Oral History Archive

Father Eugene Pappas
On growing up in Coney Island in the 1940s and the history of Greek-American businesses in the area
Sara Schneider
Got a tattoo of the Astroland Rocket in honor of her first date in Coney Island
Jeffrey L. Wilson
Memories of growing up in Coney Island in the 1980s and '90s and Faber's Fascination Arcade
Mathylde Frontus
On growing up in Coney Island and founding the nonprofit Urban Neighborhood Services
Paul Sanchez
Coney Island singer/songwriter who wrote "A Coney Island Song"
Courtney King
Jamaican-born artist and Coney Island resident
Jeffrey Eisenmesser
Former teacher at Mark Twain Junior High School recalls his Coney Island memories
Jan Brown
A Brooklyn native's boyhood memories of Washington Baths and Steeplechase Park
Patricia Casola
Daughter of Coney Island artist, banner painter and Cyclops creator Dan Casola
Wesley Casola
Son of Coney Island artist, banner painter and Cyclops creator Dan Casola
Gladys Sandman and Lucille daCosta
Girlhood memories of growing up on West 5th Street in Coney Island before being displaced by Warbasse
Charles Berkman
Memories of growing up in Coney Island during the Great Depression and 55 years practicing law
Rebecca Diamond
A five-year-old describes her visit to Coney Island
Rosalie Diamond
Memories of going to Steeplechase Park as a teenager in the 1950s
Mohammed Saad Ali
Actor and playwright whose new play A Lonely Night in Coney Island is set on the Boardwalk
Joel Zika
The founder of the Dark Ride Project on documenting Spook-A-Rama and other historic dark rides
Al Burgo
Memories of growing up on West 33rd Street in Coney Island and working on the Boardwalk in the 1960s
Vincent Cutrone
Owner of Octopus Garden in Gravesend