Beautiful Lake Cliff — ca. 1906
by Paula Bosse
by Paula Bosse
Enjoy these images of Lake Cliff, which, 100 years ago, was “the greatest amusement park in the Southwest.” The slogan “It’s in Dallas” should really have read “It’s in Oak Cliff” — and back then Oak Cliff had everything!
- Mystic River
- Shoot-the-Chutes (read this!)
- Open-Air Circus
- Roller Coaster
- Casino
- Natatorium
- Carousel
- Tennis Courts
- Restaurant
- Baseball Grounds
- Skating Rink
- Trolley Cars
- Penny Vaudeville
- Casino Band and Orchestra
- Circle Swing
- Japanese Village
- Boating
- Swimming
- Ferris Wheel
Whew.
Below, some wonderful postcards and photos. (Click to see larger images.)
The first one shows the cafe and the “circle swing” (see a swing in action here).
via DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University
via DeGolyer Library, SMU
via Cook Collection, DeGolyer Library, SMU
Oak Cliff High School yearbook, 1925
Photo by Clogenson, ca. 1908, via Library of Congress
From 1906 promotional brochure, via Portal to Texas History
Jump forward to the 1940s — when it was more of a big pool, without all the flash and filigree:
Take a look at it now in this stunningly beautiful drone video by Matthew Armstrong:
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Sources & Notes
Top image is from a postcard in the George W. Cook Collection at SMU’s DeGolyer Library, here.
Most other uncredited images were found around the internet, several from Coltera’s Flickr stream.
More on Lake Cliff can be found in this article by Rachel Stone from the Oak Cliff Advocate (be sure to click the link to see the full 1906 promotional brochure on “the Southwest’s greatest playground” (it’s “Clean, Cool, Delightful”)).
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Copyright © 2019 Paula Bosse. All Rights Reserved.
Flashback : Dallas 
Love reading stories about the early times of Oak Cliff. I grew up in Oak Cliff in the 50’s and 60’s.
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Raenell,I grew up at 3430 S.Marsalis.This is the lake where my Pappy took me fishin over 60 years ago.Used bacon rinds for bait.Rode a city bus there.Used a cane pole.OH the memories,and the stories he told about life.The story/song will be on my upcoming CD…RIP Grand Daddy.
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Dear Flashback,This is where my Grand Daddy took me fishin over 60 years ago.In the film I can see the tree we stood under to fish all those years ago.Right across the street from the tall building that I think was a hotel at one time.There was none of the bathing or swimming facilities there.I’m a musician working on a record right now that contains a song written about those adventures.We rode the city bus there from 3430 S.Marsalis.The song,”Cane Pole Out The Window”.We had no car.We rode in the back of a city bus so I could stick that pole out the window.Thanks SO much for this article.It made me cry…RIP Pappy Ballard:-{
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Very old photos, just super.
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Paula, if you look on satellite view in google you can still see the road that is leading to parking lot…can you confirm that for me… which means they totally expanded the lake drastically.
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its me thanks
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My grandfather’s uncle & his wife performed in the casino as the Vaudeville team of Mr. & Mrs. Jack McGreevy- in 1910. I have a copy of their “smash” revue.
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[…] added the two postcards below to the extravaganza of cool postcards collected in the 2019 post “Beautiful Lake Cliff — ca. 1906.” (Source: […]
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