Colorful view of Playland in the 1930’s

San Francisco was becoming the Playground of the West Coast and in 1916, Arthur Looff opened Looff’s Hippodrome at the Chutes-at-the-Beach. Looff’s Hippodrome was the first permanently installed concession at Ocean Beach. The Hippodrome was an elegant 68-horse merry-go-round with a $5,000 organ, a staggering amount at that time.

Brothers Leo and George Whitney opened a photographic concession in 1923, pioneering a rapid photo-finishing process that allowed people to take pictures home rather than having to wait days for the film to be developed and images printed.

Among the more popular concessions was the Fun House, erected in 1924. Laughing Sal's hideous cackle echoed throughout the park, summoning patrons, many of whom still remember the Fun House's mirror maze, the air jets, the topsy-turvy barrel and the three-story climb up to the top of "the longest, bumpiest indoor slide in the world."

George Whitney became manager of the amusement park in 1926 and promptly changed the name to Playland-at-the-Beach. During the Depression, when concessions began to fail, the Whitney brothers bought them from the independent concessionaires. George was able to buy the the Roller Coaster in 1936 and the Merry-Go-Round in 1942.

Playland took up three city blocks and in 1934, the Midway had 14 rides, 25 concessions and 4 restaurants besides Topsy’s Roost.

This advertisement for the Chutes shows an artist’s rendering of Playland when it was called Chutes-At-The-Beach

George Whitney opened Topsy’s Roost in 1929 and it soon became San Francisco’s most favorite spot at Playland-at-the-Beach. Driving south along the beach from the Cliff House, the first building you came to was Topsy’s Roost, a very popular Chicken Dinner House and Nightclub. You could dance to a live orchestra and there was seating on the main floor as well as the balcony. If you were sitting on the balcony level and you wanted to dance, there were slides to take you right down onto the dance floor.

Topsy’s Roost Menu Card from 1930

George Whitney used this truck to advertise his Whitney Bros.’ Playland-at the-Beach

Topsy’s Roost opened in 1929 and it was famous for dancing and the 50-cent chicken dinner

Topsy’s Roost was the brightest spot in San Francisco

There is no place in the world like Topsy’s Roost

Topsy’s Famous Slides and South Tiers of Roosts and Coops

If you were sitting on the balcony level and you wanted to dance, there were slides to take you right down onto the dance floor.

Topsy’s Showboat and Levee

You could dance to a live orchestra under the Showboat Stage

The East Tiers at Topsy’s Roost

Eventually Topsy’s Roost closed and the space became Skateland and later, the Slotcar Raceway

George and Leo Whitney owned and operated Playland for over 40 years. After George's death, Playland was sold to Jeremy Ets-Hokin (a millionaire developer). Playland was torn down in 1972 and now the property is occupied with condominiums.

Playland is but a faded memory

Pictures courtesy of Marilyn Blaisdell and Frank Schlick

San Francisco

Last updated 05-01-06

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