Oral History Archive

Filtering by 2000 - 2009 back to all

Jeffrey Eisenmesser

Former teacher at Mark Twain Junior High School recalls his Coney Island memories

Charles Berkman

Memories of growing up in Coney Island during the Great Depression and 55 years practicing law

Eliot Wofse

A Coney Island native's memories of running amusement games

Dionne Brown (D.L. Jordan)

Lifelong Coney Island resident and author of Living Life Like It's Golden

Gregory Bitetzakis

Co-owner and operator of Gregory & Paul's for more than 50 years

Grace Lo

Homeowner and community activist in Coney Island's West End for almost 30 years

Johanna Gargiulo Sherman

Artist and Coney Island resident recalls growing up on Mermaid Avenue above Carolina Restaurant

Julio Sauce

Ecuadorian-born Gravesend resident is among NYC's fastest long-distance runners in his age category

Shirley Aikens

Community activist and president of the Carey Gardens Tenants Association

Antoinette Balzano

Granddaughter of Anthony "Totonno" Pero tells the story of how he founded Totonno's Pizzeria in 1924

Gene Ritter

Founder of Cultural Research Divers shares his knowledge of oceans, estuaries, and Coney Island Creek

Candi Rafael

Coney Island carny kid and water race game operator on the Bowery

Irina Roizin

Founder and director of Brighton Ballet Theater, now celebrating its 30th year

Santos Torres

Coney Island resident for 43 years, community gardener and musician

Commendatore Aldo Mancusi

Memories of Coney Island in the 1930s and '40s and growing up in Brooklyn in an Italian family

April Leong

Founder and principal of Coney Island's Liberation Diploma Plus High School

Albert Apuzzi and Dori Ten

Coney Island handball champions Albert Apuzzi and Dori Ten on the mecca of handball

Sarah Beetson

UK illustrator based in Australia who created her own summer-long artist residency in Coney Island