Misplaced Pages

#654345

97-538: The Forest Park Carousel is a historic carousel at Forest Park in the borough of Queens in New York City , New York, U.S. The carousel, one of two known surviving carousels built by Daniel Carl Muller, was built c.  1903 and contains 52 figures and its original band organ. Originally located in Dracut, Massachusetts , the carousel was relocated to Forest Park in 1972, replacing an earlier carousel on

194-553: A Facebook page and distributed T-shirts to raise awareness for the carousel. Community members looked for a nonprofit organization to operate the carousel, expressing concerns that the ride could be sold for parts, as it was not bound by city landmark regulations. Maria Thomson of the Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation said the LPC had declined a previous request to designate the carousel as

291-472: A Sotheby's expert appraised the carousel at $ 1.5 million. A New York Daily News reporter said the carousel's valuation was "like finding a carton of Faberge eggs in the bottom of the corner grocer's dairy case", while Sylvor said it "was like buying a Rembrandt for $ 25". Fabricon Design Group, a local firm co-headed by Sylvor and Bonnie Garry, restored the ride; this was the company's first carousel-restoration project. Several local firms donated materials for

388-402: A finial . The roof has vinyl tiles and a weather vane that date from 1998, as well as fiberglass castings installed in 1989. There is also a ticket booth that dates from 1989. Not much is known of Forest Park's original carousel, which occupied the same site as the current carousel. The first carousel was likely built in 1916, although local website QNS.com was unable to verify the exact date of

485-567: A carousel from the defunct Palisades Amusement Park . Ultimately, Restaurant Associates was selected as the new concessionaire. The current Forest Park Carousel was originally part of the Lakeview Amusement Park, a trolley park in Dracut, Massachusetts, that was developed in the late 19th century. The carousel was built c.  1903 . The Barbuti family operated the carousel for 52 years, starting around 1920. The resort

582-579: A carousel in his Mechanical Museum in London, where gentry and nobility liked to gather on winter evenings. The horses "floated free over a pole". It was connected to a "big musical instrument that played a fully orchestrated concerto" and from the first note, the carousel would start turning while each horse would make a galloping movement with a visitor riding on its back. Merlin did not patent his inventions and engineers were allowed to come to create their own models of his creations. Viewed from above, and from

679-470: A circular structure for the pavilion, but Fabricon Design Group modified the design in the 1980s. The pavilion contains vertical steel piers placed at regular intervals, as well as metal doors, which retract upward into the ceiling when the carousel is in operation. The piers support an overhanging eave , which is capped by a sloping roof, The eave contains wooden decoration such as carved faces, scrolls, and scallops. The roof has wooden rafters and tapers to

776-617: A concessionaire that would restore the ride and promote it. Despite assurances that the ride would reopen for the 2010 season, the agency could not secure a new operator for that season. During the ride's closure, it was used as a filming location for the movie The Sitter in 2010. Potential concessionaires were turned away by the ride's unprofitability, particularly compared to the Flushing Meadows Carousel, whose operating lease expired in 2011. NYC Parks tried to attract concessionaires by offering to lease both carousels to

873-534: A crawl under the weight of the depression of the 1840s and then to a halt with the outbreak of the Civil War . Only one travelling menagerie of any size existed after the war: The Van Amburgh menagerie travelled the United States for nearly forty years. Unlike their European counterparts, America's menageries and circuses had combined as single travelling shows, with one ticket to see both. This increased

970-550: A decisive step in the creation of menageries of curiosities and was imitated to some extent throughout Europe after the late seventeenth century. Monarchs, princes and important lords built them in France (Chantilly from 1663), England (Kew, Osterley), the United Provinces (Het Loo from 1748), Portugal (Belém in 1726, Queluz around 1780), Spain (Madrid in 1774) and Austria ( Belvedere in 1716, Schönbrunn in 1752) as well in

1067-605: A designation, along with the Coney Island Cyclone and the Wonder Wheel . Ahead of the 2014 operating season, the carousel's lights were replaced with LEDs, and new mirrored panels were installed. Shortly after the carousel reopened, some riders expressed concerns about the carousel's roughness. As a result, during the 2014–2015 off-season, the carousel was disassembled and repaired by Carousels & Carvings. NY Carousel added several games and rides around

SECTION 10

#1732771948655

1164-421: A diameter of 56 feet (17 m). When the carousel was reinstalled in the 1970s, it was cited as having 36 moving horses, 13 stationary horses, three menagerie figures (a panther, lion, and stag), and two chariots. By the 21st century, the current carousel included a wooden lion, deer, and tiger, although the horses and two chariots remained in place. The horses, animals, and chariots are placed in three rows on

1261-585: A distinct piece of playground equipment . The modern carousel emerged from early jousting traditions in Europe and the Middle East . Knights would gallop in a circle while tossing balls from one to another; an activity that required great skill and horsemanship. This game was introduced to Europe at the time of the Crusades from earlier Byzantine and Arab traditions. The word carousel originated from

1358-501: A five-year contract to Fred J. L. Hassinger, who already operated a carousel at the park. According to the Eagle , although the city government owned the carousel structure, the concessionaire was responsible for providing the machine that powered the carousel. The carousel was destroyed in a fire on December 10, 1966; investigators determined that the conflagration was "of suspicious origin". The Island Refreshment Corporation (IRC) operated

1455-468: A landmark because the fence near the carousel was not old enough to qualify for landmark status. NYC Parks reported in February 2012 that it had agreed to lease out the carousel under a long-term contract. NY Carousel was announced as the winning bidder the next month. The company restored the carousel, which including removing the fences around the ride's perimeter, repainting the structure, and reopening

1552-414: A modern zoological garden with a scientific, educational and conservationist orientation. Due to its local continuity, the former menagerie established in the medieval through baroque tradition of private wild-animal collections of princes and kings, is often seen as the oldest remaining zoo in the world. Although many of the old Baroque enclosures have been changed, one can still obtain a good impression of

1649-416: A palace on the eastern edge of Paris, and a more elaborate one, which became a model for menageries throughout Europe, at Versailles, the site of a royal hunting lodge two hours (by carriage) west of Paris. Around 1661, he had a menagerie of "ferocious" beasts built at Vincennes for the organization of fights. Surrounding a rectangular courtyard, a two-storey building with balconies allowed spectators to view

1746-507: A parkway (likely the Jackie Robinson Parkway ), the first Forest Park Carousel, and the nearby Forest Hills Gardens neighborhood. At the time of the current carousel's construction, many carousels contained similar murals. The panels themselves are rounding boards with ornamental medallions between them. The carousel is installed within an octagonal, single-story wooden pavilion. Victor Christ-Janer originally designed

1843-404: A popular meeting place for drug dealers. By 1987, members of Queens Community Board 9 recommended that NYC Parks create a master plan for Forest Park and that the agency restore the carousel. Mary Ann Carey, a district manager for Community Board 9, contacted Queens borough president Claire Shulman after learning of a proposal to replace the carousel with a replica. Shulman then opened an RFP for

1940-478: A position guide for the bottom of the pole and as a place for people to walk or other stationary animals or chariots to be placed. He called this ride the 'Platform Gallopers'. He also developed the 'platform-slide' which allowed the mounts to swing out concentrically as the carousel built up speed. Fairground organs (band organs) were often present (if not built-in) when these machines operated. Eventually electric motors were installed and electric lights added, giving

2037-510: A replacement carousel for several years, and it gave Restaurant Associates a concession to operate the ride. Restaurant Associates bought Lakeview Park's carousel and reopened it in November 1973; the ride continued to operate until the mid-1980s. Carousel Parks Inc., led by Marvin Sylvor , leased the ride in 1988 and reopened it the next year following an extensive restoration. Sylvor operated

SECTION 20

#1732771948655

2134-410: A roundabout with boats that would pitch and roll on cranks with a circular motion, a ride he called 'Sea-on-Land'. Savage applied a similar innovation to the more traditional mount of the horse; he installed gears and offset cranks on the platform carousels, thus giving the animals their well-known up-and-down motion as they travelled around the centre pole – the galloping horse. The platform served as

2231-487: A set of nine pipes flanked by a drum and cymbals. Although these instruments were capable of playing pre-recorded music, they are no longer in use. The organ also contains a central power unit surrounded by 18 panels, each of which originally depicted the carousel's original location at Lakefield Park. The modern-day organ contains tall, narrow panels that are identical to each other. The lower sections of these panels have mirrors, as well as decorations surrounded by faces; there

2328-408: A single operator, as well as allowing the concessionaire to serve alcoholic beverages and add amusement rides near both carousels. Despite only receiving a single bid from Sal Napolitano (who had maintained New York City carousels for four decades), NYC Parks rejected Napolitano's bid. Meanwhile, local groups again began advocating for the carousel to be designated as a city landmark. They also created

2425-408: A two-level rotating platform. Each of the horses has a different hand-carved design, and the horses also have realistic features such as glass eyes and genuine horse hair. Although Muller designed most of the horses, one horse is credited to William Dentzel, while two others are attributed to Charles Carmel. Two other horses were made of fiberglass and may date from the 1980s. The platform rotates around

2522-424: A two-level rotating platform. The stationary horses are in the outermost row and are the largest, while the middle and innermost rows have progressively smaller moving horses. They generally contain military motifs such as bedrolls and saddles. Each of the horses has a different hand-carved design in oil paint; some of the horses have tucked heads. The horses also have a large number of realistic features: for instance,

2619-606: A wooden cabinet with a band organ designed by the Andreas Ruth and Sohn Band Organ Company. The organ is surrounded by 18 panels with murals, which were installed in the early 2000s and were designed by Jonathan Lev. The current Forest Park Carousel is older than the structure that it replaced, which was built c.  1916 and burned down under suspicious circumstances in December 1966. The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) attempted to procure

2716-524: Is a winged cherub with garlands atop each face. The panels originally contained projecting poles for the carousel's brass rings . The power unit is surrounded by modern-style wallboard . The organ is surrounded by 18 panels with murals, which were installed in the early 2000s and were designed by Jonathan Lev. Each of the panels measure 2.5 by 9.5 feet (0.76 by 2.90 m). The murals depict nine scenes from Queens' history, including Forest Park's administration building and golf course, automobiles driving on

2813-513: Is known to have held lions and bears . Henry III received a wedding gift in 1235 of three leopards from Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor . The most spectacular arrivals in the early years were a white bear and an elephant, gifts from the kings of Norway and France in 1251 and in 1254 respectively. In 1264, the animals were moved to the Bulwark, which was renamed the Lion Tower, near

2910-666: Is located in the Efteling (Themepark). In 1955 the Efteling bought the ride for ƒ 15.475,-. (Gulden) from the Janvier family. It reopened in 1956. Originally, the price for a ticket to make a ride, was only 5 cents. Before the purchase by the Efteling, the Stoomcarrousel was named is 'Stoomcaroussel' . (1 r & 2 s') Contains: 22 Horses, 4 Coaching's, 2 Pigs & 2 clowns. Music played by: 1 Gavioli organ Engine: Fam. König, Swalmen, Carousel Menagerie The term

3007-465: Is one of two known remaining carousels made by the D.C. Muller and Brother Company. The New York Times wrote in 1976 that the carousel "reflects the more genteel Philadelphia style of Daniel Carl Mueller and the Dentzel family". Early reports cite either Michael or Gustav Dentzel as having built the carousel; Muller was associated with the Dentzel family until 1899 and from 1917 to 1928. The carousel has

Forest Park Carousel - Misplaced Pages Continue

3104-607: The Americas . A menagerie was mostly connected with an aristocratic or royal court and was situated within a garden or park of a palace. These aristocrats wanted to illustrate their power and wealth by displaying exotic animals which were uncommon, difficult to acquire, and expensive to maintain in a living and active state. The aristocratic menageries are distinguished from the later zoological garden (zoos) since they were founded and owned by aristocrats whose intentions were not primarily of scientific and educational interest. During

3201-654: The Castle of Saint George . Following the conquest of Ceuta in 1415 , King John I of Portugal brought back to Lisbon two Barbary lions , and they were installed in a large room inside his Palace in the Citadel of Lisbon. This area of the palace came to be known as Casa dos Leões (the "Lions' House"); today the area is occupied by a famed restaurant with the same name. Later that century, German humanist Hieronymus Münzer spent five days in Lisbon in 1494 , and learned about

3298-519: The Daily News to refer to the carousel as one of "Queens' little-known treasures". By the late 1990s, various local community groups were advocating for the carousel to be designated as a New York City landmark. The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) declined the groups' request in December 1998, in part because it was not a permanent structure. According to the LPC, the pavilion lacked architectural or historical significance, while

3395-722: The Middle Ages , several sovereigns across Europe maintained menageries at their royal courts. An early example is that of the Emperor Charlemagne in the 8th century. His three menageries, at Aachen , Nijmegen and Ingelheim , located in present-day Netherlands and Germany , housed the first elephants seen in Europe since the Roman Empire , along with monkeys, lions, bears, camels, falcons, and many exotic birds. Charlemagne received exotic animals for his collection as gifts from rulers of Africa and Asia. In 797,

3492-516: The New York City Police Department patrol the area around the carousel, citing the fact that several violent crimes had recently occurred in that section of the park. Three technicians worked on the carousel and replaced many defective components with handmade pieces. Frederick Fried, who had written a book about American carousels in 1964, was involved in the ride's restoration. Regional newspaper Newsday wrote that he

3589-578: The New York City borough of Queens . The carousel is on Forest Park Drive, just west of Woodhaven Boulevard , which separates the park's western and eastern sections. It is part of the Forest Park Carousel Amusement Village, a seasonal attraction with various games and a cafe. The ride is just north of Strack Pond and is surrounded by a visitor center, picnic grove, and the Forest Park Greenhouse;

3686-616: The caliph of Baghdad , Harun al-Rashid , presented Charlemagne with an Asian elephant named Abul-Abbas . The pachyderm arrived on July 1, 802 to the Emperor's residence in Aachen . He died in June 810. William the Conqueror had a small royal menagerie. At his manor, Woodstock, he began a collection of exotic animals. Around the year 1100 his son, Henry I, enclosed Woodstock and enlarged

3783-482: The "first great menagerie" in western Europe . An elephant, a white bear, a giraffe, a leopard, hyenas, lions, cheetahs, camels, and monkeys were all exhibited; but the emperor was particularly interested in birds , and studied them sufficiently to write a number of authoritative books on them. In the beginning of the 15th century, a royal menagerie was established in the Royal Palace of Lisbon , located nearby

3880-788: The Germanic lands following the ravages of the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) and the ensuing reconstruction. Frederick William , Elector of Prussia , equipped Potsdam with a menagerie around 1680. The Elector of the Palatinate , the Prince Regent of Westphalia and many others followed suit. This design was adopted particularly by the Habsburg monarchy in Austria. In 1752 Francis I erected his famous Baroque menagerie in

3977-502: The Italian Carosella and Spanish Carosella ("little battle", used by crusaders to describe a combat preparation exercise and game played by Turkish and Arabian horsemen in the 12th century). This early device was essentially a cavalry training mechanism; it prepared and strengthened the riders for actual combat as they wielded their swords at the mock enemies. By the 17th century, balls were no longer used, and instead,

Forest Park Carousel - Misplaced Pages Continue

4074-613: The Lakeview Park carousel, Schleifer had considered buying at least 24 carousels over the preceding two years. In January 1972, Heckscher announced that Restaurant Associates was to install a carousel in Forest Park by that June at a cost of $ 100,000. By that April, the reopening date had been pushed back to 1973. A pavilion was being built for the relocated carousel near the intersection of Woodhaven Boulevard and Forest Park Drive. City councilman Frederick D. Schmidt asked that

4171-500: The back of its saddle, which resembles a horse. Two other horses were made of fiberglass and may have been manufactured by the Fabricon Design Group, which renovated the ride in the late 1980s. The platform rotates around a wooden cabinet with a band organ designed by the Andreas Ruth and Sohn Band Organ Company. The cabinet is divided into three sections and includes a scrolled molding at its top. The organ includes

4268-634: The carousel at the time. Residents of the nearby Richmond Hill , Kew Gardens , Woodhaven , and Glendale neighborhoods indicated in February 1967 that they would ask the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) to provide money for several improvements to Forest Park, including a new carousel. That April, the Glendale Taxpayers Association asked the Queens borough president's office to fund

4365-571: The carousel for inclusion on the NRHP the same year; such a designation would provide federal funding for the ride. The carousel was added to the NRHP in July 2004, and officials held a ceremony to celebrate the NRHP listing in October 2004. The carousel had low patronage because it was poorly marked; a report in the late 2000s found that the only signage acknowledging the ride's existence was directly outside

4462-430: The carousel in 2018 as part of the Forest Park Carousel Amusement Village, as well as a Ferris wheel in 2019. Carousel A carousel or carrousel (mainly North American English ), merry-go-round ( international ), Galloper ( international ) or roundabout ( British English ) is a type of amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders. The "seats" are traditionally in

4559-644: The carousel in America was the early 20th century, with large machines and elaborate animals, chariots, and decorations being built. The National Carousel Association maintains a list of Historic Carousel Award winners, primarily focused on carousels in Canada and America. The 'Vermolen Boden Carousel' in the Efteling dates back to 1865. It was originally turned by horses. At present it is turned by an electric motor. [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Today this old stoomcarrousel

4656-414: The carousel its classic look. These mechanical innovations came at a crucial time, when increased prosperity meant that more people had time for leisure and spare money to spend on entertainment. It was in this historical context that the modern fairground ride was born, with Savage supplying this new market demand. In his 1902 Catalogue for Roundabouts he claimed to have "... patented and placed upon

4753-606: The carousel itself did not qualify as an interior landmark. A similar attempt to designate the carousel as a regular city landmark failed in 2000. Afterward, the groups asked the New York state government to place the ride on the New York State Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Colon restored the carousel ahead of its centennial, and Gandhi Engineering

4850-465: The carousel's opening. It was designed by William Dentzel, son of prolific carousel manufacturer Gustav Dentzel . Its horses were described as being "of German design and import" by way of Coney Island . The Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported in 1932 that the city had selected bids for concessionaires "to install and operate a carousel in Forest Park". That year, the New York City government awarded

4947-411: The carousel's operation in early 1993, prompting NYC Parks to begin searching for another operator. Sylvor cited low patronage and increasing costs in his decision to withdraw from the operating agreement. NYC Parks wanted the new concessionaire to conduct additional upgrades, such as a heating system, and to introduce additional amusement rides near the carousel. The ride was valued at $ 1.8 million. Around

SECTION 50

#1732771948655

5044-402: The carousel's renovation, and a nonprofit organization , Carousel Restoration Inc., was established to raise money for the project. Fabricon restored the ride using parts that were discovered in a pit under the carousel, and it may have also installed the ticket booth. The renovation ultimately cost $ 450,000. Carousel Parks was contractually obligated to reopen the ride by July 4, 1989. The ride

5141-465: The carousel. As a result, each of its operators consistently lost money. By the late 2000s, Thomas Makkos of New York One LLC operated the ride. New York One allowed its operating contract to expire in 2009, and the carousel did not operate during that season. Although NYC Parks had opened an RFP for new operators in late 2008, it had not received any responses. The agency canceled its contract with New York One and opened another RFP in early 2009, seeking

5238-483: The children. Another kind of carousel emerged in the 17th century in Belgium and France to celebrate special events. This was a ceremonial parade of knights and noblemen on horseback around a courtyard, accompanied by tournaments and various equestrian demonstrations and games, including the spearing of cardboard heads of "Moors" and "Saracens". The most famous carousel of this kind was held by Louis XIV in June 1662, in

5335-542: The city and surrounding towns for eight years. The first elephant was imported from India to America by a ship's captain, Jacob Crowninshield, in 1796. It was first displayed in New York City and travelled extensively up and down the East Coast. In 1834 James and William Howes’ New York Menagerie toured New England with an elephant , a rhinoceros , a camel , two tigers , a polar bear , and several parrots and monkeys . America's touring menageries slowed to

5432-634: The collection. At the beginning of the 12th century, Henry I of England is known to have kept a collection of animals at his palace in Woodstock , Oxfordshire , reportedly including lions , leopards , lynxes , camels , owls , and a porcupine . The most prominent animal collection in medieval England was the Tower Menagerie in London that began as early as 1204. It was established by King John , who reigned in England from 1199 to 1216 and

5529-490: The concession stand. NYC Parks applied for an Environmental Protection Fund grant to help restore the horses. The carousel reopened on May 26, 2012, and quickly became popular among local residents. Ami Abramson of NY Carousel began selling alcoholic beverages near the carousel, and he began planning additional rides near the carousel as part of his contract with NYC Parks. By the end of the 2012 season, Abramson reported that he had sold 30,000 carousel tickets. The restored carousel

5626-608: The courtyard of the Tuileries Palace , to celebrate the birth of his son and heir. The site of the event, next to the Louvre, is still known as "the Carrousel". By the early 18th century carousels were being built and operated at various fairs and gatherings in central Europe and England. Animals and mechanisms would be crafted during the winter months and the family and workers would go touring in their wagon train through

5723-564: The enclosures and cages. Each enclosure had a house or stable at the far end for the animals and was bounded on three sides with walls. There were bars only in the direction of the pavilion. Animal fights were halted at Vincennes around 1700, the site fell into disuse, and the animals were installed at Versailles with the others. At about this time, the lions, leopards, and tigers from the menagerie at Vincennes were transferred to Versailles, where they were housed in newly built enclosures fronted with iron bars. This particular enterprise marked

5820-632: The form of rows of wooden horses or other animals mounted on posts, many of which are moved up and down by gears to simulate galloping , to the accompaniment of looped circus music . Carousels are commonly populated with horses, each horse weighing roughly 100 lbs (45 kg), but may include a variety of mounts, for example pigs, zebras, tigers, or mythological creatures such as dragons or unicorns . Sometimes, chair -like or bench-like seats are used, and occasionally mounts can be shaped like aeroplanes or cars. The names carousel and merry-go-round are also used, in varying dialects, to refer to

5917-445: The late 1970s, despite Restaurant Associates' efforts to maintain the ride. Eventually, Restaurant Associates subleased the carousel's operation to various other firms. In the mid-1980s, the carousel stopped operating after NYC Parks declined to renew the operator's contract. The ride fell into a state of neglect after it closed. Political candidates Peter King and John Imperiale said in 1986 that Forest Park's carousel and bandshell were

SECTION 60

#1732771948655

6014-464: The lions, claiming to be the most beautiful wild beasts he had ever seen. Later on, the ménagerie of King Manuel I (1495-1521), inside the Ribeira Palace , in downtown Lisbon , was appreciated in Europe due to its huge elephants that the king ordered to be brought from India. One of his elephants, Hanno , as well as a rhinoceros depicted by Dürer were famous gifts to Pope Leo X . However,

6111-452: The main western entrance of the Tower. This building was constituted by rows of cages with arched entrances, enclosed behind grilles. They were set in two storeys, and it appears that the animals used the upper cages during the day and were moved to the lower storey at night. The menagerie was opened to the public during the reign of Elizabeth I in the 16th century. During the 18th century,

6208-476: The market all the principal novelties that have delighted the many thousands of pleasure seekers at home and abroad." In the United States , the carousel industry was developed by immigrants, notably Gustav Dentzel of Germany and Charles W.F. Dare from England, from the late 19th century. Several centres and styles for the construction of carousels emerged in the United States: The golden age of

6305-518: The operator or by ponies. In mid-19th-century England, the carousel became a popular fixture at fairs . The first steam-powered mechanical roundabout, invented by Thomas Bradshaw, appeared at the Pot Market fair in Bolton in about 1861. It was described by a Halifax Courier journalist as "a roundabout of huge proportions, driven by a steam engine which whirled around with such impetuosity, that

6402-785: The orders of the Duke of Wellington . The Tower Menagerie in London can be considered to have been the royal menagerie of England for six centuries. In the first half of the thirteenth century, Emperor Frederick II had three permanent menageries in Italy, at Melfi in Basilicata , at Lucera in Apulia and at Palermo in Sicily . In 1235, the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II established at his court in southern Italy

6499-520: The park of Schönbrunn Palace near Vienna . Being at first a courtly menagerie with private character it was opened to the general public in 1779. Initially, it was only open for "respectably dressed persons". Another aristocratic menagerie was founded in 1774 by Charles III of Spain on grounds which were part of the gardens of the Buen Retiro Palace in Madrid . During two centuries, it

6596-475: The price of admission was three half-pence, or the supply of a cat or dog to be fed to the lions . Animals recorded here at the end of the 18th century included lions, tigers, hyenas, and bears. Most of the animals were transferred in 1831 to the newly opened London Zoo at Regent's Park, which did not receive all the animals but rather shared them with Dublin Zoo . The Tower Menagerie was finally closed in 1835, on

6693-482: The reconstruction of the carousel in Forest Park". NYC Parks opened a request for proposals (RFP), soliciting bids from concessionaires that wished to operate a proposed carousel and food-concession stand within the park. NYC Parks did not take any action on the bids for over a year, and community members complained that Heckscher had failed to respond to their queries. In late 1971, Heckscher and NYC Parks' concessions director Joseph Fallon said they were trying to procure

6790-505: The region, operating their large menagerie carousel at various venues. Makers included Heyn in Germany and Bayol in France . These early carousels had no platforms; the animals would hang from chains and fly out from the centrifugal force of the spinning mechanism. They were often powered by animals walking in a circle or people pulling a rope or cranking. By 1803 John Joseph Merlin had

6887-649: The replacement of the Forest Park Carousel. IRC president Robert Stralle said the next month that the carousel would be replaced. The city and IRC began planning a new carousel in mid-1967 after the city received a $ 50,000 insurance payout. By the end of the year, the city planned to rebuild the carousel and add several small attractions in the immediate area. Construction was expected to start in February 1968. Little progress occurred for two years until May 1970, when New York City parks commissioner August Heckscher said "we have made substantial progress toward

6984-428: The restoration of the existing carousel. Carousel Parks Inc., led by Brooklyn-based carousel manufacturer Marvin Sylvor , leased the carousel for five years starting in November 1988. At the time, the carousel had not been in operation for several years; it had been graffitied, and parts of the carousel's animals were broken or had fallen off. Although the cost of restoring the ride was estimated at $ 500,000 to $ 600,000,

7081-430: The rhinoceros drowned as a result of a shipwreck suffered during the transport trip to Italy. By the end of the 15th century, the aristocracy of Renaissance Italy began to collect exotic animals at their residences on the outskirts of the cities. The role played by animals within the gardens of Italian villas expanded at the end of the 16th century and the beginning of the seventeenth century, and one prominent example

7178-421: The ride until 1993, and NYC Parks reassigned the concession to Carlos Colon the next year. After the carousel closed in 2008, various community groups began advocating for the ride to be designated as a New York City landmark. NY Carousel reopened the ride in 2012 following an extensive restoration, and it renovated the carousel again in 2014. The carousel is near the center of Forest Park , a 500-acre park within

7275-412: The ride's potential landmark status in early 2013; NY Carousel did not object to the proposed designation. The LPC designated the carousel as a city landmark in June 2013, and city officials installed a landmark plaque on the ride that October. The carousel was the first in New York City to be designated as an individual city landmark, and it was one of three operational amusement rides in the city with such

7372-565: The riders had to spear small rings that were hanging from poles overhead and rip them off. Cavalry spectacles that replaced medieval jousting , such as the ring tilt, were popular in Italy and France . The game began to be played by commoners, and carousels soon sprung up at fairgrounds across Europe. At the Place du Carrousel in Paris , an early make-believe carousel was set up with wooden horses for

7469-632: The riders' point of view, in the United Kingdom , merry-go-rounds, called "gallopers" by the showmen community when populated by model horses, usually turn from the left to the right or clockwise (from the outside, or from the spectators' point of view, animals face to the left and the carousel apparently turns from the right to the left, the spectators' sense of clockwise ), while in North America and Mainland Europe , carousels typically go counterclockwise , that is, from right to left (from

7566-440: The same time, the New York City government contemplated selling the ride for parts to raise money. Spanish-born entrepreneur Carlos Colon signed a contract with NYC Parks in 1994 to operate the ride for five years. NYC Parks held an exhibition at Forest Park in 1995, displaying artifacts relating to the Forest Park and Flushing Meadows carousels. The carousel's patronage suffered because of its relatively secluded location, leading

7663-430: The scene. The animals were housed on the ground floor in cells bordering the courtyard, with small yards on the outside where they could take a bit of exercise. At Vincennes , lions, tigers, and leopards, as well as polecat, minks and weasels were kept in cages around an amphitheater where the king could entertain courtiers and visiting dignitaries with bloody battles. In 1682, for instance, the ambassador of Persia enjoyed

7760-612: The site. The ride, operated by NY Carousel since 2012, is part of a seasonal amusement center called Forest Park Carousel Amusement Village. The Forest Park Carousel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004 and has been a New York City designated landmark since 2013. The carousel is on Forest Park Drive, just west of Woodhaven Boulevard , and is housed in a one-story pavilion designed by Victor Christ-Janer . Its figures include 36 moving horses, 13 stationary horses, three menagerie figures, and two chariots. The horses, animals, and chariots are placed in three rows on

7857-417: The south-west of the park, it was Louis XIV's first major project at Versailles and one of several pleasure houses that were gradually assembled around the palace. It represented the first menagerie according to Baroque style. The prominent feature of Baroque menageries was the circular layout, in the middle of which stood a beautiful pavilion. Around this pavilion was a walking path and outside this path were

7954-440: The spectacle of a fight to the death between a royal tiger and an elephant. When the palace of Versailles was built, Louis XIV of France also erected a menagerie within the palace's park. The menagerie at Versailles was to be something very different from the one at Vincennes. Most of it was constructed in 1664 when the first animals were introduced, although the interior fittings were not finished until 1668–70. Situated in

8051-400: The spectators' point of view, animals face to the right and the carousel is seen as turning from left to right, the spectators' sense of counterclockwise). By the mid-19th century, the platform carousel was developed; the animals and chariots were fixed to a circular floor that would suspend from a centre pole and rotate around. These carousels were called dobbies and were operated manually by

8148-618: The surrounding area also contains a golf course, a clubhouse, and the Seuffert Bandshell. The current carousel was originally installed in Dracut, Massachusetts , north of Lowell ; it was relocated to Forest Park in 1972. The carousel was one of approximately a dozen manufactured by German immigrant Daniel Carl Muller. It is Muller's only carousel in New York City and, along with the Midway Carousel at Cedar Point in Ohio,

8245-440: The symmetrical ensemble of the formerly imperial menagerie. In England travelling menageries had first appeared at around 1700. In contrast to the aristocratic menageries, these travelling animal collections were run by showmen who met the craving for sensation of the ordinary population. These animal shows ranged in size but the largest was George Wombwell 's. The earliest record of a fatality at one such travelling menagerie

8342-453: The tails consist of genuine horse hair, and the horses have glass eyes. Although Muller designed most of the horses, one horse is cited as having been designed by William Dentzel, while two others are attributed to Charles Carmel. Over the years, several of the horses have been replaced. Of Carmel's two horses, one has five feathers on its chest strap, while the other has a fringed shawl on its chest. William Dentzel's horse contains an object at

8439-539: The wonder is the daring riders are not shot off like cannonball, and driven half into the middle of next month." Soon afterwards, English engineer Frederick Savage began to branch out of agricultural machinery production into the construction of fairground machines, swiftly becoming the chief innovator in the field. Savage's fairground machinery was exported all over the world. By 1870, he was manufacturing carousels with Velocipedes (an early type of bicycle) and he soon began experimenting with other possibilities, including

8536-585: Was "instrumental in bringing the Muller carousel to Queens". Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs administrator Richard M. Clurman rededicated the carousel in November 1973; the project had cost $ 275,000. Initially, Mike Conroy managed the ride, one of five wooden carousels operating in New York City at the time. The relocation of Lakeview Park's carousel to Forest Park coincided with the 1975 New York City fiscal crisis , during which New York City's public parks declined in quality. The carousel had become rundown by

8633-675: Was a predecessor institution of the modern facilities of the Madrid Zoo Aquarium , moved in 1972 to the Casa de Campo . In the nineteenth century the aristocratic menageries were displaced by the modern zoological gardens with their scientific and educational approach. The last menagerie in Europe was the Tiergarten Schönbrunn in Vienna, which was known officially as a "menagerie" until 1924, before evolving into

8730-415: Was acquired by Victor Christ-Janer , an architect from Connecticut, who initially planned to sell the ride to an amusement park. He removed several of the horses; sources disagree over whether he gifted them to his employees or sold them to private collectors. In any case, Christ-Janer instead opted to sell it to Arthur Schleifer of Restaurant Associates , who paid $ 30,000 for the carousel. Prior to obtaining

8827-477: Was featured in such media as a Saturday Night Live skit and in an ad in Vanity Fair magazine. During Hurricane Sandy in 2012, a tree fell onto the carousel building; the carousel itself was not damaged. The LPC had planned to host a public hearing in late 2012 to determine whether to designate the ride as a landmark, but the meeting did not occur as scheduled. The agency finally hosted discussions about

8924-443: Was first used in 17th-century France , referring to the management of household or domestic stock. Later, it came to be used primarily in reference to aristocratic or royal animal collections. The French-language Methodical Encyclopaedia of 1782 defines a menagerie as an "establishment of luxury and curiosity". Later on, the term referred also to travelling animal collections that exhibited wild animals at fairs across Europe and

9021-449: Was hired as the restoration engineer. The artist Jonathan Lev was commissioned to paint 18 panels for the carousel around 2000; the panels were installed in 2002. At the ride's centennial in 2003, several preservationists signed a petition to prevent the demolition of the carousel, although city officials said they had no plans to modify it. NYC Parks and local organizations, with the endorsement of state senator Serphin R. Maltese , nominated

9118-487: Was largely destroyed by fire in 1950, although several of the park's individual operations continued to operate until 1971, including the carousel. Local residents referred to the attraction's horses as "Bobbie Horses". After the 1971 season, the Barbuti family decided to sell off the carousel. The Lowell Sun wrote at the time: "Selling the carousel marked the death of that park that was once Dracut's pride." The carousel

9215-429: Was rededicated on that date, with customers paying $ 1 for three-minute rides on the carousel. Despite the extensive restoration, the carousel was closed shortly after its reopening because the carousel's main gear had cracked. The ride's turning mechanism was repaired in 1990, as were the floor and poles, and Sylvor began raising money to stabilize the carousel's frame and improve its lighting. Sylvor and Garry withdrew from

9312-517: Was the Villa Borghese built 1608–1628 in Rome . During the seventeenth century, exotic birds and small animals provided diverting ornaments for the court of France ; lions and other large animals were kept primarily to be brought out for staged fights. The collecting grew and attained more permanent lodgings in the 1660s, when Louis XIV constructed two new menageries: one at Vincennes, next to

9409-651: Was the death of Hannah Twynnoy in 1703 who was killed by a tiger in Malmesbury , Wiltshire . Also in North America travelling menageries became even more popular during that time. The first exotic animal known to have been exhibited in America was a lion, in Boston in 1710, followed a year later in the same city by a camel. A sailor arrived in Philadelphia in August 1727 with another lion, which he exhibited in

#654345