Historic photos show child who are now in their 80s enjoying pony rides and Tilt-A-Whirls during the heyday of a forgotten Los Angeles theme park. The amusement park historian Jay Jennings's Beverly Park: L.A.'s Kiddieland details the history of the attraction, which was open from 1945 to 1974 on the land that now houses the Beverly Center mall. It was owned by Dave Bradley,  a ride inventor and amusement park innovator, who filled the location with a Little Dipper roller coaster, Boat Ride, Merry-Go-Round, Helicopter Ride, Ferris Wheel, and a Haunted Castle long before Disneyland. The photos can also be seen on Retro Image Publishing.
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Beverly Park, also known as Kiddieland, was in west LA from 1945 to 1974
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Attractions were run by Dave Bradley, who later worked for Walt Disney
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Park was popular with Hollywood stars Lana Turner and Carol Burnett
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Land later became used for mall after lease on the land increased
Kiddieland
Kiddieland
The children who enjoyed @placeholder in their youth are now up to 70 years older and now likely have grandchildren who would like the park
Kiddieland
Kiddieland
Walt Disney, who opened his own park in 1955, was one of the early visitors to take his children to @placeholder and talked to Bradley about the rides.
Disneyland
'In the end, Disney utilized many of Dave Bradley's ideas for @placeholder, such as the concept of "themed photos ops" where certain parts of the park could be specifically designed for taking family photos,' Jennings said.