Oral History Archive

Jodie Bell

Jodie Bell discovers a 1950s photograph of her aunt as Miss Coney Island at the History Project

Levent Demirgil

Turkish store owner returns to Coney Island as restaurateur three years after Hurricane Sandy

Frank Newlands

A look behind the scenes at Steeplechase Park

Leon Borzykowski

Memories of his family's escape from Poland to Coney Island after the Holocaust

Peter Ioannou, Part 2

Coney Islander who was born in Cyprus tells his life story to his son

Marina Ivanova

Russian comedienne and dancer

Sabino Eugenio and Magda Perez

Owners of Mermaid Prime Meats in Coney Island

Galina Mogurova

Surviving Hurricane Sandy in Coney Island's West End

Cornel Chan

"The Elvis of the East" and founder of Brooklyn Chinese-American Assn. Chorus

Tatyana Panteleyeva

From Tbilisi, Georgia to Bensonhurst, Brooklyn

Junaid Anwar

Pakistani immigrant and Lincoln High School graduate recounts living on West 15th Street

Takeshi Yamada

Osaka-born artist creates sideshow curiosities in his Coney Island home

Joe Rollino

103 year old former Coney Island strongman and boxer

John Landi

Worked at the RKO Tilyou Theater

Leni Schwendinger

Parachute Jump lighting designer

Morris Egert

Polish immigrant finds success with an Italian food stand in 1950s Coney Island

Joe Lazzaro

A member of the Iceberg Athletic Club from 1971-2007

John Strong

Sideshow Proprietor