Playland
company · founded 1929
A boardwalk amusement hall at the southern end of the Ocean City board walk, owned by Thomas H. Conway of Wilmington, Delaware, and Joseph Bryant. It burned in the fire of the night of 2–3 September 1929, and its night watchman was the most seriously injured person in that fire; Conway's other hall, the Funhouse on Worcester Street near the boardwalk, was scorched in the same blaze. Within three weeks the owners had announced a new and larger Playland to cost $50,000. The founding year given here is the first year the campaign can document the business and is not a foundation date.
In the record (1)
1936 · 1936-06-09
Ocean City licensed weekly American Legion boxing on the sand behind Playland - provided the Capitol Theater did not object
'Mr. Steen of Playland was before Council asking privalage to allow American Legion to put on Boxing Bout once a week and hold same in Rear of his property. Ring side Seats to be on his platform, Bleacher seats to be Constructed over the Sand. Council agreed provided Capitol Theater did not object.' That minute of 9 June 1936 puts the town's boxing on the beach itself, a year after an eight-round card at the Ocean City Arena. The same Mr. Steen had been before the council a week earlier with Messrs. Jester and Dolly over boardwalk signs, where all three 'agreed to obey ordinance'.
Source · checked 2026-08-11