On a date with Coney Island
Lauren had a big day in Coney Island, riding the Cyclone for the first time and eating her first Nathan's hot dog since the trauma of witnessing a hot dog eating contest a few years ago. She recalls winning the sand sculpture contest in 2007...
Content type: Oral History Item
Grew up in Coney Island
At 57 years old, Lauragay remembers many particulars of Coney Island from her childhood and teenage years, including exact addresses and years in which events took place. She remembers, for example, Ocean Tide and Ravenhall pools, Mary's and...
Content type: Oral History Item
Volunteer at Amethyst Women's Project
Priscilla has lived in Coney Island since the late 1990's. She loves her 17th floor apartment that overlooks the ocean and considers Coney Island her home. Priscilla describes the good work Amethyst does for the community and talks about her...
Content type: Oral History Item
103 year old former Coney Island strongman and boxer
At 103 years old, Joe Rollino is a former Coney Island strongman, Olympic athlete and professional boxer. A vegetarian all his life who never smoked or drank, he was a member of the Coney Island Iceberg cold water swim club for 50 years. He tells...
Content type: Oral History Item
Proprietor of Major Markets, Coney Island's oldest butcher shop
Born in 1932, Jimmy Prince, long-time proprietor of Major Markets, Coney Island's oldest butcher shop, shares his memories of the neighborhood through good times and bad. After closing his Mermaid Avenue market in 2009, Jimmy Prince remained...
Content type: Oral History Item
His father sold frozen seafood to Nathan's
David grew up in Sheepshead Bay and shares two particular memories of Coney Island. He remembers his father, an early importer of frozen seafood, being the first person to sell frozen seafood to Nathan Handwerker of Nathan's Famous. David...
Content type: Oral History Item
Mr. Cyclone 2010
Joshua, posed here with Miss Cyclone Angie Pontani, took a break from his busy schedule the day he was voted Mr. Cyclone 2010 to talk with us at the History Project. He explains the highlights of the competition and some of the things he'll...
Content type: Oral History Item
Offers perspectives on both the heyday and decay of Coney Island
Harold describes Coney Island in the 40's and 50's, including a detailed description of Silver's bathhouse and riding the Parachute Jump. He also offers glimpses of the decline of Coney in the 60's and 70's through the...
Content type: Oral History Item
Mother and Son, Residents of Coney Island
Betty Stein recalls telling people her family lived in "the Brighton Beach area," because Coney Island was a bit "honky-tonk." Her son, Gary, however, calls Coney Island his "favorite place on earth." He explains what...
Content type: Oral History Item
Incubator baby
Roslyn Tromer was one of Dr. Couney's "incubator babies". Dr. Martin A. Couney was a neonatologist during the early part of the 20th century who saved many premature infants through the use of incubators. In order to increase...
Content type: Oral History Item