Bailey: Memories of Libertyland, Lakeland and the Cunninghams’ collection
Bill Cunningham, left, and brother Mike talk about their amusement park collectibles Feb. 25. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)
Clay Bailey
Clay Bailey, a lifelong Memphian, has worked as a reporter in the city four decades. He concentrated on suburban coverage for the bulk of his career, except for a stint as sports editor of The Daily Memphian when it launched in September 2018. He now is suburban editor and also serves as a freelance sports writer for The Associated Press.
The recent story on former Lakeland mayor Mike Cunningham and his brother Bill tends to make old me rather nostalgic.
The Cunninghams’ local memorabilia collection brings back memories of former attractions, fun times and landmarks that have settled under decades of dust or the locations are buried by a mixed-use development.
The Cunninghams collect old stuff from long-gone places like Libertyland and Lakeland Amusement Park. Reporter Michael Waddell told readers their story that came to our attention after the brothers sold an old Zippin Pippin roller coaster car. It was the front car Elvis Presley loved when the King of Rock ’n’ Roll would rent the Fairgrounds/Libertyland for an after-hours night at the amusement park. It even has his signature scrawled in cursive on the front of the car.
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