A documentary about the origin and evolution of Seabreeze Amusement Park is coming to the Little Theatre.
“Trolley Park: Great Lakes” will screen at 7 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. April 29 in Little 1, 240 East Ave., with filmmaker Peter Daulton in attendance.
Admission is free, and seating is first-come, first-served, so people are encouraged to get there early. Doors will open 30 minutes before showtimes.
In addition to exploring the rich history of Seabreeze, the 30-minute film looks at Waldameer Park on the shores of Lake Erie.
‘Star Wars’ special effects wizard turns lens on trolley parks
Daulton worked in the movie industry for decades and created special effects for every “Star Wars” film starting with “Return of the Jedi” before retiring and pursuing his trolley park passion project.
His first documentary, “Trolley Park: Midway Memories,” aired on PBS in 2023 and focused on Chautauqua County’s Midway Park, a place he visited as a child when his father’s employer hosted company picnics there.
“It was just going to be a one-off, but it seemed to resonate with PBS,” Daulton told the Democrat and Chronicle in 2025.
He then made “Trolley Park: Out West,” about Oaks Park in Portland, Oregon, and last summer shot the Seabreeze installment.
Seabreeze Amusement Park’s origin story
Seabreeze opened as a trolley park called Sea Breeze Park on Aug. 5, 1879.
At that time, most U.S. cities had trolleys. To encourage weekend ridership, trolley companies bought land at the “end of the line” to create trolley parks with picnic areas, playgrounds and carousels.
They were the forerunners of today’s amusement parks.
Located on prime real estate near bodies of water, eventually, all but about a dozen gave way to major residential development.
Seabreeze is in that small group of survivors and since 1946 has been owned and operated by the Long-Norris family.
“Joy is what multiple generations have experienced and continue to experience at Seabreeze and Waldameer,” said Daulton, a northwestern Pennsylvania native now living in Novato, California. “Our goal with this film is to remind viewers of that simple joy with the hope that they will spread that joy, especially to children, while also realizing that preserving memories of times past is equally essential as safeguarding these trolley parks into the future.”
Where else can I see ‘Trolley Park: Great Lakes’?
If you can’t make it to the Little, “Trolley Park: Great Lakes” will air on WXXI-TV at 9 p.m. May 11 and 5 p.m. May 18.
WXXI will show all three “Trolley Park”films back-to-back starting at 3 p.m. May 16.
Starting May 1, “Trolley Park: Great Lakes”will be available to stream for free for two months at PBS.org or on the PBS app on smart TVs and mobile devices.
Following the free streaming period, it will be available on the PBS premium service, Passport.
Reporter Marcia Greenwood covers the grocery business and consumer-focused grocery news, as well as retail development, openings and closings. Send story tips to mgreenwo@rocheste.gannett.com. Follow her on X @MarciaGreenwood.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Seabreeze documentary screens free at Little Theatre
