“Remembering Playland” will premiere at the Balboa Theater in San Francisco on Tuesday, March 16th at 7:00 PM.
This is a full-length documentary by Tom Wyrsch about San Francisco’s famous 10-acre seaside amusement park, Playland at the Beach. Located next to Ocean Beach, it was torn down in 1972 to make way for a condominium development. Gone now for more than 3 decades, it remains one of the city’s lost treasures. Go back in time to see Laffing Sal, the Fun House, the Carousel, the Big Dipper, the Diving Bell, Dark Mystery, Limbo, Fun-tier Town, and much, much more, all through the eyes of the people that were there. The first and only documentary ever made about Playland.
Balboa Theater, 3630 Balboa Street, San Francisco. 415-221-8184. Additional information and pre-ticket sales: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/. Better buy early because this will sell out.
Tags: Balboa Theater, Playland
So cool! Can’t wait to see it. Thanks for the update.
we’ll be there!
Very excited for this!
There’s also a great noir classic from 1950 set and filmed in San Francisco called “Woman on the Run”. There are lots of great shots of Market Street, The Embarcadero, etc. – and the last 10+ minutes take place at Playland. It’s available on Netflix and on Amazon for $10. Check it out.
Oh, crap! We can’t see it since we’ll be in Europe. Any plans of editing a DVD or something of the sort? Because my girlfriend and I would really love to see it.
Purchase Balboa pre-sale tickets for the new film at: :http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/100972
I worked there for several years (~1963-1968)! I would love to purchase a DVD. Is one going to be made??? I worked the bottle game, then the balloon game when the carny people took over. Then I moved to the slot car tracks, which had been reduced in size and moved to the East side. Way before that, my friends and I snuck into the Fun House by climbing over the exit turnstile! Couldn’t do that today!
BTW, I live in Oregon now. PLEASE MAKE A DVD!
Yes, the DVD will be available sometime in April. Information on where to purchase will be on this site.
My family and I worked at Playland at the Beach and my mom was one of the people that helped put the Diving Bell together. I started with the ‘Roll-down’ game then moved to the Cotton Candy booth which I beat the Big Boss Gary on the amount of cotton candy to put on the stick. I worked most of the concession booths. I was there until Playland closed (1-yr). I love ‘It’s It’s” ice cream! Please let me know when the DVD will be available, thank you.
Wow, I have very fond memories of Playland. Unfortunately I won’t be able to make it, I live in Washington now. I would love to purchase the DVD. Please keep me posted on when it will be available.
i’m a film noir film buff & “woman in the run” didn’t include scenes of playland at the beach, but rather santa cruz’s broadwalk. the movie you’re thinking about is orson well’s “lady from shanghai” which filmed the funhouse & laughing sal. another commitment on 16th, so hope there’s going to be another balboa date for “remembering playland” or give further info of dvd. woud loves to add to collection of sf films…thanks
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