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

Randy Kasper

Memories of living in the newly opened Luna Park Houses in the 1960s

Orlando Mendez

Growing up in Coney Island in the 1970s and being the third generation of his family to live here today

Alison Cintorrino

Memories of growing up in Luna Park Houses in the 1960s and 1970s

Alan Kirschenbaum

Memories of growing up in Coney Island Houses in the 1950s and early '60s

Sharon Tera

Sharon Tera's family operated Ethel's Restaurant on the Boardwalk in the 1940s and '50s

Carol Barry

Memories of living in the newly opened Luna Park Houses in the 1960s

Carlos Quinones

Memories of placing the Puerto Rican flag atop the Parachute Jump and driving the Mermaid Avenue bus

Jane McNeive Ennis

Memories of Ocean Tide Baths and Coney Island

Tymell Murphy

Professional basketball player and author of a book of poems and stories who grew up in Coney Island

Mark St Leon

Australian circus historian whose family performed at Coney Island's Luna Park in the early 1900s

Maria Schwab

Growing up in Gravesend and going to Coney Island in the 1960s and living there today

Esther Delgado

Growing up in Gravesend and going to Coney Island in the 1940s and living there today

Rena Stutman Rice

Memories of growing up in Brighton Beach in the 1950s and 60s