Oral History Archive

Filtering by amusement rides back to all

Irene Karas

Sea Gate resident on her girlhood memories of Coney Island and passing them on to her daughter

Rebecca Diamond

A five-year-old describes her visit to Coney Island

Joel Zika

The founder of the Dark Ride Project on documenting Spook-A-Rama and other historic dark rides

Jorge Gallegos

Working year-round at Deno's Wonder Wheel Park for 30 years

David Head

David Head tells the story of African-American inventor Granville T. Woods and his electric roller coaster

Terry Zheng

5D Cinema entrepreneur on Coney Island's Bowery

Wally Roberts

The King of Jones Walk

Walter "Shorty" Arsenault

Long-time manager of Astroland's Kiddieland

Louis Ritter

Amusement Ride Operator

Joan DelSandra

Memories of the Bobsled, Caterpillar and Parachute Jump

Louis Parker

Remembers Astroland Rocket

David Rapaport

Got stuck on the Parachute Jump

Roy Sylvan Sartin

Model Maker and Music Producer

Marion Kantrowitz

Rode the Cyclone at 4 years old

Jim St. Clair

Recalls Coney Island as a boy, especially Steeplechase Park

Joel Minesquero

Helping his Dad run a dark ride called the House of Horrors

Arthur Melnick

Coney Island concessionaire

Neal Kavakos

Memories of Tunnels of Love ride operator John Kavakos