Oral History Archive

Rena Stutman Rice
Memories of growing up in Brighton Beach in the 1950s and '60s
Arlene Oken Straus
Memories of living in Luna Park Houses in the 1960s and '70s
Sam Person
Family memories of Nat Faber's Fascination arcade and amusement business empire
Irina Ginzburg (Upa)
Stand-up comedian and founder of the Coney Island Comedy Festival
Laura Numeroff
Children's book author's memories of Steeplechase, the Animal Nursery, and Brighton Beach Baths
Stefon Bristol
Film director and screenwriter who grew up in Coney Island in the 1990s
Roland Summit
Author and historian of carousel horses and carvers and co-founder of the National Carousel Association
Janet Rubino
One of Dr. Couney's incubator babies
Stanley Shapiro
Memories of growing up in Coney Island in the 1940s and going back four times a year
Tony Williams
Growing up in Coney Island as a teenager in the 1960s and '70s
Ellina Graypel
Singer, musician and composer who lives in Sea Gate
Cuzzo Sosay
Musical inspiration and meditation at Coney Island
Joyce Chopra
Groundbreaking filmmaker grew up in Sea Gate and on Mermaid Avenue
Nasim Almuntaser
Brooklyn College history student grew up working in his family's bodega in Brighton Beach
Reverend Cliff Herring
The Roller Coaster Reverend shares stories of Cyclone weddings
Olga Martynchuk
Mother of professional boxing star Nikita Ababiy
Jen Kepler
Educator at New York Aquarium and passionate observer of Brooklyn wildlife
Ellen Abrams
Memories of growing up on West 29th Street and meeting her lifeguard husband on Coney Island Beach