Coney Island

The signature ride at Steeplechase Park, a mechanical
horse race called "Steeplechase"

Coney Island’s reputation for being a land of entertainment and adventure all started with a park called “Sea-Lion Park”, created by Paul Boyton in 1895.  Sea-Lion Park was the first amusement park in all of North America. Two years after Sea-Lion Park’s creation, a second park was constructed on Coney Island called “Steeplechase Park”; it was built in 1897 and was one of the lead attractions of its day. Sea-Lion Park’s days, although, were shortly numbered, because in 1903 it was replaced with the more well known “Luna Park”. Just a year after Luna Park’s birth, it gained a sibling named “Dreamland”.   Each park had a life of its own and had attractions with an original central theme. For instance, Steeplechase Park got its name from a ride there where you could ride on a mechanical racehorse.

Coney Island’s heyday was from the early 1900s to about the late 1910s.  The amusement parks were constructed around the time of what is known as America’s “Age of Play”, the time period earned this name from the sudden growth and stability in economy.  With such a rise in general population’s wealth, the entertainment industry began to grow due to people who were willing to spend a few extra dollars for some fun!  The wealthy and the poor flooded to the parks at Coney Island. The parks were even divided into sections, one specified for those of the upper class, and the other for those of lesser background.  Another fact that seemed to lure the thrill-seekers in was that the parks were easy to access! Railroads from many different areas had tracks that ran straight out to the island and back!

In 1910 the parks’ attendances were at an all time high on none other than Sunday! A popular tradition in the New York area was to go out and spend Sunday Afternoon “bathing” at Coney Island. Mainly women came from all over and spent hours getting ready in little dressing rooms, to come out completely transformed and “bathe” on the beaches and in the pools at Coney Island. 

Bathing Beauties at Coney Island in 1906, NY
(The term "bathing beauties" is derived
from the social gathering of women on the
beaches of Coney Island during the 1900s)

Bathing Beauties, Coney Island, NY, 1897

But, it seems to be if there are pretty women there, there are men there too!  Sunday was the best day of the week for Coney Island amusement parks during 1910.  There was even a newspaper handed out each night at the parks’ closing called “The Evening Star” which kept you updated on the island’s most popular news and gossip. (And don't forget to grab a "Coney Dog" on your way out!)

Coney Island "The Chutes"
ride in 1900

Coney Island’s three most popular parks, Steeplechase, Luna, and Dreamland, were filled with strange and awe-evoking sites.  Steeplechase had more attractions than just the mechanical horse race, which comes with a twist, might I add. On a blog about man’s memories of Coney Island, he mentions that when you dismount your mechanical racehorse, the only way out of the ride is through a scary fun house, where you are poked, spooked, and chased by midgets! Therefore you couldn’t ride the Steeplechase without enduring the Funhouse.  He also mentions that instead of tickets, you had a punch card that was punched on the ride’s worth.  At Luna Park there was an abundance of animals, including domesticated elephants and bears that were ridden jockey style for the amusement of on-lookers.

Trapeze artist in Dreamland during 1900s,
 at Coney Island, NY

Headless women "Freak Show" attraction,
Dreamland, Coney Island, NY

 Then there was Dreamland! Dreamland was sort of known as the park full of “freak shows”. They had a whole city, “Dwarf City”, inhabited by midgets and built to scale, so when you walked through it was as if you were walking through a little world.  Another central theme of Dreamland was to educate people. (Keep in mind: this park was mainly for the upper class.)  An example of the parks attempt at “education” was their Incubator Buildings! Filled with premature babies living only on the support of incubators.

             Another popular attraction at the parks was to witness “live fires” that burnt down buildings while actors pretended to be trapped in the licking flames of hotels.  Fire engines and all! (The midget city had a fire station too!) Ironic though, because in each parks’ history there is a devastating and cruel fire – being the reason for the majority of the parks' demise. (Dreamland was abandoned after the fire of 1911)

Firefighters fighting the fire at Dreamland in 1911,
Coney Island, NY

After World War II the parks slowly declined and lacked the throbbing crowds that they had in their heydays. By 1964 each park was permanently closed, the last being Steeplechase. Even though their fame was short lived, I’m sure the memories they have left people with will last more than a lifetime!  After all being some of the first amusement parks in the world is a pretty big deal. 

The roller coaster "Cyclone", 1949, most famous roller
coaster in the world

The remains of what used to be the "Cyclone" roller coaster
which is now abandoned in Coney Island, NY

My head is absolutely bursting with information about this beloved island and its theme parks, I wish I could fit all of the interesting facts in, but if you explore the links throughout the blog I'm positive you will learn extraordinarily interesting things just as I have!
PS: Here's a really awesome map of the park from 1949, check it out!