Oral History Archive

Filtering by Cyclone, The back to all

John Hunt

Model builder of roller coasters and amusement rides including the Cyclone and Deno's Wonder Wheel

Michael Liff

Memories of working at the Tornado roller coaster and other Coney Island rides and games in the 1970s

Alonzo Kittrels

Memories of bus trips to Coney Island with the Good Will Family Club from the 1940's through 1961

Jim Lucarelli

Memories of operating Steeplechase Park's Sports Car ride in 1963-1964 and fighting the Ravenhall fire

Lois McLohon

Brooklynite who posed for a now iconic 1950's NY Daily News pin-up photo on Coney Island Beach

Connie Scacciaferro

Memories of going to Coney Island Beach as a child in the 1930's and a teenager in the '40s

Frieda Schwelke

Memories of growing up in Coney Island in the 1930s and '40s and moving to Luna Park Houses in 1962

Randy Kasper

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

Alison Cintorrino

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

Reverend Cliff Herring

The Roller Coaster Reverend shares stories of Cyclone weddings

Tara Altebrando

Author of Dreamland Social Club, a novel set in Coney Island, who got engaged on the Wonder Wheel

Frederick Brosen

Artist whose watercolors of the Astroland Rocket and Wonder Wheel sign are emblematic of Coney Island

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

Rosalie Diamond

Memories of going to Steeplechase Park as a teenager in the 1950s

Barry Yanowitz

Growing up in Coney Island in the 1970s and '80s and coming back to photograph it

Carmen Arcendiga

Memories of family picnics under the Boardwalk and making new memories at Spook-A-Rama

Robert Maxwell

Roller coaster restorer and enthusiast