Coney Island Extras

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Coney Island Extras

These are Coney Island locations outside the three great amusement parks. Some of these attractions live on today, but most of the grand hotels, restaurants, bathhouses and piers are lost forever.

THE CYCLONE

"The climbing chain grates, grips the cogs. Jerkily the car climbs the incline out of the whirring lights, out of the smell of crowds and steamed corn and peanuts, up jerkily grating up through the tall night of September meteors." John Dos Passos.

"Hi, I'm the Cyclone, think you can take me? Oh yeah? Come over here and say that!"

THE THUNDERBOLT

I was fortunate enough to view the surreal, vine covered ruins of the Thunderbolt in July, 1999.

Update: Sadly, the Thunderbolt Rollercoaster was demolished November 20, 2000. The coaster stood at Coney Island for 72 years.

THE WONDER WHEEL

"Down here at Coney Island toward the end of the season I am made to feel very sad. The mammoth, empty buildings, planned by extraordinarily optimistic architects, remind me, in an unpleasant manner of my youthful dreams. There is a mighty pathos in the gaunt and hollow buildings, impassively and stolidly suffering from an enormous hunger for the public." Stephen Crane

Built in the 1920's the Wonder Wheel is one of the few existing landmarks at Coney. It is indeed wonderful and provides a stunning view of the entire area. Be sure to ride one of the swinging cars - the sensation of being flung out over Surf Avenue and back again is terrifying and exhilirating!!

February 8, 1995 "For Joan Boadway - Welcome to the mysterious thrill this all but vanished place still has the power to exert. I got to Coney early enough to get a ride on the Steeplechase horses, and to go on the Drop the Dips, which ended its life as the Tornado Coaster, and was genuinely terrifying - not so much for the ride, as for the fact that in its later years it seemed to hover perpetually on the very edge of total disintegration. All gone now, but the Cyclone still runs and the Wonder Wheel, so follow the ghostly millions and - Come To Coney!" - Richard Snow. - dedication from from the author in my edition of Coney Island: a postcard journey to the City of Fire by Richard Snow, Brightwaters Press. Richard Snow is the Editor in Chief of American Heritage Magazine.

There are some great websites dedicated to the history of Coney Island and also it's future. Please visit them!

Rare nighttime film of Luna Park at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/coney/sfeature/videos.html

Coney Island History at http://naid.sppsr.ucla.edu/coneyisland

More on Luna Park at http://www.amusementhistory.com/luna.htm

Coney Island U.S.A. http://www.coneyislandusa.com

Panoramic view of West Brighton Beach, Coney Island

Note the mechanical cow inside the kiosk.

They dispensed ice cold milk to hot, thirsty islandgoers

Here is a closer look

Bandstand at Manhattan Beach

Pony rides. The Great Coal Mine Ride is in the background

An amazing panoramic photo of Pain's Fireworks Spectacle

"The Destruction of Pompeii"

Read these books!

Sodom by the Sea: an affectionate history of Coney Island by Oliver Pilat and Jo Ranson.

Amusing the Million: Coney Island at the Turn of the Century by John F. Kasson

and see the documentary:

The American Experience: Coney Island, directed by Ric Burns, written by Richard Snow

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	Vanished History \| home An introduction \| Coney Island History \| Luna Park \| Steeplechase Park \| Dreamland Park \| Coney Island Extras \| Wentworth By The Sea \| Saltair \| Sutro Baths and Cliff House \| Contact Me \| Gifs \| FIRM Coney Island Extras These are Coney Island locations outside the three great amusement parks. Some of these attractions live on today, but most of the grand hotels, restaurants, bathhouses and piers are lost forever. THE CYCLONE "The climbing chain grates, grips the cogs. Jerkily the car climbs the incline out of the whirring lights, out of the smell of crowds and steamed corn and peanuts, up jerkily grating up through the tall night of September meteors." John Dos Passos. "Hi, I'm the Cyclone, think you can take me? Oh yeah? Come over here and say that!" THE THUNDERBOLT I was fortunate enough to view the surreal, vine covered ruins of the Thunderbolt in July, 1999. Update: Sadly, the Thunderbolt Rollercoaster was demolished November 20, 2000. The coaster stood at Coney Island for 72 years. THE WONDER WHEEL "Down here at Coney Island toward the end of the season I am made to feel very sad. The mammoth, empty buildings, planned by extraordinarily optimistic architects, remind me, in an unpleasant manner of my youthful dreams. There is a mighty pathos in the gaunt and hollow buildings, impassively and stolidly suffering from an enormous hunger for the public." Stephen Crane Built in the 1920's the Wonder Wheel is one of the few existing landmarks at Coney. It is indeed wonderful and provides a stunning view of the entire area. Be sure to ride one of the swinging cars - the sensation of being flung out over Surf Avenue and back again is terrifying and exhilirating!! February 8, 1995 "For Joan Boadway - Welcome to the mysterious thrill this all but vanished place still has the power to exert. I got to Coney early enough to get a ride on the Steeplechase horses, and to go on the Drop the Dips, which ended its life as the Tornado Coaster, and was genuinely terrifying - not so much for the ride, as for the fact that in its later years it seemed to hover perpetually on the very edge of total disintegration. All gone now, but the Cyclone still runs and the Wonder Wheel, so follow the ghostly millions and - Come To Coney!" - Richard Snow. - dedication from from the author in my edition of Coney Island: a postcard journey to the City of Fire by Richard Snow, Brightwaters Press. Richard Snow is the Editor in Chief of American Heritage Magazine. There are some great websites dedicated to the history of Coney Island and also it's future. Please visit them! Rare nighttime film of Luna Park at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/coney/sfeature/videos.html Coney Island History at http://naid.sppsr.ucla.edu/coneyisland More on Luna Park at http://www.amusementhistory.com/luna.htm Coney Island U.S.A. http://www.coneyislandusa.com Panoramic view of West Brighton Beach, Coney Island Note the mechanical cow inside the kiosk. They dispensed ice cold milk to hot, thirsty islandgoers Here is a closer look Bandstand at Manhattan Beach Pony rides. The Great Coal Mine Ride is in the background An amazing panoramic photo of Pain's Fireworks Spectacle "The Destruction of Pompeii" Read these books! Sodom by the Sea: an affectionate history of Coney Island by Oliver Pilat and Jo Ranson. Amusing the Million: Coney Island at the Turn of the Century by John F. Kasson and see the documentary: The American Experience: Coney Island, directed by Ric Burns, written by Richard Snow =======