1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,760 Speaker 1: This Day in History Class is a production of iHeartRadio 2 00:00:05,760 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: Hello and Welcome to This Day in History Class, a 3 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: show that raises the curtain on everyday history and lets 4 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:17,440 Speaker 1: it take a bow. I'm Gabe Lucier and in this 5 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:21,920 Speaker 1: episode we're talking about the famous Tivoli Gardens, a cultural 6 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:26,000 Speaker 1: icon of Denmark and a world class playground for kids 7 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:36,960 Speaker 1: of all ages. The day was August fifteenth, eighteen forty three, 8 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:41,040 Speaker 1: the Tivoli Gardens amusement park opened its gates for the 9 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:46,000 Speaker 1: first time. Located in the heart of Copenhagen, Denmark, Tivoli 10 00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 1: was inspired by the parks and gardens of other European cities, 11 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 1: most notably by the Vauxhall Gardens in London and the 12 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 1: Tivoli Gardens in Paris. The park boasted a variety of 13 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 1: attractions from the very beginning, including manicured flower gardens, bandstands 14 00:01:04,520 --> 00:01:08,720 Speaker 1: for live music, a theater for pantomime plays, and mechanical 15 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:11,760 Speaker 1: rides such as a carousel and an early type of 16 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:16,440 Speaker 1: roller coaster called a scenic railway. More than three thousand 17 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 1: visitors attended on opening day, and ever since then the 18 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:24,440 Speaker 1: crowds have kept right on coming. The park still operates today, 19 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 1: with annual attendants now stretching into the millions. That makes 20 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:33,960 Speaker 1: Tivoli Gardens the second oldest operating amusement park in the world, 21 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:39,560 Speaker 1: ranking right behind deer Hesbacken or deer Park Hill, which 22 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:44,880 Speaker 1: is also located in Denmark. The founder of Tivoli Gardens 23 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 1: was Georg Carstensen, a Danish entrepreneur who had fallen in 24 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 1: love with the pleasure garden concept while traveling abroad. He 25 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 1: received permission to build his park by reminding King Christian 26 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 1: the Eighth that when the people are amusing themselves, they 27 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 1: do not think about politics. The king granted Carstons in 28 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:10,080 Speaker 1: a five year charter to use roughly fifteen acres of 29 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:14,799 Speaker 1: land just outside the Copenhagen city limits. The area had 30 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 1: once been the site of the city's old fortifications, including ramparts, 31 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:22,640 Speaker 1: city gates, and a series of moats, one of which 32 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 1: would later be incorporated into Tivoli as a lake. Copenhagen 33 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 1: expanded throughout the nineteenth century, and the gardens eventually became 34 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:36,080 Speaker 1: part of the city proper. Today, the location is right downtown, 35 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:39,960 Speaker 1: just a few steps from Copenhagen Central Station and within 36 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 1: walking distance of city Hall. When Tivoli Gardens opened in 37 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 1: eighteen forty three, The locals were awe struck by just 38 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 1: how much the familiar grounds had changed. In place of 39 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:55,960 Speaker 1: barren fields, they found lush gardens filled with exotic plants 40 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:59,480 Speaker 1: and flowers. There were no run down forts in sight, 41 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:03,240 Speaker 1: but instead the grounds were littered with ornate buildings and 42 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 1: pavilions modeled after the architecture of faraway places like China, Turkey, 43 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 1: and Pompeii. Strolling through the beautiful parkland was entertaining in itself, 44 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 1: but there were also stylish cafes and restaurants for people 45 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 1: to dine at, as well as modern amusements to pass 46 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:23,600 Speaker 1: the time, including a shooting gallery and a collection of 47 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 1: whimsical rides. The park's enchanting atmosphere was heightened after dark, 48 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:32,240 Speaker 1: when thousands of colored lamps would light up, adding to 49 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 1: the fairytale effect. Tivoli Gardens had been carefully crafted to 50 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:41,119 Speaker 1: appeal to people from all walks of life, rich or poor, 51 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 1: young or old. There was something for everyone within its gates. 52 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:47,960 Speaker 1: That was certainly the case for one of the park's 53 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 1: earliest and most famous proponents, Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. 54 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 1: He visited Tivoli Gardens during its first season, and his 55 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 1: favorite part was the fanciful Chinese pavilion, which had been 56 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 1: designed by the Danish architect H. C. Stilling. Anderson was 57 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 1: so inspired by his visit that he wrote an original 58 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:12,960 Speaker 1: fairy tale set in China called The Nightingale. He used 59 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:16,839 Speaker 1: the Tivoli Gardens pavilion as the model for the Emperor's Palace, 60 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:19,720 Speaker 1: and in later years the park would return the favor 61 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:24,520 Speaker 1: by incorporating Anderson's fairy tales into its programming and attractions. 62 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 1: Guests at Tivoli Gardens can now routinely watch a stage 63 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:31,640 Speaker 1: show based on the author's work, or even board an 64 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:35,400 Speaker 1: immersive dark ride called the Flying Trunk, which takes riders 65 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 1: on a whirlwind tour through thirty two of Anderson's stories. 66 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 1: The picturesque scenery and unique attractions of Tivoli Gardens were 67 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 1: integral to the park's early success, but just as crucial 68 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 1: was the sound of Tivoli as provided by live musicians 69 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:57,360 Speaker 1: who performed there daily. Popular composer Hans Lumbai served as 70 00:04:57,360 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 1: the park's musical director for its first thirty se He 71 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:04,560 Speaker 1: wrote roughly eight hundred pieces of music in his lifetime, 72 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 1: many of which were composed exclusively for Tivoli, including this 73 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:11,920 Speaker 1: jaunty little number called the Champagne Gallop. 74 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:30,040 Speaker 2: Take a listen. 75 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 1: Hans Lumby helped shape the character of Tivoli Gardens, and 76 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 1: his influence is still felt there today, as the Tivoli 77 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 1: Symphony Orchestra still performs many of his works. Alas, Georg 78 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:48,680 Speaker 1: Carstensen's tenure at the park proved to be much shorter. 79 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:52,560 Speaker 1: He was only the director of Tivoli for five years, 80 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:55,839 Speaker 1: then in eighteen forty eight, he enlisted to fight in 81 00:05:55,880 --> 00:05:59,440 Speaker 1: the War against Prussia, prompting the park's advisory board to 82 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 1: dismiss him for breach of contract. Carstensen later returned to 83 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:09,920 Speaker 1: Denmark and began building a rival pleasure garden in nearby Fredericksburg. Sadly, 84 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:13,560 Speaker 1: he died from pneumonia at age forty four in January 85 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:16,919 Speaker 1: of eighteen fifty seven, just a few months before the 86 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:22,720 Speaker 1: park's opening. Tivoli Gardens continued to thrive in its founder's absence, 87 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:26,280 Speaker 1: and even managed to remain open throughout the Nazi occupation 88 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:31,279 Speaker 1: of Denmark during World War II. Unfortunately, the gardens didn't 89 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:34,279 Speaker 1: make it through the war in one piece. In June 90 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:37,960 Speaker 1: of nineteen forty four, a group of Nazi sympathizers forced 91 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:40,640 Speaker 1: its way into the park and set off a series 92 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:44,599 Speaker 1: of fire bombs. Many of the historic buildings burned to 93 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:48,440 Speaker 1: the ground, including beloved landmarks like the Tivoli Concert Hall, 94 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:52,719 Speaker 1: the Glass Hall, theater, and the arena. The roller coaster 95 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:56,000 Speaker 1: was damaged as well, but at least one icon, the 96 00:06:56,040 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 1: Pantomime Theater, was spared. The bomb planted there failed to explode, 97 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 1: leaving the theater, which was erected in eighteen seventy four, 98 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 1: as the oldest original building in the gardens. After the attack, 99 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 1: Tivoli Gardens closed for two weeks, but then reopened with 100 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:20,280 Speaker 1: new temporary structures. Ironically, the park's near destruction wound up 101 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:24,120 Speaker 1: being its salvation. In the years between World Wars, the 102 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 1: Danish public had begun to view Tivoli as quaint and 103 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:31,600 Speaker 1: old fashioned. There was even talk of relocating the gardens 104 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 1: outside the city and using the prime real estate for 105 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:39,680 Speaker 1: something more modern. However, once the war was over and 106 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 1: it came time to rebuild, people found themselves pining for 107 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:46,720 Speaker 1: the simpler days of the past, and it was decided 108 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 1: to rebuild Tivoli in a manner that was faithful to 109 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 1: the original concept. As a result, the park's architecture, gardens, 110 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:59,600 Speaker 1: and attractions are now a charming mix of nostalgic throwbacks 111 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 1: and conceits. For instance, Tivoley's oldest and most popular ride 112 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 1: is a nineteen fourteen wooden roller coaster, one of just 113 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:11,760 Speaker 1: a handful in the world to feature a live brakeman 114 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:17,040 Speaker 1: on every train. This rickety thrill ride sits right alongside 115 00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 1: its newer steel cousins, including a high speed, floorless looping 116 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 1: coaster called the Demon. Tivoley's postwar rebirth attracted a whole 117 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:30,480 Speaker 1: new generation of fans, and one of its most ardent 118 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:35,440 Speaker 1: admirers was none other than Walt Disney. In nineteen fifty one, 119 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:38,480 Speaker 1: he made the pilgrimage to Tivoley Gardens with his good 120 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:43,280 Speaker 1: friend and TV personality Art link Letter. Disney was said 121 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 1: to be fascinated by the happy, mood and inclusive atmosphere 122 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:49,520 Speaker 1: of the park. It was a place where a couple 123 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 1: might go on a romantic date, but it was also 124 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 1: suitable for families, with attractions catered to both children and adults. 125 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:01,840 Speaker 1: The grounds themselves were also immaculate, clean and orderly, with 126 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:04,640 Speaker 1: an efficient team of employees to make sure they stayed 127 00:09:04,679 --> 00:09:09,280 Speaker 1: that way. In short, Tivoli had everything that was lacking 128 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:13,840 Speaker 1: from America's cd amusement parks and everything that Walt Disney 129 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:17,400 Speaker 1: hoped to include in his own. According to link Letter, 130 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 1: Disney spent all day taking notes about every aspect of 131 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:24,199 Speaker 1: Tivoli Gardens, from the rides to the food to the 132 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:28,240 Speaker 1: number of trash cans. He returned for several more visits 133 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:31,440 Speaker 1: and seemed to take a particular interest in the mountain 134 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:35,680 Speaker 1: themed Wooden roller coaster that I mentioned earlier. Although never 135 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:39,959 Speaker 1: confirmed is the official inspiration, it bears a striking resemblance 136 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:43,640 Speaker 1: inside and out to the Matterhorn Bob's LED's ride that 137 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:47,559 Speaker 1: was added to Disneyland in nineteen fifty nine, a concept 138 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:52,440 Speaker 1: that Walt pitched himself shortly after the park's opening. The 139 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:56,600 Speaker 1: influence of Tivolly Gardens is all over the original Disneyland, 140 00:09:57,000 --> 00:09:59,560 Speaker 1: just as it is in many other modern theme parks, 141 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:02,720 Speaker 1: which just goes to show that in the hyper real 142 00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:07,400 Speaker 1: world of theme park design, imitation really is the sincerest 143 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:16,160 Speaker 1: form of flattery. I'm gay, blues gay, and hopefully you 144 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 1: now know a little more about history today than you 145 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:22,520 Speaker 1: did yesterday. If you'd like to keep up with the show. 146 00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 1: You can follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at 147 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:30,640 Speaker 1: TDI HC Show, and if you have any comments or suggestions, 148 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:33,160 Speaker 1: feel free to send them my way by writing to 149 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:38,120 Speaker 1: This Day at iHeartMedia dot com. Thanks to Kasby Bias 150 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:40,760 Speaker 1: for producing the show, and thanks to you for listening. 151 00:10:41,120 --> 00:10:44,080 Speaker 1: I'll see you back here again tomorrow for another day 152 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:54,959 Speaker 1: in History class.