibleschool.com/pleasure-beach. Along with the postcards we found there, they have recent photos of the ruins of the park and carousel, and current news on the property.
PLEASURE BEACH on Wikipedia >>>
SERIES OF PHOTOS ON THE PLEASURE BEACH CAROUSEL BUILDING – 1905-2009
Photos just before building demolition, building and mechanism>>>
