Three years ago today, our friend Cesar Rafael, a Coney Island amusement operator since 1979, passed away. This oral history was recorded by Charles Denson for the Coney Island History Project in 2005. "My heart will always be in Coney Island," says Cesar who got his start working with the late Jimmy Balloons and Ronnie Guerrero. He talks about running rides in the 1980's and '90s, dealing with gangs, the city's mishandling of crime, owning his own arcade, and being forced out by development.
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Mar 13th, 2020
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Cesar Rafael Polar express
Omg!! Nooooooo! I can’t believe he passed away! My heart goes out to his family! I remember him when he was working at the Polar Express back in 87, when I was 15 years old! when it was on Stillwell and the Bowery, I think this the same Polar Express that was next to the old Thunderbolt Rollercoaster, back in the 70s, RIP Cesar💔💔🙏🏻🙏🏻
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