This wonderful color film “King of Coney Island” is part of the “If Things Could Talk” series of films produced by Roy Creveling. It is written and narrated from the point of view of Coney Island, New York’s landmark Ferris wheel, the Wonder Wheel, who takes us into and around the packed attractions, boardwalks, and beaches of New York City’s fabulous “Playground of the World.” Besides the Wonder Wheel, the Cyclone and Tornado rollercoasters are shown, as well as the Parachute Drop, Steeplechase, Whirl Way, Virginia Reel, and other rides. You’ll also see a balloon parade, fireworks, acrobats, beach sleepers, and a lost child. It was filmed in 1952 and 1953.

Between around 1880 and the 1940’s, Coney Island was the largest amusement area in the United States, attracting several million visitors per year. At its height, it contained three major amusement parks – Luna Park, Dreamland, and Steeplechase Park – as well as many independent amusements. Declining attendance in the postwar period lead many of the parks to close permanently, beginning in the 1960’s. Though rides and attractions still exist there today (such as the Wonder Wheel, which turned 100 years old in 2020) it has shrunk down to almost nothing.

00:27 TITLE CARD 00:47 Paramount Building 00:55 Times Square looking South (1953) 01:09 People entering subway station 01:14 No. 4 subway train exits a tunnel 01:20 From the Manhattan Bridge, looking South; Brooklyn Bridge, 120 Wall Street, 20 Exchange Place 01:29 POV: Subway train entering and exiting several cuts in Brooklyn 01:41 POV: Approaching Coney Island 01:50 Passengers exit train 01:58 Tornado (Bobs) roller coaster 02:02 Crowds on the boardwalk, rickshaws 02:19 Crowded beach 02:24 People jumping in the surf 02:34 Children dive off breakwater 02:39 Human pyramid 02:51 Wonder Wheel 03:23 Smaller Ferris wheel 03:32 POV: Riding the Wonder Wheel 03:48 Parachute Jump 03:55 Worker secures two riders in a Parachute Jump chair; riders are lifted up 04:09 Riders reach the top and drop 04:29 Riders arriving at the bottom 04:44 View from below the Wonder Wheel 05:03 Man and woman in riding on the Wonder Wheel 05:09 The Cyclone roller coaster viewed from the Wonder Wheel 05:13 The Cyclone from below 05:19 Carnival barker waves a length of tickets 05:22 Riders board a rollercoaster, begin their ascent 05:34 POV: Riding in the roller coaster 05:51 Tornado roller coaster, sign 06:04 Spinning rides 06:15 Whirl Way ride 06:20 Hurricane ride 06:24 Steeplechase Horse Race ride 06:55 Carousel; riders reach for the brass ring 07:31 The Virginia Reel ride 07:55 Wonder Wheel, Cyclone, boardwalk and crowded beach in the foreground 07:59 Lifeguard in tower 08:02 Bathers 08:07 Wilson Line ferry 08:14 Crowded beach 08:19 Man plays accordion 08:30 Children build a sandcastle 08:37 A boy buried up to his neck in sand 08:45 Man with portable record player 08:52 Little boy dances to man playing accordion 08:58 Group of old women play instruments and dance 09:12 Necking couples, portable radio 09:21 People along the boardwalk railing 09:29 Lost boy crying 09:43 Poster for Coney Island Giant Balloon Parade, Saturday, September 6 (1952) 09:46 Drum majorette, marching band, crowd along Surf Avenue 09:54 Balloons and floats 10:17 Children carry link of giant sausages 10:45 Balloon train, Tilyou Theatre marquee 10:54 Red Willys Jeep pulls swan float with beauty contest winners 11:01 On a blanket in the sand; pack of Lucky Strike cigarettes, Piels beer bottle, men’s shoes, a sleeping couple’s bare feet 11:07 Empty beach, life guard tower at sunset 11:12 Two men perform acrobatics 11:18 Coney Island lit up at night; lights on tower, Ferris wheel, rides 11:45 Illuminated signs for the Thunderbolt roller coaster, Steeplechase ride 11:52 Fireworks 12:35 The Wonder Wheel lit up at night 12:42 CREDITS

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com