Tustin Resident Once Roamed The Great Plains Of The Bronx

What jobs did you have as a teenager? How about portraying a cowboy at a theme park in The Bronx?

That’s where Billy Collins of Tustin began his work life, if getting the nickname Billy the Kid at Freedomland U.S.A. during the early 1960s was considered work. Collins eventually became an art director, a graphic designer and then a California firefighter.

Freedomland U.S.A. (visit the Facebook group) was conceived and built by C.V. Wood and his Marco Engineering Company. Known to many as Woody, he was Disneyland’s first employee and he brought Walt Disney’s imagination to life by leading the team that built that park. He then created Marco Engineering to build theme parks and other venues across the country. Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington and the community of Lake Havasu, Arizona, continue to prosper. The northeast Bronx marshland that featured Freedomland U.S.A., an American history themed park, eventually became a housing development and a shopping center.

Collins is from Malverne on New York's Long Island. John Wagerer, the son of Billy’s godmother and a cousin through marriage, was an official Freedomland photographer. That’s how a kid who was just 15 or 16 at the time was able to don a cowboy hat and holster to earn money at the park.

The history of Freedomland, including Collins' memories about the cowboy character actors and other happenings in the park, is the subject of a new book. Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive History is published by Theme Park Press and available on Amazon, eBay, Barnes&Noble online and Goodreads.

“John was given the photo studio in Fort Cavalry [The Great Plains section of the park] for the 1961 and 1962 seasons, and I worked there along with a couple of young girls,” said Collins. “I got dressed up as a cowboy and took pictures with the park guests…I must have been in hundreds of shots, all of them black and white Polaroids. We stood in front of western scenery that had been created by the park’s scenery painters.”

Collins also became one of the cowboys in the demonstrations and spontaneous gun fights. Sometimes he was a good guy and at other times he was a bad guy. During his off time, he would wander through the park in costume. Park managers did not appreciate that he was sort of a tumbleweed as he moved from one themed section (there were seven) to another area of Freedomland. Imagine a dusty cowboy appearing in the area of the park depicting Cape Canaveral and the space race!

“I was reported several times for being in other locations instead of confined to the fort area or the other western locations,” said Collins. “But I couldn’t be fired, because of my relationship with Freedomland’s photographer.”

Historically Themed Attractions

Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive History features stories about the building of Freedomland and background about the various attractions from the recreation of the Chicago Fire to a trip on a bull boat in America’s untamed wilderness on the Northwest Fur Trapper attraction. Dark rides included the Earthquake of San Francisco, a Buccaneer attraction (with connections to Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean) and the Tornado recreation in the New Orleans section of the park, and a Mine Caverns ride deep into the earth in the Old Southwest. The dark rides and several other attractions were created by Arrow Development, which designed attractions for Disneyland and many other parks.

Another popular Freedomland attraction allowed guests to witness the early stages of audio-automatronics as they rode on a correspondents’ wagon through the battle lines of rival American Civil War armies. During the early 1960s, America was commemorating the centennial of the War Between the States.

Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive History is filled with documentation about the more than 150 celebrities of the day who appeared at the park. They included Paul Anka, Louis Armstrong, The Four Seasons, Benny Goodman, The Lennon Sisters and The Three Stooges. A section of the book also features the memories of baby boomers who, as kids, were in awe of the park’s history, fun, entertainment and excitement.

Cowboys and cowgirls were a significant part of the park’s storyline. Fans of Freedomland, as they read the book, will enjoy learning about the many previously unknown stories involving the various character actors. This includes Tustin’s Billy the Kid.