1950s Coney Island Amusement Park - Parachute Jump and Other Rides

Reel #: 9018 TC In: 001811 TC Out: 002352
Summer on the beach at Coney Island, NY 1950s. Vintage color footage of kids and families on various rides, including: The Parachute Jump, The Rocket, Carousel, Tilt-a-Whirl, and other spinning rides. No Audio.
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[@frank61ism]

I USED TO OPERATE SOME OF THESE RIDES IN THE EARLY SIXTIES. FUN TIMES.

[@reggierodriguez6546]

You’re like a time capsule. I wasn’t even around

[@stevandempsey]

incredible to be able to say you operated rides in coney island in the 60s, what a time. would pay big bucks to hear stories about your time there haha

[@frank61ism]

@@stevandempsey Well it was fun. Worked the Tilt a Whirl on the boardwalk near the Parashoot, shirtless. I'm no lady killer but it did attract a few girls ha. Made cotton candy at the foot of the Wonder Wheel at a small concession stand, worked a parking lot diagonally of Nathans and worked selling tickets to various rides. I was friends with other guys my age who worked at different rides, so naturally we'd let each other ride each others rides for free. In those days you could see Cousin Brucie walking around with Neil Sedaka and Jay and the Americans were always around the neighborhood. Other groups too. Good times and some rough times too. No charge. Ha H a.

[@elsiegon7118]

Wow cool!! I wish I could’ve seen how Coney Island was back then!!!

[@angelpla]

@@frank61ismyou responded 5 years later 😭😭 crazy how old are you

[@CC-sv9fs]

Coney Island was super ahead of its time wow

[@booth2710]

now there is sod all there ... at least there wasnt when I was there two years ago ...

[@1johncabs]

I loved going on all the Steeplechase Park rides. We would purchase a round cardboard punch card that ride operators would punch as you rode each attraction. I loved the polished wooden slides that we would ride wearing corduroy or dungaree (jeans) long pants. I watched my dad go down the funnel tube onto the spinning metal discs that would eventually send people off into the side trench. The combination of indoor pavilion rides with outdoor attractions was unique. Of course the steeplechase horses surrounding the pavilion was the best.

[@booth2710]

There is a Steeple Chase still in operation at the Blackpool Pleasure Beach - North West England.

[@Juliaflo]

I remember those round puch cards. (Don't figure out my age. LOLOLOLOLOL).

[@roysimonetti4003]

Being from Da Bronx, New York, I have been to Coney Island DOZENS of times and on the Cyclone Hundreds. Once went 10 times straight in one day. Same with the Parachute.Our go to place Every week it was opened in Season. Not a ride or Exhibit there we Weren't to or on. Started going there with my Family in 1953 .

[@roysimonetti4003]

Also ate Hundreds of Nathan's Hot Dogs and Fries in that time.STILL DO.

[@IPULCOLUMBIA]

This is PURE GOLD!! I have been going to Coney for years-now I finally see the parachuters perch in action! WOW and thank you!!

[@nudnikjeff]

I grew up in Coney in the 50's. Memories!

[@roysimonetti4003]

Me too.

[@stevandempsey]

you guys have any stories from 50s-60s? would absolutely love to hear! Such lucky fellas to be able to experience such a time.

[@jaymorgenthal9479]

I used to go to Coney every easter vacation with my big brother from 1960-63. Nathans everything was 25 cents. Ski ball on the boardwalk a nickel a game. We rode the old BMT train from Astoria with light bulbs and wicker seats. I went to Steeplechase Park it’s last season and slid down the gigantic slide with a burlap bag to prevent burns and walked through the rotating barrel. I was afraid to ride the horses but my Dad told me he did growing up in the early 1930’s.

[@hoodwinkedbyanangelmichaelfazi]

wow WOW..My Dad took me on the Parachute ride in 1960...I still remember my mom ``` being mad at him... like he cared ... He was Army parachutest 101st Screaming Eagles [[ ``` a real dare devil ]] i STILL REMEMBER THE VIEW...TO THIS DAY ... and this is the ``` best video ofConey Island I have ever seen thanks for posting

[@booth2710]

That parachute thing looks like a high maintenance piece of machinery

[@eyestoenvy]

It certainly was, very burdensome to the Tilyou family who owned it and Steeplechase Park all together. Labor intensive and subject to wind conditions too.

[@ronnie5880]

i wish i could've gone on all of the old coney island rides. especially the parachute jump.

[@sodality3970]

Back when everyone dressed their best !!

[@Classicfem]

The video is really clear. good quailty

[@flieslikeeagle]

This is place of dreams, then and now. I read a book called "people you meet in heaven" not long after reading it. I was at this beautiful giant red pier that stretched forever into the water it seemed. Come to realize it was Coney Island but it was heaven, everyone and everybody's there enjoying concerts and the attractions which we were reflecting on back when we were alive here on earth. Sounds odd but felt as real as this moment.

[@luxuryqueen42]

You mean the book “The Five People You Meet in Heaven”? Cuz its also a movie ☺️

[@twatfisher3]

This was so kool. Never saw the parachute in action. I remember, in the mid 70's, I almost fell out, of the hammers. Thank God for this man, that held me. I'll never firget that day..

[@dalecooles]

I rode every one of these attractactions as a kid in the 1950s.

[@edwardihughes]

Many of these rides made it to the 60’s. Nice to relive the past. Thank you to the contributor

[@Risteard156]

A good old days maybe gone but not forgotten excellent video on Coney island.👍

[@Myfootage]

You are welcome! Thanks for the very kind comments, everyone!

[@barbie3721]

I remember the gravity-run mechanical horse race which went around the main building. Powered by your weight. I think there were five or six horses, each mounted on a rail. Too bad you do not have a video of that. That and the roller coaster rides were my favorites.

[@rocketcab]

.... The Steeplechase rides were the ones with the mechanical horses....

[@TwilightRO1]

wow. i haven't seen some of these rides in color or in action. Parachute looks legit fun, like you'll have that sinking stomach feeling in the duration of the entire ride. And it looks like fast capacity. They should bring it back.. : (

[@billfox7066]

I used to watch the parachutes when I was a kid and I got older I used to love riding the bobsled I lived on 50th Street Stillwell Avenue

[@mistofoles]

WTF? That parachute ride looks AWESOME!

[@eyestoenvy]

One of the most intense rides ever made, they were REAL chutes and not the makeshift lifts you see at Six Flags today ....

[@mralmeister1]

its a shame most of this stuff is not there anymore.....looks like a ball...

[@markrubin9449]

If you look closely, that's me on the parachute ride. The rides are gone so I'll have to find another way to throw up. Damn, I miss this place.

[@tomfrombrick]

Mark Rubin timestamp?

[@IPULCOLUMBIA]

Mark Rubin yes I looked closely and DID SEE YOU!! Your the Chinese guy right...?? Or Mexican guy...or maybe the 10000 white guys there....so you were really on the perch???

[@booth2710]

Just watch daytime television - then you can throw up in the comfort of your own sitting room

[@robrozek9265]

Go to the bar and grill across the street ha ha

[@roysimonetti4003]

The Parachute is STILL there. It's a New York City Landmark and CAN'T be torn down. Same with the Cyclone which is STILL in Operation. Last there in 2010. And YES , I went on the Parachute. My 2 lady Friends wouldn't. They watched me. The I got EVERYONE Hot Dogs and Fries afterward.

[@miguelortiz7658]

Coney island is fever a great place to enjoy..

[@samr3637]

That's some great footage, truly the best

[@Myfootage]

The footage is available for licensing for documentaries and other films.

[@booth2710]

So many of those rides were developed for Coney Island and were then marketed out round the world - particularly to the UK. For eg the Caterpillar Ride - which was installed at Belle Vue Funfair in Manchester, north of England and The Whip which was installed at the Blackpool Pleasure Beach north west England - which operated as the Fairy Whip until the mid 90s I believe then was removed from Blackpool Pleasure Beach ..

[@theshevirgo]

I miss Parachute rides as a kid it was my favorite The Great Gasp at Six Flags GA never been to Coney Island it was never on my to do list when I was in New York, and I also never visited in the summer. Now that I have more interest in theme parks I will attempt to go. Some of those old rides look wicked fun. Sad a lot are lost to history

[@jamesdavis6036]

Sadly, I remember this place in the late 60's & 70's. Even with that urine smell everywhere, It was still great because I was a kid. But I missed the heyday of Coney Island. Steeplechase, Luna Park & Dreamworld. Coney Island was world renowned. Disney Land/World had nothing on Coney Island. I realized what destroyed this magical place or should I say WHO destroyed this magical place. Do the math yourself. Then multiply by hundreds of other once beautiful communities all across America.

[@kodiak6198]

Was Trumps dad no?

[@eyestoenvy]

"ROBERT MOSES" and his infamous PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS .......

[@dr.winstonsmith]

@@kodiak6198 He bought Steeplechase and brought it down but if he hadn’t then another developer would have done the same. The Tilyous were ready to sell. Urban blight due to the liberal policies of destruction starting in the 60s destroyed Coney Island.

[@jamesdavis6036]

eyestoenvy & dr.winstonsmith you both are correct. A world renowned place gone with the wind.

[@azeleapark]

2:05 - NOBODY IS FAT!!!!

[@lindagurrera685]

How nicely people dressed back then

[@grillage2]

Climbed and photographed the Jump several times! There is only one fully intact Winch left in the machine room.

[@valentineshoney]

This is amazing footage! My dad claims he got on this ride in the 50's. He was such a dare devil =D

[@Jay-br6nc]

Need more of these videos specially from the neighborhood if you have thank you

[@arizonadoowopper148]

at 1:43 is the ride shooting the chutes? if so the footage would be from the 1940s. this ride would have been in luna park which burned down by the mid 40s. yet, the footage is of excellent quality. i do not recall this ride in coney island in the 50s but.....?

[@eyestoenvy]

WOW !!! Beautiful! After years of wandering through that place i finally get to see what it looks like !!

[@SimonLiddo]

Amazing video! Doesn't everybody look smart! Thanks for sharing it.

[@tomfrombrick]

2:32 OMG that seems terrifyingly awesome lol great footage

[@gloomyharlow]

wow amazing....

[@Myfootage]

@valentineshoney Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the positive comment!

[@nancyvfritz6080]

this was the best ride in coney. i was only ten when i went on and then it was soon closed down forever. i remember it well and it was a blast!

[@user-fx1bz4jc9c]

Was much better in the old days then today?😊

[@ladyhawkke7002]

I rode on it too. Also, loved the Cyclone roller coaster

[@RiNiSM]

*THEY SHOULD RE OPEN THIS RIDE*

[@chanelwilliams761]

This is my first time seeing his video we want to see some more videos Coney Island is number one

[@estebanmartinezramos6986]

No cabe duda, muchos de los juegos de hoy, ya existían desde mucho antes, sólo los han ido reinventando.

[@stevie68a]

This is from the 1940's, not the 1950's.

[@BONSGOODMAN]

Where was the ride where you sat in a wire set and then when it built up momentum it flared all the way out and you were basically flying on your side on an angle? I remember it being in Steeplechase.

[@Mimiandabe]

WOW!!!!!!! the parachute jump tower is still there, but has not operated for YEARS! I do remember the tilt a whirl (think turning green and the caterpillar ride. WHAT A TREASURE>>>> was this footage in your parents' closet??? :~) you should contact PBS/channel 13. they may buy it from you!

[@jasmin3358]

Queria ter vivido os anos 1950💗💗💗

[@Spiderific]

What was that ride with the water? Seemed interesting!

[@nightisright1873]

Spiderific! I think that was a common type of ride it was at The Orginal Luna Park .Its an early version of the Lug Flume where people would climb to the top go down the hill then get out of the boat

[@fncz]

Formal name was Shoot the Chutes

[@Spiderific]

@@fncz Thank you!

[@Spiderific]

@@nightisright1873 Thanks!

[@NYKID10014]

Amazing footage! Don't know why they won't renovate & reopen The Parachute?

[@mattman237]

I read once that is very labor intensive to operate. It could just be too expensive to renovate the ride and operate it.

[@khatchgk1920]

NYKID10014 it was dangerous, because the wind coming from the sea blew parachutes away

[@anonymoususer6683]

a sister k There are guide cables for the chutes, they never blew away

[@eyestoenvy]

It was labor intensive, hard to upkeep, and subject to wind conditions then and the Tilyou family still operated the attraction as is. Today the biggest obstacle would be the insurance required ......

[@VMA225]

GREAT !!!

[@Animalfarm6cats]

Thanks, for sharing. This is great video.

[@Greencloud8]

At 2:02 the lady in the coat and the guy in the military outfit look like my grandma and grandpa.

[@rolo6932]

Great video!

[@fcontitwo]

***don't forget Nathans !!! , :)

[@janetriggione6637]

What is the reason the jump close down and never reopen did someone ones got killed on it

[@adavila78]

nope, it was very expensive to operate

[@eyestoenvy]

The parachute tower, as well as the famous amusement park it was located in (Steeplechase), was eventually closed by the owners (Tilyou family) at the end of the 1964 season. Due largely in part to bickering within the family over the estate and rising crime around Coney Island. There was a big ceremony on the day of, as it was the first true amusement park that set the model for all others to follow. And yes the parachute ride was expensive to operate, upkeep, and subject to weather conditions but it was the most intense attraction in Coney and so they kept it going until the very end.

[@icantgivecredit871]

You know it's the 1950s when amusement park-goers are wearing suits... seriously, I don't get it; were they on their way from work or something?

[@trysometenderness7466]

Bob Joe It was called having class. Now days people go out in public in their pajamas with their fat rolls on display.

[@rocketcab]

.... more accurately, this footage is from the mid-to-late 40's, judging by the cars passing along Surf Avenue, at around the four minute mark....

[@booth2710]

Look at the old clips from English funfairs - people wore suits and ties go on the Waltzers !

[@booth2710]

@@trysometenderness7466 Yes because there is no dress code at Mc Donalds or Burger King

[@jamesdavis6036]

The parachute jump is still there but because of the evil lawyers it can never open!

[@adamcarr2898]

22:2 anyone know what ride that is?

[@booth2710]

It is called the Caterpillar Ride ... the canopy would automatically come over the carriages halfway through the ride ... the idea was that courting couples could have a snog in darkness ...there is usually a wind machine also under the track that would intermittently blow a blast into the carriages designed to blow ladies' skirts up. It was designed for Coney Island and one was sold to the UK and installed at Belle Vue Funfair Manchester, north England.

[@booth2710]

- and another Caterpillar was installed at Battersea Funfair London. More recently a Caterpillar ride was found and taken out of storage and restored and added to the collection at Margate's Dreamland about two years ago - on the south coast of the UK. However sadly it only worked for a day - if that and then broke down beyond all repair. It was dismantled and carriages taken from the ride are dotted round the park used for seating!

[@brianmillman4155]

My goodness... this is Coney Island and there are actually white people there !?!

[@arnoldstollar5375]

Overpriced and overrated.

[@frank61ism]

I USED TO OPERATE SOME OF THESE RIDES IN THE EARLY SIXTIES. FUN TIMES.