Visiting Coney Island his whole life
Allen Ashby started coming to Coney Island as a boy in the late 1950's. In the 60's, he came with high school friends and spent most of his time trying to meet girls. Later, he brought his daughters for visits as they grew up in the 70...
Content type: Oral History Item
Grew up in Coney Island in the 1940's
Ralph was born in Coney Island on July 19, 1934, twenty-two years to the day after his mother in the same house. He lovingly describes growing up in Coney Island in remarkable specifics, including stories of local individuals, their diversity, their...
Content type: Oral History Item
Lived in Coney Island during the 50's
In the 1950s, Gene and his older brother lived in Coney Island. Gene has vivid memories of Steeplechase Park, the Wonder Wheel and his favorite ride, the Bobsled. He recalls his brother selling Good Humor ice cream on the beach, charging double or...
Content type: Oral History Item
Juilliard trained musician whose family owned Washington Baths
José Beth Smolensky, born in 1927, describes growing up working for the Washington Baths, her family's Coney Island business. Her father, Harry Smolensky had high standards for cleanliness and kept the baths open for a longer season than most....
Content type: Oral History Item
Has lived in Coney Island for 41 years
Marina has lived in Coney Island for 41 years and in same apartment for 32 years. She remembers the many second-hand stores, her first knackwurst at Rosenberg's deli, the truck with the swimming pool for kids at 30th Street, spending the night...
Content type: Oral History Item
Grew up on 20th & Surf and 21st & Neptune
Shanna Rivera, Rita Fernandez and Pam DeGennaro grew up together in Coney Island. Rita's daughter, Keyniah Romero joins them as they share some of their memories. They all remember the chocolate factory that used to operate out of the Child...
Content type: Oral History Item
1944 Lincoln HS graduate and former West Brighton resident
Alvin Dorfman, a 1944 graduate of Lincoln High School, was raised on Seabreeze Avenue in the West Brighton section of Coney Island. Dorfman recounts here his memories of the military presence in Sea Breeze (now Asser Levy) park and of life in Coney...
Content type: Oral History Item
Model Maker and Music Producer
Roy grew up in Coney Island and, among many other ventures, makes exquisitely detailed scale models of rides like the Himalaya, at which he also worked when he was a child. He tried to get a job at Astroland when he was too young but, eventually,...
Content type: Oral History Item
The King of Jones Walk
Wally Roberts has been operating amusements in Coney Island since the 1940’s. He rented space in the Feltman’s Building for storage and for a candy shop that sold salt water taffy, popcorn, and jelly apples. He remembers Feltman’s hotdogs, the first...
Content type: Oral History Item
Maintained Astroland Park's Astrotower for 25 years
Frank has maintained the Astrotower at Astroland since 1982. In this 2007 interview he describes his job and tells the story of a raccoon in the Tower which became a news story.
The park closed at the end of the 2008 season and the Astrotower was...
Content type: Oral History Item