William Kless Storyteller
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?
Map to Memory Lane
- Cedar Point (from a book cover)
- Window to the Past
- Laughing Sal
- Evocative Memories
- Euclid Beach Park
- Shaker Rapid
- Riding the Rapid
- The Spirit of St. Louis
- Lake Erie Artists Gallery
- Other Lenses About Cleveland Artists
- Lake Erie Artists Gallery
- Euclid Beach
- Cleveland's Amusement Park Memories
- History on the Parks
- Chippewa
- Chippewa Lake Park
- Kiddieland (available in cards and T-shirts)
- Links to More Historical Information
- Lake Erie Island
- Do You Have Fond Memories of Amusement Parks?
- More Lenses by Paula Atwell
- Euclid Beach Park
- About Lakeerieartists
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
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
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.
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Here's my favorite link:
Euclid Beach
Cleveland's Amusement Park Memories
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)
List Price: $19.95
Used Price: $11.18
For UK readers--Cleveland Amusement Park Memories
Release Date: 12/31/1969
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Usually ships in 24 hours
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
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
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 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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Reply
- praise praise Aug 7, 2009 @ 7:47 am
- I enjoy all the Cleveland lenses, it's a great town and I visit at least twice a year. 5* At your leasure check out my poetry lens. Thanks.
Debra
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Reply
- Stazjia Stazjia Nov 11, 2008 @ 3:50 am
- I'd never heard of William Kless before I read your lens but I love his art now. Welcome to the Art & Design Group.
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Reply
- moneygames moneygames Aug 24, 2008 @ 2:39 pm
- Very nise lens.Great info. 5*
Please visit my lens and let me know how I did.
http://www.squidoo.com/science_getting_rich_wallace
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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
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- "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.
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