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12 Facts About Irving Rosenthal

1.

Irving Rosenthal was an amusement company owner who, along with his brother Jack Rosenthal, operated the Palisades Amusement Park near Cliffside Park and Fort Lee, New Jersey, from 1934 until its closing in 1971.

2.

Early on, Jacob Rosenthal worked as a musician with the Russian Symphony in New York, while Irving Rosenthal studied music and worked at odd jobs.

3.

Irving Rosenthal graduated from the school, but never practiced the profession.

4.

Irving Rosenthal operated the Golden City Park Arena in Canarsie, Brooklyn, and featured the debut fights in the boxing careers of Canada Lee, Tony Canzoneri, and Izzy Grove.

5.

In 1935, the Irving Rosenthal brothers bought the park for $450,000.

6.

Such novelties as the 'diaper derby,' a crawling race for babies, junior beauty pageants, and three-ring circuses were among the innovations Irving Rosenthal introduced at Palisades Amusement Park.

7.

At the height of his career, Irving Rosenthal employed more than 1,600 workers at the park.

8.

Irving Rosenthal annually hosted the Police Anchor Club outings to the park, which enabled more than 11,000 New York orphans to visit the attraction.

9.

At one time, Irving Rosenthal owned the Royal York Hotel in Miami, Florida, and a chain of movie theaters.

10.

In 1971, Irving Rosenthal sold the 38-acre Palisades Amusement Park to the Centex Winston Corporation for $12.5 million to develop high-rise apartments, but continued working as chairman of Action Ads, Inc.

11.

Irving Rosenthal was involved in real estate and amusement developments.

12.

Irving Rosenthal died of a heart attack at his Manhattan home on Thursday, December 27,1973.