Polina Mikhelzon
MHC Seminar: Arts in NYC
History of Coney Island: Home of the Cyclone, the Parachute Jump, and the Wonder Wheel
Considered a “playground of the world” since the early 1800s, Coney Island is an icon of American fun. Throughout the 1900s, spectators from all around New York have been lured to Coney Island with George Tilyou’s grinning “funny face” logo for Steeplechase Park, Luna Park’s 1.3 million electric lights, and the giant tower at Dreamland. Coney Island is the birthplace of the American amusement park, the modern roller coaster, and the hotdog, so it’s no surprise that it brought together families and friends to the southernmost point of Brooklyn, New York every summer.
According to historians, the origin of Coney Island is still largely a mystery. The most common theory for the root of its name comes from the Dutch, who settled Manhattan in 1624 and inhabited Coney Island soon afterward. The Dutch word for rabbit was “konijn” and the island had a large population of wild rabbits, which would explain where the word “Coney” derived from.
The area first gained popularity in 1829, when the Coney Island House hotel opened. This marked the beginning of Coney Island’s status as a seaside resort, which contained a strictly upper-class clientele. In 1875, the Coney Island railroad was completed, granting access to its beach. This caused more hotels to sprout all over Coney Island, including the Oriental Hotel and the Brighton Beach Hotel. It also resulted in a surge of visitors, inciting them through horse racing, gambling, and prostitution. By 1878, nearly 60,000 people were coming to the eastern side of Coney Island, where the hotels were located.
In 1884, La Marcus Thompson built the Switchback Railway, the first roller coaster in America, at Coney Island. By 1895, entire amusement parks made their way into Coney Island. Captain Paul Boyton opened Sea-Lion Park, the first outdoor amusement park in Coney Island, while George C. Tilyou opened Steeplechase Park. In 1903, Frederic Thompson and Skip Dundy exposed Luna Park, known as an “Electric Eden,” to the public. Soon after, in 1904, came Dreamland Park, which expressed morals of the day to visitors.
The thrill, suspense, and spontaneity of Coney Island were undeniably what drew in its patrons. Working-class families used Coney Island as a get-away from the stress of everyday life and to explore amusement that they’ve never heard of before. Amusement parks allowed owners to keep prostitutes, gamblers, and dangerous gangs away from their customers. The constant hunger for more exciting forms of rides and entertainment encouraged architects and designers to bring roller coasters into the picture. As a result, there were over thirty coasters built at Coney from 1884 through the 1930’s. The first economically successful roller coaster, the first full-circuit coaster, and the first lift-hill were all established in Coney Island. Its amusement parks all thrived from the wonders of gravity.
This was now the Golden Age of Roller Coasters, also deemed the Wooden Age. Clattering, jittering, and wobbling coasters made of wood provided the kind of terror that kept people coming back. Coney Island’s Cyclone, built in 1927, was the epitome of the wooden form. With its 85-foot drop executed at 60 miles an hour, the Cyclone provided passengers with tons of airtime, lateral acceleration, and only a lap bar to hold them in place. Riders claimed that the Cyclone was scarier than flying an airplane. It is believed to be the most successful ride put up in Coney, because it gave the public that ultimate high-thrill that they yearned for. The Cyclone is still used as a template for other roller coasters today.
Another display of the public’s desire for endless excitement is the Parachute Jump. Often referred to as Brooklyn’s Eiffel Tower, the 262-foot-high Parachute Jump became Coney Island’s most exciting ride. Originally designed to train troops to fight in wars, the Jump had a highly favorable public reaction, so its military design was transformed into general use. It was redesigned for safe landing, and the military style single sling seat was replaced with a more cozy, and romantic, two-passenger seat. Eventually, the chute was enlarged, and in 1940, it was sold to the Tilyou family of Steeplechase Park for $150,000. The ride prospered during the war years, when people had a great fascination with military gadgets. However, public interest in military equipment died down after WWII, and the Jump required too much human labor and was too sensitive to wind conditions. Profit diminished without much public demand. Even though Steeplechase Park itself closed after the summer of 1964, the Parachute Jump remained in operation through the 1950s and 1960s. The Jump finally closed in 1968 due to safety concerns and became a New York City-designated landmark in 1989.
The third official NYC landmark located in Coney Island is the Wonder Wheel. Opened in 1920, the 150-foot tall ferris wheel can hold 144 people at once, giving riders a broad view of the Atlantic Ocean, the Jersey Shore, and the NYC Skyline. Each year, the entire 400,000 lb. ride is overhauled and painted to protect it from the effects of weather, wear and tear, and to serve the demands of the public to keep it running. When Coney Island was suffering economically in the 1980s, Denos Vourderis recognized the joy and summer pleasures of the Coney Island beach and opened up Denos Wonder Wheel Amusement and Kiddie Park. He continued to add new attractions, rides, and games every year.
Due to the excessive fires and the assembly of more housing projects in the neighborhood, the last of the great parks closed in 1964. However, Coney Island did not vanish. Another park, Astroland, opened in 1962 and managed to stay in business despite previous disasters and discouragement. The Cyclone roller coaster still continues to take brave souls along its frightening rails. The Parachute Jump still stands at the edge of its former park site. The Wonder Wheel, with its design dating back to the early 20th century, still lifts lovers to a bird’s eye view of the beach and the Atlantic Ocean.
Bibliography
“The American Experience | Coney Island.” PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Web. 02 Nov. 2010. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/coney/index.html>.
“Coney Island | Roller Coaster History.” Ultimate Rollercoaster | Roller Coasters, Theme Parks, Thrill Rides. Web. 02 Nov. 2010. <http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/coasters/history/early_1900/coney_island.shtml>.
“Coney Island Parachute Drop, a History – Northstar Gallery.” Fine Art Photography – Northstar Gallery. Web. 02 Nov. 2010. <http://northstargallery.com/pages/historyofpara.htm>.
Deno’s Wonder Wheel. Web. 02 Nov. 2010. <http://www.wonderwheel.com/factsandhistorymore.html>.
“Site History.” Van Alen Institute – News. Web. 02 Nov. 2010. <http://www.vanalen.org/competitions/ConeyIsland/siteH.htm>.
