[chuckinca]

Originally Posted by ConeyIslandBabe

Shirleevee........ THANKS for telling me that. Gosh, it's almost worth a visit to NYC to go see Coney Island again. When I was 14 years old, living in The Projects, my girlfriend and I used to skip school, take the subway and go to Coney Island...... spend all our money..... and have to walk home.

I had heard it deteriorated badly and was rundown. I'm so glad to know CI is nice again! Can't wait to visit 8)

CIB:

We did the same in Chicago, skipped school and went to Riverview Park for 2 cent days, admission and all the rides were 2 cents each (in the mid 50's)

http://history.amusement-parks.com/riverviewmain.htm

[Shirleevee]

CIB,

I sent pictures to your email.........

Oh, the Cyclone cost is $8.00 for a shortened ride.

Shirleevee

[ConeyIsBabe]

Shirleevee....... I didn't get the pics ???

And,,,,,, if you're even suggesting that I'd ride on the Cyclone nowadays ?

1rnfl 1rnfl 1rnfl 1rnfl ! Perhaps the Carousel would be more my speed now ;D

P.S. Is the Parachute ride still there? That was one of my favorites ;D

[travelstiles]

The parachute frame was still standing when we were in Coney Island two years ago, but they have not operated it as a ride for a very, very long time (at least 20 years).
Did you ever ride the Steeplechase horses? That ride was terrific, but would definitely be ruled 'unsafe' these days. The horses sped around the steeplechase track on top of a building while rocking backward and forward, and I remember riding it when I was really young - maybe 5? We purchased a round card ticket on a string that you wore like a necklace around your neck, and the ride attendant would punch a hole in it for each ride you went on. Because my grandfather worked at Coney Island, we seldom got the tickets punched and rode all day.
Also, can you imagine anyone in this day and age getting away with running a "Freak Show" like the ones at old Coney Island? Believe it or not, they still have a booth near the Cyclone where you can pay to "Shoot the Freak."

Coney Island history: http://www.westland.net/coneyisland/

[ConeyIsBabe]

travel........ THANKS for that update; of course I rode on the Steeplechase Horses, many times.

Like I said, two silly 14-year-old girls we were....... and Coney Island was our playground. I learned to float in the FREEZING ocean water on the beach and if I remember correctly........ Tuesdays were fireworks night, all summer long ? And was it the D Train to CI ?? Haven't been there since age 15 :'( and that was a very long time ago :

[Donna]

My fondest thoughts of Coney Island are, Nathan's, the fire works, The Cyclone.....

I can remember getting off The Cyclone, and getting sick in one of the garbage pails..OMG was I embarrassed...

[travelstiles]

If you ain't from Brooklyn, just forget this; you wouldn't understand.
You're truly from Brooklyn if you can relate to any of the following:

• 
  Alternate side of the street parking.
  Ate at Chock Full O' Nuts Shops (date nut bread and powdered donuts that were crunchy).
  Bought bobka at the original Ebingers on Flatbush Avenue. Or Butterbun on Nostrand Ave.
  Bought Ebinger's Black-Out Cake (and didn't count the calories)
  Bought knishes from Mrs. Stahls in Brighton, or Ruby the Knish Man (if you don't know what a knish is, see the note below).
  Bought knishes on the beach and didn't mind the sand.
  Bought pickles out of a barrel. The salt made you pucker.
  Can name all the Brooklyn High Schools. Just try and do that today (impossible).
  When you met someone from Brooklyn, you'd ask what Parish, not area, they were from
  Can remember when the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel was white.
  Don't speak with an accent - everybody else does.
  Drove over the Marine Park Bridge for a 10-cent toll, and Brooklyn Battery Tunnel for 35 cents.
  Everybody knows somebody from the neighborhood, even if it is your mother's cousin's son-in-law's sister's boyfriend.
  Got a "Kitchen Sink" at Jahn's.
  Got a J.D. card and feeling like Al Capone.
  Had roller skates with keys.
  Handball in the park.
  Hit two sewers in punch ball.
  It's not the "shore", its the "beach" idiot.
  Kings Plaza.... how come we get the crappy mall?
  Knew who the neighborhood wise guy was, but you'd never tell the cops.
  Know that the only place to get one heck of a cheese cake is in Junior's. That's on Flatbush Avenue (really the Flatbush Avenue Extension) and DeKalb Avenue
  Know that Brooklynites never allow for mistakes; in Brooklyn, you better be right or else... There's the story of this man, a neighbor of Gotti, who accidently ran over Gotti's kid (a very unfortunate incident). This man was never heard from again. That's Brooklyn
  Know, or at least your hips do, what a Charlotte Russe is.
  Owned a pair of pumps from Miles or National's.
  Played "Hide 'n Go Seek" at dusk (say it quickly and you'll know why we called it "hang-o-seek".
  Played Hit The Penny, Stoop Ball, Skelly, and Potsy.
  Private beach? What's that?
  Remember a time when the Greeks didn't own ALL the diners and the Koreans didn't own ALL fruit stands. Except the Greeks on Utica and Church, where you just said going to the Greeks for lunch.
  Remember Bohack's, Packer's, and Smilen Brothers fruit stores (one was on Nostrand Avenue).
  Remember Coney Island fireworks every Tuesday night in the summer, and watching it from your roof.
  Sheepshead Bay is for fishing and seafood.
  Shopped on Fulton Street and Pitkin Ave. before the mall and all the dreck
  The first bar that you hung out in when you were 15 is "so young now".
  There is a bagel bakery a few blocks away.
  There is at least one pizzeria within 1 block of your house and a candy store on the corner.
  Thought going "away to college" meant NYU, Pace, or Pratt.
  Waited for the Good Humor or Bungalow Bar guy to come around your block.
  Walked along the Coney Island Boardwalk, with a Shatzkins knish.
  Washed it down with a Sunny Boy orange drink.
  Went to Murray the K rock concerts at the Brooklyn Fox or the Brooklyn Paramount. Went the night before for good seats.
  Went to Saturday matinees at the Oriental, Oceana, Canarsie, Kingsway, Avalon, Elm, Congress, Midwood, Vogue, Kent, Rugby, Sheepshead, Tilyou, Mayfair, Kenmore, or Marboro theaters (you can put a "the" in front of all those names).
  You ate at the Horn and Hardart Automat.
  You can correctly pronounce Long Island (well, you might incorrectly sound that "g"), but aren't exactly sure where Long Island begins.
  You curse. A lot. Or can at least out curse anyone from anywhere else.
  You don't go to Manhattan, you go to "The City."
  You have no reason to go to Queens, except for Met games.
  You know and go to the REAL Nathan's ... the one in Coney Island.
  You know someone with mob ties.
  You know the difference between going with, seeing, fooling around with, and going out with someone.
  You know what a "johnny pump" is.
  You love "Welcome Back Kotter" (and not because of the crisp writing or great acting).
  You made a scooter from orange crates and an old skate.
  You never realize you have an accent until you leave.
  You waited for the rides on a truck to come to your neighborhood for 10 cents a ride.
  You walk down "The Avenue" and see at least a handful of the people you knew growing up.
  Your friends came over to hang out on the stoop.
  You went up to the rooftop of your apartment building to get a suntan (and your towel always stuck to the melted tar)
  You've had a pigeon crap on your car and/or your head.
  
  AND the most important reason that you are a Brooklynite, or at least have the soul of one, is ... You're still angry that the Dodgers left.

[Shirleevee]

G R E A T !!!!!

I remember it all!!!

Thanks for the trip down memory lane......


Shirleevee

[stjade]

YO Travel--right on again-i can relate or remember from personal experience almost everything on the list--thank for the memories -Steve :bigthumbsup: :bigthumbsup:

[francesco]

Wow!!!! I remember all the rides and the freak show (Mom forbid us to go see it) And I remember most driving her crazy singing I scream you scream we all scream For Ice Scream. They were wonderful days.

[nitehawk]

know as the borough of churches but there was also at least two bars on every block

[Shirleevee]

The bars have been replaced by nail salons and fruit & vegetable stands.



Shirleevee

[bsliny]

TRAVEL I remember it all Thanks for the Memories
I lived on 51st street and Church a block away from Utica and hung out at O'REILLYS Bar and STEAK HOUSE at Church and 49th st: :hot: :hot: :hot: :beer2: :hot: :hot:

[ConeyIsBabe]

I can add these to my Brooklyn memory-list:

When 14-years-old, being "flashed" in Prospect Park

The smells, and sand falling on your head when walking under the boardwalk :

Skipping school for a day to go to the City to the Penny Arcades ;D

Playing on the Monkey-Bars in the Projects playground & falling down on the concrete ground below

[travelstiles]

Add these to your list, Coney -
- Learning to ride a bike, play ball, fish, ice skate and roller skate at Prospect Park - and going to the zoo to feed peanuts to the elephants before riding the carousel
- Learning to swim in the salt-water indoor pool at the St. George Hotel in Bklyn Heights
- doo-wop singers on the street corners every Friday and Saturday night - we had a great group of guys who sang on the corner of 4th Pl and Court St where we lived
- Going to Shore Parkway at Fort Hamilton every weekend to watch the progress on the building of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge
-Before the bridge, taking the ferry to "Staten Allen" from 69th and Shore Pkwy
- The Hamilton House for really special occasions