Coney's Last Years

THESE CARDS RANGE FROM THE 1930'S TO THE LATE 60'S

Most of these cards are self explanatory, the ones that are not  I will name for you.

         
Coney Entrance                                                         

Extra large postcards

                              
1964                                   1965                                                Floral Clock, it worked.     
Can you believe those kids stood                                                                                                
there for a whole year?                                                                                               

   The little 8 year old girl seen in the first two cards above has contacted me. Her name is Kathleen Smith and she tells me how the Coney Island Management asked her parents if they could use her for a "short time" to pose for the postcard. It ended up taking 4 hours and she was paid $2 in ride tickets. She states it was not bad for her first modeling job. Little boy are you still out there?

Tivoli Gardens
Large 5 1/2 x 7 card

These are not postcards
               
       Aerial view of park                          1940's                                     1950's                   Basic diagram of park in 1971

These are not postcards

           
   Mall in 40's                          Mall in 1964                       Mall in 1968                 Mall in 1970

               
Same Image                                                                                                                       Same image

                       
Real Photo                                                   

                               
Entrance to Swiss Sky Ride                Skyride  in both directions                                                                                                       

   The Skyride was erected in 1964. In order to build it the popular Wildcat Coaster had to be torn down. 

                             
   European Fountain

   When the Mall was lengthened in 1965 this fountain was built under the Skyride. It was inspired by the Tivoli Gardens in Europe.

Tivoli Gardens

   Coney Island was famous for its sensational fireworks displays. They were given several times during the season. They were put on by the park's expert on pyrotechnics Arthur Rozzi. 

   
The Great Ricardo

   The Great Ricardo, who gave his address as 2160 Patterson St., appeared at Coney occasionally. 

These are not postcards
                   
   Entrance to Land of Oz                       Taken during 1958 flood

           
Happy The Clown                               "Old 99"          

               
                                             Entrance                                                         Kangaroo Ride             Junior Turnpike

  " The Land of Oz" was a complete amusement park in miniature. Opened in 1934 the name was adapted from the "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" book by Frank L Baum.  The Friendly Giant was installed at the entrance in 1953. 

               
These are not postcards                                                            The Lost River                    

   In 1928 the Cascades, a mill chute ride,  opened. In 1941 it was remodeled and renamed the Lost River. The new version proved to be unpopular so it was again remodeled in 1942. A boat would enter a dark winding tunnel, which had illuminated scenes. Toward the end of the ride the boat would be lifted to the top of a hill and dropped down a hill into a pool of water. The new remodel made the hill higher and the descent much steeper. Going down was referred to as "dive-boating."

                
Cuddle up-Whip-Dodgem                                  Flume Ride                                                                 Turnpike                                    

   All the rides in the 1st card were housed under a single roof (the old rides building.) The Log Flume Ride was erected in 1968. Passengers rode fiberglass boats shaped like hollowed out logs. They were propelled through fast moving water simulating running the rapids. The Turnpike was 1,875 feet long and wound around the north side of Lake Como before crossing a causeway bridge to the loading area on the southeast end.

       
           Skee Ball                         Remember now?

   The Skee Ball building (opened in 1947) was actually the redesigned old Exhibition building that had been erected in1937 for industrial and mercantile exhibits.

^{FOR MORE OF CONEY'S  LAST YEARS}