FAIRYLAND PARK

My grandfather loved roller coasters, and there were three of them at Fairyland Park in Kansas City, Mo. There, from 1923 to 1977, people went to ride the rides, eat popcorn and hotdogs, and dance. Because of the sweltering Kansas City heat, the Pla-Mor and other  ballrooms had to close, but Fairyland had a cool, shady, outdoor area, so the bands of Benny Moten and Thaymon Hayes, to name a few, entertained crowds of jazz lovers and dancers. Except for the  bandleaders and the musicians, no other Negros were allowed to enjoy the park except for one day each year.