WHO IS TILLIE?
Ever see this logo around Coney Island?
This logo was made as tribute to George Tilyou, founder of Steeplechase Park.
DID YOU KNOW?
CONEY ISLAND’S BEACHES WERE NOT ALWAYS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ?
- Before 1923 beaches were in fact private and costed 10-25 cents to enter.
CONEY ISLAND IS THE BIRTHPLACE OF CUSTARD
- In 1919, ice cream vendors wanted to discover a way to keep the ice cream from melting in the hot sun. They mixed egg yolks to the original formula and so the ice-cream melted less quickly.
BEFORE THE CYCLONE THERE WAS A SWITCHBACK RAILWAY
- In 1884, La Marcus Thompson was given the title of “the Father of America’s Rollercoasters.” There was a rollercoaster made before the well known Cyclone.
THE WONDER WHEEL WAS ACTUALLY A WEDDING GIFT
- In 1948, Denos D. Vourderis, an immigrant from Greece told his wife he would buy her the Wonder Wheel if she agreed to marry him and so she did. He purchased this well known attraction for $250,000.
PREMATURE BABIES WERE SHOWCASED ON THE BOARDWALK AND A FEE WAS CHARGED!
- Well… it is not as immoral as it sounds. Glass incubators containing tiny, premature babies were able to be viewed back then on the boardwalk. Dr. Martin Couney was responsible for this, but his intentions were pure. He believed that he was providing the babies with better care than the hospitals. Although he charged a fee of 25 cents, this cost was to cover the expenses to incubate the babies and provide them with the nutrients they sought. Out of the 8,000 premature babies that were incubated, 6,500 survived.
- This year will be the Cyclone‘s 90th Birthday! Come celebrate in Luna Park on June 25 at 12pm.
Works Cited:
Prakash, Alisha. “Coney Island Once Had an Elephant-Shaped Brothel… Plus 10 Other Ridiculous Facts About the ‘Hood.” Thrillist. Thrillist, 15 June 2016. Web. 07 Apr. 2017.
Salazar, Cristian. “Secrets of Coney Island: ‘It’s More than Amusements’.” Am New York. N.p., 11 Apr. 2017. Web. 21 May 2017.
