Agency Details:

Playland-Not-at-the-Beach

Playland-Not-at-the-Beach is a non-profit Museum of Fun celebrating history and excitement of America's bygone amusements. Our mission is to provide interactive experiences that help people of all ages rediscover the joy of America's forgotten forms of entertainment.

Description:
Playland-Not-at-the-Beach is a 9000 square foot building chock-full of amazing things to see and do. Guests can explore our 25 exhibits -- treasures and artifacts from the Sutro Baths and Whitney's Playland, historical movies and fabulous artwork. Our attractions, exhibits, art and educational activities grew out of creative collaboration with artists, designers, craftspeople, volunteers, and community partners. Together we crafted this magical place to create new memories for future generations.

We have 25 exhibits and attractions highlighting: Circus World, a hand-carved miniature replica of a traveling circus in 1930s America, Carousel Carnival with 40 years of games collected from around the country, Santa's Village celebrating the bygone amusement park in the Santa Cruz mountains, the World of Charles Dickens (celebrating Victorian England in miniature), Dark Mystery (the Halloween season) and Bygone San Francisco (the 1939 World's Fair on Treasure Island)Yuletide seasons. We also have Penny Arcades with machines that are nearly 100 years. The south side of the building is devoted to four arcades full of vintage pinball machines spanning 7 decades of ingenuity and engineering design. There are new exhibits being developed all the time including a Haunted Manor, a tribute to the genius of Walt Disney and Wizard World. There are surprises and artwork around every corner. Guests may choose between a guided tour or free roaming among the many exhibits. There are live magic shows and treasure hunts to teach children reading skills and deductive reasoning. We also teach classes in magic, balloon sculpting and animation.

History:
When Richard Tuck and Tim Sauer purchased the old Angelo's Market on San Pablo Avenue in El Cerrito to turn it into office space in 1998, they planned to permanently save the rear portion of the building for "fun projects" totally unrelated to their business.

In 1999 the Marcks Family Miniature Circus found a new home back in this area of the building known at the time as "Richard's Fun House." Over the years Richard had collected memorabilia from San Francisco's venerable Playland-at-the-Beach and from other defunct amusement parks around the nation. The "Fun House" became the perfect repository for setting up exhibits for friends to visit and admire the collection.

In early 2004 Playland-Not-at-the-Beach became a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable and educational organization with the goal of providing educational and entertaining events for children of all ages from 5 to 95. This Museum of Fun features two full size Laughing Sals and a 3000-year old mummy! Now the 9000 square foot building is alive with classes, special events, guests taking tours and surprises around every corner. Playland-Not-at-the-Beach was built by volunteers and is run by volunteers.

Contact person: Richard Tuck, Founder & Master Of Fun, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (510) 232-6795

Address:

10979 San Pablo Avenue El Cerrito, CA 94530 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.playland-not-at-the-beach.org

Directions:

Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: Del Norte Bart,   Walk distance (in minutes): 10   Nearest Bus Stop: AC Transit, 2 minute walk

Last updated on October 16, 2009