William Kless Studio--Telling the Story of Cleveland's Past

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William Kless Storyteller

William Kless is a storyteller, but not the usual kind. Bill tells stories with pictures. One of Bill's hobbies is to collect information and memorabilia about Cleveland's past, especially related to old amusement parks.

Then he takes his considerable artistic talent and training putting the past into pictures that will stir memories of a childhood filled with roller coasters, trains, and fun houses.

Would you like to take a journey down memory lane?

Cedar Point (from a book cover)

Window to the Past 


William Kless is an incredibly talented artist and graphic designer. He has chosen to immortalize local Clevelanders' childhoods by creating beautiful posters of some of our most vivid memories.

Bill has a special place in his heart for Euclid Beach Park on the east side of Cleveland. Euclid Beach Park was extremely popular in its heyday with people in the area. Because it was so close, many children visited over and over each summer.

As you go through the images, you will be able to see Bill's love of his subject matter.

Laughing Sal

Evocative Memories 

Each of Bill's images evokes a specific memory. Whenever I see the train prints, I always think of visits to my one uncle who collected old model cars and trains.

Customers that come in our gallery love to tell me about their own Euclid Beach memories. The Laughing Sal print always gets a reaction. "I was so scared of her!"

Euclid Beach Park 

Euclid Beach Park (1895?September 28, 1969) was an amusement park located on the shore of Lake Erie in northeast Cleveland, Ohio.

Category: Image - :Euclid Beach.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Euclid Beach and the bath house, circa 1905

Originally incorporated by some investors from Cleveland and patterned after New York's Coney Island, the park was originally managed by William R. Ryan, Sr., who ran a park with gambling, a beer garden, and freak shows. In 1897, Lee Holtzman became Euclid Beach's new director, but he offered it for sale in 1901.

Dudley S. Humphrey, Jr., led six members of his family in managing the park as of 1901 (they had previously operated concessions at the park, but had been particularly unhappy with the way Ryan ran it). They expanded the beach and bathing facilities, including adding a lakeside swing, added many new attractions, and advertised to locals with the slogan, "one fare, free gate and no beer." Van Tassel, David D. and John J. Grabowski, eds. The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History 2nd ed. Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 1996.

Designed to be a family-friendly park, the Humphreys would not even let anyone in who had had a beer at a nearby bar; also, signs throughout the park instructed that only children were permitted to wear shorts, because the Humphreys thought that proper dress would promote a family-friendly atmosphere. At one point the park advertised that it would "present nothing that would demoralize or depress," and that visitors would "never be exposed to undesirable people."Francis, David & Diane. Cleveland Amusement Park Memories, Gray and Company (2004). Not only families were attracted to Euclid Beach Park; it was also a place for company and community group gatherings. In 1910, the park was the site of an exhibition flight by aviator Glenn Curtiss.

Shaker Rapid

Riding the Rapid 

When I was a little girl, my mother and I would "go downtown" once in a while. We lived on the east side of Cleveland, and going downtown was a big deal.

We would dress up, and in our best, we would ride the Rapid Transit to Terminal Tower--the end of the line. The rapid trains looked just like the one in the picture above. This is a distinct memory for me. I remember holding my mother's hand, and the sway and noise of the trains as we made our way downtown.

Once downtown, we would shop at the downtown department stores, and have lunch at one of a few restaurants.

It was an adventure.

The Spirit of St. Louis 



Trains are more of a boy's world than a girl's, at least when I was growing up. But I still remember learning about the different railroads, probably when I played Monopoly.

Bill's black and white drawings really bring the old world feel to his train pictures.

Lake Erie Artists Gallery 

William Kless is just one of over 80 different artists and authors who have their work in Lake Erie Artists Gallery in Cleveland, Ohio. Appropriately, Lake Erie Artists Gallery is inside Tower City attached to the Terminal Tower.

Lake Erie Artists Gallery specializes in Cleveland, its history, and its artists. To learn more about the gallery, read my lens Lake Erie Artists Gallery.

Other Lenses About Cleveland Artists 

Euclid Beach

Cleveland's Amusement Park Memories 

This is a really cool book. We also sell it in our gallery. Great photos of the amusement parks.

Cleveland Amusement Park Memories: A Nostalgic Look Back at Euclid Beach Park, Puritas Springs Park, Geauga Lake Park and Other Classic Parks

Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 11/30/2009)Buy Now
List Price: $19.95
Used Price: $11.18

For UK readers--Cleveland Amusement Park Memories

Release Date: 12/31/1969

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

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History on the Parks 

These books go along with the prints and give lots of cool background history. We also carry most of these in our store.

Chippewa Lake Park (OH) (Images of America) by David W. Francis, Diane DeMali Francis

Chippewa Lake Park (OH) (Images of America) by David W. Francis, Diane DeMali Francis

In the 1880s, Oscar Townsend and the Cleveland, Lo more...0 points

Ohio's Amusement Parks in Vintage Postcards (OH) (Postcard History Series) by David Francis, Diane Francis

Ohio's Amusement Parks in Vintage Postcards (OH) (Postcard History Series) by David Francis, Diane Francis

By 1912, there were 54 amusement parks in Ohio. Th more...0 points

A Shaker Rapid Album by James A. Toman, James R. Spangler

A Shaker Rapid Album by James A. Toman, James R. Spangler

A Shaker Rapid Album is a pictorial history of the more...0 points

Chippewa

Chippewa Lake Park 

Chippewa Lake Park was west of Cleveland.

I have talked to many customers about it and what they remember most is camping in cabins or tents for the summer in the area, then spending their days at the park.

Nowadays, it is too expensive to spend day after day in an amusement park, but back then it was free to get in and you just paid for the rides and games. Much different from now.

Kiddieland (available in cards and T-shirts)

Links to More Historical Information 

Euclid Beach Park Now
Read more about an organization whose goal it is to preserve the memories of Euclid Beach Park.
Defunct Parks
This site is devoted to defunct parks.
Forgotten Ohio
A link to information about forgotten Ohio history.
Geauga Lake Today
Geauga Lake is another park that just closed. I spent many happy hours there as a teenager in the summer.
Bill hasn't made a poster for this one yet, but I feel it coming.

Lake Erie Island

Do You Have Fond Memories of Amusement Parks? 

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More Lenses by Paula Atwell 

Euclid Beach Park 

Northeast Shores News: Sights and Sounds of Euclid Beach
Euclid Beach Park Now is about to embark on the FIFTH reunion event at the Euclid Beach State Park. This event keeps getting bigger and bigger and bigger. You have got to see this event! Two weeks to showtime! ...
Northeast Shores News: Euclid Beach Event Draws Thousands
The car show was bigger and better than ever with the Kiddie Hook and Ladder Fire Truck making its first return to Euclid Beach State Park since the amusement park closed forty years ago. It was incredible to see the park so alive with ...
"Euclid Beach Boys" keep memories of Euclid Beach "Park alive ...
"Euclid Beach Boys", Joe Tomaro and John Frato, have a collection of Euclid Beach Park rides, games, history, "Laughing Sal" and much more to keep the memories of the park in Cleveland forever. Tags: "Euclid Beach Boys" | "Laughing Sal" ...
Zoo Crew Teens Clean Up Euclid Beach Park
Zoo Crew teens hosted a beach cleanup on Saturday, September 19, as part of Ohio's Coastweeks - they shared with us some photos of the event.

About Lakeerieartists 

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