Bertrand Island, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
Bertrand Island, New Jersey, is a small peninsula
in Lake Hopatcong
, part of the community of Mount Arlington
. It is best known as the former site of the Bertrand Island Amusement Park
which existed from 1928 to 1983, as well as being the place of origin for Bette Cooper
, Miss America
1937.
Prior to the building of the amusement park, Bertrand Island actually was an island
. Now there is a large isthmus
of land leading to it, making it a peninsula.
It is shaped somewhat like a spoon
. On the "handle" part there are many upper-class condominium
s, built in 2001. Where it gets wide and rounds out is a normal residential area. There is a boating club at the tip of the peninsula. Lake Hopatcong is rather visible from nearly everywhere on Bertrand Island.
Scenes from Woody Allen
's 1985
film The Purple Rose of Cairo
were filmed on the site. A number of the scenes featuring Tom and Cecilia are set at the Amusement Park, which closed just prior to the film's production.
Peninsula
A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
in Lake Hopatcong
Lake Hopatcong
Lake Hopatcong is the largest freshwater body in the state of New Jersey, USA, approximately 4 square miles in area. The lake is located in the mountains of northern New Jersey, north of Netcong and along the border between Sussex and Morris counties.The lake is within the borders of four...
, part of the community of Mount Arlington
Mount Arlington, New Jersey
-History:While Mount Arlington is now mostly a suburban residential community, it was once a thriving resort town. In the era before the world wars and the advent of air travel, it was a welcome respite for the residents of nearby New York City and Newark....
. It is best known as the former site of the Bertrand Island Amusement Park
Bertrand Island Amusement Park
Bertrand Island Amusement Park was located in Mount Arlington, NJ. It began during World War I as a picnic area. Later, during the 1920's, it was expanded by the owner, Lewis Kraus, and ultimately included a wooden roller coaster, an airplane swing, picnic areas, a dance hall, and a cafeteria...
which existed from 1928 to 1983, as well as being the place of origin for Bette Cooper
Bette Cooper
Bette Cooper was 1937's Miss America. She was born in Hackettstown, New Jersey.Cooper, who had earlier won the Miss Bertrand Island title, reportedly does not speak of her involvement with Miss America....
, Miss America
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
1937.
Prior to the building of the amusement park, Bertrand Island actually was an island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
. Now there is a large isthmus
Isthmus
An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas usually with waterforms on either side.Canals are often built through isthmuses where they may be particularly advantageous to create a shortcut for marine transportation...
of land leading to it, making it a peninsula.
It is shaped somewhat like a spoon
Spoon
A spoon is a utensil consisting of a small shallow bowl, oval or round, at the end of a handle. A type of cutlery , especially as part of a place setting, it is used primarily for serving. Spoons are also used in food preparation to measure, mix, stir and toss ingredients...
. On the "handle" part there are many upper-class condominium
Condominium
A condominium, or condo, is the form of housing tenure and other real property where a specified part of a piece of real estate is individually owned while use of and access to common facilities in the piece such as hallways, heating system, elevators, exterior areas is executed under legal rights...
s, built in 2001. Where it gets wide and rounds out is a normal residential area. There is a boating club at the tip of the peninsula. Lake Hopatcong is rather visible from nearly everywhere on Bertrand Island.
Scenes from Woody Allen
Woody Allen
Woody Allen is an American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, jazz musician, author, and playwright. Allen's films draw heavily on literature, sexuality, philosophy, psychology, Jewish identity, and the history of cinema...
's 1985
1985 in film
-Events:* 3 December - Roger Moore steps down from the role of James Bond after twelve years and seven films. He is replaced by Timothy Dalton.* The Academy Award for Best Picture was won by Out Of Africa, while the highest grossing film was Back to the Future.* Bliss wins AFI Award for best Movie...
film The Purple Rose of Cairo
The Purple Rose of Cairo
The Purple Rose of Cairo is a 1985 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Woody Allen. Inspired by Sherlock, Jr., Hellzapoppin, and Pirandello's Six Characters in Search of an Author, it is the tale of a film character who leaves a fictional film of the same name and enters the real...
were filmed on the site. A number of the scenes featuring Tom and Cecilia are set at the Amusement Park, which closed just prior to the film's production.