In the fourteen years that the Forest Park Amusement Park remained open, there were numerous shows. They included bands, dancers, contests, freak shows, reenactments, animal exhibits, silent movies, and more.

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There were many individuals associated with the Forest Park Amusement Park, such as Paul Heinze, who climbed the ranks of the park, and Ralph O’Hara, who was an interesting character within the park's demise. The most noteworthy gentleman involved with the amusement park was Paul Howse. He only stayed at the park for one year, but in that time he created the Giant Safety Coaster, the Steeplechase, the Grand Canyon, and the Human Roulette Wheel, which are some of the most famous, and lasting rides for the park. (36) His investment in rides came from a fairly discerning idea for the future of amusement parks. By 1906, he saw the Roaring Twenties coming and felt that the thrill seeking lifestyle inherent to the time made “[r]iding devices stand the wear and tear of years”, unlike shows and games. (37) Due to this foresight, he found working on Chicago amusement parks frustrating. To him, there was no room for true growth, in the form of rides. (38) This caused him to gravitate towards the newly made Forest Park Amusement Park in 1909. One of the only shows he did add was the Reign of Fire, shown above. It had a “damsel in distress” rescued from a burning building, which seems to still fit the thrill-seeking desires of the age. (39) Sadly, for him, 1910 came with more and more shows, which, as the Living History of Illinois and Chicago journal theorized, was the likely reason for his departure that same year. (40)

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​36. Gale, "The History of the Forest Park Amusement Park," 8 & 15-19.
37. Gale, "The History of the Forest Park Amusement Park," 14.
38. Gale, "The History of the Forest Park Amusement Park," 15.
39. Gale, "The History of the Forest Park Amusement Park," 13.
40. Gale, "The History of the Forest Park Amusement Park," 20.