Coney Island Documentary (Historical)

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Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain (RCCGB)

4 жыл бұрын

This 49 minute documentary has a detailed history of Coney Island and the various parks that were there.
The Director of this highly acclaimed documentary of 1991 is Ric Burns.
Warning: Viewer discretion due to animal scene.

Пікірлер: 123

@buserror1 Жыл бұрын

Absolutely adore this documentary... a huge, huge inspiration for my own work. This documentary contains its own rollercoaster, its own delights, its own horrors.

@LucyLady1-di1nc 5 ай бұрын

When I was a little girl my dad took me and my brother fishing there in coney,we are brooklyn new yorkers

@RonaldSavarese Жыл бұрын

Very well done piece…..was born in Coney Island, 11/30/49 at the Harbor Hospital formerly the Half Moon Hotel…..grew up in Sheepshead Bay, didn’t know we were rich one block from Plum Beach…….Still cherish my friends, the families and Ravenhall…… and of course Steeplechase and Cyclone….. long live the 98 Boys…..

@kenrick7289 2 жыл бұрын

I was fortunate to have grown up in Coney Island in the 50s and 60s, before the decay and demise. Sixteen rides at Steeplechase Park for one dollar (10 rides on the weekend). The electric horses were a great experience; the clown house followed as the exit. Fond memories of ladies skirts exploding by Jocko the clown. The swing was another favorite. The boardwalk and parachute jump were unique. Foods of all varieties fueled my appetite. I rode all the great roller coasters (Tornado, Thunderbolt, and the ever present Cyclone). Steeplechase had its own coaster.

@pussycat4423 2 жыл бұрын

Ken, That's great you experienced Coney island when it was still great. With Steeplechase park, The clown house, freak shows still there. I was born too late I am afraid. But I have relatives who told me how fun the electric horses of Steeplechase was! All the best!

@whoamarshrobert2781 2 жыл бұрын

My great grandparents and grandparents experienced Coney, they lived in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. I heard a few stories and saw a few pictures. They'd love this documentary I think 🙂🍀

@pandude53 2 жыл бұрын

What was the name of the Steeplechase coaster? Can you recall? I was there in the 60's and in those days all three of the aforementioned coasters were still there including the bobsled one and the Virginia Reel. Alas I was way too young to ride ANY of them and how I would have loved to ride them all. I'm still enamored of the Cyclone which had to be the best of them all.Closest thing we have today to the Virginia Reel is the Tickler in Luna Park and it seems to count as a coaster credit.

@lucyromano-cw9fv Жыл бұрын

I experienced coney in 1970s

@EDDIELANE 3 жыл бұрын

This is such a weirdly moody documentary. I really love it!

@blushdog99 2 жыл бұрын

The carousel music and vintage images really do it. They echo nostalgia and give a glimpse of a lost world rarely talked about or portrayed by modern media today. Excellent documentary overall especially for capturing that mood.

@EDDIELANE 2 жыл бұрын

@@blushdog99 One of my favourites.

@user-ok7nw3hd4k Жыл бұрын

One of the very best documentaries I have watched in my entire life of near 60 years.

@shelbymclendon4009 2 жыл бұрын

I’ve never understood what was with the somewhat random abandonment of Coney Island in the 1970s, yet when one looks at the rest of the park’s history from its opening in the 1880s to present year of 2021 it seems like this touchstone of culture has survived anything the world has thrown at it.

@llcoolj3778 2 жыл бұрын

The city went broke in the 1970s - it wasn't just Coney. The whole city declined. It took a long time for the city to return - Coney even longer. I was part of that resurgence after 2001.

@rengalafuze8700 Жыл бұрын

Love the way you state that.

@discobean54 Жыл бұрын

Nor was it just NYC- it was every post-industrial city in the US- post industrial urban decay. Vacationing at local places went out of fashion in America. So much so that many old school resorts closed or became ramshackle. Add to this mix for CI that fact that the city was on its ass. The city being broke was only a part of it, industrial cities, in general, were being abandoned. Much of Brooklyn was built up and based in manufacturing and industry, the same as Philly, Trenton, etc. People were leaving and going elsewhere. Americans with money could afford to get on a plane to go away to Florida or Hawaii instead of going to the shore or go to Vermont or Aspen to ski instead of the Poconos. It's a very complex set of factors that led to where it was. The same thing happened in AC also. Both cities contemplated turning to legalizing gambling with the hope it may bring money to the town- AC did it, CI did not. Thank god. the crime, itself, from within CI the neighbourhood and surrounding communities was a huge deterrent for tourists, it was NOT a safe place, but it never did stop fully. Even throughout the 70s it was still a very bustling place in summer. A lot of the abandonment and deconstruction of the place as a large amusement park was simply in the gradual neglect, decay, defunct, destruction by fire from local vandals... it wasn't worth putting any money into anymore because of all that so nothing was rebuilt.

@JB-ox7ib 3 жыл бұрын

Omg. RIP beautiful Topsey 🐘 💕

@melloangelwolf8611 3 жыл бұрын

Ironically the animal activist back then thought electric execution was best method and the most humane

@Jamie77ize 2 жыл бұрын

Poor animal!!! Of course she had a bad temper in such an environment with those awfull people. Makes my blood boil!!!

@sbbrph2651 2 жыл бұрын

My Mom grew up in Wildwood NJ (30s and40s) and told me about boardwalk rides in the Olden Days!! These kind of rides are what she described! OMG safety first!!!🏖🎠🎡🎢

@pussycat4423 2 жыл бұрын

This Coney Island Documentary is one of my All time favorite History Documentaries. Sadly Coney Island is not as good as when my relatives went back in the day of the 1940's and 50's. At 39:20 it's awful they electrocuted TOPSY the Elephant. They would NEVER get away with that today with all the animal right's group's. Plus TOPSY the Elephant had every right to be mad when one man fed her a lighted cigarette. . Plus Great job and much respect goes to TOPSY's keeper NOT to take part in the murder of his Elephant ! It's Amazing they had elephants roaming through the parks back then alongside people. Thank's very much for the upload !

@EDDIELANE 2 жыл бұрын

Ive come back and watched this 5 times I bet. Makes me think Ken Burns, just because of the quotes and types of music.

@GoodnightIrieMon Жыл бұрын

Yep. They wouldn’t get away with blowing up women’s dresses today either.

@catherinepowell4483 5 ай бұрын

i grew up watching this documentary on a vhs my dad taped over, i am so grateful to be able to watch it again

@bankoutlaw 3 жыл бұрын

I been going to Coney Island dozens of times a year, every year since at least 1963. Does anyone remember the "Torture House" It was a few doors right off the Subway on Surf Avenue. It had a barker guy outside cracking a bullwhip as he ran his mouth enticing people to go inside. One of the outside displays showed an elephant stepping on a guys head, and a woman being put in a body shaped cage. Supposedly on the inside were all types of medieval torture devices. When my grandmother took me to Coney Island as a child, she let me go on any ride, play any game, shoot the guns, I even rode the Tornado, but she never allowed me inside the torture house. By the time I was old enough to cut school with friends and go to coney island, the torture house was gone. I'll never know what was inside. I remember once I rode the Carousel horse when it was on Surf Avenue, I caught the brass ring for a free ride, rather than take the free ride, I stole the Brass Ring.

@thirabx6954 3 жыл бұрын

Coney is the best. Thank you. I love Coney

@jarjarkinks6599 3 жыл бұрын

Was the tornado as good as the current cyclone? I don't know anyone who's ridden it

@sbbrph2651 2 жыл бұрын

Never got Coney Island,but got the ring on a carousel horse with a "real" tail in Ocean City,NJ(1960s) Wish we could have gone to Coney Island!!! (for a HOTDOG too)!!🥨🥜🌭🍕

@survivalcraftstudio 2 жыл бұрын

Coney island was closed in 1960 your unfunny

@bankoutlaw 2 жыл бұрын

@@survivalcraftstudio I believe I said 1963... Not 1960

@BrentStrathdeePehi Жыл бұрын

I really enjoyed this video - a strange mix of theme park fun, technology, history and dark melancholy

@robpasbani 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for uploading such a high quality rip!

@armoris66 2 жыл бұрын

From the opening scene of the Cyclone in the mist.......I was hooked 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

@houdannycomedymagic8642 3 жыл бұрын

So glad this is here! A mesmerizing docu.

@p6x2 3 жыл бұрын

At 0:33, you get a view of the remains of the Stauch's Baths, where the "Warriors" graffiti is still visible... this is the movie that compelled me to come to New-York in 1983. The movie had been shot in 1979, was released in 1980 in Europe. I sat on the bench that was in front of the bath house, and went underneath the boardwalk, as the Warriors did just before that ultimate fight with the Rogues. Today, the Stauch's Baths building no longer exists, but I am sure Ajax and Swan are still somewhere around....

@crchekouras 3 жыл бұрын

I loved "Warriors" and have always wanted to go to Coney because of the movie.

@momonomay3011 2 жыл бұрын

i appreciate this comment, doing a graphic design project making a 60 second film about the warriors, came to this vid to find any thing coney island related i could include. this is even more perfect, thanks!

@EDDIELANE 2 жыл бұрын

So many layers of humanity in one spot.

@TheSusan11233 2 жыл бұрын

The bathhouse is still there on 1 side I also went under where u went so cool I also have a video of the exact area on my FB I have a whole story about under that board walk but the internet is too judgmental and im not quite ready to expose my past life of 1999 to 2004 maybe 1day

@briannewman6306 Жыл бұрын

Heartbreaking to see the demise of Coney Island. How I wished I could have been there in its heyday.

@fob1xxl 3 жыл бұрын

Pretty disgusting what the did to the elephant.

@katherine390 3 жыл бұрын

Honestly the explotation of everyone and those animals was terrible

@zoetmb8393 3 жыл бұрын

Absolutely, but it was also pretty disgusting how many people had to live in those days, like in the tenements on the Lower East Side. No one ever seems concerned about that. There was also massive exploitation of children - 8 year old kids selling newspapers in the street, etc. In NY State, compulsory education was mandated until 1894 and wasn't fully mandated until 1913: In 1894 a law was passed that children aged 8- 12 were required to attend the full school year of 130 days. Children aged 13-14 that were employed had to attend at least 80 days. In 1896, the school year was extended to 160 days, In 1913, 180 became the magic number, and it hasn't changed since.

@stafonvoncamron 2 жыл бұрын

@@zoetmb8393 Children were smarter and grew up faster back then, 130 days of school got them there faster as it also gave parents less stress because their kids weren't home bugging them.

@jorgecruzseda7551 Жыл бұрын

Edison was a Narcissistic man

@machinegunangel 11 ай бұрын

They got what they deserved for what they did.

@robertafierro5592 9 ай бұрын

Priceless footage..thank toy for all.the restoration and of course, sharing this gift with all.of us,viewers for no extra charge.

@tinageiger6560 2 жыл бұрын

Great documentary but what they did to that elephant was truly disgusting...maybe why the place burned down. KARMA!!

@pussycat4423 2 жыл бұрын

Tina, Hi I agree 100%. What they did to TOPSY the Elephant was unforgivable !

@sandrasoares9262 2 жыл бұрын

The good old days. Love it.thankyou for your time today And have a wonderful day your fan Sandra

@randyfreeze789 2 жыл бұрын

Great documentary! The choice of music really brings you back in time!

@melloangelwolf8611 3 жыл бұрын

If only I was born back then to see such a wonderful park

@wacobob56dad Жыл бұрын

Coney Island started dying when those projects went up in the 60’s.

@peteg475 8 ай бұрын

FYI: This is an edited version of this documentary which was intended for broadcast in less than one hour. the full documentary is actually 68 minutes. You get the full thing on DVD.

@Dolores5000 3 жыл бұрын

Horrifying poor topsy

@exaudi33 Жыл бұрын

If I win Powerball, I will revive the Steeplechase. A service to mankind.

@roseprevost5876 Жыл бұрын

I wonder if the story is true that the ride is in storage somewhere... And the Pavilion of Fun existed until Trump's father bought it and tore it down to build hosing that never went up. At the time, they were trying to get it on the list of historic places.

@MegaSickcat Жыл бұрын

@@roseprevost5876 That POS Fred Trump knew that Steeplechase was designated to become a landmark. The night before that MOFO 'accidentally' had the place torn down. He was also a racist pig for what he did to the apartments in Beach Haven.

@kurtvonfricken6829 3 жыл бұрын

This is a shortened episode of PBS’s American Experience.

@saran3214 Жыл бұрын

I am trying to find that one, it was great.

@Peter-pv8xx Жыл бұрын

Fun fact, Al Lewis ran for mayor of NYC a couple of times.

@meowtwice1886 2 жыл бұрын

This is where some of our Filipino ancestors were brought and forced to become a laughing struck, they would make them eat raw chickens, dogs. Some of these' peoples infants and young children were also brought with them:(

@kumanderbalbas4079 2 жыл бұрын

Yes im here because of kara david docu "perya"

@Dolores5000 3 жыл бұрын

This is really interesting

@jediknight38 Жыл бұрын

Does anyone remember the Hell Hole? It was a ride that the Gravitron was modeled after that had a huge Muriel of scenes from Hell right out in front before it got painted over right before the accident that closed it down permanently.

@johnnymonjohnny10 Жыл бұрын

Iwould give anything to have been there at the turn of the century,can you imagine ,walking thru the gates, light bulbs are the rage, all the attractions and real rides,the theme parks nowdays i think would pale in comparison maybe,i mean did you see the crowds at the beach

@55e9st Жыл бұрын

I used to love the bobsled , virginia reel and tornado rides

@jashary15 7 ай бұрын

Basically, Coney Island started out as a hangout spot for lowlifes but gradually was transformed into one of the greatest amusement parks in the world.

@indigenousnorwegianeuropa4145 3 жыл бұрын

Very interesting I must say.

@Tu_ta_lu 3 жыл бұрын

Love that photos exist even though many documentaries like to say they all burned...

@BlackRoomProductions 2 жыл бұрын

12:30 song is Frost Circus by XTC.

@trainrover 10 ай бұрын

the psyop quotient had been heavily lumped into Man & His World, yet the significance of mightily early endeavours heaped onto Coney Island is truly meteoric..!

@christianbrother4724 Жыл бұрын

I have never been to Coney Island ( always dreamed of visiting) but it looks like it has been restored.

@HarbingerOfBattle Жыл бұрын

It’s not a full restoration by any means, but it gives a half decent shot at it. And all the better for it in my opinion. If it was a 1 to 1 restoration OCEA would have a field day.

@gingergilreath6871 3 жыл бұрын

Watched to try and see if I could identify some vintage metal seats that were allegedly "rescued from coney island ." Just, wow. Electrocuted elephants and exploited "midgets." There really is no such thing as the good old days.

@sheilakaiser8511 Жыл бұрын

Wish they'd bring this back with out the animal abuse

@user-gf3lj1lw6q 10 ай бұрын

The Director of this highly acclaimed documentary of 1991 is Ric Burns. It would be nice if he was credited up front. It's the least we can do for someone who won't be getting any royalties and who has created a masterpiece.

@rccgb 10 ай бұрын

Hi. Details added. Thank you for the request.

@user-gf3lj1lw6q 10 ай бұрын

Brilliant; thanks guys. xx@@rccgb

@laethann 4 ай бұрын

Mr.Baker is making me watch this

@Peter-pv8xx Жыл бұрын

Is this the documentary that aired on PBS in New York a number of years ago? I remember watching and recording it on video tape which I still have, the problem is that I never labeled them so I'd have to run through them to find it, I remember Al Lewis aka grandpa being in it, they also did one on Palisades Amusement park in Jersey.

@karenryder6317 Жыл бұрын

Maybe this was part of that PBS documentary? I think the longer one was one of Ken Burns' brother Ric's productions or am I confusing in with Ric's one on the entire history of NYC?

@taylorchandler7058 Жыл бұрын

3:19 Feels like 3:00 in the morning when you watch it.

@yoyokum1483 Жыл бұрын

Wow...I'm traumatized. They literally ELECTROCUTED that poor elephant. On friggin purpose !!! Wtf???

@JulieAnderocci Ай бұрын

Too sad about topsie may she rest i. Peace

@neilfraser1235 3 жыл бұрын

I was just there today to ride the Cyclone.

@thirabx6954 3 жыл бұрын

Yes the Cyclone the ultimate

@pandude53 2 жыл бұрын

The greatest of them all (with the slight and possible exception of El Toro at 6 Flags Great Adventure) but frankly from an historical perspective I prefer the Cyclone

@ProDewKed 2 жыл бұрын

One time I was 5 But I was scared to go on it

@elliotwelz9793 Жыл бұрын

This is absolutely the best documentary about this incredible amusement park . But there is one MAJOR flow . The narrator needs to go to broadcasting school to learn how to talk . He has a awful flaw in his way of speaking . When he gets to the last word in each and every sentence , he lowers his voice so you can't hear that last word . Add to this that the back round music is so loud that you cant hear what he is saying anyway .

@rengalafuze8700 Жыл бұрын

The Coney Island I remember as a kid in the early 1970s was a NYC of "do as you please" but, in the sense of not having the police interfering at 8pm and telling everyone to go home. No permit? No problem! Today EVERYTHING is tightly controlled, probably because of the violence of the 90s. I think the violence got bad because of the close to elimination of the mob which controlled these kinds of things and the protest rap that was popular in those days. Party on the boardwalk with the DJ connecting his sound equipment to the street light until late night (or at any park or block for that matter).

@johnnymonjohnny10 Жыл бұрын

had no idea coney was that massive

@kakak547 9 ай бұрын

The warriors

@GoodnightIrieMon Жыл бұрын

The parachute ride looked like fun, though I’m not surprised they won’t re-open it in today’s litigious society.

@shyamdevadas6099 2 жыл бұрын

Nice...until the sudden cut and the lame end title. Why did you ruin it that way??

@tbeautifulmelodies9820 3 жыл бұрын

Hmm..? Dead bodies tossed in the Ocean back then too huh? Smdh! Individuals say “ back in my day life was good” foh

@simpysompywomb5470 3 жыл бұрын

well ofc their lives were good, they weren't the ones tossed in the ocean

@stafonvoncamron 2 жыл бұрын

All these people in the video are dead, which makes it somewhat depressing when you see the past verses now knowing that this year too will be in the past as well.

@theblueflame7592 8 ай бұрын

At 14:54 that's me with my hand up. My date was an ex Nun. She was able to part the water at low tide so we could walk out for a city block with water on our left and on our right.

@gabepaez9938 7 ай бұрын

part the water?

@theblueflame7592 7 ай бұрын

@@gabepaez9938 Yeah, you know........the Moses thing. She had serious connections with the Boss above.

@viviartopeknotts4091 3 жыл бұрын

Wow

@ronjames-music 2 жыл бұрын

I wrote an acappella vocal arrangement about Coney Island - Dreamland. Perhaps you might be interested. It's here on KZfaq at: Ron James Music

@Piggy-Oink-Oink Жыл бұрын

Uh just curious at 41:10 when "topsy' hit the ground how did they pick her up and haul her off. I mean she weighed as ,much as an elephant😃

@ABDOSPIANO 9 ай бұрын

Sounds like Philip Bosco,

@peteg475 8 ай бұрын

it is

@gheetv9984 3 жыл бұрын

They will Rob you on the boardwalk 🤣😂

@zoetmb8393 3 жыл бұрын

Nonsense. Unless maybe if it's 3am in the morning.

@robertle3038 2 жыл бұрын

Y'all "loved" it, but every feature is illegal now.

@MegaSickcat Жыл бұрын

Growing up in CI was the best!!! Just being that close to the beach made my childhood so amazing. It's sad to know that Steeplechase was demolished because of Fred Trump's greed.