A Film by Steve Siegel and Phil Buehler. A short documentary film on Coney Island as it existed in the 1970's. My photo website: stevensiegelphotographer.com/i...
Nice short film on Coney Island from what looks like late 1960's. The parachute jump was not used by the army for training. It was purchased by Steeplechase Park from the 1939 World' Fair in Flushing Meadows Park. Some of the rides and attractions shown in Astroland were purchased from the 1964-65 World Fair. Astroland first opened in the 1960's and was the first new amusement park to open it's doors in Coney Island in decades. The decline started in the 1950's and when Steeplechase Park closed in the early 1960's it was the beginning of end of Coney Island so we thought. The weekly Tuesday night fireworks shows ended in the 1970's and that was terrible for Coney Island and it's attractions. After decades of attractions closing down, being burnt down or demolished, urban decay and blight, etc Coney Island has finally made a huge comeback. The weekly fireworks shows are back each Friday night, millions of dollars have been spent on new attractions and amusement parks. MCU Park hosts a minor league N.Y. Met's baseball club by the name of the Brooklyn Cyclones. The rebuilding of the Coney Island subway terminal long overdue for decades was finally completed, There is now a music concert pavilion along the boardwalk around west 20 street featuring many top name artists and thousands of people are finally coming back to Coney Island after so many decades of dropping attendance. The NYPD has done an excellent job making the area much safer so families can come and enjoy themselves without worrying about being robbed, beat up, mugged, etc. During my lifetime I saw the good, the bad and the ugly in Coney Island but it is truly made a huge comeback over the past few years.
My fondest memories of Coney Island is when I first rode on the original Thunderbolt wooden rollercoaster in 1975. I,'ll never forget how terrified I was, while riding on it. Although I was afraid of it, I became very obsessed with the ride & it became my favorite ride in the park. It would take me about 2 years later, of getting use to the Thunderbolt, before attempting to ride the Cyclone. Although the Cyclone had a steeper first drop, the Thunderbolt still had a good punch to it and a much tougher ride, especially in the back seat in the back car. They both were the same height at 86ft tall on their first drops. The Tornado rollercoaster was shorter in height, but it had a very good punch on its curves. It was the first of its kind to have those wicked curves.. The Thunderbolt was the oldest of the three, which opened in 1925. The Tornado ( former Bob ) coaster, opened in 1926 & last, but not least, the Cyclone, opened in 1927. I hate like hell, that the original Thunderbolt is no longer here. Too bad the family built & owners of the coaster, sold it to younger people who didn, t have a clue on how to maintain the iconic ride & it started to deteriorate & closed down for good in 1983. From there on, it was heavily covered by in growing weed on certain areas of the tracks & it became a nesting place for pegions. Sadly in 2000, it was demolished by the city to make room for MCU ( former Keyspan ) park & the new steel looped Thunderbolt Rollercoaster.😪😥😪 I cried when they demolished the Old Thunderbolt Rollercoaster. It was the first wooden rollercoaster I rode on & I miss it so much. I wish they would build more wooden coasters at Coney Island.
I grew up with stories of the golden age of Coney Island as told to me by my grandparents and parents but this is the Coney I remember. Busted, run down, dirty, somewhat dangerous... and lots of fun for a kid in the 70s.
Love that place, that was our place to go every Wednesday in the 50's. The food, rides, beach and endless fun is always what makes me smile many years later.
Wow, didn’t realize that Coney Island had the diving bell ride or the Twister ride (like the tilt a whirl) but the cars run on a metal strip with a large wheel under each car
Nice short film on Coney Island from what looks like late 1960's. The parachute jump was not used by the army for training. It was purchased by Steeplechase Park from the 1939 World' Fair in Flushing Meadows Park. Some of the rides and attractions shown in Astroland were purchased from the 1964-65 World Fair. Astroland first opened in the 1960's and was the first new amusement park to open it's doors in Coney Island in decades. The decline started in the 1950's and when Steeplechase Park closed in the early 1960's it was the beginning of end of Coney Island so we thought. The weekly Tuesday night fireworks shows ended in the 1970's and that was terrible for Coney Island and it's attractions. After decades of attractions closing down, being burnt down or demolished, urban decay and blight, etc Coney Island has finally made a huge comeback. The weekly fireworks shows are back each Friday night, millions of dollars have been spent on new attractions and amusement parks. MCU Park hosts a minor league N.Y. Met's baseball club by the name of the Brooklyn Cyclones. The rebuilding of the Coney Island subway terminal long overdue for decades was finally completed, There is now a music concert pavilion along the boardwalk around west 20 street featuring many top name artists and thousands of people are finally coming back to Coney Island after so many decades of dropping attendance. The NYPD has done an excellent job making the area much safer so families can come and enjoy themselves without worrying about being robbed, beat up, mugged, etc. During my lifetime I saw the good, the bad and the ugly in Coney Island but it is truly made a huge comeback over the past few years.
My fondest memories of Coney Island is when I first rode on the original Thunderbolt wooden rollercoaster in 1975. I,'ll never forget how terrified I was, while riding on it. Although I was afraid of it, I became very obsessed with the ride & it became my favorite ride in the park. It would take me about 2 years later, of getting use to the Thunderbolt, before attempting to ride the Cyclone. Although the Cyclone had a steeper first drop, the Thunderbolt still had a good punch to it and a much tougher ride, especially in the back seat in the back car. They both were the same height at 86ft tall on their first drops. The Tornado rollercoaster was shorter in height, but it had a very good punch on its curves. It was the first of its kind to have those wicked curves.. The Thunderbolt was the oldest of the three, which opened in 1925. The Tornado ( former Bob ) coaster, opened in 1926 & last, but not least, the Cyclone, opened in 1927. I hate like hell, that the original Thunderbolt is no longer here. Too bad the family built & owners of the coaster, sold it to younger people who didn, t have a clue on how to maintain the iconic ride & it started to deteriorate & closed down for good in 1983. From there on, it was heavily covered by in growing weed on certain areas of the tracks & it became a nesting place for pegions. Sadly in 2000, it was demolished by the city to make room for MCU ( former Keyspan ) park & the new steel looped Thunderbolt Rollercoaster.😪😥😪 I cried when they demolished the Old Thunderbolt Rollercoaster. It was the first wooden rollercoaster I rode on & I miss it so much. I wish they would build more wooden coasters at Coney Island.
I grew up with stories of the golden age of Coney Island as told to me by my grandparents and parents but this is the Coney I remember. Busted, run down, dirty, somewhat dangerous... and lots of fun for a kid in the 70s.
Thanks for the memories, those were the best times of my life growing up in Coney Island was great.
I enjoy your documentary on Coney Island and using the tech of that time too, wow!!!!! Nice job.
Love that place, that was our place to go every Wednesday in the 50's. The food, rides, beach and endless fun is always what makes me smile many years later.
thanks for this wonderful memories
Keeping Coney Island on the map...thanks for the flash back...Shout Out from DJNLV...the Galaxy Crew...Coney Island...Brooklyn NY..
Peace Out...,,,!!!
Wow, didn’t realize that Coney Island had the diving bell ride or the Twister ride (like the tilt a whirl) but the cars run on a metal strip with a large wheel under each car
Awesome!
love all your videos. incredible.
Roller Coaster Kids: Tales of 1960s Coney Island. An epic coming of age memoir.
Epic
Not really " Lost " because it remains in my memory.
Sure u are
Awrsomr
A poor man's Atlantic city simple as that..