Coney Island archive photos: 1986 and 1999
Photos from two trips to a faded Brookyln seaside town, New York, USA
(Photos 1986/1999, article August 2010, ©urban75)
I've posted some of these photos before, but they were all low-res versions, so here they all are in a bigger, beefier and brighter size!
I first visited Coney Island in the Autumn of 1986 (that's "Fall" to you Americans).
At the time, I was a struggling musician on the dole in England so had to save up every penny for months on end and sell off a load of records to pay for the trip.
I took the cheapest possible flight over on the thoroughly miserable El Al airline who seemed to take a special delight in giving me an extra thorough and very personal search.
At one point they made me prove I was a drummer by inviting me to knock out a paradiddle or two in their security suite (being a keen tubthumper, I had a pair of sticks in my bag).
Suitably impressed with my drumming skills, the authorities finally let me through security and I was free to spend two weeks exploring the madness that was Soho, New York in the 80s - and get to check out Coney Island, a place I'd been intrigued by for years.
![Coney Island archive photos - 1986 and 1999, old photographs from two trips to a faded Brookyln seaside town, New York, USA](images/coney-island-1986-02.jpg)
On the subway to Coney Island. New York was a terrifying - but compellingly exciting - place in the 1980s, and I was really nervous about my trip out of town.
![Coney Island archive photos - 1986 and 1999, old photographs from two trips to a faded Brookyln seaside town, New York, USA](images/coney-island-1986-07.jpg)
Informed by the likes of The Ramones, Lou Reed and Bruce Springsteen, I expected Coney Island to be a dangerous den on eniquity, swarming with switchblade touting gangs, extortion-extracting hoods, Puerto Rican drug runners and crack-addled muggers running wild.
Within a few minutes, I relaxed as I reached another conclusion. It was just like Barry Island!
Here's a view of the deserted funfair with the iconic Wonder Wheel Thrills neon sign, behind the 'Spook A Rama' sign.
That's me in front of the closed stores, sporting my best Ramones-meets-Echo and the Bunnymen look. Moderately successfully too, if I may make so bold.
![Coney Island archive photos - 1986 and 1999, old photographs from two trips to a faded Brookyln seaside town, New York, USA](images/coney-island-1986-05.jpg)
My lovely ex-girlfriend Sue poses in front of some curious creatures. They almost have the same outfits on!
![Coney Island archive photos - 1986 and 1999, old photographs from two trips to a faded Brookyln seaside town, New York, USA](images/coney-island-1986-06.jpg)
Jazz's amusement arcade, Coney Island, with a seriously battered old school limo parked in front.
![Coney Island archive photos - 1986 and 1999, old photographs from two trips to a faded Brookyln seaside town, New York, USA](images/coney-island-1986-01.jpg)
The boardwalk at night.
![Coney Island archive photos - 1986 and 1999, old photographs from two trips to a faded Brookyln seaside town, New York, USA](images/coney-island-1986-03.jpg)
Deno's Snack bar, opened by Deno Vourderis in 1970. He went on to buy the Wonder Wheel. Deno played quite a big part in the life of Coney Island - his story is documented here.
![Coney Island archive photos - 1986 and 1999, old photographs from two trips to a faded Brookyln seaside town, New York, USA](images/coney-island-1986-04.jpg)
Opened in 1970, Gregory & Paul's offers traditional classic Coney fare in the shape of clams, dogs, burgers and corn. The stand still features signage painted by local legend George Wallace, profiled here in Gowanus Lounge.
![Coney Island archive photos - 1986 and 1999, old photographs from two trips to a faded Brookyln seaside town, New York, USA](images/coney-island-2002-01.jpg)
Like any faded amusement park whose glory days are long past, Coney Island had a melancholy air about it.
In late Autumn, the shops are all shut up - perhaps never to reopen - while the rusting metal tower of a long-abandoned fun fair ride catches the last of the day's light.
![Coney Island archive photos - 1986 and 1999, old photographs from two trips to a faded Brookyln seaside town, New York, USA](images/coney-island-2002-02.jpg)
Sunset on the Boardwalk, autumn 2000.
![Coney Island archive photos - 1986 and 1999, old photographs from two trips to a faded Brookyln seaside town, New York, USA](images/coney-island-2002-03.jpg)
Coney Island Thunderbolt
Torn down on November 17, 2000, the 1926 Thunderbolt ride featured in the Woody Allen film 'Annie Hall' and was a wooden-tracked coaster with a steel structure.
The ride closed in 1983 and is seen here not long before its demise.
![Coney Island archive photos - 1986 and 1999, old photographs from two trips to a faded Brookyln seaside town, New York, USA](images/coney-island-2002-04.jpg)
Incredibly, there used to be a house under the Thunderbolt roller coaster.
The Kensington Hotel was built in 1895 - way before the Thunderbolt ride was created - and the developers just built the ride over the house!
The house was occupied by the coaster's owner, Fred Moran and a friend, Mae Timpano, right up to 1988. The property was sold to developer Horace Bullard and as forgotten-ny records, a caretaker occupied the house until almost the day of demolition!
![Coney Island archive photos - 1986 and 1999, old photographs from two trips to a faded Brookyln seaside town, New York, USA](images/coney-island-2002-05.jpg)
Parachute Jump, Coney Island
Based on a military design for training soldiers, the 250 foot Parachute Jump used to feature 12 two-seater chutes which dangled from the metal construction at the top.
The ride continued to operate until 1968 and has since been declared a city landmark twice!
![Coney Island archive photos - 1986 and 1999, old photographs from two trips to a faded Brookyln seaside town, New York, USA](images/coney-island-2002-06.jpg)
The tower was built for the 1939-40 World's Fair in Flushing Meadows, moving to Coney Island after the Fair closed.
![Coney Island archive photos - 1986 and 1999, old photographs from two trips to a faded Brookyln seaside town, New York, USA](images/coney-island-2002-07.jpg)
Gregory and Paul's in 1999.
![Coney Island archive photos - 1986 and 1999, old photographs from two trips to a faded Brookyln seaside town, New York, USA](images/coney-island-2002-08.jpg)
Still going strong is the Astroland Cyclone rollercoaster.
Originally installed in 1927 by Harry C Baker to a design by Vernan Keenan and costing $100,000, the ride has 3,000 feet of track with thrillseekers reaching speeds of about 60 miles per hour.
The ride has three, 3-car trains, each seating 24 people, which climb as the 85 feet peak of the ride as part of the 1 minute and 50 second ride.
![Coney Island archive photos - 1986 and 1999, old photographs from two trips to a faded Brookyln seaside town, New York, USA](images/coney-island-2002-09.jpg)
Thirteen years on from my first visit, and the Wonder Wheel sign looks in better condition than last time!
![Coney Island archive photos - 1986 and 1999, old photographs from two trips to a faded Brookyln seaside town, New York, USA](images/coney-island-2002-10.jpg)
![Coney Island archive photos - 1986 and 1999, old photographs from two trips to a faded Brookyln seaside town, New York, USA](images/coney-island-2002-11.jpg)
Coney Island beach view at sunset.
![Coney Island archive photos - 1986 and 1999, old photographs from two trips to a faded Brookyln seaside town, New York, USA](images/coney-island-2002-12.jpg)
Subway trains having a hug!
![Coney Island archive photos - 1986 and 1999, old photographs from two trips to a faded Brookyln seaside town, New York, USA](images/coney-island-2002-13.jpg)
Waiting for our train back into manhattan from Stillwell Avenue (also known as Coney Island Terminal).
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