From The Peopling of New York City
Phil
1. I sent this to Chris yesterday, but I really should have shown it to your entire group:
2. As I go through the NYT I’m getting the impression that the decline of Coney was rather gradual after WWII, and that the bottom came, like this person says, sometime between the 1960s and the 1970s, and that the bottom began to fall out after 1964, when Steeplechase closed.
Try using the Historical Edition of the NYT and searching Coney Island beach one year out of every 10 and I think you will see what I mean.
If this is true, should your group look at the impact of public housing on the area?
3. Below is just random stuff from the web when I searched on “decline of Coney Island.”
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Gary S. Cross and John K. Walton. The Playful Crowd: Pleasure Places in the Twentieth Century. New York: Columbia University Press. 2005. Pp. viii, 308. $32.50.
This book by Gary S. Cross and John K. Walton is remarkable for a number of reasons, not least that it manages to tie together two different research projects on either side of the Atlantic and still achieve fluency and synthesis. It is noteworthy whenever a jointly authored book achieves this, but here the process has clearly given a new momentum to the research undertaken by both scholars, and the result is an engaging and fully realized comparative project. 1
Cross and Walton examine four paradigmatic developments in the history of twentieth-century leisure: the rise and decline of Coney Island in New York; the evolution of the British seaside resort of Blackpool; the replacement of "Coney" style pleasures (what the authors call "industrial saturnalia") with the invented nostalgia of Disneyland; and the more grounded nostalgic pleasures of the Beamish museum of industrial and social history. The comparisons yield a greater understanding of the development and direction taken by each of these leisure places, as well as highlighting their significance to the crowds who visited in huge numbers.
Amusement Parks of New York
By Jim Futrell
This comprehensive guide profiles 16 major amusement parks in the Empire State and offers information on smaller parks as well. Offers complete information on rides and attractions, a history of each park, and best times to go. Features vintage photographs and postcards scenes.
Picture
You guys might want to check out the NYPL digital collections for images like the one below. Feel free to remove it if you hate it.
Image Caption:
Coney Island, N.Y.
Alternate Image Caption:
Coney Island, New York.
In:
Mid-Manhattan Picture Collection > New York City -- Coney Island
Library Division:
Mid-Manhattan Library / Picture Collection
Description:
3 folders (70 pictures)
Specific Material Type:
Prints
Item Physical Description:
1 photographic print : b&w ; 12 x 18 cm. (4 3/4 x 7 in.)
Subject(s):
Beaches -- New York (State) -- New York
Coney Island (New York, N.Y.)
Photographs
Swimming -- New York (State) -- New York
Collection Guide:
The Picture Collection of the New York Public Library
Digital Image ID:
801273
Digital Record ID:
717523
Digital Record Published:
10-29-2005; updated 1-17-2008
NYPL Call Number:
PC NEW YC-Cone
Additional Items
Jonathan: I know I sent this to you guys via email, but just for the heck of it, here it is again. This is the transcript to the PBS production on Coney Island Amusement Park history.
Media:PBSTranscript.doc
And here's the link to PBS's "The American Experience" website.
I also found this online, I'm sure you have come across it too in your research:
Coney Island Museum
I haven't had a chance to look at this one in particular, but from the couple that I have opened, great website for primary sources, i.e. letters and old photos of Coney Island. It's from the Library of Congress. Just put in Coney Island in the search bar on the upper right-hand corner.
Books
How we got to Coney Island: The Development of Mass Transportation in Brooklyn and Kings County
Author: Cudahy, Brian J.
Publication: New York : Fordham University Press, 2002
Document: English : Book
Libraries Worldwide: 130 CUNY LIBRARIES
Location: Special Collections - Brooklyniana - HE4491 .N65 C8 2002
The Brooklyn Cyclones : Hardball Dreams and The New Coney Island
Author: Osborne, Ben, 1974- Publication: New York : New York University Press, 2004
Document: English : Book Internet Resource
Libraries Worldwide: 149 CUNY LIBRARIES
More Like This: Search for versions with same title and author | Advanced options ...
Coney Island: The People's Playground
Author: Michael Immerso
Publication: New Brunswick : Rutgers University Press, 2002
Location: Special Collections - Brooklyniana - F129.C75 146 2002
Please check Brooklyn Library Catolag for more information
Coney Island: Lost and Found
Author: Charles Denson
Publication: California : Ten Speed Press, 2002
Location: Special Collections - Brooklyniana - F129.C75 D46 2002
Please check Brooklyn Library Catolag for more information
Another Time, Another World: Coney Island Memories
Author: Michael Paul Onorato
Location: GV1853.C6.056 2000
Please check Brooklyn Library Catolag for more information
Archival Material
1. Plans for Remodeling and Constructions of Hospitals
Corp Author: New York (N.Y.)., Department of Hospitals.
Document: English : Archival Material
Libraries Worldwide: 1
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2. Scrapbooks, 1901-1985
Corp Author: Flatbush Historical Society. Publication: 1901-1985
Document: English : Archival Material
Libraries Worldwide: 1
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3. Seaside Aquarium : West Brighton, Coney Island. typescript
Publication: 1953
Document: English : Archival Material
Libraries Worldwide: 1
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4. Old Town records, 1645-[ca.1920].
Corp Author: Kings County (N.Y.). Publication: 1645-1920?
Document: English : Archival Material
Libraries Worldwide: 1
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5. Penn Central Transportation Company records, 1796-1986, bulk (1835-1974)
Corp Author: Penn Central Transportation Company. Publication: 1796-1986
Document: English : Archival Material
Libraries Worldwide: 1
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6. City and Borough of Brooklyn Parks Dept. records, 1856-1944, 1885-1910 (bulk)
Corp Author: Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.)., Parks Dept. Publication: 1856-1944
Document: English : Archival Material
Libraries Worldwide: 1
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7. Joseph Heller letters and related material, 1969-1980
Author: Heller, Joseph.; Aurthur, Robert A.; Braudy, Susan., and others Publication: 1969-1980
Document: English : Archival Material
Libraries Worldwide: 1
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8. [ca. 1800]-1950. Records
Corp Author: New York (N.Y.)., Dept. of Hospitals. Publication: 1800-1950?
Document: English : Archival Material
Libraries Worldwide: 1
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9. Miscellaneous negatives, 1913-1953
Corp Author: Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Publication: 1913-1953
Document: English : Archival Material
Libraries Worldwide: 1
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10. Diaries of Bertha Trube, 1886 January 19-1900 January 1
Author: Trube, Bertha, b. 1871. Publication: 1886-1900 In: Allison-Shelley manuscript collection.
Document: English : Archival Material
Libraries Worldwide: 1
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11. [ca. 1900], 1914, 1914 (bulk). Negatives
Author: Ogden, Georges. Publication: 1900-1914?
Document: English : Archival Material
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12. 1929-1963. Records
Corp Author: Coney Island Chamber of Commerce. Publication: 1929-1963
Document: English : Archival Material
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13. Kings County (N.Y.) old town records, 1645-[ca.1920]
Publication: 1645-1920?
Document: English : Archival Material
Libraries Worldwide: 1
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14. 1929-1963. Records
Corp Author: Coney Island Chamber of Commerce. Publication: 1929-1963
Document: English : Archival Material
Libraries Worldwide: 1
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15. [ca.1900], 1914, 1914 (bulk) Negatives
Author: Ogden, Georges. Publication: 1900-1914?
Document: English : Archival Material
Libraries Worldwide: 1
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16. Photographic collection, 1885-1908
Author: Hemment, John C. Publication: 1885-1908
Document: English : Archival Material
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17. Photographic collection, 1885-1908
Author: Hemment, John C. Publication: 1885-1908
Document: English : Archival Material
Libraries Worldwide: 1
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18. 1895-1919 (inclusive). Records
Corp Author: Ward and Gow. Publication: 1895-1919
Document: English : Archival Material
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19. 1947-1983. Papers
Author: Bellush, Bernard, 1917-; Bellush, Jewel, Publication: 1947-1983
Document: English : Archival Material
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20. Repository description
Corp Author: Kingsborough Historical Society. Publication: 1829-1985?
Document: English : Archival Material
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