Attractions - Pt 4  

 

 

 

Antique postcards. “Greetings from Coney Island, New York”.

 

An antique postcard featuring the glory days of Coney Island.  The Luna Park (1907-1913)

was one of the truly elegant and spectacular amusement parks in the world.

 

 

The Steeplechase Park (1897 – 1964) is one of the most famous and most influential

amusement parks in the amusement park industry’s history.

 

It is said that if Steeplechase represented fun and sexuality, and Luna was the juxtaposition of

art and youth, Dreamland (1904-1911) was the Bible brought to Brooklyn with hints of showmanship.

 

As of 2007, we have lost almost all the architecture and attractions created in the glory days of Coney Island. Times have changed. The children of today do not know anything about the greatest amusement parks ever built on this planet then --  Luna Park, Dream land, Steeplechase, etc. I think this is a true tragedy in Coney Island and New York. Therefore, I decided to feature a series of mural paintings illustrating the glory days of Coney Island here in the heart of Coney Island.

 

 

Greetings from Coney Island!  The zip code of Coney Island is 11224. There are two United States Post Offices in the Coney Island area of Brooklyn, New York. The bigger one is on Mermaid Avenue and the smaller one is on Neptune Avenue. The smaller post office is just a normal one and not even open on Saturday. On the contrary, the bigger post office (its exterior is shown above) is something interesting to see because of the series of site-specific paintings gracing its interior walls. Shown below are complex, hand-painted murals proudly displayed inside of Coney Island's larger post office. This artwork was done by the hands of professional artists. (The following photographs were re-shot on November 16, 2007)

 

This long vividly rendered artwork features historical scenes and subject matters of Coney Island. (November 16, 2007)

 

Detail of the above mural. “Greetings from Coney Island” (November 16, 2007)

 

 

(left) This mural features Astroland Tower, roller coaster, Wonder Wheel, Steeplechase, Parachute Jump, Boardwalk. (November 16, 2007)

(right) This mural features one of the attractions “Human Roulette Wheel” at the Steeplechase amusement park. (November 16, 2007)

 

The Parachute Jump is no longer operating. It was repainted 2 years ago, and hundreds of twinkling lights were installed last year. I, Takeshi Yamada, enjoy the view of this remarkable landmark from the window of my house every day (except on the foggy or rainy days). It is less than 10 minutes walking distance from my house.

 

The following photographs show the details of the mural on the west side wall. (November 16, 2007)

 

A giant swimming pool at the Steeplechase amusement park.

 

Boardwalk scene.

 

An attraction of the Steeplechase amusement park.

 

Coney Island’s classic. “Nathan’s”.

 

 Greetings from Coney Island.

 

 

The “Epicure’s Parade” by Feltman’s Famous Restaurant. About 100 years ago, Coney Island was the head quarter of the most spectacular street costume parade.

 

Coney Island beach. The eternal attraction.

 

Takeshi Yamada, Seara (the Sea Rabbit), game center attendant lady at the Astroland Amusement Park. (September 9, 2007)

 

 Continue to Part 5

 

Copyright by Takeshi Yamada, 2007, all rights reserved.

Museum of World Wonders in Coney Island, NYC.

E-mail: yamada108@aol.com

http://www.sideshowworld.com/SSA-15.html

Special Thanks to Kris Roth (Senior Proofreader), Dr. Eriko N. Bond, and Lauren D. Travis (Proofreader).

 

Header Artwork Based on an early Coney Island Post Card