Oral History Archive

Crystal Isley
Memories of growing up in Coney Island Houses in the 1980s and '90s
Robert Whitney
Memories of a gorilla show, a bungalow colony, and an underground city beside the beach
Yanglun Hsiao
A filmmaker and film editor from Taiwan living in Brighton Beach
Stanley Fox, Part 2
Retired arcade operator's memories of when Coney Island's amusements were open in the wintertime
George Ancona
The art of growing up Mexican American in Coney Island in the 1930s and '40s
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
Arthur Nintzel
Boyhood memories of Ocean Tide Baths and the B&B Carousell's Lincoln horse
Sam Shlivko
Growing up in the Russian community in Coney Island and Brighton Beach
Carmela
Growing up on West 16th Street between Mermaid and Neptune in a cold water flat in the 1940s and '50s
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
Ron Vernon
Lifelong stickball player and Coney Island lifeguard for 48 years
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
Bill Zeidenberg
Memories of growing up on Brighton First Court and a summer job renting beach chairs in Coney Island