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The foreground is filled with dozens of late-1920s and early-1930s automobiles arranged in rows throughout Playland’s large parking lot. Visible automotive details include upright radiators, external headlights, running boards, spoke wheels, period license plates and a broad assortment of sedan and touring-car body styles.
The enormous wooden structure at the right is the celebrated Bobs Aeroplane Coaster, more commonly remembered as the Airplane Coaster or Aero-Coaster. Portions of the Dragon Coaster appear farther left, while the slender Music Tower rises near the center. The large round-roofed structure at far right is likely associated with the Derby Racer attraction.
Westchester County Archives describes a closely matching Playland parking-lot view as showing automobiles in the foreground with the Bobs Aeroplane/Airplane Coaster, Dragon Coaster and Music Tower visible beyond them.
The Airplane Coaster opened in 1928 and operated until 1957. During its history it was known as Aeroplane Dips, Aero-Coaster and finally Airplane Coaster. The Dragon Coaster opened in 1929, establishing 1929 as the earliest possible date for a view containing both rides. The automobiles strongly suggest a date around 1930.
The packed parking lot provides an unusually rich record of early automobile design as well as the immense scale and complexity of Playland’s original wooden roller coasters. Small groups of visitors can also be seen moving between the parked cars.
An exceptional crossover image for collectors of Rye and Westchester County history, historic amusement parks, wooden roller coasters, the Airplane or Aero-Coaster, Dragon Coaster, early automobiles, parking-lot scenes and American roadside recreation.
Measures approximately 2.75 × 4.5 inches. Reverse is blank except for a pencil notation.
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