Oral History Archive

Ahmed Hussain
Memories of a boyhood helping out in his family's store in Coney Island and learning to play pinball
Rob Weissbard
Milton Berger's nephew describes adventures at Steeplechase Park with Coney's great showman
Mr. Luong
Coney Island homeowner recalls fleeing Vietnam with his family in 1981 and settling in New York City
Ho Cheung Li
Mermaid Avenue pharmacist dispenses news and advice to new immigrants
Beth Allen
Beth Allen recounts her origins as an "incubator baby" in Dr. Martin Couney's sideshow
Sam Person
Family memories of Nat Faber's Fascination arcade and amusement business empire
Liz Unger
Memories of Coney Island in the 1950s and a family's candy factory on Mermaid Avenue
Erum Hanif
Community Board 13 member and CEO of Apna Brooklyn Community Center
Samantha Robles (Cake)
Tattoo artist who grew up in Coney Island's West End
Alicia Angello
Teen memories of Coney Island's Polar Express and Breakdance in the 2000s
Ansen Tang
Director of United Chinese Association of Brooklyn in Bensonhurt, Dyker Heights, and Sheepshead Bay
Jerry Omanoff
Memories of living in Coney Island from the late 1940s to the mid-1960s
Carol Polcovar
Writer and playwright who grew up in Coney Island from 1943 to 1956
Jerry Farley (The Jerry Farley)
Record producer and audio engineer who produces live shows at Coney Island Brewery
John Philip Capello
Mystery artist who carved faces into rocks on the shoreline at Brighton Beach
Rachel Rosenberg Simon
Rachel Simon recalls her family's Deli Restaurant on Mermaid Avenue
Eric Schwelke
Memories of living in Luna Park Houses in the 1960s and again in the late 1970s
Frieda Schwelke
Memories of growing up in Coney Island in the 1930s and '40s and moving to Luna Park Houses in 1962