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Iron Shark


Iron Shark


A catalyst for American


tourism Throughout the 20th century, pleasure piers became America’s


centrepiece for pre-eminent family entertainment. Built by


municipalities as Pirate Splash Gulf Glider Sky Shooter


functional structures, such as California’s Santa Monica Pier that opened in 1909 to carry sewer pipes beyond the ocean’s breakers, these massive steel and concrete constructions were transformed by entrepreneurs into tourist attractions. Other notable venues, most of which are still around today, include Chicago’s Navy Pier, Coney Island’s Luna Park and the Steel Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey (pictured). In the late 1940s, Galveston’s Pleasure Pier became the largest in the country, attracting America’s top dance bands to its mammoth Marine Ballroom, while outside patrons enjoyed the fishing facilities, or such as delights as the carnival midway, an aquarium and watching movies under a star-lit sky. The fun continued for almost two decades until Hurricane Carla destroyed the pier in 1961. Now Landry’s hopes to bring back some of that joy with the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier.


Rock & Roll


Sea Dragon and Cyclone


JULY 2012


29


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