"Amusing the Millions"

For a little more than half a century, it was "the" American amusement park. It set the standard of other parks for years to come. Its very name conjured up visions of thrilling rides, exotic settings, and most of all, FUN- - as much fun as anyone could have. It was the one, the only, Coney Island.

But Coney Island was long in coming. In the mid-nineteenth century Coney Island was a beach wilderness, accessible only by horse, and later horse-drawn streetcars, from New York City. Later came steam boats in which passengers could ride to Coney Island for fifty cents. The advent of the railroad in the 1870s made it possible for more people to visit the slowly emerging resort.

By this time Coney Island was home to a number of hotels, restaurants, bathing facilities, and dance pavilions. Residents of New York trying to escape the summer heat of the city, came to Coney Island to relax and play. In time, the little resort would see the building of not one but three amusement parks: Steeplechase Park (1897), Luna Park (1903), and Dreamland (1905). Each park was distinct from its counterparts and offered visitors a vast array of entertainments, rides, and diversions.

Steeplechase Park was the vision of George Tilyou, a Coney Island resident. For the unheard of "one price" ticket people entered a world with thrilling rides and games. Upon entering the park, visitors had to walk through the "Barrel of Fun," a gigantic revolving cylinder that often "rolled" people off their feet. "Blowhole Theater" had concealed compressed-air jets that sent men's hats flying and women's skirts flaring, much to people's amusement. Then there were the rides: "The Human Roulette Wheel," "The Whirlpool," "The Parachute Drop," and "The Human Pool Table." In all of these rides, participants lost their sense of balance and equilibrium, finding themselves pleasantly at the mercy of the machines. The screams and antics of the riders provided additional entertainment for those who chose only to watch.

Luna Park was completely different. For the entrance fee of a single dime, park-goers entered a world of fantasy, adventure, and enchantment. The park's landscape was dominated by towering castles, majestic towers, and huge arched entrances. At night, the illumination of more than a quarter million tiny white lights, only enhanced the park's fantastic atmosphere. The rides also emphasized escape from the ordinary and the everyday. Vistors to the park could pretend to soar to the moon or dive beneath the sea. Other popular rides included Shoot the Chutes, a water ride, The Tickler, and the Human Toboggan.

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