For the best views of what's left of the park, it's recommended that kayaking or another means of boating is used., Next:Buena Park: Home To Entertainment & Thrilling Rides, Lianna boarded a plane by herself for the first time at the tender age of 12 to traverse nearly 9,000 miles halfway across the world. Claire was engulfed in an accidental fire while docked on the Detroit River on July 6, 2018. Claire. Written By Claires race to restoration is told as a thriller as the team race against time to find a home for Claire, 'Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale' brings history of island, restoration of vessels to big screen, 'Boblo Boats' documentary tells ferry tale of Detroit's yesteryear, A fantastic work of magical realisma rich, nostalgic historical documentary that is entertaining at every turn, A fun ride, tinged with more than a touch of melancholy over lost glory, Boblo Boat documentary to hit select metro Detroit theaters in September, Documentary brings Boblo Island amusement park back to life, The Boblo boats still exist and a documentary about them is hitting theaters, Boblo Island Documentary to Hit Theatres this September, Boblo Island documentary 'Boblo Boats' heading to theaters, Boblo Boats documentary to hit theaters in September, Doc about Detroits Boblo Island history weaves a stranger-than-fiction Ferry Tale, Boblo documentary will make world premiere on Freep Film Festivals opening night, Freep Film Festival to Open with Showing of Boblo Island Documentary, NPR radio interview - Culture City 101.9fm WDET, Filmmakers lead campaign to 'Bring Boblo Back', Flashpoint: Filmmaker aims to restore Boblo boat Ste. The case reached the U.S. Supreme Court and resulted in a notable 1948 decision construing the scope of the commerce clause. [17], In March 1994, the rides were dismantled and sold off piecemeal to the Pacific National Exhibition and a series of U.S. theme parks, a moment that confirmed the "worst fears" of Malden Township officials; the amusement park paid 25 percent of its taxes. Donate Now to WNMU-TV PBS Visit Official Site. [30], The Falling Star, log flume, Enterprise, Sky Tower (Space Needle), Ferris wheel, a zoo, and a carousel were the signature attractions. The first deck will have that same gray, steel floor. Documentary follows the restoration of historic Boblo boat - WDET Detroits NPR station - 10/11/22, Blast from the past: Boblo Boat, Ste. If you need help watching, please click "Help" in the top right hand corner. 100 Days Later: What Happens When Voters Put Democrats in Charge of State Government? [28] However, a local housing slump meant little was developed. When Ste. By creating an account, you acknowledge that PBS may share your information with our member stations and our respective service providers, and that you have read and understand the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. For more than 85 years, the Boblo Island Amusement Park was famous for With its excursion steamboats being half the fun of traveling to Boblo Island, the amusement park was quite a buzzing destination for the better part of 85 years. During the late 1800s, 1898, to be specific, travel by steamboat was all the rage. [1] Other smaller ferries served the park from Amherstburg and Gibraltar, Michigan, which were located closer to the park on the Detroit River. Its still going to look like it was with new Mahogany walls, but its not THAT wood. The restoration team has made significant progress since a fire significantly damaged the boat in 2018. The animated documentary, Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale is now available for online streaming via Eventive. We will run it on an electrical motor so it will spin and youll be able to look, just like you did as a kid, down into the engine room and see it move, but we feel it will be much more beneficial to preserve the original steam engine than to gut it and try to make the boat go up and down the river.. Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale 05/01/2023 | 54m 11s Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale Trailer. The nearly five-minute-long documentary is part of a larger documentary called Boblo Boats: A Tale of Two Sisters, which is still in progress. This award-winning, nostalgic film is narrated by Martha Reeves. Donate to KQED Events for Members Receive KQED Newsletters Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale. We are restoring one of Detroit's most iconic steamships, the Ste. A doctor, psychic and amusement park fanatic unite to save Detroit's beloved Boblo Boat. More More. The SS Ste. Two large steamships, the Columbia and the Ste. Claires race to restoration is told as a thriller as the team race against time to find a home for Claire - Film Threat - 9/16/22, 'Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale' brings history of island, restoration of vessels to big screen - Fox 2 Detroit - 9/16/22, 'Boblo Boats' documentary tells ferry tale of Detroit's yesteryear - review by Detroit News Film Critic Adam Graham - 9/13/22, A fantastic work of magical realisma rich, nostalgic historical documentary that is entertaining at every turn - Drive Magazine - 9/7/22, A fun ride, tinged with more than a touch of melancholy over lost glory - Hammer to Nail - 8/22/22, Boblo Boat documentary to hit select metro Detroit theaters in September - Detroit Metro Times - 7/22/22, Documentary brings Boblo Island amusement park back to life - Windsor Star - 7/22/22, The Boblo boats still exist and a documentary about them is hitting theaters - MLive - 7/20/22, Boblo Island Documentary to Hit Theatres this September - WJR 760 AM - 7/20/22, Boblo Island documentary 'Boblo Boats' heading to theaters - The Detroit News - 7/18/22, Boblo Boats documentary to hit theaters in September - Detroit Free Press - 7/18/22, Doc about Detroits Boblo Island history weaves a stranger-than-fiction Ferry Tale - Detroit Metro Times Cover Story - 9/22/21, Boblo documentary will make world premiere on Freep Film Festivals opening night - Detroit Free Press - 8/03/21, Freep Film Festival to Open with Showing of Boblo Island Documentary - Hour Detroit - 8/03/21, NPR radio interview - Culture City 101.9fm WDET - 8/28/15, Boblo boats to become focus of new film by Chris Thompson - Windsor Star - 8/23/15, Filmmakers lead campaign to 'Bring Boblo Back' by Jim Kasuba - News-Herald - 8/21/15, Flashpoint: Filmmaker aims to restore Boblo boat Ste. Claire, ferried people to Boblo Island. Obviously, visitors didn't just come to this island for the sake of riding on a steamboat. "Anybody who is from Detroit, you can ask (them), and they have memories of the Boblo Boat.". Claire Boblo Boat, and he gave 7 Action News a sneak peek. or in the PBS app. Thank you. He said people need to keep in mind that not only Detroiters went to the boat. It was a reliable method of transportation from one side of a waterway to another, especially in the case of Michigan and Ontario. You may have an unactivated KERA Passport member What was really lost was the irreplaceable pieces we wont be able to bring back, but we know that we have enough of the boat preserved for it to still be the Boblo Boat and well be able to recreate what was lost, Faraj added. The SS Ste. is a writer from Southeast Michigan inspiring and moving readers with humanistic stories all Michiganders have an investment in. Martha Spall, Last Updated He explained why the project is so important to his family. For 38-year-old Schillinger, the journey of his debut feature film Boblo Boats: And it's kind of insane because I live in Ferndale now, but I'm originally from Virginia, Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). [3] The company had claimed it could exclude her because it was a private concern operating in another country and that neither Michigan nor any other state had authority to regulate commerce with Canada (a foreign country); the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the Michigan Supreme Court, which had upheld the jurisdiction of the state's anti-discrimination provisions and found against the company. For Boblo Island, this included its once top-of-the-line amusement park. Claire and SS Columbia sounded their whistles, every Detroit kid knew it heralded the coming of summer and the magic of ferrying over to nearby Boblo Island Amusement Park. DETROIT - They took countless passengers to and from Boblo Island over the course of the amusement parks more than 100 years of existence. So you got to figure that people would come from all over the country and maybe the world, go to Detroit and then when they got here, one of the best things that everyone told them to do was go to Boblo. Sign up for free videos, behind-the-scenes content and discounts on the film. It shows where one persons effort accumulates with all the other efforts that came before it, and theres a tipping point, Cooper also said in conversation with the Free Press. The Detroit Free Press and Freep Film Festival are also hosting a conversation with the filmmakers at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29 on the Free Press Facebook page and Freep Film Festivals YouTube. Donate Now to WNMU-TV PBS Visit Official Site. You know there is a chance people could be on board as early as next year. Claire and SS Columbia sounded their whistles, every Detroit kid knew it heralded the coming of summer and the magic of ferrying over to nearby Boblo Island Amusement Park. Claire and SS Columbia sounded their whistles, every By 1993, the park was completely shut down, and its rides sold off one by one. Claire and SS Columbia sounded their whistles, every Detroit kid knew it heralded the coming of summer and the magic of ferrying over to nearby Boblo Island Amusement Park. Ray was removed from the boat because she was not white, enforced according to a Bob-Lo company policy "excluding so-called 'zoot-suiters', the rowdyish, the rough, and the boisterous, and it also adopted the policy of excluding colored. [25], American investors were scared away after the September 11 attacks, which hurt the financial outlook for the development. [9] The loss of the Detroit ferry service dented attendance severely in the 1992 season, which along with poor weather caused the park to miss its attendance goal. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Discuss: Freep Film Festival will be hosting a live conversation with the films writer-director Aaron Schillinger, historian Desiree Cooper, and animator Bec Sloane at 7 p.m. Wednesday on the Free Press Facebook page and Freep Film Festivals YouTube. $19 million in debt, John's brother Randy forced Boblo Island into court-appointed receivership in 2004. DETROIT That first trip is what ignited a lifelong passion, and it's one that continues to be fueled through pen and paper Or, in this case, a keyboard and a computer screen. But then this history has kind of been forgotten because people held onto the happy parts.. "They still have their original steam engines intact and everything. Full Schedule. [2], The State of Michigan brought a racial discrimination case against the operators of the ferry service. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. An extended run of the film is planned at The Mariner theater in St. Clair County's Marine City, where it will be accompanied by a special Boblo museum exhibit through September. More More. After the boats docked at night back in Detroit, Mr. Short continued entertaining at the local bars and taverns he frequented.[33]. For those who were familiar with the park in its heyday, it was known as Detroit's 'Coney Island.'. Claire is being brought back to its old glory at Riverside Marina in Detroit and the The people of Detroit, Michigan, characterized it as the city's Coney Island. More More. For more than 85 years, the Boblo Island Amusement Park was famous for being served by the Steamer Ste Claire and the Steamer Columbia excursion boats that could hold about 2,500 passengers each. It was part of the whole experience of being a Detroiter, said Schillinger. 100 Days Later: What Happens When Voters Put Democrats in Charge of State Government? A documentary, Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale, will play at select Emagine locations from Sept. 15-29. Boblo Island documentary 'Boblo Boats' heading to theaters - The Detroit News - 7/18/22 Michigan History. Now her home is a historic site. Right in front of the smokestack there is where the DJ booth would have been, explained Faraj. UP NEXT: 6 Books to Help You Understand the Civil Rights and Unrest of the Times. So, when might the public get the chance to indulge their childhood nostalgia? When Ste. DETROIT, MI Now through Friday, you can watch and learn about the unsung Detroiter who fought for Black peoples right to ride the citys famous Boblo boats, courtesy of the Detroit Free Press, Freep Film Festival, and the filmmakers who came to Were pretty much standing on it. WebBoblo Boats: a Detroit Ferry Tale @bobloboatsfilm 226 subscribers 5 videos Stream the award-winning film now through our Virtual Cinema Release! My List Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale 05/01/2023 | 54m 11s Trailer Preview: S1 | 30s Extended Trailer Preview: S1 | 2m 48s Episodes Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale 05/01/2023 | 54m 11s Extras Trailer Use one of the services below to sign in to PBS: You've just tried to add this video to My List. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Donate Now to KQED Visit Official Site. Whatever happened to Boblo Island's Victorian-era amusement park, and why does it sit now, abandoned in Ontario? Theyre as Detroit as Faygo, Better Made Potato Chips, said Schillinger. [29], The tower for the Space Needle ride was demolished in 2021, with Amicone citing "health and safety concerns". The short documentary Sarah Elizabeth Ray: Detroits Other Rosa Parks tells her story, which writer-director Aaron Schillinger said has largely been forgotten amongst happy memories of Boblo Island. Its important that we keep providing context, delivering facts, sharing stories that matter., MORE STORIES: WATCH: How a Detroit Bookstore Owner Kept Her Community Reading During the Pandemic. By: Boblo Boats Film. The 105-year-old ferry steamer once took families from Detroit to the Boblo amusement park, located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario, 18 miles south of Windsor. Two years later, very little had been done.[34]. The SS Ste. He previously worked for Ringling Brothers Circus and captivated children with adventurous tales and knock-knock jokes until his retirement in 1974, at the age of 90. Claire also known as one of the two old Boblo boats is now docked on the Rouge River in Detroit. Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale 05/01/2023 | 54m 11s | My List When Ste. What made this park - and the island it resided on - so famous were the steamboats that took visitors back and forth. High School Bowl Ask the Doctors Media Meet A doctor, psychic and amusement park Documentary follows the restoration of historic Boblo boat, Blast from the past: Boblo Boat, Ste. While the island is currently home to luxury homes, the echoes of its past are still visible to some who choose to kayak or boat down the same waterway that once carried thousands to this island's shores. The film will also More From Ideastream. This amusement park, while once the delight of both kids and adults until the early 90s, has been abandoned for more than two decades. The former home of civil rights activist Sarah Elizabeth Ray, an African American woman who gained prominence after being kicked off The final destination is not set in stone yet, but we want it to be a dockside attraction on the Detroit River in Detroit accessible to the public, Stephen Faraj, restoration project manager told MLive. 7 Action News had the opportunity to tour the boat while it is docked and being restored on the citys east side, Blast from the past: Come along on a walk-through of a Detroit Boblo Boat. [7] Though one expert felt that Boblo was too big to fail outright and could be turned around,[8] By June, however, no firm offers had been made for the park. July 29, 2020 11:31 am EDT. When Ste. It will be loaded with nostalgia from Boblo and youll really get a feeling of what people used to experience. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Ever Wanted to Own an Island? She can be reached at lianna.t@thetravel.com, Nothing quite says 'creepy' like an abandoned amusement park, Coney Island Wasn't Always Known For Its Beach And Theme Parks, Thrill-Seekers! WebBob-Lo boats The island is a five-minute ferry ride from Amherstburg, Ontario , and 18 miles from Detroit. A doctor, psychic and amusement park fanatic unite to save Detroit's beloved Boblo Boat. In the grandest sense, stories are a key ingredient in holding communities together. [32] The dance hall was the second largest in the world, holding 5,000 dancers at full capacity[31] and featured one of the world's largest orchestrions from the Welte company: a 16 foot tall, 14 foot wide, self-playing Wotan-model orchestrion with 419 pipes and percussion section. The tumult and tension of 2020 thus far is certainly evidence of that. When Ste. In June 1945, Sarah Elizabeth Ray and 12 other female workers involved in the war effort (and referred to as "girls" during the legal proceedings) took part in a sponsored trip to Boblo Island. "These two ships, the Columbia and the Ste. If we were to try and re-power this ship with something other than steam, we would have to take so much of the Boblo Boat out of it, it wouldnt be worth it. The Ste. WebDocumentary brings Boblo Island amusement park back to life - Windsor Star - 7/22/22. [10], With no buyers materializing, Norton Auctioneers of Coldwater, Michigan, was retained to sell the property at auction on February 10, 1993. Ever Wanted to Own an Island? Black people werent allowed. A doctor, psychic and amusement park fanatic unite to save Detroit's beloved Boblo Boat. A doctor, psychic and amusement park fanatic unite to save Detroit's beloved But first, we need you to sign in to PBS using one of the services below. in English Literature and foray through digital marketing, her life path was made abundantly clear. Sailing to Boblo Island Amusement Park was an integral part of experiencing summer in Detroit for decades, up to the closure of the boats and park in the early 90s. Its also on DVD. Claire, built in 1910, and the S.S. Columbia, built in 1902. Clair and the SS Columbia brought eager park-goers from Detroit, Michigan to the island, each one able to accommodate a whopping 2,500 passenger limit. The bottom line is, all of that wood would have had to come down and been replaced regardless. The island is a five-minute ferry ride from Amherstburg, Ontario, and 18 miles from Detroit. A doctor, psychic and amusement park fanatic unite to save Detroit's beloved Boblo Boat. 11:00 PM. fire significantly damaged the boat in 2018. Claire and SS Columbia sounded their whistles, every The island on which this amusement park once sat went by the actual name of Bois Blanc Island but was abbreviated to Boblo Island. Your continuing support helps make KERA possible. When Ste. We feel like its more about the Boblo history.. Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale 05/01/2023 | 54m 11s | My List When Ste. After 85 years of operation, these two sister steamships the oldest in America - find their fates resting in the hands of an unlikely band of heroes. Learn more about Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale. More More. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. [27] Dominic Amicone became the new owner in 2005. "Yeah, she's 110 years old, but she's well-built and she survived," said boat co-owner, Ron Kattoo. The main levels floor needed to be remade following the fire. [19] He vaguely proposed a casino, hotel, and other development. More From KQED. Despite the setback, which took a year to clean up, the first three decks have been rebuilt with the fourth and final deck to be completed soon. Our sense is that Sarah Elizabeth Rays history is not particularly well-known in metro Detroit, a place that is certainly known to indulge in some Boblo nostalgia, Byrne said. As for the Boblo boats, the SS Columbia is being restored in Buffalo, NY by a nonprofit that is working to turn her into a venue for culture and history docked in New Despite the fact that the park itself and its attractions have been dissolved, the island still holds a space for where it once was. WebThis historic boat carried passengers to and from Boblo Island, and amusement park located on the Detroit River. For kids, Boblo Amusement Park was a haven for the newest and most exciting rides in the area. Become a Member Today Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale. A film seven years in the making, "Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale" is now in theatres, showing a history of Boblo Island, as well the restoration of the boats. The park opened in 1898 and closed in 1993. [18], In 1994, John Oram, an Iraqi immigrant to the United States who owned car stereo businesses, purchased the Boblo Island site. A doctor, psychic and amusement park fanatic unite to save Detroit's beloved Boblo Boat. Martha Spall To move visitors around the island, the park had a small railroad. Donate Now to KERA Visit Official Site. The theatrical run has expanded to more than twenty cities in Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The steel will allow us to have people on that level. Those visiting from nearby areas ofAmherstburg, Ontario, andGibraltar, Michigan had the option to board smaller ferries, as well. benefit. More More. Claire, a Boblo Boat moored near Riverside Marina, is currently being restored with hopes of completing the superstructure by this year. A lot of people have all these fun, happy memories of Boblo, and I think that is the message that a lot of people have just been sitting with for decades. So the festivals role here is amplifying an interesting, and somewhat unsung, tale that has important things to say about our community. These included Nightmare, the Wild Mouse, a Ferris wheel, the Scootaboats, and the Screamer. Germany's Phantasialand Is A Theme Park Haven. When Ste. The Columbia is being restored in New York and will stay there for good, but the Ste. Were living that tipping point in this exact moment. WebWatch Now; Showtimes; DVDS & MERCH; Sponsorship; Impact; Press. Watch: The short documentary about the Detroit woman who battled Boblo Island segregation policies will be available to stream on this page at the Freep through Friday, July 31. However, for adults, there was something more: a dancehall. There will also be a Boblo museum on board. For instance, there were 110-year old Mahogany walls. Claire in 2018. Deck three will have the beer garden where parents used to hang out while their kids ran around the boat. However, renovations are ongoing, and the public might be able to We respect your privacy and will not share your contact information. Claire in 2018. Once restored, the boat will remain docked to keep it from being damaged. A doctor, psychic and amusement park fanatic unite to save Detroit's beloved Boblo Boat. Chicago Tonight. Thats what happened to Sarah that day on the boat.. Michigan Central Depot through the years. You've just tried to add this show to My List. This guy from California told me that his girlfriend, he remembers being dumped on the Boblo Boat and riding the Ferris wheel, completely broken hearted, related Schillinger. The island was only a five-minute ferry ride from the Ontario side, and an 18-mile journey from Detroit, making it the perfect location for a day trip from either. Laginess said that the Boblo boats are a key piece of Detroit's history for those who grew up here. There is nothing else like this around.". This Ones for Sale in Lake Superior, 14 Gifts Teachers Say They Love Getting During Teacher Appreciation Week, from $0-$20, 17 Summer Camps in Michigan Your Kids Will Absolutely Love This Year. [11] Roger Fachini, a 40-year-old engineer for General Dynamics and owner of a waterpark in Utica, Michigan, placed the winning $3.8 million bid and proposed redevelopment after two years,[12][13] but Boblo's creditors turned it down; after the deposit cheque bounced, they took $600,000 less in the bid from Enchanted Parks of Seattle, owners of the Wild Waves Theme Park near that city. WHATS ON TONIGHT Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. BUY DVDS & MERCH When Ste. Desiree Cooper, the historian that guides viewers through Rays story, told the Freep that when the murder of George Floyd sparked protests across the nation, the country had had enough. Its once-popular Victorian-era rides and entertainment decreased in popularity and saw a drastic lessening of traffic following the late 1980s. DETROIT - Part of the grand history of Detroit was on the move Wednesday. A few other cities that had covered streams have dug them up and restored them to a more natural state. Claire was featured in the movie "Transformers 4, Age of Extinction" when portions of the film were was produced in Detroit in 2013. The SS Ste. [16] Moodenbaugh later sued Benaroya and others for attempting to sell the park while he lay in a "virtual coma". The ruins of what remains can be seen via the waterway that separates both Michigan and Ontario, but for many, the memories of this once-bustling park are what truly keep it alive. Minutes after boarding, a man with the Bob-Lo Excursion Co. told her to exit the boat. PHOTOS: HISTORIC PHOTOS OF BOBLO ISLAND BOAT, PHOTOS: BOBLO BOAT CATCHES FIRE AT DETROIT MARINA ON DETROIT RIVER. Claire, could be ready for public in a year - ABC Detroit WXYZ - 9/22/22, Boblo boat looks to make comeback - Detroit Free Press - 9/26/22, New film floats old memories - NBC Buffalo WGRZ - 9/22/22, Group offers rare glimpse at efforts to restore historic Boblo Island steamship - Windsor Star - 9/23/22, NPR interview with April Baer - Michigan Radio on Stateside - 9/20/22, A new film on the Boblo Boats hits theaters - CBC Windsor Morning with Nav Nanwa - 9/20/22, A noble quest, along with an emerging racial-justice theme, temper the flaky fun and poignant nostalgia - Hour Detroit - 9/16/22, Ste. Thats what were going for., The Boblo boats still exist and a documentary about them is hitting theaters, Local filmmaker to open Michigans first year-round horror museum, Michael Myers coming to haunted Michigan theater opening as Halloween attraction, Elvira Mistress of the Dark is coming to Michigan right before Halloween, Two Michigan small towns listed among the spookiest places to visit for Halloween. Claire and SS Columbia sounded their whistles, every Detroit kid knew it heralded the coming of summer and the magic of ferrying over to nearby Boblo Island Amusement Park. In fact, for a long time, it was only accessible by steamboat which is what made visiting such a unique experience. Many thought the Detroit icons were a thing of the past following the fire on the Ste. Amanpour and Company. Donate Now to Ideastream Visit Official Site. The amusement park rides were part of the charm and allure that beckoned them to this unique island. 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