“Isn’t He Cute, Eva?”
 
A delightfully devilish piece of turn-of-the-century amusement park history, this original 1908 postcard captures the dramatic entrance to The Devil’s Gorge ride at White City Amusement Park in Chicago. A towering red devil—complete with outstretched bat-like wings—presides over a glowing archway lit with the ride’s name, beckoning brave park-goers into the unknown.
 
At the top, in charming pencil script, someone has written:
"Isn't he cute, Eva?"
— a perfectly playful contrast to the ominous figure below.
 
Sent to a Miss Eva Chapman of Ockley, Indiana, the message on the back reads:
"Thursday night. June 11, 1908. Maude received your letter. All is OK and we are having dandy times. Don't know when will return. If any mail forward it."
It’s signed simply, perhaps from a friend or family member swept up in the wonder of White City.
 
White City Amusement Park opened in 1905 at 63rd and South Park (now King Drive) in Chicago, inspired by the dazzling spectacle of the World’s Columbian Exposition. Marketed as “The City Beautiful”, White City offered electric lights, grand promenades, a dancing pavilion, thrill rides, and early dark rides that combined fantasy with fright.
 
The Devil’s Gorge was one of its most notorious attractions—a boat ride through a fiery inferno of theatrical trickery, shadows, and horned horrors. Inspired by hell-themed rides from Coney Island and European fairs, it promised a safe descent into the underworld, with plenty of shrieks along the way.
 
This postcard, complete with a green 1¢ Benjamin Franklin stamp and a clear June 12, 1908 Chicago postmark, is more than a correspondence—it’s a window into the thrill-seeking hearts of Edwardian-era Americans.
 
Details:
• Original divided-back postcard of The Devil’s Gorge at White City Amusement Park
• Addressed to Miss Eva Chapman, Ockley, Indiana
• Postmarked: June 12, 1908, Chicago, IL
• Stamp: Green 1¢ Benjamin Franklin
• Condition: Excellent antique condition with minor wear from handling and mailing
• Dimensions: Standard postcard size
 
A rare and charismatic relic from Chicago’s early amusement heyday—equal parts charming and infernal.