Demolished Steeplechase Pavilion
Demolished Steeplechase Pavilion in the Coney Island History Project exhibit "The 50th Anniversary of Fred Trump's Demolition of the Steeplechase Pavilion." Photo by James Onorato.
Content type: Collection Item
Collection type: Documentary photograph
Astroland seeks to buy Tilyou's
Newspaper clipping in the Coney Island History Project exhibit "The 50th Anniversary of Fred Trump's Demolition of the Steeplechase Pavilion."
Content type: Collection Item
Collection type: Newspaper
A look behind the scenes at Steeplechase Park
Frank Newlands worked at Steeplechase Park in its final years, maintaining the electrical infrastructure for attractions that included the Pavilion, Parachute Jump, Ferris Wheel, and roller coaster. His stories give a rare and humorous glimpse into...
Content type: Oral History Item
This illustration shows an aerial view of Coney Island's amusement parks
"The first Steeplechase Park is shown (top center) of this photograph (sic - it's an illustration) of the Coney Island Amusement area taken around the turn of the century. In 1907, this original Steeplechase Park burned down. The present structure,...
Content type: Collection Item
Collection type: Publicity photograph
Under the Redevelopment Plan
Photograph of the Pavilion of Fun and facade of Steeplechase Park
"Under the Redevelopment Plan Coney Island, N.Y. famed Steeplechase Park would be demolished to make way for housing to alleviate a very urgent need in the area. This view shows the beginning of the Steeplechase property at West 16th Street. It is...
Content type: Collection Item
Collection type: Publicity photograph
Brother and Sister from Coney Island
Sid and Lynn recall moving in 1955 from the Lower East Side of Manhattan down to 33rd St. in Coney Island where their family had always spent their summers. Sid says he felt as a child like he owned Coney Island and as they grew up, the Finkelsteins...
Content type: Oral History Item
Locker Boy at Oriole Baths who hung out at Washington Baths with his friends
Marty Reich spent his teenage years as a locker boy at Oriole Baths on 16th Street and the beach, handing out towels and soap. He went to Oriole Baths with his family, but hung out at Washington Baths with his friends. His uncle, a champion...
Content type: Oral History Item
Amusement Ride Operator
Louis Ritter, born in Coney Island on the 4th of July, worked a variety of amusement rides including three carousels and the boardwalk train ride in the 1960s. He also ran a cotton candy stand. When he was a child, people mistook him for John...
Content type: Oral History Item
Got stuck on the Parachute Jump
David was born in Sea Gate in 1935 and, except for his time at Brooklyn College and in the army, has lived in Coney Island or Sea Gate all his life. One of his strongest memories is getting stuck on top of the Parachute Jump for 15 minutes and using...
Content type: Oral History Item
Author and key figure in the counterculture of the 1960's shares his Coney Island memories
Legendary Paul Krassner reads an excerpt from his autobiography, "Confessions of a Raving, Unconfined Nut: Misadventures in the Counter-Culture" about his experience at Steeplechase Park.
Paul Krassner passed away on July 21, 2019 at the...
Content type: Oral History Item