José Beth Smolensky

José Beth Smolensky, born in 1927, describes growing up working for the Washington Baths, her family's Coney Island business. Her father, Harry Smolensky had high standards for cleanliness and kept the baths open for a longer season than most. Both of these qualities made Washington Baths tremendously popular with locals and visitors. Smolensky talks about the facilities and the activities at the bathhouse. She describes living above the Annex and practicing her violin there at the time she attended Juilliard as a young woman.

José Beth Smolensky passed away on March 26, 2017 at the age of 89.