In the December 17, 1905 episode of the cartoon Little Nemo in Slumberland (which is on view at the

In the December 17, 1905 episode of the cartoon Little Nemo in Slumberland (which is on view at the Museum), the character Icicle explains that Luna Park is where Santa Claus got the idea of building his home. For the Brooklyn cartoonist Winsor McKay, it made sense to have Luna Park, known for its fantastical architecture, serve as a source of inspiration for such a joyous figure.Influenced by the both the fanciful and the futuristic, Luna Park owners Fred Thompson and Elmer “Skip” Dundy created a delightfully theatrical setting that infused visitors with a sense of revelry. The Venetian canal and gondola seen in this photograph by Eugene Wemlinger were part of a larger program of architecture at Luna Park, which included a Chinese theater, a Japanese garden, a Dutch windmill, Irish and Eskimo villages, and “Streets of Delhi.” Thompson and Dundy were inspired by the popularity of such foreign villages at world’s fairs. Before opening Luna Park in 1903, the pair (separately and together) had developed attractions for several world’s fairs, including the 1901 Pan-American Exposition where they debuted the cyclorama “A Trip to the Moon.” Posted by Connie H. ChoiEugene Wemlinger (American, dates unknown) Luna Park, Coney Island, 1906. Brooklyn Museum/Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Collection -- source link

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