Coney Island - Timeline

1920's

The subway's extension to Coney Island and its nickel fare brought millions of visitors to New York City's nearest beach.
The Wonder Wheel, one of Coney Island's landmark attractions, was installed along the Boardwalk near W. 8th. Its 130 foot diameter wheel carried 150 people in 24 cars. While 8 cars were stationary, 16 cars slid from the inner wheel to the outer wheel and back while it turned.

Police inspector Byron T. Sackett ordered three nude plaster figures, used to advertise a new attraction on the Bowery called the "Love Nest," removed after noticing the large crowds that it had attracted. While it was a copy of a well known sculpture called the "Fallen Angel," two standing figures looking down at a third figure reclining between them, his complaint was tinting them with flesh tones made them too realistic.

The first section of Coney Island's boardwalk, stretching for half the length of the resort, opened. Its wooden planked boardwalk was 80 feet wide and cost $3,000,000. To increase the space on the beach an extra 2,500,000 square feet, groins were extended into the sea and sand was sluiced (pumped) in from inland areas. Unfortunately the sand was tan rather than white, but it gave visitors to the beach plenty of free access. New white colored sand was eventually placed atop the old tan sand in 1941.
Six passengers were injured on the Oriental Scenic Railroad on Surf Avenue on June 21st when a trestle, 10 feet off the ground gave way.
After the summer season ended, Surf Avenue, the Bowery and several alleys near the Bowery leading to the Boardwalk were widened for better fire fighting access. 175 buildings and attractions including the Ben Hur Race, Rocky Road to Dublin (both coasters), Stauch's Restaurant and Henderson's Dance Hall were razed to make room for the improvement. By May 1924 as many businesses rebuilt, Coney Island had a completely different look.

Coney Island's first beauty contest was held during the Democratic National Convention in Manhattan. 48 contestants from each of the states competed.
The Brighton Beach Hotel was razed.

Coney Island businessmen instituted an annual beauty pageant. Fifty girls, most of them showgirls and the rest models, competed. That Sunday 700,000 spectators jammed the subways and trolleys to reach the Boardwalk where the contest was held at Child's boardwalk restaurant. Hope Thompson won as the prettiest girl and received a $100 necklace of Coney Island pearls. Dora Empey won a loving cup as the neatest girl, and Peggy Shannon was awarded third prize and the title of Miss Coney Island.

The Bobs / Tornado, a thrilling twister roller coaster designed by Prior & Church was built on a very narrow lot at Henderson's Walk and the Bowery. The structure included a 100 foot high ornate jeweled tower and numerous rides beneath it in what was called the Amusement Department Store. This included an Illions carousel, wax show, Bug House, shooting gallery and a bathhouse for 500 bathers.
Additional mile of Boardwalk extended to Brighton Beach.
Twelve people hurt in a crash on the Thunderbolt roller coaster, when failing to make a hill, rolled back down and was struck by the next train.

The 85 feet high Cyclone, Coney Island's most famous roller coaster opened on June 26, 1927. It cost Jack and Irving Rosenthal $175,000 to build. It was a fast twister coaster set in a figure 8 design, and a true thrilling ride.

Fire swept four blocks of the Boardwalk and three square blocks of nearby property between 21st & 24th Streets on July 13th. It started in a pile of rubbish under the boardwalk and could have been extinished easily if those who first saw it had turned in an alarm. Instead 35 engine companies had to fight the blaze for six hours in 40 MPH winds before gaining control. Damages were $2,000,000 as numerous bathhouses and apartment buildings burned. 1000 people were homeless. An estimated 2000 people, who had stored their clothes and valuables, lost them when the bath houses burned. 250 men were employed to guard the ruins to prevent looting. The 1000 feet of burned Boardwalk was restored by mid-August.
Another fire on November 13, 1932 burned six two-story buildings at the south-east corner of Surf Avenue and Stillwell. Damage was $100,000.

Luna park goes bankrupt in May, but is reopened in June under receivership.
On August 1st 57 bathers were injured when a section of the west balcony at Steeplechase's pool collapsed. After a fight between two men broke out at the poolside below, those in the balcony crowded around the railing several deep for a better view. The posts holding up the balcony gave way and more than 80 spectators plunged to the pool apron 17 feet below.

Luna Park is out of bankrupcy but its owner, Barron Collier, fails to lease the park to operators for the season. He finally decides to open half the park and its rides in July and manage it himself.

The New York City Health Department began an intensive campaign to end food poisoning at the country's busiest beach. Every Coney Island food and drink outlet got a rigid inspection at least twice during the season.

Lawrence Russo, a high school student riding the Mile Sky Chaser at Luna Park was pitched out of the car and killed. Numerous people heard the boy's shrieks as he fell. Several started up along the tracks to where he lay only ten feet above ground, but a following train ground him to death before he could be rescued. Another death that season on another coaster prompted an investigation of roller coaster safety.
Coney Island experiences the worst tourist season ever. Thirteen weekends were rained out.

Robert Moses became Parks Commissioner, and the beach and boardwalk were placed under his jurisdiction. He believed, "No one was interested in a mechanical gadget resort like Coney Island."
The Parks Commissioner passed an ordinance that banned ballyhoo and outside lecturers. This particularly affected the side-show freak shows that used ballyhoo to attract customers. When side-show owners defied the ordinance, Rosen (Coney Side Show), Wagner (World Circus Side Show) and Sidell (Palace of Wonders Freak Show) were dragged into court.

The American Museum of Public Recreation opened its doors at the old Balmer's Bath House building on Surf Avenue. It was created by ride builder William Mangels to show the history of amusement devices. Exhibits included the evolution of the bicycle, the original roller coaster car from L.A. Thompson's scenic railway, and a wooden lion carved by Dentzel in Germany. Attendance was minimal and the museum closed after the 1940 season.
Steeplechase fire on Sept 14, 1939 destroyed a Flying Turns tobaggan coaster, and several rides including the outside section of the Steeplechase Horse track. 50,000 visitors watched the fire from the beach.