Riverview Park was Chicago's largest and best-known amusement park. Although Riverview closed at the end of the 1967 season, it is still lovingly remembered by the citizens of Chicago. LAUGH YOUR TROUBLES AWAY traces the development and changes of the park, as seen through postcards, vintage ads, and historic photographs taken by the official park photographers.
LAUGH YOUR TROUBLES AWAY is the product of years of research by Derek Gee and personal experiences collected by collaborator Ralph Lopez, who worked at the park for 11 years and is a founding member of the National Amusement Park Historical Association (NAPHA). Ralph's vast knowledge of the park is blended with historical facts and photos from contemporary sources dating as early as 1879, including The Chicago Tribune, Billboard magazine for the amusement industry, and Riverview's own publicity photos. This unique mix makes LAUGH YOUR TROUBLES AWAY the most comprehensive and factual history of Riverview available today.