I’ve started conducting research on amusement parks in Chicago, and there is very little information about Fun Town Amusement Park that was located on 95th & Stony Island. I did find that the company was in existence from 1950 – 1982. With over thirty years of history on record, why isn’t there more information about Fun Town amusement park?
After a few hours of research, the only site that produced results was the Roller Coaster Database, and that was to mention the two roller coasters in the park.
If anyone has any knowledge or photos of Fun Town Amusement Park, please share. Thanks so much.
Over the past 12 years ..I've been looking for archival records Funtown..The closest thinhg I have ran across was a old radio jingle that was played last year on WVON during a tribute on the passing of Richard Pegue(he did the jingle for Funtown..that all of us who were around during those times still remember..) When I heard it, I caught the recording halfway and recorded it with my cell phone. Since then I have changed phones but I still have the phone..Hopefully the recording is still on there…I will charge it up and see. Also I've also been in search of archival records of places that I usally bring up on My Facebook Page..(The Loop Roller Rink On 95th,The Magikist Lips On 87th and the Dan Ryan,Community Department Stores,etc) For a 38 year old..I got a old skool soul….big history buff! I will leave my info at the bottom of the page..HOPEFULLY with you doing this …You can dig up something from the grave of Funtown!
Thank you so much! It is great to know that I'm not the only one stuck in the past. I'm totally elated.
Funtown: Think of the area it was located. Think of the demographics of the patrons. It was a small ghetto amusment park. This is why you don't find info on this insignificant and forgettable place. The vast majority of people who lived in Chicago or in the suburbs, did not believe there was anything 'fun' about 95th/Stony Island.
Funtown wasn't always ghetto. It started in the 1930s where most of the residents on the South Side were white minus the ones in Bronzeville who were not allowed to travel beyond that section of the city. At some point it was significant to someone since most of the patrons where white.
I grew up on the East Side and remember my parents taking me to Fun Town quite often when I was a kid. It wasn't actually on 95th and Stony — it was a block or three east of Stony, on the south side of 95th. I believe there's a huge church/living complex of some sort on that site now. It closed sometime during the very 1970s, if I recall. You probably can't find much info on it because it wasn't an amusement park in the classic sense. It was more like a big overgrown carnival. And the rides were pretty slow-moving especially for little kids.
Do you have to have any old photos you are willing to share? This would be a great addition to the blog.
OK…. So, I'm in no ways old enough to remember Fun Town as it was phased out before my birth… but I do know from other older influences in my life that it existed… If you find any photos or anything relatively soon, please let me know. I'm doing a production of “The Wiz” based in Chicago and I want the Tinman scene to be that Amusement Park…
“Fun Town… For the Kids and You… 95ht and Stony Island Avenue…. Fun Town!”
Someone sent me some information and as soon as I get permission to share, I'll get that to you.
I remember Fun Town well. For the last part of it's existence, it was owned by a woman named D'Ethel WIlliams. I believe she recently passed away.
Thank you so much for this information. Any help is appreciated, and this name was a great start. Do you happen to have any photos?
There is a Facebook group called “Jeffrey Manor, Chicago, Il. Memories Of Growing Up In Jeffrey Manor!”. On the photo tab, page 2, there is a picture of Fun Town posted by a guy named Tearched Scott, who wrote a book about the neighborhood. WOrk through Facebook to find him and he might have better leads. This is all I've got.
Good luck!
This is great! Thanks.
I worked at Funtown from 1975 to 1982 the year it closed. The park was owned by the Carvell family up until 1977. The Carvells owned USA Rainbo roller rink and the Rainbo Sports and Skate shop in Skokie. I am not sure if the skate shop is still open but some years ago (90’s) I attempted to speak with Mrs. Carvell at the shop but she was not there that day. I was looking for pictures and memorablia myself for Funtown was one of the best jobs I ever had….ever ! I started in Ride Operations as a ride operator and was promoted to Park Marshall/Supervisor after one season. The summer of 1977 saw new management (Jack Johnson shows) come to Funtown which basically was the death nell for the park. These were some real hick hillbilly racist type carnival people who bascally attempted to run the park like a moving carnival, raped what they could from the park and chased the customers and good mamagement away. (the opening of Great America in 1976 didn’t help either). The problems that developed are too lengthy to even go into here. The managerial decisions that were being made were indescribable! The park became so mismanaged it was like watching your house burn down as the firemen watched along side of you. I really believe if it wasn’t for this particular group, Funtown would still be here today. After Jack Johnson shows got finished ruining the park it was sold over to another carnival owner named Bob Johnson. (remember Big “J” Funtown?) This poor guy tried to do right by the customers and employees but it was too late. There were some nights where there might have been 5 customers in the park….no joke. It was really sad and hopeless. I honestly felt bad for this guy. Finally in the fall of 1982 the rides were auctioned off and the land sold. As long as I live I will always remember Funtown and I could talk about it for days on end. It was fun to work there and fun to play there as well.
Thank you so much for sharing your memories with me. This is great. I’m going to reach out to you so we can talk more.
Funtown was not a so called “ghetto” amusement park as you say JD. Funtown was very significant to many many people young and old. Up to a point (1977) the park was very well run. It was fun, safe and not expensive. Funtown had an awesome arcade (many customers came just for that alone). The food was top notch……the best char broiled hamburgers and corn dogs that couldn’t be beat! And the rides…..the fastest Go Carts in the Chicagoland area….the Mad Mouse roller coaster….The Trabant…..The super fast Moon Rocket….The Rock O Plane…..The Paratrooper….The Round Up…..come on !!!! Where did you grow up? Did you ever venture into the park between 1971 and 1980 or did you just hear about it through negative talk. If you didn’t check out the park for yourself, you truly missed out on good times.
Thanks for sharing your experience and firsthand knowledge about this historical amusement park.
DJ Herb Kent played an old Funtown Jingle during his “old school” Sunday show on WVAZ (V-103) during a Richard Pegue tribute. I was really shocked when I heard about his passing. I had the pleasure of meeting Richard on several occasions at Funtown. He was the executive producer for the radio and music production for the commercials as well as other in house productions for the park. Believe it or not, a lot of the commercial production was done at a recording studio located in the Newport Building (4800 S Lake Shore Dr). Richard also produced the music mix tapes for the short lived Funtown Disco Stage. If you can find a copy of the recording “I Am Sombody” by The Brothers and Sisters produced in circa 1971 you can hear the Funtown jingle melody instrament arraingement if you listen closely. This song was recorded on Toddlin’ Town records (an old defunct Chicago label) and was arrainged and produced by Richard Pegue. He will be missed.
Wow, your memories are great. I’m going to try to reach out to Herb to find out if I can get a copy. I’m going to call you before the weekend if over.
I remember Funtown in addition to WVON the commercial ran on WJPC (an AM station owned by Johnson Products Company). Funtown didn’t have a general admission, it was like a carnival where each ride costs a certain number of tickets that were purchased as you entered the park. I lived in the area but I went to Funtown only about 5 times my favorite ride was a Haunted House – you’d ride a cart through as figures jumped out at you.
Hi Big Jo, thank you for your memories. Do you happen to have any photos? Also, can you ask others to share their Funtown memories on my site? Thank you.
I remember Funtown,Funtown for the kids and you. I tell young ones about it all the time. No general admission did not help as it allowed the thugs from the neighborhood make it a hangout
Thanks for sharing your memories. Did the presence of thugs turn people away? Do you have any photos?
I grew up blocks from Funtown over on Van Vlissigen and 97th. Believe it closed in the early 80s. Remember going there as a kid. We would always cut through the prairie to get there, or sit in the prairie at night and watch the lights wishing we could go. We were too ghetto to own a camera lol, so I don’t have any pics… I am kidding. I believe it is a housing project nowadays or some sort of high rise apartment complex.
To JD, the neighborhood used to be a lot safer then it changed with the introduction of crack into the neighborhood in the late 80s. The demographics I remember were working class families, church going folk who were good hearted and hard working. But, you probably have never been there so why bother.
Mike, thank you for sharing your memories.
I myself am on the hunt for any information of Funtown & so far have been unsuccessful. Maybe someone could call & maybe see if WVON or even Herb Kent can probably help in the search.
I have been unsuccessful at reaching Herb Kent on the radio so I’m looking for a personal connection. And if you happen to run across any information, please share and I’ll be sure to do the same.
i used to go to fun town when i was a kid. i remember the big red slide at the front of the park. i was too little to ride it but the big kids loved it. i even remember the short song that accompanied the advertisement on the radio.
Hi there. Do you happen to have any photos from Fun Town?
i seeen one photo post on the jeffery manor page
Do you have a link to that page?
We lived in the South Shore neighborhood from 1957-1961 (and my mother grew up there in the 20s and 30s). I was little more than a toddler at the time, but I remember my parents taking us to a kiddieland-type place that wasn’t far from our house. I was glad to find your site that provided proof that my memory wasn’t off! There really WAS an amusement park nearby. The only ride I really remember was a kiddie ferris wheel: the kind where the kids would be in little “cages” that went around, with neon lights on the outside at night. My little sister accidentally got left at the top of the ride by an attendant who thought he had emptied it out! (We got her back, tho.) I wish we had photos but I don’t think my folks ever brought the camera. We also occasionally went to Sauzer’s Kiddieland in Schererville.
Thanks you so much for sharing your memory with me. May I have your permission to re-print it?
I grew up 3 blocks away from Funtown. It was a gas. It was situated between 95th street and a prairie. It started with an admission charged at the gate and later went to a ticket-to-ride system. Next to it was a golf driving-range. It was torn down in 1978-1979 and the land was used for low-income housing.
Mr. Frank, thank you so much for sharing your memories. Do you happen to have any images?
The jingle also played over WMPP. I would love to see pictures. Did they ever have a TV commercial?
Hi there, I don’t know if there was ever a TV commercial. If there was one, I’ll definitely share. And if you find it, be sure to do the same.
My grandmother owned a home on 97th and Yates so “FunTown” was always a topic on the way to Granny’s house. My last adventure there was after the train jumped the track in the dark and the employees frantically chased it down to stop it.Boy was I scared! Im going to see if my Mom still has pictures of our fun times there.The Jingle is still in my mind that played on my Mother’s Favorite Radio stations, WJPC and WVON! I think it went like this, “Fun-Town, Fun-Town for the kids and you, 95th and Stony Island Avenue..FUN-TOWN! LOL Memories! Thanks Shorty
Hi Carmen, thank you for sharing your memories of Fun Town. If you have any information at all that you can share, it will be greatly appreciated.
I found a picture of a Funtown ticket.
I’m 44 and lived at 9054 S. Euclid Ave.
Go to my Facebook page. Leave me a message to add you as a friend and that you are from “this” site. I will add you as a friend and you will be able to download the full size picture.
My facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/spinsterwun
The address of the full picture link:
http://www.facebook.com/spinsterwun#!/photo.php?fbid=10150894048697092&set=a.266258382091.143493.577297091&type=1&theater
The last comment is for the MoODERATOR ONLY. Please do post my Facebook information on this website.
You are greatly appreciated. I will be connecting soon.
hello I got two good clips of me and my dad at Fun town I was and arm baby back then but the pictures speak for themselves reading these comments gives me inspiration to continue my photography it is important that we document the world around us for the future to see.
Hi Marcus, are you willing to share your clips with me and my readers? I’ll be happy to link back to your site. Let me know.
Hi Shorty, I remember Fun Town though my memories are somewhat vague. I grew up on 95th and Wentworth (a few blocks west of State Street), and my cousin now lives at 93rd and Marquette, just off of Stony. I remember the radio jingle well, and I remember the big giant slide-we rode down on burlap sacks! I also have even more vague memories of Riverview, and amusement park that was closed down when I was even younger. (We left Chicago in ’74 when I was 12.) Wasn’t it located on the corner, that area that is now a plaza with a Jewel store and quite a few other shops? I thought it was right there And someone mentioned that they took “tickets” like that was a bad thing, even Disneyland had a ticket book back in the early days, I don’t think any of the amusement parks had a flat-rate. My first trip to Disneyland was in ’69 and you had to purchase a book of coupons/tickets that had letters, and different rides required a different type of ticket, and maybe 1, 2, or 3 tickets. The most exciting rides required an “E-Ticket”, hence the expression of something being an “E-Ticket” ride or experience. And you mentioned the Majikist Lips, wow that brings back memories! I went to Gillespie Elementary school which was right on State Street (9301) and when they built the Rapid Transit station there we would cut through the bridge/overpass there and we could see the Lips as we were walking. Thanks for bringing back the memories. As for pictures, all my childhood pictures are at my cousin’s house (there in Chicago) and I am currently in South Carolina-and I don’t even know if I have any Fun Town pictures. Good luck on your project though it sounds like a lot of fun!
Schooldaze, thanks so much for sharing these awesome memories! You not only gave us insight into Fun Town, you gave us a look into the community. This is great! If you find any other info or pictures, please send for posting.
To the best if my memory (as I was around 10 years old at the tine) the amusement park located on the corner of 95th and Stony Island Avenue was originally called “Kiddie Land” but I don’t recall if it was 1 word or 2. This is my memory from the 1950’s. It was sort of attached with a go cart track either to the west or south of it and a driving range to the eadt. It closed in the 1960’s at which time the Kiddie Land on North Avenue was built and. advertised and the 95th Street locale re-opened under new man
agement as Fun Town. Years later I discovered there was another Kiddie Land location in Indiana being run concurrently with the North Avenue location. I never knew if it was a famuly-run or franchise business and there never was any tales as to why the 95th Street Kiddie Land closed. All I can say is they left a bunch of disappointed children in the area. For many of us this was one of the few family affordable entertainment choices in the area!!!