June 29 & 30: Free Movie Screenings of "The Prince of Mermaid Avenue" at Coney Island Library and SBYC

The Coney Island History Project Presents Free Movie Screenings in the Community. The program will be shown at two venues:

Wednesday, June 29th, 7pm at South Brooklyn Youth Consortium,
2811 Mermaid Avenue (at w 28 St), Coney Island. Phone 718-449-1356
D, F, N or Q to Stillwell Avenue

Thursday, June 30th, 2pm at the Coney Island Library,
1901 Mermaid Avenue at (W 18 St.), Coney Island Phone 718-265-3220
D, F, N or Q to Stillwell Avenue

"The Prince of Mermaid Avenue"
A documentary feature by Charles Denson (2009, 60 minutes)
Starring Jimmy Prince and a cast of Coney Island Community Members

The film tells the story of Jimmy Prince, owner of Major Meats on Mermaid Avenue, who retired after 60 years as an anchor of the community. He transformed his meat market into the soul of an earlier era, a cordial oasis of tradition and hope, a throwback to what Coney Island was and what many dreamed it could be again one day.

"The Prince of Mermaid Avenue" documents Prince's decision to retire and the painful process of leaving the Coney Island community that he loved and supported for so many years.

The film project began with historian Charles Denson's daily visits to Major Market and his audio recordings for the Coney Island History Project's Oral History Archive. The film premiered and was awarded Best Documentary Feature at the 9th Annual Coney Island Film Festival in 2009.

We will also be screening some vintage film clips of the original Luna Park, Steeplechase Park, and Astroland, which we show at the Coney Island History Project's free public exhibition center at 3059 W. 12 Street at the entrance to Deno's Wonder Wheel Park.

For additional info contact the Coney Island History Project. Email: events@coneyislandhistory.org Phone: (347) 702-8553

Funded in part by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs