" KING OF CONEY ISLAND " 1953 NEW YORK CITY DOCUMENTARY FILM CONEY ISLAND AMUSEMENT PARK MD10044

Want to support this channel and help us preserve old films? Visit / periscopefilm
Visit our website www.PeriscopeFilm.com
This wonderful color film "King of Coney Island" is part of the "If Things Could Talk" series of films produced by Roy Creveling. It is written and narrated from the point of view of Coney Island, New York’s landmark Ferris wheel, the Wonder Wheel, who takes us into and around the packed attractions, boardwalks, and beaches of New York City’s fabulous “Playground of the World.” Besides the Wonder Wheel, the Cyclone and Tornado rollercoasters are shown, as well as the Parachute Drop, Steeplechase, Whirl Way, Virginia Reel, and other rides. You’ll also see a balloon parade, fireworks, acrobats, beach sleepers, and a lost child. It was filmed in 1952 and 1953.
Between around 1880 and the 1940’s, Coney Island was the largest amusement area in the United States, attracting several million visitors per year. At its height, it contained three major amusement parks - Luna Park, Dreamland, and Steeplechase Park - as well as many independent amusements. Declining attendance in the postwar period lead many of the parks to close permanently, beginning in the 1960’s. Though rides and attractions still exist there today (such as the Wonder Wheel, which turned 100 years old in 2020) it has shrunk down to almost nothing.
00:27 TITLE CARD 00:47 Paramount Building 00:55 Times Square looking South (1953) 01:09 People entering subway station 01:14 No. 4 subway train exits a tunnel 01:20 From the Manhattan Bridge, looking South; Brooklyn Bridge, 120 Wall Street, 20 Exchange Place 01:29 POV: Subway train entering and exiting several cuts in Brooklyn 01:41 POV: Approaching Coney Island 01:50 Passengers exit train 01:58 Tornado (Bobs) roller coaster 02:02 Crowds on the boardwalk, rickshaws 02:19 Crowded beach 02:24 People jumping in the surf 02:34 Children dive off breakwater 02:39 Human pyramid 02:51 Wonder Wheel 03:23 Smaller Ferris wheel 03:32 POV: Riding the Wonder Wheel 03:48 Parachute Jump 03:55 Worker secures two riders in a Parachute Jump chair; riders are lifted up 04:09 Riders reach the top and drop 04:29 Riders arriving at the bottom 04:44 View from below the Wonder Wheel 05:03 Man and woman in riding on the Wonder Wheel 05:09 The Cyclone roller coaster viewed from the Wonder Wheel 05:13 The Cyclone from below 05:19 Carnival barker waves a length of tickets 05:22 Riders board a rollercoaster, begin their ascent 05:34 POV: Riding in the roller coaster 05:51 Tornado roller coaster, sign 06:04 Spinning rides 06:15 Whirl Way ride 06:20 Hurricane ride 06:24 Steeplechase Horse Race ride 06:55 Carousel; riders reach for the brass ring 07:31 The Virginia Reel ride 07:55 Wonder Wheel, Cyclone, boardwalk and crowded beach in the foreground 07:59 Lifeguard in tower 08:02 Bathers 08:07 Wilson Line ferry 08:14 Crowded beach 08:19 Man plays accordion 08:30 Children build a sandcastle 08:37 A boy buried up to his neck in sand 08:45 Man with portable record player 08:52 Little boy dances to man playing accordion 08:58 Group of old women play instruments and dance 09:12 Necking couples, portable radio 09:21 People along the boardwalk railing 09:29 Lost boy crying 09:43 Poster for Coney Island Giant Balloon Parade, Saturday, September 6 (1952) 09:46 Drum majorette, marching band, crowd along Surf Avenue 09:54 Balloons and floats 10:17 Children carry link of giant sausages 10:45 Balloon train, Tilyou Theatre marquee 10:54 Red Willys Jeep pulls swan float with beauty contest winners 11:01 On a blanket in the sand; pack of Lucky Strike cigarettes, Piels beer bottle, men’s shoes, a sleeping couple’s bare feet 11:07 Empty beach, life guard tower at sunset 11:12 Two men perform acrobatics 11:18 Coney Island lit up at night; lights on tower, Ferris wheel, rides 11:45 Illuminated signs for the Thunderbolt roller coaster, Steeplechase ride 11:52 Fireworks 12:35 The Wonder Wheel lit up at night 12:42 CREDITS
We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: "01:00:12:00 -- President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference."
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFilm.com

[@eyestoenvy]

The loss of the Tornado, Thunderbolt (original), Hurricane, and the Bobsleds were a huge blow to Coney Island. Steeplechase Park too. What I'd give to take a day trip back in time to experience it all.

[@brandontylerproductions2202]

Same here!

[@IvanRodriguez-hl4pg]

I'm with you on that, eyes. I was too young to ride on the rolling track horses in the SteepleChase. They went really fast. I'd love to experience that.

[@michaelklein5242]

Wonderful! Thanks for this outstanding look at the past.

[@enlightenedjohnson]

My favorite place in the 60’s!!!

[@lynnlevy3343]

The wonderful days.

[@elsiegon7118]

Omg!! Awesome video!!!!!!

[@j_reaume5248]

Aweswome video w/ some great classic CI rides.

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Thanks -- glad you got to see this. Love our channel? Help us save and post more orphaned films! Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/PeriscopeFilm Even a really tiny contribution can make a difference.

[@nobleroman5601]

I'm old but not this old , I didn't start going to coney island until around 65 , or 66 ,,,,,, I remember I was to young and to short for the parashoot jump , and steeplechase had already closed down , but by 1970 coney island was in some serious decline ,,, it was still great for cutting school and hanging out for the day , but you would have to be vigilant about getting robbed by other truants in gangs , but by the middle 70s there seemed to be an attempt at resurrecting coney island with Astroland Park and some other projects ,,,, it wasn't until the later 80s that coney island has really turned around for the better . Damn they're even building luxury apartment buildings down near Sea Gate right by the boardwalk ,,,, quite a change since I was a kid , I sincerely hope coney island will be around for a long long time to come , so future generations will be able to enjoy it ,,,, Nice video and thanks for sharing this with us 👍

[@MichaelDunetz777-qw4jn]

Coney Island is the most magical place on earth 🌎🌍

[@2pugman]

I was there in 1951. Loved it.

[@Cre-Art]

Changes happen, some good, some not. When I was a kid they still had freak shows (not my favorite thing as I hated the concept). I enjoyed the Bobsled, had my first roller coaster ride on the Cyclone, and got to experience Steeplechase. My dad would put me on the merry-go-round (I liked the indoor one and always picked the tallest horse), and I'd snatch the brass ring and get free rides. Then we'd go to Nathan's for hot dogs and (still) the best fries. Love this little film. Thanks. :)

[@robyndavis3043]

Beautiful

[@gumballbreath7525]

BOY DO I MISS 🇺🇲

[@user-qc3mq3iu1x]

huh

[@Lynda-oo7ey]

I was there when Luna Park burned down.

[@MichaelDunetz777-qw4jn]

That was definitely a tragedy 😢😮

[@fncz]

Some sped up coaster footage....still great

[@sammorex2543]

Is that a Wurlitzer 157 band organ I hear at 4:26?

[@tomkent4656]

How many of those amusements are still going today?

[@kuklafranandollie]

Wonder Wheel and Cyclone are going strong!

[@tomkent4656]

@@kuklafranandollie Good to know.

[@elsiegon7118]

Parachute is still there too, but not working. It’s a landmark now. The parachute originally came from the Queens World’s Fair, in 1941 it was moved to Coney Island! It amazes me just to think how the parachutes home was right off the Grand Central Parkway, Queens, NY!

[@encrypter46]

I was 7 when this was made. By the time I was going there on my own from The Bronx, my favorite ride was the Bobsled. I'd stay on the ride for multiple circuits without having to wait on line for each ride. Loved it!!!

[@MichaelDunetz777-qw4jn]

​@@kuklafranandollieDon't forget the Spookarama !

[@ivarsmatisons]

Paldies par informaciju

[@seven_hundred-seven_hundred]

Very nice. Thank you.

[@flynlr]

the cell phone at 8:24 :)

[@luislaplume8261]

Not a cell phone but a compact mirror.

[@oliveb2o]

that's what i was about to say ^^

[@davemiller7633]

My god look how life used to be

[@jimmyp6443]

Yes shitty mess now !

[@loginavoidence12]

yeah, look where all that "cultural enrichment" got us.

[@electrolytics]

@@loginavoidence12 Yeah....what a mistake.

[@model-man7802]

Now you know what us older people mean when we say this country has gone to Hell.

[@luislaplume8261]

@@loginavoidence12 Yes ,due to political correctness and Woke culture they make everybody guilty of something. As New Yorker it was. alreay in decline when my family and I as a boy visited Coney Island in 1967.a

[@diggersdentysonu.k.m.d8813]

What a cracking video brother hope all is going well and your having a top weekend ture legend keep up the hard work 💪 boom 💥

[@johnlocke8397]

Back when it was safe. We all know when that was. Just look at the people.

[@kuklafranandollie]

I've been many times in the last few years. Totally safe and a ton of fun!

[@zackstewart4109]

Coney Island eventually outlived it's early reputation as a viper's nest of gambling, drinking, and prostitution.

[@unc1589]

Yeah. That thinking got you where you are today.

[@frostyjim2633]

It must've been hard to survive without all the strength we now get from our diversity.

[@gwendolenchelm6637]

That's not Coney Island! It's clearly Kathmandu Amusement Park in Nepal.

[@issuma8223]

What an ignorant comment. Everyone knows that during the Great Leap Forward (1958--1962), Tienanmen Square was temporarily transformed into an amusement park. The realistic beach was created by flooding a nearby peasant-district.

[@loginavoidence12]

@@issuma8223 peasants get out this is baldy eagle country

[@elsiegon7118]

It’s definitely Coney Island

[@MichaelDunetz777-qw4jn]

I been to Kathmandu and I 13:06 can tell the difference between Coney Island and Nepal. And believe me Being a New Yorker Coney Island was a very big part of my Childhood. So I have to say that it is Definitely Coney Island 🏝️ the most magical and happiest place on earth 🌎🌍

[@MichaelDunetz777-qw4jn]

Now it's Cooney Island 🏝️