Brooklyn Museum Exhibit Features Work Inspired By 150 Years Of Tourism At Coney Island
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- For more than 150 years people have been lured to the Coney Island experience.
On Monday, CBS2's Meg Baker explored a new exhibit featuring artwork inspired by the tourist destination.
Norman Juris grew up in Coney Island, calling "quite a bit different" now. But he has revisited his past displayed on the walls of the Brooklyn Museum.
"Steeplechase, Luna Park, Nathan's, some of the bath places," were among the places he recalled.
The new exhibit takes visitors from 1861 through 2008, with artwork depicting the past when the seaside resort was full of hope and promise with new luxury hotels.
"The Elephant Hotel, which was built in 1884, which was elephant-shaped hotel," was one of them, explained Connie Choy.
Wild faces on the walls can still be seen near rides today.
Once home to the Grand Steeplechase, built in 1897, the first amusement park built in Coney Island is now home to the Wonder Wheel, Famous Nathan's hot dogs, and the parachute jump -- which still stands but has been shut down for decades.
Curator Connie Choi took CBS2's cameras through the years. The resort town was known as the World's Greatest Playground from 1895 to 1929.
"Three great amusement parks -- Steeplechase Park, Luna Park, and Dreamland -- all open within a ten year period," she said.
The subway helped to draw the masses.
"In 1920, the subway is extended to Coney Island, and so you really have throngs of people going because it becomes a cheap and reliable means of transportation," she said.
Donna and Mike Baker's favorite thing about Coney Island has remained the same over the years.
"Hot dogs," Donna said.
Back in the 1920s hot dogs cost 10 cents each, now they'll set you back $4.95.
One period during the great depression became known as the Nickel Empire.
"Many of the rides and amusements that used to cost 50 cents or 25 cents have dropped down to 5 cents, so it becomes affordable to the masses, and it's no longer for a place that is for the elite," Choi said.
Artist Frderick Brosen painted Astroland, built in 1962, during the space race, before it was torn down.
"Varied memories -- Coney Island always had that underbelly -- a little bit of danger, a little bit of sleaziness -- but that's what lent the air of excitement to it," Brosen said.
Carousel horses were carved by Jewish immigrants dating back to 1900, and just recently, the B&B Carousell -- dating back to the same period -- was restored to its former glory. It can now be seen and rode on the Coney Island boardwalk -- complete with a Gebruder band organ.
Like the Cyclone, through ups and downs, Coney Island remains an icon.
