Oral History Archive

Filtering by 2010 - 2019 back to all

Allen James

Coney Islander, musician/songwriter in alt-rock band Newborn, lifeguard

Crystal Isley

Memories of growing up in Coney Island Houses in the 1980s and '90s

Yanglun Hsiao

A filmmaker and film editor from Taiwan living in Brighton Beach

Alito Hernandez

From breakdancing on the streets of Coney Island with Fresh Kids to Peter Gennaro's Street Dreams

Silvana, Adrianne and Silverio Conte

Silvana, Adrianne and Silverio Conte, owners of 51-year-old SAS Italian Records in Bensonhurst

Yi Xin Tong (in English)

Living in Gravesend, artist from China's Mount Lu feels closest to home at Coney Island Creek

Yi Xin Tong

Living in Gravesend, artist from China's Mount Lushan feels closest to home at Coney Island Creek

Sam Shlivko

Growing up in the Russian community in Coney Island and Brighton Beach

Mindy Gress

Memories of growing up on Coney Island's first block and working in the Cyclone photobooth's darkroom

Lisa Marie Pompilio

Horses, hot type, tattoos, sideshows, and graphic design

Abby Jordan

Growing up Latina in Brighton Beach with a special connection to nature and the ocean

Kai Fung

Homeowner in Coney Island's West End for almost 30 years and first member of his family to settle here

Hawley Hussey

Sea Gate artist, writer, educator and year-round swimmer

Edith Storch

Memories of growing up on West 36th Street in Coney Island's West End in the 1930s

Billy Blitzer

Longtime baseball scout for the Chicago Cubs and Sea Gate resident

Stephen Gaffney

Artist and educator who restored the old signs and painted new ones for Paul's Daughter

Sam Moses

Sign-painting legend, musician and Sea Gate resident

Van Milana

Grandson of sword swallower Joseph "Ajax" Milana and DeWise Purdin "The Handless Sharpshooter"