Hello Sarah,
The Palace of Joy was an ambitious project that was never fully realized. In 1920, promoters erected a dramatic new twin-towered structure on the plaza entrance to the old Sea Beach Palace at Surf Avenue at West 10th Street. The towers advertised an enormous salt water swimming pool called the Aquadrome that was to be located inside the Palace. At various times the project plans also called for a Pleasure Pier (that was never built) and a roller rink and boxing venue.
The pool, advertised as the largest in the world, was completed, but the Sea Beach Palace's roof was removed in 1922, turning it into an open-air attraction surrounded by remnants of the ornate columns and balconies that once graced the 1876 buiding.
The Palace of Joy attraction fell through and the property was taken over by Luna Park which used the tower building to advertise several new attractions, including the Mammoth Pit Fun House. When Luna Park closed for good, the tower building was leased to Joe Bonsignore who owned the adjacent L.A. Thompson coaster. The building was later demolished and the Jet Speedway Go-Karts operated on the site through the late 1950s.
Comments
Palace of Joy
While looking up my Grandfather, who was a boxer in the teens and '20s of the 20th century, I found that he had boxed there. Though I have no exact dates it seems there were matches held there as well. His name was Phil Franchini.
Phil Franchini at the Palace ofJoy
September 9, 1921. Lost in 5 rounds to Abe Goldstein.
Al Tiernan
wow. My grandfather, Al Tiernan probably knew your grandfather Phil Franchini, both bantamweights, They fought one year apart almost to the day at Palace of Joy, according to boxingrec.com
Grandfather fought there ...
... in 1922. Two times in June. His name was Al Tiernan. a bantamweight
Add new comment