Oral History Archive

Rena Stutman Rice

Memories of growing up in Brighton Beach in the 1950s and '60s

Arlene Oken Straus

Memories of living in Luna Park Houses in the 1960s and '70s

Sam Person

Family memories of Nat Faber's Fascination arcade and amusement business empire

Irina Ginzburg (Upa)

Stand-up comedian and founder of the Coney Island Comedy Festival

Laura Numeroff

Children's book author's memories of Steeplechase, the Animal Nursery, and Brighton Beach Baths

Stefon Bristol

Film director and screenwriter who grew up in Coney Island in the 1990s

Roland Summit

Author and historian of carousel horses and carvers and co-founder of the National Carousel Association

Janet Rubino

One of Dr. Couney's incubator babies

Stanley Shapiro

Memories of growing up in Coney Island in the 1940s and going back four times a year

Tony Williams

Growing up in Coney Island as a teenager in the 1960s and '70s

Ellina Graypel

Singer, musician and composer who lives in Sea Gate

Cuzzo Sosay

Musical inspiration and meditation at Coney Island

Joyce Chopra

Groundbreaking filmmaker grew up in Sea Gate and on Mermaid Avenue

Nasim Almuntaser

Brooklyn College history student grew up working in his family's bodega in Brighton Beach

Reverend Cliff Herring

The Roller Coaster Reverend shares stories of Cyclone weddings

Olga Martynchuk

Mother of professional boxing star Nikita Ababiy

Jen Kepler

Educator at New York Aquarium and passionate observer of Brooklyn wildlife

Ellen Abrams

Memories of growing up on West 29th Street and meeting her lifeguard husband on Coney Island Beach