Oral History Archive

Filtering by amusement parks back to all
Roy Omori
Growing up Japanese American in Coney Island in the 1950s and '60s
Michael Liff
Memories of working at the Tornado roller coaster and other Coney Island rides and games in the 1970s
Alicia Angello
Teen memories of Coney Island's Polar Express and Breakdance in the 2000s
Eric Schwelke
Memories of living in Luna Park Houses in the 1960s and again in the late 1970s
Alison Cintorrino
Memories of growing up in Luna Park Houses in the 1960s and 1970s
Alan Kirschenbaum
Memories of growing up in Coney Island Houses in the 1950s and early '60s
Sharon Tera
Sharon Tera's family operated Ethel's Restaurant on the Boardwalk in the 1940s and '50s
Esther Delgado
Growing up in Gravesend and going to Coney Island in the 1940s and living there today
Reverend Cliff Herring
The Roller Coaster Reverend shares stories of Cyclone weddings
Ellen Abrams
Memories of growing up on West 29th Street and meeting her lifeguard husband on Coney Island Beach
Ita Bullard
Horace and Ita Bullard's attempt to transform Coney Island
Stanley Fox, Part 2
Retired arcade operator's memories of when Coney Island's amusements were open in the wintertime
Florian Freitag
Visiting scholar whose research interests include theme park studies
Eric K. Washington
Historian delves into the life of E.J. Perry, African-American silhouette artist at Luna Park
Jorge Gallegos
Working year-round at Deno's Wonder Wheel Park for 30 years
Craig Boyton Dudley
Great-grandson of adventurer Paul Boyton, who built Coney Island's Sea Lion Park in 1895
Frank Newlands
A look behind the scenes at Steeplechase Park
Junaid Anwar
Pakistani immigrant and Lincoln High School graduate recounts living on West 15th Street