Coney Island, Stories That You've Never Heard Before

www.HistoryIn YourOwnBackyard.com
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812-623-5727
In this video we have the opportunity to interview Gary Wachs the 3rd generation Coney Island owner and his right hand man, Dennis Speigel who share with us stories about Coney that you've probably never heard before.
GPS Location: 39°03'20.5"N 84°25'04.2"W

[@bethgiesey9405]

How sad they demolished the Pool. Seems no one has any time for history. Thank you for sharing this hour of history with us

[@MoellerEngineeringCo.]

I pass by it every day. Very sad, but many wonderful memories remain.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

I agree.

[@brothadee5057]

My great uncle lived at Coney Island …. The light show was a tradition for my family sad that it’s over… This was a great show thank you!!!

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

You're welcome. Glad you liked it.

[@GEAE_Denny_L]

I lived on Sutton Rd only about 300’ from Coney front gate from the early 50’s. Dad built the home after getting hired by Cincinnati Fire department. Across my home was a large group boys home called Woodmar Farm. My grandfather was born inside the park in the 1800’s when called Parkers Grove because his parents lived in the park. They ran the pony track, and was the park caretakers off season. My grandfather went on to run the Lake Como’s canoes, and had the Grumman corporation change canoes from wooden to a new aluminum model called the Grumman Canoe Coney Island edition. My grandmother was Coney’s head cashier at Moonlite Gardens. I never paid park admission or paid for cafeteria food. Believe the Rossi firework company got its start at Coney shooting fireworks off the once huge island.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Neat story!

[@musclecarmitch908]

Awesome episode! I never knew the history of Coney Island and the link to Kings Island and other theme parks of the future! Such a cool story and history lesson! I sure wish that the Pool could have been saved as a historic landmark!Thanks for sharing!👍

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

You are most welcome.

[@LauraMullins-xz3du]

My Mom and Dad met at Coney Island because they both worked there. My Mom operated the Wild Cat, and My dad was in maintenance.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

How cool was that!!!

[@go4damo]

Aww

[@veganworldpeace2649]

Love This! My parents met for the first time at the Sunlight Pool in 1956.

[@jackwalsh1468]

Chrissy, a wonderful episode regarding "Coney Island" it's history, impact on multiple generations of people and awesome memories for me. Kudos and Cheers.

[@judycolson6047]

I thought that they were trying to save the pool, I guess it didn’t work. So sad. I have lots of fond memories, mainly of Coney Island, but also sunlight pool. I was too young to get on the shooting star as my older siblings loved it. I did get my nerve up one time to ride the lost river and thought it was very scary, but actually liked it pretty well. Especially the long ride through the dark water canal and then the ticking of the climb upward to the top before coming down. Two of my favorite rides were the whip and the tumble bug. Back then you had to buy paper tickets to get on the rides. So much fun in our youth. So many things return to us nowadays, I wish they would just bring the whole Coney Island experience back! Thx for sharing the history and your experience.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

You are most welcome.

[@annas9776]

Fantastic episode! Thanks so much for interviewing them.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@dennismccabe7937]

Fantastic interview. What history !!

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Glad you liked it!

[@michaelhill7471]

I’m so impressed that these two men have all their wits about and could recall so much. The first 12 yrs of my life were spent in Cincinnati and Coney Island was the highlight of my life for many years. As well as Reds games at Crosley Field. I was just 5 yrs old when my name was drawn in a give away at Coney and won a nice fiberglass rod and reel. I still have it 63 years later. Great episode of History in your own back yard. Thank you very much.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@aaronschulte3207]

Just fascinating all the information from these men.💯

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

It was! We were very fortunate to get this interview.

[@jeffs5093]

Another amazing video.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Thanks Jeff. Glad you liked it.

[@JeffFeige43]

Such a great loss

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Yes it is.

[@terrybevis2872]

It’s gone. I live on the hill above . So sad .

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

I know.

[@larkhigginbotham5374]

So sad. I was there in the mid 60s.

[@aaronschulte3207]

Thank you.❤

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

@@aaronschulte3207 you're welcome.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

@@larkhigginbotham5374 it was definitely a special place.

[@go4damo]

Top notch interview. Thank you.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Glad you liked it!

[@herts9999]

Took my 5 year old the last day of the season last year. He loved it. Said we're getting a 2024 season pass, then the news hit 😢

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Sorry to hear that.

[@herts9999]

​@@historyinyourownbackyard2363 At least he got to experience it once. We can still look back at it fondly

[@tytanic7812]

Im 19 and only went to Coney Island like 4 or 5 times when I was really young compared to the dozens of times I went to kings island. Wish kids my age were more interested in engaging with their local community and sacred landmarks like Coney Island. When they talk about the ball room it genuinely sounds like a fictional story because NOBODY my age will dance or be merry. Happy I watched this vid

[@TheOneAndOnlyroAE]

The last part is so painful. I know this man was someone who supported the integration, but the inherent context that he expresses it in is shocking.

[@joeanderson9852]

❤

[@veganworldpeace2649]

😢

[@bananabob2185]

I will NEVER support CSO ever again… and it breaks my heart to say that, but what in THEE HELL were they thinking to get rid of Coney Island?????? A historic Cincinnati landmark… H I S T O R I C !!!!!! And now it’s gone. Maybe you too, CSO, will go belly up. What would you do if someone decided to tear down Music Hall???? Someone in your organization really has his/her head up their claven. Good bye.

[@veganworldpeace2649]

Same Here! I refuse to pay any $ to the new owners! I am so angry & so sad! 😢😢