Author: Kevin F. Smith

2 images merged together: My illustration of Gertrude (One of my mom's favorite horses on the Euclid Beach Park Grand Carousel), and a photo of my mom volunteering as a spotter for the carousel at the Cleveland History Center.

New Carousel Artwork – Happy Birthday, Mom!

Kevin F. Smith

Today is my mom’s birthday! I wanted to celebrate the occasion by showing my appreciation for (among many other things) all of the time and effort she contributes to my events, as well as her work volunteering as a fellow Euclid Beach Park Now board member and as a spotter for the Euclid Beach Park Grand Carousel at the Cleveland History Center! As a gesture of my gratitude, I spent some time this week illustrating one of her favorite horses from the carousel as a surprise birthday gift, which I presented to her this evening as a small, framed poster, along with a package of Humphrey Candy Kisses!

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2 photos merged together: The giant octopus from the Laff-In-The-Dark ride at Euclid Beach Park (as the item appears today in Kevin's collection), and a pair of Laff-In-The-Dark riders approaching the end of the ride (Vintage photo: Harry Christiansen Collection - Special Collections, Michael Schwartz Library at Cleveland State University)

Laff-In-The-Dark Artifacts – Halloween Feature!

Kevin F. Smith

Hello! I’ve recently acquired a number of unique & special pieces for my collection which I’ve been anxious to announce. In honor of Halloween this week, I’m excited to start by sharing two of my recent purchases from the Euclid Beach Boys’ 3rd memorabilia auction: Original elements from the Laff-In-The-Dark ride at Euclid Beach Park!

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2 photos merged together: The giant greeting card that Kevin made for the 130th anniversary of Euclid Beach Park's opening and the 90th birthday of Laughing Sal, and a selection of Kevin's Euclid Beach Park memorabilia collection on display

Reflections on the 20th Annual “Remembering The Sights & Sounds of Euclid Beach Park” event

Kevin F. Smith

As is tradition, the annual “Remembering The Sights & Sounds of Euclid Beach Park” event was recently held on the final Sunday of September, which once marked the end of the amusement park’s season. This was the first major public event organized by Euclid Beach Park Now since I stepped into the role of Vice President of the organization, as well as the largest display to date of my personal memorabilia collection! The weather was fantastic, and attendance was great for the main event as well as the vintage car show.

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2 photos merged together: Kevin standing in front of his display at the 2025 Amusement Preservation Museum Open House, and the museum's sign listing examples of amusement parks featured in their collection

Highlights of My Experience Displaying at the 2025 Amusement Preservation Museum Open House

Kevin F. Smith

This past weekend (June 7 & 8), I participated in the Amusement Preservation Museum’s 2025 Open House as a guest exhibitor. This was, by far, my largest display to date, and to paraphrase one visitor, the most impressive amusement park memorabilia display he had ever seen! Despite the weather being (unfortunately, yet also appropriately) as inconsistent as a roller coaster’s elevation, an estimated 200 guests came to see the museum’s extensive collection of ride cars and other artifacts, as well as my display!

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Kevin on the Euclid Beach Grand Carousel at the Cleveland History Center. Both Kevin and the pictured carousel horse are wearing party hats.

Happy 115th Birthday to the Euclid Beach Park Grand Carousel!

Kevin F. Smith

I spent most of today at the Cleveland History Center, celebrating the anniversary of the carousel’s debut at Euclid Beach Park in 1910! There was a steady flow of riders throughout the day for the occasion, and while I was not officially scheduled to participate in the event, I came prepared with several vintage items from my personal collection that have direct connections to the carousel! (Please see the photos below for more detailed descriptions.)

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Visiting TWO Former Kiddie Park Locations!

Visiting TWO Former Kiddie Park Locations!

Kevin F. Smith

I took a couple of trips this past month to the locations where two of Northeast Ohio’s classic kiddie parks once operated! Westlake Kiddie Park and Kiddie Playland are among the parks I hear about least often, but they were undoubtedly fun for youngsters who lived nearby in the 1950s and 60s! Here’s what I’ve recently learned about these two parks, and seen at their original locations:

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Thank You, Geauga Lake – Jacqueline Vanni Gross

Kevin F. Smith

I spent my teenage years with my friends at Six Flags World’s of Adventure/ Geauga Lake. We all had season passes, and our moms took turns dropping us off between 2003-2006, when we could finally drive. We used to absolutely lap the coasters there and had no idea how incredible of a coaster lineup we had in our own backyard.

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