From The Bronx To Boise

One of the first jobs out of high school for many teenagers who lived in New York City during the 1960s included the fun experience of working at a theme park. One of those employees now resides in Boise.

Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive History is a new book that documents the entire story from conception to bankruptcy of one of the most innovative and beloved theme parks in America. Published by Theme Park Press, it is available on Amazon at the suggested retail price of $24.95.

Located in The Bronx, this history theme park (visit the Freedomland Facebook group) was conceived and built by C.V. Wood and his Marco Engineering Company. Woody, as he was known to his friends, was Disneyland’s first employee and he led the team that built that park. He then created Marco Engineering to build theme parks and other venues across the country. Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington and the community of Lake Havasu, Arizona, continue to prosper. The northeast Bronx marshland that featured Freedomland U.S.A. eventually became a housing development and a shopping center.

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Photo: Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive History. Courtesy Michael R. Virgintino Collection

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Connie Capobianco had just graduated from high school when she started her summer job at the park. She helped get areas of the park ready for opening day (June 19, 1960; the park closed after the 1964 season) and then she served pancakes and waffles in the Creole Café located in the New Orleans area. The café was just one of the park’s more than 20 restaurants and other eateries.

“We wore a white dress with puffy sleeves and had the Aunt Jemima type of aprons,” Capobianco recalled when she was interviewed for the book. “Early on, at the pancake restaurant, we ate pancakes every day during our meal breaks and I always covered them with boysenberry syrup.”

Seven Themed Areas

Capobianco fondly remembered the seven themed sections of the park—Little Old New York (1850-1900), Old Chicago (the Great Fire of 1871), The Great Plains (1803-1900), San Francisco (time of the 1906 earthquake), The Old Southwest (1890), New Orleans and Satellite City (the modern part of the park that showcased the space race of the time). She enjoyed strolling through each one when she arrived before the gates were opened to the public.

“When you walked through those streets, you actually felt you were in the actual locations,” said Capobianco. “The music was created especially for each themed area and as you listened to the music you imagined that you were in San Francisco or old time New York. I can still hear the music.”

The music was created by noted Broadway songwriters Jule Styne and George Weiss. The park’s theme song, Johnny Freedom, was sung by country entertainer and history balladeer Johnny Horton.

Elsie The Cow

Capobianco’s late brother, Faust, also worked at the park. He took care of the barn that was sponsored by the Borden’s company. Known as Elsie’s Boudoir, the barn featured the famous cow and her twin calves, Larabee and Lobelia.

“When we were young, we spent summers at a farm in Pennsylvania and my brother really enjoyed it,” said Capobianco. “He graduated from Farmingdale (the State University of New York at Farmingdale, Long Island) and studied agriculture…He was the manager at the barn for the 1960 and 1961 seasons and maybe also for the 1962 season. He cleaned the stalls, walked Elsie into and out of the barn and he milked her every day.”

Elsie’s Boudoir was a popular attraction in Freedomland’s The Great Plains section. The cow lived in a fancy brass rail bed enclosure and the room was decorated with red velvet drapes and chairs.

Back then, when two young siblings had their entire lives ahead of them, the Capobiancos enjoyed serving pancakes and caring for a cow at a theme park. Only in The Bronx!

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Mike Virgintino is the author of Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive History, the story about America's theme park located in The Bronx. Published by Theme Park Press, it can be found on Amazon, eBay and Goodreads.