This 2nd Edition book is about the nostalgic memories of the amusement park on the north side of Des Moines that reside with generations of Iowans. Crossing the rickety, wooden bridge to get to the island, the scent of coal cinders from the train, the old-fashioned wooden roller coaster, the antique carousel, the Riviera Ballroom where the big bands played are all things that made a legend of the sedate, old-fashioned nature of Riverview Park.

For author Alexander Rassogianis, spending the summers with his family in southwestern Michigan during his school years in the 1950s brought the greatest joy and the fondest memories. In Return to Glenlord, he reminisces about this era of old-fashioned resorts, quaint little cottages, sandy beaches, long walks on country roads, and the permeating scent of pine. In this memoir, Rassogianis recalls being a part of a vibrant Greek community that transported itself from Chicago every year. He includes anecdotes about memorable and humorous characters and events, including getting into mischief with his three buddies, falling in love six times before the age of twelve, and going on excursions to Glenlord Beach, the outdoor movie theater, the amusement park, Deer Forest, and the House of David. Return to Glenlord shares the remembrances of a carefree time and of being part of a beautiful world that no longer exists. Although the resorts and cabins of Rassogianiss youth are a thing of the past, his memories of summers spent in Stevensville, Michigan, can never be replaced.

This book presents the rich history of the old amusement parks and beach resorts frequented by Baltimoreans beginning in the 1870s and stretching into the late 20th century. Readers may recognize such popular amusement parks as Gwynn Oak, Carlin's, and Tolchester Beach, and will learn about some of the more obscure places like Frederick Road Park and Hollywood Park. Each of the major parks is documented here, complete with a detailed history of the sites they were built on, the creative owners behind the parks' inceptions, the individuals and companies who provided the rides and attractions, and, the people that happily traveled by boat, streetcar, train and automobile to reach their favorite park or resort.

The Broadway musical Shuffle Along—with book by Flournoy Miller and Aubrey Lyles, lyrics by Noble Sissle, and music by Eubie Blake—premiered on 23 May 1921 at the Cort Theatre on 63rd Street and became the first overwhelmingly successful African American musical on Broadway. Langston Hughes, who saw the production, said that Shuffle Along marked the beginning of the Harlem Renaissance. Both black and white audiences swarmed to the show, which prompted the integration of subsequent Broadway audiences. The dances were such a smash that choreographers for white Broadway shows hired Shuffle Along chorus girls to teach their chorus lines the new steps. “Love Will Find a Way,” the first successful unburlesqued love song in a black Broadway show, was so well-received that audiences demanded multiple encores. The show’s influences went far beyond Broadway: Some of the period’s most influential black musicians, including dancer Josephine Baker, vocalist Paul Robeson, composer Hall Johnson, and composer William Grant Still, all got their start in Shuffle Along. The editors have assembled the full score and libretto for this critical edition from the original performance materials. The critical report thoroughly explains all sources and editorial decisions. The accompanying scholarly essay examines the music, dances, and script of Shuffle Along and places this influential show in its social, racial, and historical context.