Hello Judy,
You were riding on the Stubbmann Carousel at West 6th Street and Surf Avenue. The adjoining hotel where your father was enjoying libations was called the Hotel Eleanor. The Stubbmann Carousel was manufactured one block away by Mangels and Illions. The Carousel building and hotel were demolished in the 1950s to make room for the aquarium. The Stubbman’s and Feltman’s Carousels were later combined into one and installed at the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair in Queens. Here are photos of the Stubbman’s Pavilion and the hotel to refresh your memory.

Hello Scott,
Here’s a photo of Surf Lanes on Surf at 32nd Street taken shortly before it was demolished. It was formerly the Surf Theater and I remember it well because it was where I saw my first movie at the age of three. It became a bowling alley around ‘58 or ‘59. Also had a great bar!

The yellow Art Deco building survived the urban renewal project that brought us the surrounding O’Dwdyer Gardens housing project but was torn down around 1980. The empty lot became an urban vegetable garden, and recently the site of a senior housing development.

Donald Russo

Dear Donald,
Sunny Boy was the name! It came in little waxed-paper containers. The distributor was located on West 36th Street and Neptune Avenue.

Hello Jeanett,
That structure, with its nautical themed terra cotta, is the former Childs Restaurant Building, built in 1924. There were once over 90 Childs establishments in NYC. The building is an official NYC landmark and will someday be restored as a restaurant and catering hall by Taconic Investment Properties, the company that has a 99-year lease on the property.

There were several Romanian restaurants on Surf Avenue but the most popular was Carmen Sylva’s, an older establishment known for its “steaks and chops” that remained open for business until the 1960s. Does this sound like their restaurant?

Thanks so much in advance,
Joseph Tague


Hello Joseph,

The date of this photo is circa 1921-22 and the building in the background is Bushman Baths, located at West 15th and the Boardwalk (which is under construction in the photo, completed in 1923.) Bushman Baths burned in 1973. Note the spelling change in the name (they dropped the “c” somewhere along the way.)

Hope this helps.

The Paul’s Daughter building on the Boardwalk at West 10th Street was built by Feltmans shortly after the Boardwalk was moved. The new fireproof, streamlined, “Art Moderne-style” building replaced the ornate wooden Feltmans Boardwalk Restaurant that was erected in 1923 on the site of the old Petersen’s Hotel which had occupied Feltmans oceanfront property since the 1880s.

Please reply ASAP.
Thank you,
David Levine

Hello David,
Your memory is correct. The Boardwalk originally had four Mediterranean style pavilions located at West 35th St, West 29th, West 24th, and West 12th Streets.The pavilions at the West End were popular gathering places on summer evenings. Residents of the Hebrew Home for the Aged, located in the old Half Moon Hotel, would sing songs and tell stories in the pavilion at West 29th Street. The pavilions suffered arson fires and were demolished in the 1970s. Here are photographs of the pavilions in the 1920s and shortly before demolition.

Thank You,
Debra Daien Kassiotis

Hello Debra,
Sorry to hear of your loss. Here are some photographs from the past that will refresh your memory: The Mermaid Theater marquee and owners Sam and Estelle Horwitz posing in front; the Huba, and the Yeshiva.

Thank you,

Sal

Hello Sal,

Here’s a photo of the Magic Carpet Fun House on the Bowery at West 15th Street. The attraction was run by Edie and Seymour Maxim who also operated the Donkey Game next door. The last version of the robotic laughing lady was actually a German-made laughing male figure in drag.
The Coney Island History Project is planning an exhibition of work by the artist who painted the Playland murals. Keep checking our web site for more information.