Oral History Archive

Filtering by 1950 - 1959 back to all
Jeanette Bigelson
At age 103, Coney Island resident shares her memories and secrets to a long and happy life
Roy Omori
Growing up Japanese American in Coney Island in the 1950s and '60s
Charles Guariglia
Memories of working a bread route on Coney Island's Mermaid Avenue in the 1950's and '60s
Khonya Epstein
Author and leader of the Holocaust Survivors Group at Marks JCH of Bensonhurst
Frank Gurrera
Machinist at MTA's Coney Island Overhaul and Repair Shop and oldest active TWU Local 100 member
Anthony Wang
Resident of senior housing in Coney Island was born in Shanghai and survived the Cultural Revolution
Josephine Gargiulo Cassata
Daughter of Gargiulo's founder was born in an apartment above Coney Island's famous restaurant
Lu Zhao
Calligrapher recounts his artistic journey from China's Guangdong Province to Brooklyn's Bensonhurst
Norman Stock
Poet who grew up in Coney Island and was one of Dr. Couney's incubator babies
David Louie
David Louie's family owned the popular Wah Mee Restaurant on Mermaid Avenue
Juanhua Zhao
Tai chi teacher at Coney Island's Seaside Innovative Senior Center shares her life story
Nancy Gabriel
Memories of visiting Uncle Pete, who ran a food concession at Steeplechase Pool in the 1930s-50s
Greg Birbil
Greg Birbil's father, Paul, was a candy maker who owned the Paradise Ice Cream Parlor on Surf Avenue
Sheldon Krimsky
Memories of growing up on West 29th Street in Coney Island in the 1940s and '50s
Alonzo Kittrels
Memories of bus trips to Coney Island with the Good Will Family Club from the 1940's through 1961
Richard Termini
Memories of growing up at Bensonhurst's Termini's Bakery and riding Coney Island's Astroland Rocket
Lois McLohon
Brooklynite who posed for a now iconic 1950's NY Daily News pin-up photo on Coney Island Beach
Richard Glazer-Danay
Artist who grew up in Coney Island and whose artwork celebrates his Mohawk iron worker ancestry