The Coney Island History Project Presents Free Movie Screenings in the Community. The program will be shown at two venues:

Wednesday, June 29th, 7pm at South Brooklyn Youth Consortium,
2811 Mermaid Avenue (at w 28 St), Coney Island. Phone 718-449-1356
D, F, N or Q to Stillwell Avenue

Thursday, June 30th, 2pm at the Coney Island Library,
1901 Mermaid Avenue at (W 18 St.), Coney Island Phone 718-265-3220
D, F, N or Q to Stillwell Avenue

"The Prince of Mermaid Avenue"
A documentary feature by Charles Denson (2009, 60 minutes)
Starring Jimmy Prince and a cast of Coney Island Community Members

The film tells the story of Jimmy Prince, owner of Major Meats on Mermaid Avenue, who retired after 60 years as an anchor of the community. He transformed his meat market into the soul of an earlier era, a cordial oasis of tradition and hope, a throwback to what Coney Island was and what many dreamed it could be again one day.

"The Prince of Mermaid Avenue" documents Prince's decision to retire and the painful process of leaving the Coney Island community that he loved and supported for so many years.

The film project began with historian Charles Denson's daily visits to Major Market and his audio recordings for the Coney Island History Project's Oral History Archive. The film premiered and was awarded Best Documentary Feature at the 9th Annual Coney Island Film Festival in 2009.

We will also be screening some vintage film clips of the original Luna Park, Steeplechase Park, and Astroland, which we show at the Coney Island History Project's free public exhibition center at 3059 W. 12 Street at the entrance to Deno's Wonder Wheel Park.

For additional info contact the Coney Island History Project. Email: events@coneyislandhistory.org Phone: (347) 702-8553

Funded in part by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs

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EXHIBITION CENTER...Opening Memorial Day Weekend for the 2011 season! The Coney Island History Project's  exhibition center at Deno's Wonder Wheel Park.  Located on West 12th Street, just off the Boardwalk, our public exhibition center is open from 12 noon - 6 pm on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays  from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day. Admission is Free!

View historic artifacts, photographs, maps, ephemera, folk art  and films of Coney Island's colorful past. This year's opening exhibition will commemorate the Dreamland Fire Centennial with historic images of Dreamland before and after the fire juxtaposed with the site as it is today. Our popular Steeplechase horse from the legendary ride that gave Steeplechase Park its name will be on display again, along with a rare Mangels "Fairy Whip" car.

The exhibition center is open year-round by appointment for schools and groups. Send inquiries to info@coneyislandhistory.org

SUNDAY WALKING TOURS...The Coney Island History Project is pleased to announce walking tours of the historic landmarks and current attractions of the amusement district. Our tours are based on CIHP Director Charles Denson's award-winning book Coney Island: Lost and Found, the oral history interviews in our archive and other primary sources. Tours will be offered on Sundays at 12:15 pm from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend as well as to groups by advance reservation. Tickets are $20. Advance purchase of tickets through our event reservation website is recommended since tours are limited to 10-12 people. If a tour has not sold out, the remaining tickets will be available for cash purchase on the day of the tour when the History Project opens at 12 noon.

We're launching the season with a special walking tour in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Dreamland Fire on Friday, May 27, at 12:15 pm. This tour will be offered again on Sunday, May 29, at 12:15 pm. Led by Charles Denson, historian and director of the Coney Island History Project, the tours will also preview the History Project's exhibition on the Dreamland Fire Centennial, set to open on Saturday, May 28, at 12 noon.

NYU Grad School Group Toured Coney Island & History Project Exhibition

Throughout the season, walking tours will be led by Charles Denson or Coney Island History Project staff. Our tour guides are professionals who live, work or play in Coney Island and have a long association with the History Project. Our tours are based on Charles Denson's award-winning book Coney Island: Lost and Found, the oral history interviews in our archive and other primary sources. For the walking tour schedule and additional information, please visit the online reservation website.

If you have a question not addressed in the FAQs on the tour reservation site or to arrange a group tour, please e-mail events@coneyislandhistory.org.

The Aftermath of the Dreamland Fire

On May 27, 1911, a huge fire illuminated the sky and sent fire companies from all over Brooklyn rushing to Coney Island. Dreamland Park was ablaze. Unlike Steeplechase Park or the Bowery which were rebuilt after being destroyed by fire, Dreamland would be no more. "The catastrophic fire happened in 1911 but its lingering aftermath still affects Coney Island land use policy a century later," said Charles Denson. "As soon as the ashes cooled, the city took over the site and has been claiming beachfront parcels ever since."

When the Coney Island History Project opens on Memorial Day Weekend, we'll commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Dreamland Fire with an exhibition of photos and a themed walking tour. Historic images of Dreamland before and after the fire will be juxtaposed with the site as it is today and how it developed over the last hundred years. The exhibit will be illuminated by oral history interviews with the 101-year-old son of the Coney Island police chief on duty that night and the granddaughter of the Coney Island fire chief who fought the blaze.

Charles Denson, History Project director and the author of Coney Island: Lost and Found, will lead a walking tour on Friday, May 27. To receive advance info on the tour, which will be by reservation, please sign up for our e-mail list.