Oral History Archive

Melissa Rosson Rappaport

Architectural preservationist

Dorothy Wright

Lived in Coney Island since 1961

Joan Briller

Grew up in Brighton Beach

Kenneth Rosen

Remembers details of riding the Parachute Jump

Paul Brigandi

A lover of Steeplechase Park

Elizabeth Velasco

Remembers the Laughing Lady

Charles Tesoro

Former president of the Coney Island Chamber of Commerce

Trav S.D.

Actor, author, and modern-day vaudevillian

Matt Kennedy

Longtime Director of the Coney Island Chamber of Commerce

Ed Spielman

Biographer of the Mighty Atom

Nick Fracaro

Artistic Director of Thieves Theatre

Paul Krassner

Author and key figure in the counterculture of the 1960's shares his Coney Island memories

Marvin Sylvor

American carousel designer and artist

Philomena Marano

Artist and co-founder of Coney Island Hysterical Society

Barbara Delamadrid

A lifetime resident of Coney Island

Stanley Fox

Ran penny arcades in Coney Island for over 20 years

Susan Petersen Avitzour

Lived in Coney Island until age 11 and is back for the first time in 25 years

Frank Pugliese

Maintained Astroland Park's Astrotower for 25 years