Shoot the Chutes were common at all the "old" parks of 100 years ago and into the 60's and 70's. I remember as a youngster in the 1950's going to Riverview Park in Chicago. Our Chutes looked identical to the one pictured. I think the coolest part was the anticipation. 8 or 10 people loaded into a wooden boat along with a park employee bumping along a narrow water corridor till we arrived under the top of the Chutes at the back. At this point, your boat would be picked up by the constantly rotating lift to take you to the top. I recall the water dripping on us from the boat above. Finally at the top, you tipped forward and raced to the pond below in just seconds, water spraying everywhere! Loved it.

Reminds me of the Log Ride at Six Flags Over Texas when I was a kid. Perhaps Shooting the Chutes was the inspiration.

Is that tall ladder-looking thing an insane high dive platform?

If you're not from New York, you may not know that Dreamland (original post) is not the same as Luna Park (video by Malted Falcon). Both 'Shooting the Chutes' look the same, but they are not. Steeplechase was the 3rd famous park from Coney that lasted from 1897 until 1964. Dreamland from 1904 and closed in 1911. Luna Park from 1903 and closed in 1944 after a fire.

Air Ship to the moon!