Park Kitchen Is Amusement To Its Chefs

By Marie Ryckman
Cincinnati Enquirer
May 1978

Americana Inc. is an amusement park in LeSourdsville and was formerly called LeSourdsville Lake Amusement park. So, one expects to find fun and happiness there. But the surprise was where I found it – in the spacious, immaculate kitchen back of the ample, colorful restaurant, where the aromas of roasting port filled the air.

There two “buddies” of many years, play the “game” of cooking with abandon, attempting to create a dish perfect in texture, pregnant with the most enticing of aromas, and delicate to the bite. A friendly competition, with shades of tastes inherited from forebears in northern Italy – Riamani, noted for its fish and pastas, Bardi and Tuscani.

Howard Berni, owner of the amusement park, and Frank Silvani, who supervises the cooking, had a “stand” at Cedar Point before World War II where their roast beef sandwiches became so popular that the restaurant grew from finger foods to fast foods, and the pair originated carry-out French fries. Came the war and the buddies responded, Silvani to the army and Berni to the navy. Their helper, Mary Ann Cinquanta, stayed on and ran the “stand.”

At the conclusion of the war, Berni returned to the restaurant at Cedar Point and married beautiful Mary Ann, whom Silvani refers to as “an Italian gal who really knows how to cook.” Silvani bought a grocery store in Sandusky and married the girl of his dreams, Leatrice Zigler.

In 1960 Howard Berni bought LeSourdsville Lake Inc. and it took him eight years to convince Frank Silvani that he and Leatrice should join him there. Since the reunion, the big kitchen has been as busy and happy as Santa’s workshop. The best of Gourmet Magazine’s offerings get doctored in the Berni-Silvani style and the two gourmands eat their own concoctions with relish – proud of themselves.

“Italians love to cook and the show it! they exclaim.

Whenever they see a recipe that’s “different” they try it, then try it again changing it with a touch of this and of that. In fact, the first roast of beef recipe they tried, right after they were reunited in business, they were attracted to because the recipe called for a whole gallon of wine.

Silvani recalls, “The recipe was in Gourmet Magazine and the thought of a roast actually immersed in wine as it cooked was too much to pass up. We bought a 10-pound rump roast, a gallon of good wine, added a few herbs called for and put it in the oven to roast. The kitchen soon smelled like a distillery. We inhaled and enjoyed the aroma so much that we forgot all about the roast. In fact, when, after many, many hours, someone opened the oven and found the roast, it was black with crust.”

Mary Ann cried out, “No one could ever eat that.”

“But, do you know,” says Silvani, “when we cut through that outer crust and sliced the roast, we had the dish of kings on our hands. It was absolutely fabulous.”

Berni adds, “There is something about the art of fixing a piece of meat, spicing it, etc., and then getting a resulting meat that is juicy and has a lingering sweet taste that gives one real satisfaction.”

From this, they have gone on to other favorites – roast pork with garlic butter or rosemary, parsley and stuffing: soufflés, both dessert and entrée types; veal scaloppini and many others. The cooking of the special creations by the two friends, including much cooking with wine, is for their own enjoyment and that of their families, including the three Berni offspring, Ronald and his wife, Vickie, Diane, and Deborah; and the Silvani’s, Jeanine, six, and Leonard, 13, whose mother died four years ago. The two volumes of Gourmet Cookbook on the kitchen shelves they call their “bible.”

For public consumption, there are other equally tempting dishes cooking – Manhattan clam chowder, onion soup, homemade pies, French fries, and delicately fried chicken.

“Why do you think the fame of your food is spreading so? The pair was asked. Without hesitation, they both replied, “Anything we will serve in here we will eat.”

Both express the opinion that top quality ingredients are a must if the results are to be the best. “We cook only the best.”

Last weekend, just as on previous weekends and as they will on all weekends through September, the pair fried for Americana-goers, 12,000 pieces of chicken, all of which Silvani, with one helper, breaded with his favorite breading, and Berni did the frying.

Last year, according to Berni, they fried 47 tons of chicken, and they have surpassed that amount already this year. Another popular item at Americana is baked beans. Last year, about 15,000 pounds of beans baked with bacon and more than 2000 pounds of a special tomato sauce were prepared.

“And,” says Berni, “hardly a bean came back uneaten.”

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Americana Opens Today for Preview

Hamilton Journal-News
April 22, 1978

"Give me that big stuffed animal on the top shelf...Wow, I'm going to ride that coaster 'till the park closes...hear that, it's a calliope....that cotton candy sure tastes great."

These sounds forecast summertime fever at Americana as the Great American Amusement Park opens its gates Saturday for the 1978 season with four sneak preview weekends through May 13 and 14. Daily operations begins May 20.

LeSourdsville Lake not only has a new name this year but has added two major new attractions for this season - Circus International and Country Bear Jubilee. Additionally, patrons will find over $150,000 in new electronic and skill games located on the new five-acre extension of Midway Magic as the mall now wraps around the Great Lake.

Americana boasts a new one-half million dollar attraction - the Country Bear Jubilee. A band of seven electronically-controlled, animated, bigger-than-life cuddly bears will sing in Grand Old Opry style, play musical instruments and even tell jokes.

Electronimation is the secret behind the real-life-like antics of Americana's newest addition. A computer synchronizes the sound and movements of the Country Bear Jubilee to provide several different programmed shows.

Located on the new Midway Magic mall extension in an old-fashioned rustic theatre, the Country Bear Jubilee, to premier early June, will perform to an audience of 225 people per show. The 30-minute show will run continuously throughout each operating day.

Country Bear Jubilee is a completely animated production that has enjoyed tremendous success in the Disney parks. The show will consist of seven characters performing on three stages.

A four-character band will appear on the center stage, a two-character comedy team on the left stage and a single soloist on the right stage. The band consists of a loveable bear that is the lead singer, a very grumpy piano player, a long-necked bear that is a talented drummer and vocalist and a beatnik bear that plays bass.

The comedy team on the left-hand side of the stage performs a Laurel & Hardy routine and constantly throws wisecracks at its band.

The act on the right-hand side of the stage is a sweet gospel-singing female vocalist who will entertain the audience with her exaggerated prudishness. The grand finale combines all of the characters singing an dplaying.

Howard H. Berni, president of Americana said, "Country Bear Jubilee is the only attraction of its kind in this part of the country and the first to be built outside of a Walk Disney operation."

Everyday will be circus day at Americana beginning May 20 through Labor day as Tommy Hanneford provides circus thrill acts for Circus International, Americana's new circus production.

Circus International will be complete with ringmaster, clowns, the original Hanneford family riding act featuring the riding fool Tommy Hanneford. Princess Tajana and her eight Royal Siberian and bengal tigers, an illusionist, flying trapeze artists, basketball playing boxer dogs and the Hanneford military elephants.

The world-renowned Hanneford Circus has a 368-year old tradition of circus excellence dating back to 1610 when a young Irish lad named Michael Hanneford toured the dusty roads of rural England with Womball's Traveling Menagerie, the first show of its kind in the British Isles.

Part of Americana's new look includes a new permanent structure that will house Circus International. It will allow 1,200 park visitors to view the spectacular at any one performance.

The 25-minute show will be presented twice daily Monday through Friday and three times per day on weekends.

If it's coasters that give you a thrill, ride, if you dare, the Screechin' Eagle - king of all rides. Americana has improved their coaster ride with a new track, a new coaster train and a new entrance building.

The park will distribute to the first 10,000 riders a courage button proclaiming, "I'm no chicken. I flew the Screechin' Eagle."

For a taste of the old west, walk down a shady lane to Tombstone Territory, where you can browse through old western shops and even curb your appetite with a visit to Dry Gulch Saloon.

You can also relax on the beautiful Great Lake with a trip on one of three riverboats or swim, beginning May 20, in the olympic pool.

One of the most popular attractions last season, Rock, Roll "N Remember featuring big-name talent from the 50's, 60's and 70's commencing June 16 for 12 consecutive Friday nights.

On preview weekends the pay-one-price admission to Americana is $6 per person and $6.50 beginning daily operation May 20. Children five years of age and under will be admitted free, limit two children per paying adult. Each additional child five and under admitted at $3. A special senior citizen price of $2.50 will be honored all year with proof-of-age 65 years or older. Parking is free.

Americana is located on Ohio 4 between Hamilton and Middletown.

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Americana: new name, same image

By Jerry Stein
Cincinnati Post
April 1978

LeSourdsville Lake has changed its name this year – to Americana, the Great American Amusement Park – but not its attitude.

“Not to be corny,” said Howard Berni, owner and president of American, “but we are trying to keep the family together as a unit up here. We differ from the theme parks that feature spectacular rides and big shows. Families still can come here and have a picnic in our grove, swim and ride.”

The park, at 5757 Middletown-Hamilton Road, state Route 4, Middletown, has undergone a $1.5 million renovation.
Berni said the reason for his decision to expand in the face of competition from massive Kings Island is simple: “It’s just not my nature to site still.”

“What has helped Americana survive competition is its picnic business,” he said. “Some industrial picnics can draw 6000 to 8500 persons to the park on a weekend. We have about 300 t o400 picnics a season here; that’s not counting family picnics.”
“You lose a few and gain some each year. But the picnic booking for companies is up about 10 per cent so far this year.”
Visitors to Americana, which is having preview weekends through May 14 before it begins opening daily May 20, will discover five additional acres devoted to Midway attractions – games, rides and shows.

In fact, Americana does show influences from the larger theme parks. Americana is building a permanent structure in the new Midway area to house the Hanneford Circus, which will play all season. The circus building will seat 1200 persons.
The Hanneford Circus, the circus the Shriners have booked into Cincinnati the past two years, will perform twice a day. “But if the crowds are large enough,” said Berni, “the Hanneford have agreed to put on as many shows a day as needed.”
Animated characters will make up the Country Bear Jubilee. The bears, which are controlled by computers, will perform country and bluegrass music. There’s also a bear comedy team and a bear gospel singer. The show is similar to one created for the Walt Disney parks.

The park will continue its Friday Night Rock, Roll ‘n’ Remember shows featuring performers of the last three decades. Tentative bookings include Presley impersonator Rick Sasito and Chuck Berry.

Berni said that he has future improvement plans but that expansion is difficult. “We have the Great Miami behind us and railroad tracks in front of us.”

“Of course, I go to conventions. I’m on the Board of Directors of the International Amusement Park Association and am always shopping for new attractions. That’s about the only way I can expand.”

“The prices of rides are unbelievable. A ride like the Screamin’ Demon that Kings Island has was $500,000 last year. I priced a ride similar to it this year, and it was up to $650,000.”

“I’d like a new rollercoaster, but you’re talking a million dollars. And, when you spend that kind of money, you better be right. A ride is purchased, you have to figure how many seasons it takes to pay for it before your maintenance and repair costs begin to rise on it.”

“A buyer may never see the ride until it actually is set up in his park,” said Berni. “We only get to see maybe the cars or a film of it at the convention.”

“I do go to Europe a lot. But mostly to eat, not to look at rides.”

Berni said Americana’s roller coaster, the Screechin’ Eagle, and the racing car ride, Indy 500, are the most popular. The carousel, which dates from 1902, is no longer popular.

“They’re not in every park now,” said Berni, “because many people find merry-go-rounds too slow. Fast rides are the most popular now.”

Popular or not, the Americana carousel gives the park considerable charm. The carved wooden horses have been repainted this year. “Carousels are also becoming are,” Berni said, “because they have become antiques.”

“If you can find a carousel, it now costs between $150,000 to $175,000. Carousels are still being made, but the horses are made out of aluminum or fiberglass; they’re not as nice as the old ones.”

“Fast rides are preferred by park owners because they offer faster turnovers. On the days we have large crowds of 17,000, the wait in line would be somewhere between 15 and 20 minutes. The wait never gets up over a half hour on any of our rides.”
Except for the ducks and swans that glide over Americana’s mirror lake at the center of the park, animal inhabitants will be limited to the Hanneford Circus.

Bill Robinson, director of sales promotion and entertainment, said the animals in Tombstone Territory have been discontinued. “It was very expensive caring for them during the winter,” he said.

“And we had problems with some people. I don’t understand it. Our beautiful, large roosters actually used to roost high in the trees. They ended up being shot by some people who did it just for the hell of it.”

Americana has changed its admission policy. Last year, patrons had their choice of paying a small admission price and buying ride tickets or paying a higher one-price admission.

“Over 71 per cent of our customers bought the pay-one-price last season,” said Robinson, “so that’s all we have this year. It’s $6.50 with children 5 and under free and there’s free parking.”

The neatly kept brightened 60 year old park has a nostalgic feel to it. The gnarled trees towering above park benches and gaily painted concessions and rides bring a quaint Victorian flavor to the park. You might say its’ very Americana.

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