While doing research for Welcome Back Riders, we came across the "Official Song" of Lakeside Amusement Park. This led us on a two year search to see how many of the featured parks had official songs. After searching the Smithsonian, Library of Congress and other archives across the United States, we were able to bring these sounds of the past to life for the film. Some of these were just hand written, while some were published. For the Euclid Beach Two-Step, there is only one known copy. Coney Island's Luna Park song was even written by the famous John Phillip Sousa. For most, ours was probably the first performance of these "lost songs" in 100 years. The only song that remains elusive is The Elitch Gardens March, written in 1894. Copies of this song were given out to every visitor to the park that year. If a copy still exists, we couldn't find it.

Please click on title below to hear sample of each song.

Just Take a Trip Out to Lakeside
Words and music by Elmore I. Lee Copyright 1908
Written for Lakeside Amusement Park, Denver, Colorado

Euclid Beach Two-Step
Music by Will S. Ashbrook
Circa 1903
Written for Euclid Beach Amusement Park, Cleveland, Ohio

The Song of the Ferris Wheel
Music by Geo. Scmleiffarth.
Words by M.A. Sturges
Copyright, 1893
Written for the 1893 Chicago World's Fair

Kennywood Park Waltz
Music by Margaretha Scandroli
Copyright 1899
Written for Kennywood Park, Pittsburgh, PA

I've Made my Plans for the Summer
Words and music by John Philip Sousa
Copyright 1907
Written for Luna Park, Coney Island, New York

Chippewa Lake Waltz
Words and Music by Darell L. Taylor
Circa 1918
Written for Chippewa Lake Park, Chippewa, Ohio

Cedar Point (That's The Place)
Music by Belle Schrag.
Words by J.Otto Martin
Copyright 1922
Written for Cedar Point Amusement Park, Sandusky, Ohio

Music arrangements copyright 2006