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Too Much Fun: 1905
New York circa 1905. "Dreamland Park at Coney Island." Among the amusements to be sampled: An observation tower, the Bostock ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/05/2012 - 1:49pm -

New York circa 1905. "Dreamland Park at Coney Island." Among the amusements to be sampled: An observation tower, the Bostock trained animal show, a Baltimore Fire cyclorama, the General Bumps ride, a miniature railway, Will Conklin's Illusions, the Temple of Mirth and Hooligan's Dream. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Oil burnersThese were oil burning steam locomotives. The Miniature Railroad was built by the Cagney Brothers in 1904 to replace an earlier version that was lost in a November, 1903 fire. It made a circuit of the park running underneath the promenade. The locomotives, which could pull three of the two-passenger cars, were built by the Cagney Brothers' Miniature Railway Company in New York. Their ad below is from the February 7, 1903 issue of The Billboard. An earlier Shorpy post with a closeup of one of the locomotives has more information here, and a 1903 Edison silent movie of Coney Island before the fire (found here) shows the train emerging out from under the promenade at the 7:44 minute mark. You Can't Miss MeI'll be the one wearing a mustache a hat and a dark suit. The cops must have had an awful time with witness descriptions of the perps back then. Where to look first?There are so many wonderful aspects to this picture, I hardly know what to take in first. I love the "Temple of Mirth" (Can you imagine "mirth" being used on a ride today? How many folks even know what it means anymore?) I also love the "Hooligan's Dream" (but ditto on the meaning being mostly lost on 21st century folk). What REALLY intrigues me however, is what the people in the forefront are looking at instead of the elephants right behind them, which I would be fascinated by. Surely elephants weren't a commonplace sight. [Happy Hooligan, whose image is in the circle on the sign, was an extremely popular comic strip character of the time. - tterrace] Soon to be gone - againDreamland was rebuilt in early 1904 after a disastrous fire destroyed it in November, 1903. Six years after this picture was taken this scene was again destroyed by fire. It made news even in far away Australia where, two days later, the tragedy was reported by The Argus newspaper. FIRE AT CONEY ISLAND. AMUSEMENT PALACE DESTROYED. DAMAGE 3,000,000 DOLLARS. NEW YORK, May 27. A destructive fire occurred yesterday at Dreamland, one of the great amusement resorts at Coney Island, New York. The damage is estimated at 3,000,000 dol. The menagerie was destroyed, 50 wild animals being cremated. The adjoining place of entertainment, Luna park, was saved. [Dreamland and Luna Park practically constitute Coney Island, which is the greatest resort of its kind in the world. The resources of inventors are taxed to provide new thrills, with the result that each season finds some ingenious novelty installed for the New York clerk and shop-girl. Dreamland contains dozens of forms of entertainment. The visitor may travel by captive airship, or glide at fearful speed down the chute, through a cascade of real water. He may "loop the loop" in a car, or travel in a small chariot over an undulating sea of metal, the waves of which are caused by machinery below. The "Rocky Road to Dublin, " a fearful switchback apparatus, and "General Bumps," involving a hazardous slide down a polished wooden surface, are among the joys of the place; while those who desire to visit other lands may take a trip to the North Pole or the wilds of Central Africa with equal ease and cheapness.] A more complete newspaper story with pictures of the aftermath can be found here, and a few more pictures can be seen here and here. The steam locomotivehas been hooked up to some pretty fancy oversized cars, and can you believe observing HYENAS for 25 cents, forget lions and panthers, they've got HYENAS ! Bostock's Wild Animal Exhibition Broadway Magazine, April 1905. Although Coney Island has improved greatly in the character of its shows within the last few years, the same atmosphere of careless holiday-making prevails, and you always have a feeling of jolly irresponsibility as you go from one place of amusement to another. Bostock's wild animal exhibition in “Dreamland,” is again a prominent feature of the summer. The animals are interesting, whether in their dens or in the arena, while the trainers who put the savage creatures through performances in the large steel cage are as impressive as ever. There was one act I saw at Bostock's lately which struck me as particularly good. A young lady in short skirts, who was announced as “La Belle Selika,” skipped into the cage with seven—I think it was seven—lionesses. She made them get up, reluctantly, upon pedestals in different parts of the cage. Then, as the orchestra struck up the music of the “Pretty Maidens,” in “Florodora,” she danced, teasing the animals by pointing her slippers at them one after another, and retreating just far enough to escape the angry paws darted at her each time. They seemed eager to tear her to pieces. She pirouetted about the creatures, always close to them, but just far enough away to avoid being clawed, until at last she struck an attitude immediately in front of the most savage of her pets and smiled in response to the applause, while the lioness growled. It was decidedly the prettiest act I ever saw in connection with trained wild animals, and it looked fearfully dangerous, whether it was so actually or not Live Steam?I would assume that that little locomotive was actually a steam powered kerosene burner... does anyone know? UPDATE: The kerosene assumption was (wrongly) made because I couldn't imagine firing a firebox that small with coal to maintain a working head of steam - Ausonius. Pigmy Locomotive While the Cagney Bros. operated many miniature railway concessions, the actual builder of this engine was the McGarigle Machine Co, of Niagara Falls, NY. Tobbacconist, is there something in the photo that indicates oil as the fuel source? The following article states the originals were built with a 10 inch firebox burning anthracite. I think this engine is coal fired. In 1905, coal was still a widely available and familiar fuel. Also, the trousers on the engineer appear rather well coated in coal dust. [Additional information and photos.] The Railway Age, July 1, 1898. A Pigmy Locomotive. What is claimed to be the smallest locomotive ever made for drawing passenger cars has been made for the Miniature Railroad company by Thomas E. McGarigle of Niagara Falls. This steam railroad is to be operated at the Trans-Mississippi Exposition in Omaha, Neb., and, in all, six locomotives are to be built for the company under the present contract. It is possible they will be used at other resorts, such as Coney Island, Atlantic City, Deal Beach, Washington Heights and Niagara Falls. … The height of the locomotive from the top of the stack to the rail is 25 inches, and the gauge is 12½ inches. The cylinders are 2x4 inches. The boiler is 1½ horse power, made of steel, and is tested to 300 pounds pressure, and will hold 24 gallons of water. … The firebox is 10 by 10 inches. The weight of this little engine is about 600 pounds, and it will run on a rail three-quarters of an inch square. Hard coal will be used as fuel. The capacity of the locomotive is 10 cars, each containing two persons, or about 4,000 pounds. The locomotive is equipped with sandbox, bell, etc., and has a steam brake between the drivers. One man, whose position will be on a seat in the tender, operates the engine. The scale on which the locomotive was built is about one-seventh that of one of the New York Central's largest engines, and as it stands in the shop it has a very businesslike appearance, as shown by the illustration. Live Steam Model FuelsThere`s no guarantee or requirement that this locomotive is oil fueled. Even today Live Steam enthusiasts operating large scale locomotives are running with a variety of fuels. Propane is popular as is oil or kerosene. However coal is still the most popular fuel for ridable trains like this and can be used at gauges as small as 1.26 inches. So unless there were other considerations, like local laws, there`s a high likelihood that this engine was coal fired. All in the FamilyYes, a great number of the 'Cagneys' (as they were known) were built in the Niagara shop of Thomas and Peter McGarigle; however, since their sister Winifred married Timothy Cagney, it was considered to be all in the family. Peter—an engineer—was mostly likely the one who designed the first of the miniature locomotives, ostensibly in 1885. In the early 1890s Timothy and his brothers David and John, were running a ticket brokerage company known as Cagney Bros. in New York, but by 1898 decided to fully concentrate on marketing the McGarigle locomotives and so incorporated The Miniature Railway Company, of Jersey City. For years the two businesses were nearly indistinguishable from one another, and were in fact interchangeable as far as miniature railways were concerned, as they worked together on various projects. In 1903 the Cagney Bros. Co. was ensconced in the Planter's Hotel in St. Louis—there to build the eight mile miniature railroad that would run through the grounds of the St. Louis Purchase Exposition (the 1904 World's Fair). Timothy Cagney was listed as President, and Peter McGarigle as Chief Engineer. While the Cagney Brothers' Miniature Railway Company was selling the vast majority of the McGarigle railroad oriented output, the Niagara firm was still peddling their own product as late as 1915 when they made a proposition to the City of San Francisco to operate a miniature railway in the park. By the 1920s however, the Cagney Bros. had absorbed the miniature railway portion of the McGarigle Machine Company, and McGarigle's—once also known for their gasoline marine engines—appears to have been reduced to being an automotive machine shop. The locomotive building operation was now referred to as "the Cagney Brothers' Amusement Company Niagara Falls plant." By the 1940s the late Timothy Cagney—and not Peter McGarigle—was being given credit as the inventor. According to one report, two of Cagney's "best known installations were two gold-plated trains with steam locomotives built for the King of Siam, and the 'Trip Around the World' exhibit at the New York World's Fair of 1939 and 1940." As for the oil burner reference, it's from a list of Coney Island rides and shows complied by Kingsborough Community College Professor Emeritus (and former Brooklyn Borough Historian, director and archivist) John Manbeck. He complied a vast collection of Coney Island ephemera that has since been donated to the Brooklyn College Library. On his list of rides and shows is this entry: A Miniature Railroad built by the Cagney Brothers made a circuit of park beneath the promenade. Each of its three small cars, pulled by a small oil-burning steam locomotive, held two passengers. I do not know what his original source was (but I'll try to find out); however, while the vast majority of the McGarigle/Cagney locomotives were coal-fired, it makes sense that these would be oil-fired as it would have virtually eliminated the fear of sparks from the smoke stack—especially so soon after the disastrous 1903 fire. (The Gallery, Coney Island, DPC, Railroads)
The Whip: 1928
... the ride. Whip It! Whip It Good! Coney Island Sensation Washington Post, May 19, 1918 10,000 Enjoy ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/24/2008 - 3:33pm -

"Glen Echo, 1928." Riding the Whip at Glen Echo amusement park in Maryland. View full size. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. Smooth operator!Look at Mr Smooth to the right, with a girl on each arm! I bet he enjoyed the ride. Whip It! Whip It Good!Coney Island SensationWashington Post, May 19, 1918 10,000 Enjoy Amusement Grounds. "Whip" and Derby Racer Popular. With workmen still putting the finishing touches on the new amusements, Glen Echo Park, Washington's favorite amusement grounds, formally opened the 1918 season last night. More than 10,000 persons, including the "tired business man" and the weary war workers, enjoyed the evening in the park. The center of attraction last night was the new "Whip," the Coney Island sensation which has just been installed. That dancing has lost none of its popularity was shown by the number of couples on the floor. Throngs also gathered around the derby racer and the gravity for the speed rides. The first of the season's free Sunday concerts will be given this afternoon. The WhipI have to remark at the number of adults on what we would now consider a children's ride. Noticeable too is that the men are wearing suits and ties. To our society they are all overdressed and in the wrong attire for an amusement park. Also, the Whip is exposed to the elements, not so good for the leather seats and the mechanics of the ride. What I remember most about the Whip ride was that all the exposed metal chains and gears were covered in a greasy lubricant to prevent rust and to ease friction. You see none of that here. It looks too clean with no gum on the concrete and no trash on the ground. The cars on the Whip also seem to be hand painted with ornate designs. Now they would be painted in alternating primary or neon colors with none of the finery. I suppose our culture lost something when we took off our coats and put on T-shirts. Young Whippersnapper Riverview Beach Amusement Park in Pennsville, New Jersey had a nice kiddie version of The Whip in 1948. The nice paint job was somewhat more Art Deco by that time. That's me and the photographer was my father. (The Gallery, Natl Photo, Sports)
Boardwalk Empire: 1910
... I was always under the impression it lagged behind Coney Island, but here it looks as though they were in place about the same time. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/20/2012 - 3:36pm -

Atlantic City, N.J., circa 1910. "Boardwalk, Hotel Marlborough-Blenheim and Young's Million-Dollar Pier." There are a zillion interesting details in this panorama made from four 8x10 inch glass negatives. View full size. Just imagineTo be able to take for granted that you will walk outside to such beautiful buildings, a boardwalk where everyone is nicely dressed and you can even walk six abreast, sweeping lawns, spacious streets, peaceful porches to rock on, an almost empty beach to sit on. They probably took much of it for granted and certainly didn't know how amazing and wonderful it would look to me 100 years hence. A Monumental ChallengeDo any of our talented colorizers dare tackle such a sweeping scene? Are any of these buildings still standing?Maybe someone familiar with Atlantic City knows. I've never been there. AmazingThe scope of the shot is breathtaking! From the chimney that needs repair in the lower right corner and the "hidden" clotheslines on that roof, to the confection of the M-B to the Pier and the vistas beyond and the wonderfully random set of tracks throught the sand. These people wouldn't recognize Atlantic City today. Such detail. All in focus.This is a fantastic photo. You might even say it took my breath away. Nice to see an old shot like this and have everything look so new and clean. I'm amazed to see so much built in 1910. I'm going to have to do some research and discover the Atlantic City timeline. I was always under the impression it lagged behind Coney Island, but here it looks as though they were in place about the same time. Amazing DetailThis is just a fabulous image. It's fascinating to study the various hotels (I assume), porches, rooflines plus the people on the boardwalk and beach. It just goes on and on. Mary PoppinsApart from the cigarette ad, it could be a Disney film set. Wonderful photo. Photography and condimentsNice view of another set of tripod legs and camera just below the apparent center view point of this pan. And just to the bottom right a wood headed greenhouse with the little cart of wood right beside the wood heater. Windows of the spice/condiment bays stored neatly behind the hedge in back of the green house. You can almost imagine the year long work of someone to make sure this operation always provides fresh things for the chef. Steve BuscemiAnyone who's watched "Boardwalk Empire" has to believe many of these photos must have been used to create the CGI backgrounds they use for various shots. [The "Boardwalk Empire" production company is one of our print customers. -Dave] A Lot of GasI see at least four gasometers (gas holders) in the photo. The Twin TowersDoes anyone know what purpose two tall pillars or columns, might serve on the central hotel with the dome and all the gingerbread? They seem strange and lonely. Couldn't be elevator works inside, or ... what? [Chimneys. - Dave] Coney & ACConey Island became what it is because of the availability of public transportation. The first subway line or El trains were built in the late 1800s. This afforded relatively cheap rides to the beach. There were hotels but nothing like those in Atlantic City. Although it was a reasonable distance from Philadelphia and NY it still required the railroads to move the more distant customers to the Jersey Shore. I'm sure there were day trippers but many people came to spend their vacations in the luxury of the the hotels. Park PlaceThe park in the front of the photo is Brighton Park. The street between the park and the hotel is Park Place. The Marlborough-Blenheim remained in great condition through the seventies. In 1979, Bally's bought it and replaced it with the Bally's Park Place Casino. Make Room for Bally'sThe Marlboro-Blenheim started construction in 1902 and completed in 1906. In 1978 it was demolished to make way for Bally's Park Place casino. Bally's Wild West Casino now sits where that little park looking thing is and Young's Million Dollar Pier became The Pier Shops at Caesar's in 2006. Wheelchair RampThe hotel at the end of the great lawn had a wheelchair ramp installed after the building was constructed. You can see how it sits on top of the original staircase. I wonder what VIP stayed there to justify building that? [The ramps were for "rolling chairs." Not quite the same as wheelchairs. - Dave] Obviously shot from the Traymore HotelJust as this 1910 postcard picture was obviously shot from the "wedding cake" part of the Marlborough-Blenheim. Some of the same things are visible from the opposite side such as the Y-shaped walkway in the garden-like area and even the greenhouse. Beautiful BuildingsI wish Atlantic City looked like this today. These are gorgeous buildings, unlike the ugly buildings that one sees there now. It must have been a great place to vacation in those days. "Boardwalk Empire" BoardwalkThe set is located at Newtown Creek and the East River, Brooklyn side in NYC. It is surrounded with cargo containers stacked four high hung with blue screen so the background can be matted in electronically. Some blue screen can be seen at the left of the photo on a stack of containers. Google Earth: Dupont and Franklin St., Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY (Panoramas, Atlantic City, DPC, Swimming, Travel & Vacation)
Dreamland: 1905
Coney Island, New York, circa 1905. "Dreamland Ballroom." The home of light music. ... and sent fire companies from all over Brooklyn rushing to Coney Island. Dreamland Park was ablaze." One wonders where the dancers ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/31/2012 - 2:55pm -

Coney Island, New York, circa 1905. "Dreamland Ballroom." The home of light music. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. Beautiful place.It's hard to imagine a place so bright and cheery in 1905. To the people at the time this must have seemed like a Wonderland. We have become pretty immune to simple pleasures like this, it takes a Las Vegas sized Light Show to impress anyone today. Six years before its up in flamesThis wonderfully eerie photo was taken about six years before the catastrophic Dreamland fire: "On May 27, 1911, a huge fire illuminated the sky and sent fire companies from all over Brooklyn rushing to Coney Island. Dreamland Park was ablaze." One wonders where the dancers are; the floor's pretty worn. Great shell for the bandBet they played all the newest songs of the day. Hot hits such as "In My Merry Oldsmobile," "In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree" and "Wait 'till the Sun Shines, Nellie." One stout ghostly gentThere are figures visible around the periphery of the dance floor and one stout ghostly gent there on the left, who moved a bit during the long exposure. I think that the dancers are there, but they are moving so much that we can't see them. [If there were people moving around the dance floor, I think we'd see them, however blurrily. - Dave] A job for lifekeeping all those light bulbs in working order! I'm guessing the fire wasElectrical? Easy BakeI bet it felt like an oven under the 10,000 light bulbs. And man, I wonder how the electric bill looked like, even for 1905. Meet Me Tonight In DreamlandI wonder if that song referred to this particularly wonderful dance hall or just to dreaming in general. Since there are many people in this photo, seated in the outlying areas seemingly waiting for some event to begin, perhaps this was taken just prior to a dance contest or maybe a marathon "dance till you drop" endurance test. Like many other pictures on Shorpy, this brings to mind the hauntingly beautiful empty ballroom in the movie "The Shining." [This is 1905, so I don't know about "dance till you drop." Maybe "waltz till you wither." - Dave] Now listen Carl,the burned out bulb is aisle five, row nine and it's the fourth from the end. The largest ballroom in the United StatesThe Coney Island season opened every year in mid-May, with plenty of advance publicity about new attractions. Dreamland and its ballroom were built on a beachfront site previously cleared by another disastrous fire. Below is an excerpt from a New York Times feature, "A New Coney Island Rises from the Ashes of the Old," dated May 8, 1904. A week later, 250,000 people came to see all the new attractions. Dreamland FireThe ballroom was part of the larger Dreamland amusement park. Just before the park opened for the season in 1911 work was being done to repair the roof on the "Hell's Gate" ride. At least part of the work was being done at night. At about 1:30 a.m. the light bulbs illuminating the work area began exploding, probably due to an electrical malfunction. In the dark after the lights went out a worker kicked over a bucket of hot tar which started the fire. The flame spread swiftly because the park was essentially built of lath covered with a mixture of hemp fiber and plaster of Paris. [One view of the aftermath is here. - Dave] Empty ShellThe band appears to have taken a break. Where's the DJ? Gorgeously Illuminated The Real New York, 1904. The rival paradise, Dreamland, is said to have cost over $3,000,000. It has taken over the old Iron Pier and built above it the largest ballroom ever made, 20,000 square feet; beneath is the restaurant and a promenade, and beneath all the cool rush of the surf. The company runs four large steamers, as well as Santos-Dumont's Airship No. 9. Light, Vol. 4, 1904. The Ballroom, as here pictured, is the most gorgeously illuminated interior not only to be found at Coney Island, but there is none such interior lighting effect even at the World's Fair. This ballroom is one of the sights of New York at night, and is a study from the standpoint of the lighting engineer. Electrical Age, Vol. 37, 1906. "Dreamland," Coney Island, has perhaps the best lighted ballroom in the world. ExtinguishedI count six burned out lights. Anyone else see some I missed ?? Dual purpose room?I keep looking at this picture and think that it might have served as a roller rink and or a dance hall. The floor being worn so much at the corners or "turns" has me wondering. That's a good surpriseI don't expect to see many photos of Dreamland, considering its short life. And that ballroom invites me to dance. Live orchestra, free champagne, some beluga -- I'd really like to be there right now. Thanks for this nice surprise, and waiting for more Dreamland. (The Gallery, Coney Island, DPC)
Coney 1905 (Colorized)
... Alive! This is a stunning rendition of Luna Park at Coney Island. The colors create a marvelous 3D effect and you can almost jump on to ... 
 
Posted by Avzam - 08/04/2013 - 11:03am -

Another Dreamland photo that intrigued me. I just had to explore in color. This time it's the "Luna Park" part of Dreamland. Note the shadows, they are sharp and dark. The angle indicates this photo was taken in the early evening hours. This photo took me a while but proved to be a lot of fun. View full size. Luna Park Comes Alive!This is a stunning rendition of Luna Park at Coney Island. The colors create a marvelous 3D effect and you can almost jump on to the rides! (Colorized Photos)
A Thrill a Minute: 1911
June 13, 1911. The Cake Walk at Luna Park on Coney Island. View full size. 5x7 glass negative, George Grantham Bain ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/25/2009 - 10:00am -

June 13, 1911. The Cake Walk at Luna Park on Coney Island. View full size. 5x7 glass negative, George Grantham Bain Collection. Who can describe this ride? Cakewalk Video From a history of the cakewalk: The cakewalk was named after a dance which was in vogue at the time. The mechanism consisted of undulating bridges and gangways driven by cranks, The driving belt was often connected to the organ which meant that a speed up of the music meant a speed up of the ride and a speed up of the riders jerking on the bridges. The CakewalkI believe the typical cakewalk amusement park ride consisted of a walkway with floor panels that moved in different directions, forward and backward, side to side, up and down, and even rotating, making forward progress difficult and amusing. Maine LineLooks like the "Sinking of the Maine" ride in the background. http://www.westland.net/coneyisland/articles/ridelist.htm The Witching WaveFrom "Coney Island - Luna Park": Theophilus Van Kennel's Witching Waves installed at Luna in 1907 consisted of large oval course with a flexible metal floor. By using a system of reciprocating levers beneath the floor, the ride generated a continuous wave-like motion, followed by another in the flexible floor without the actual floor moving forward. Steerable small cars seating two passengers were propelled forward by the undulating floor. It was fascinating to watch and a popular fun ride. CakewalkCakewalk attractions are still very popular on fairgrounds in the Netherlands. Cake WalkIMDB description for the silent film "Jack Fat and Jim Slim at Coney Island," released December 1910: "Most of the attractions at Luna Park involved flinging the patrons across whirling discs or revolving walls; in our modern litigious era, such attractions are unimaginable. One comparatively modest attraction which we see here is the Cake Walk: basically a moving staircase, with two halves moving independently. We see an attractive young girl negotiating this easily." Only the barkers spiel changes Variations on the cake-walk are still to be found in the traveling carnival's fun house or horror house, along with the rotating barrel and rocking bridge. My favorite was the house of mirrors, all you had to do was look down and follow the wear pattern on the floor. (The Gallery, Coney Island, G.G. Bain, Sports)
Luna Park: 1913
... May 19, 1913. Promenaders at Luna Park, "The Heart of Coney Island." 5x7 glass negative, George Grantham Bain Collection. View full size. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/25/2009 - 10:01am -

May 19, 1913. Promenaders at Luna Park, "The Heart of Coney Island." 5x7 glass negative, George Grantham Bain Collection. View full size. [+] Not My 1913If this picture was taken in 1913, I'll eat my hat. My bowler hat. Or my wife's Merry Widow hat. Nobody dressed like this in 1913. Not a hobble skirt in sight. This photo is from 1908-1910 and no later. Trust me, I know. [The date is written right on the glass. Plus the flags have 48 stars. Bon appetit. - Dave] Is it my imagination……or is that upper left flag a 45-star flag? Unless this was some sort of old flag display (which it doesn't really appear to be), they should have been flying a 48-star flag. It was adopted on July 4, 1912 after Arizona and New Mexico were admitted to the union. [It shows 38, not 45. But it has 48. Six staggered rows of eight stars each. One corner is out of the frame, so we can't see them all. If you look at the flag on the right, you will see it also has 48 stars. Eight stars in the top row, eight stars in the second row, etc. - Dave] [+] What Goes On Here?There is a man, just right of the very center of this photo who appears to be aiming a machine gun at a hole in the ground. It looks like a group of people have gathered around to watch. His white pants would indicate that he is a custodian. Hmmm. [Diabolical. And ingenious. His machine gun is cunningly disguised as a board. - Dave] [+] I was going by……the staggered rows, not just the stars in the frame of the photo. I guess a 48-star flag was still new enough that perhaps the maker of it hadn't seen the official non-staggered 6-rows-of-8 version. [Prior to 1916 there was no official version. See comment above. - Dave] 48 star flagPrior to 1916 there was no official design, says the flag website nava.org: Q: I have two different 48 state flags. One has 48 staggered stars and the other has eight equal rows across with six rows down. Were there two different 48 state flags ever made? - Marla A: Prior to 1916, there were no official specifications for US flags. Indeed these two variants show up right from the beginning of the 48 star flag in 1912. After 1916, pretty much everyone switched to the even rows with the stars one over the other like the second one you mention. 48 star flags with staggered rows are somewhat rare and are early (1912-1916 or thereabouts). Beautiful Coney...and it still looks like that to this day. (The Gallery, Coney Island, G.G. Bain, Sports)
Pony Island: 1904
New York circa 1904. "The ponies, Coney Island." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View ... to the right! I believe pony rides are long gone from Coney Island now. Say Cheese! With the relatively slow film, and a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/20/2012 - 7:15pm -

New York circa 1904. "The ponies, Coney Island." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Um, kids, do you not like ponies?What's with the grim expressions here? Every last one of them looks like they hate being on a pony -- not what I'd expect from little kids ... Or are they just not reacting well to being photographed? The Good Ol' Days?Wow! Not a smile to be seen in the whole crowd. Must be a lilliputian funeral procession. No grinning in public!My old English grandmother taught me that. She thought that people who did were idiots. She was VERY English middle class. She was born in 1904. Work Will Set You Free?Shorpy and his workmates look happier than these kids. The attitude of society at that time was that children were just small adults and no one was interested in children being carefree and happy. Even the ponies aren't too happy. Stay golden pony boy.Maybe the pony riders were getting blown raspberries from the peanut gallery. Goin' down down downI think the kids have such dour expressions because they were told that if they got out of hand they'd be forced to work in The Great Coal Mine. You'd be unhappy tooIf you had to go back to work in The Great Coal Mine. A rumble?This seems like more than normal stoicism. Half the pony kids as well as the two older boys in back are glowering at something or someone to the left of the cameraman. And the boy in the dark suit to the very left is looking pretty angry too. A dispute or argument over something happened here right before the picture was taken. If you think we're having fun nowwait until we go down into the Coal Mine. It would be decadesbefore little Timmy Dorfmann, standing front center, would benefit from the fledgling science of psychotherapy. A caper in the worksThese two are planning something. Mama's boyMy best guess is that the boy in stripes, holding his mother's hand, was beat up often by the ruffians riding the ponies. Adventures In Coal MiningThat sounds like a fun attraction. Edward VIIIIs that a scowling Prince of Wales standing at the extreme left? That's no "Mama's Boy"Look closely and you’ll see there is a smaller child behind the boy in the horrible, pin-striped, matching short-pant and shirt outfit. And I'm sure he'd box your ears for calling him a mama's boy! Goat CartsCheck out the goat-pulled wagons to the right! I believe pony rides are long gone from Coney Island now. Say Cheese! With the relatively slow film, and a bunch of kids being held up for a, no doubt, publicity photo, what with the increasingly annoyed lens-man growling 'Hold still, you little buggers, and you lot, clear out of frame!', I'm surprised the photographer didn't have a stampede on his hands! [By this time, photographic emulsions - in this case on a glass plate, not film - were sensitive enough to permit exposure times of a fraction of a second in sunlight. Note the lack of motion blur where you'd otherwise expect it, for example, the ponies' heads. - tterrace] (The Gallery, Coney Island, DPC, Horses, Kids)
On the Ohio: 1910
... Publishing Company. View full size. Neither the Island Queen nor Delta Queen This is the huge sidewheeler City of ... boat was never completed, and her hull was sold to the Coney Island Co., who finished her as the Island Queen. Island Queen or ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/29/2012 - 2:42pm -

The Ohio River circa 1910. "Nightfall on the Ohio at Cincinnati." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Neither the Island Queen nor Delta QueenThis is the huge sidewheeler City of Cincinnati, built in 1899 at Jeffersonville, Indiana. You are thinking of the Cincinnati, built in 1924, which was supposed to have a twin, the Louisville. The latter boat was never completed, and her hull was sold to the Coney Island Co., who finished her as the Island Queen. Island Queen or Delta QueenI guess it could be one or the other. The Island Queen used to take passengers from the public landing in Cincy up river to the Coney Island amusement park. I made that trip many times as a kid in the late 1940's. It was quite a thrill in the summer to sit on deck and listen to the calliope. The Island Queen caught fire and was destroyed while in the dock at Pittsburgh in the late '40s. The Delta Queen continued to operate and as far as I know still exists. ClassicAnd Timeless; one of the best pictures yet! Thank You! The Delta QueenThe Delta Queen was a sternwheeler, not a sidewheeler like the boat in the Shorpy image. The Delta Queen (below) is still used for river cruises, but not overnight trips since it doesn't meet the current safety requirements. Far EastWith such air quality, I thought it was a picture of modern Beijing! The past is so bright, I gotta wear shades.Absolutely, one one my all time Shorpy favorites! I love how when I gaze from bottom to top, the sun actually seems glaring. [That's (ostensibly) the moon. One of many Detroit Publishing moonlight views. - Dave] Moonlight?I'm going to have to differ with Dave on this. I can't imagine that there'd be a photographic emulsion fast enough in 1910 to capture that image by moonlight with no motion blur. It'd be good a trick even today. I mean, look at all the "ghosts" of pedestrians walking in broad daylight in contemporaneous street views we've seen here. Same with their other "moonlight views" in the LOC collection. My bet is that it's the equivalent of "day for night" movie filming, that for their postcards, Detroit Publishing printed it dark and tinted it bluish for a simulated moonlight effect. Sidewheeler City of CincinnatiThe boat appears to be the 1899 sidewheeler City of Cincinnati of the Louisville & Cincinnati Packet Co., seen in previous Shorpy post: Steam Under the Bridge: 1906. Moonlight Photography"Moonlight photography" was a discipline of some interest to shutterbugs of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A distinction was drawn between "real moonlight photography" and "moonlight photographs" in general -- a stylistic genre that utilised underexposed pictures taken in daylight and then "printed deep" (a technique not available for this particular image, as it is taken from a negative without benefit of a paper print). The ghostly personages who populate much of the era's daylight photography are a consequence not of slow emulsions but rather of the fact that most large view cameras of the era lacked timed shutters (what were known then as "clockwork shutters" -- most spring shutters lacked a timing mechanism and were opened and closed by the photographer, which necessitated one-Mississippi, two-Mississippi exposures of several seconds' duration), or any shutters at all, exposures being made by removing and then replacing the lens cover. Photographers with clockwork shutters who wished to avail themselves of "fast plates" had a number of very sensitive emulsions available, as evidenced by the stop-motion photography of the 1890s. These were also utilised for "real moonlight" photographs. [And indeed we have a number of stop-motion images here, this being one example. Although, after reading your references and tterrace's comment, I do have my doubts as to whether the nighttime photography of a century ago could freeze waves as seen in the Ohio River picture. Then again, one underestimates the capabilities of an 8x10 view camera at one's peril. - Dave] 1910 by moonlightOne of those references is to an article on "real" moonlight photography in American Photography dated 1910, the same year this shot was taken. In discussing exposures using "a long bellows reversible back view camera... exposures will range from ten to thirty minutes on a clear night using stop f8 and fast plates." It also mentions two methods of getting the moon itself in the image without showing the effect of its motion during exposure. One was to double-expose the plate, first a long exposure of the scene when the moon was out of the field of view, then a shorter one after aiming the camera at the moon. The other involved exposing two negatives when making the print, one of just the moonlit scene, the other of the moon itself. Or the Moon Walking in BrightnessPerhaps enough sunlight and moonlight has already been shed on the subject, but a consideration of the location may further illuminate. The boat appears to be commencing her run down river, approaching the old C&O RR bridge spanning the Ohio. The camera has taken a position a bit upriver, almost certainly the south tower of the Suspension Bridge. Both bridges align slightly to the west of due north. The point of view is roughly WNW, perhaps tending towards NWbW. A full moon in early winter might take up position as we see, but would necessarily put cameraman and boat on river in the hour or two before dawn. A full moon in other seasons could not occupy the section of sky. The few souls visible on the boat seem dressed for heat, and -- looking far for a bit of vegetation -- the gap in the truss section of the bridge frames a bluff where trees appear in leaf. The moon appears less likely when we find that the photograph below from Detroit Publishing bears the title Sunset on the Ohio, Cincinnati, Ohio. Many details match precisely our photo, including the distant cloud bank low on the horizon. It could easily have been taken just a short while before the boat floated into position. On the OhioSerious contender for best picture on the blog. Any idea of the photographer? [Mr. Detroit Publishing. - Dave] (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Cincinnati Photos, DPC)
Cheyenne Joe's: 1903
New York circa 1903. "Coney Island -- the Bowery." Decisions, decisions. Wacke's Trocadero or Cheyenne ... meaning "farm" The idea that Coney Island would have a theme area based on a famously seedy street in a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/05/2012 - 1:48pm -

New York circa 1903. "Coney Island -- the Bowery." Decisions, decisions. Wacke's Trocadero or Cheyenne Joe's? Detroit Publishing glass negative. View full size. Do Not ResuscitateSome fashions should never be revived. I am talking about the fellow on the far right, facing away from us. He has a V gap in his waistband, just above his rump. I don't know what they were thinking when they designed that, but I hope no designer thinks it again! Re: Do Not Resuscitate@aenthal: While I share your dislike of that v-cut in the waistband of the gentleman's pants, I'm not so sure I agree with your observation that it's "just above his rump." Those are some mighty high-waisted pants! I'd say that gap is more like just above the L1 or L2 vertebra. Other choicesBallantine's Export or Genuine Wurzbüger Draught He Coulda Been a Contender"Rumour had it the challenger was so determined to prevail, he planned to load his gloves with Plaster of Paris. “Let him do it,” said Jeffries. “I’ll flatten him anyway.” "It came in the eighth round. After several blistering exchanges, Fitzsimmons inexplicably paused, lowered his guard, and spoke to Jeffries, taunting him. The champion’s response was a hard right to the belly followed by a thunderous left hook that put Fitzsimmons on the floor and ended the fight." from http://www.bestboxingblog.com/?p=687 Don't Overlook Flynn's... and Ballantine! They made a pretty good ale up through the 1970s: green bottle, great with hamburgers. From the Dutch "bouwerij" meaning "farm"The idea that Coney Island would have a theme area based on a famously seedy street in a nearby borough cracked me up; it was a short leap (for me, anyway) to visions of Disneyland installing a pre-Disney 42nd Street populated with street walkers and hustlers dressed as Disney characters. Pooh? Bambi? Lady & The Tramp? The 7 Dwarfs? It's a natural. But the truth about Brooklyn's Bowery is merely very interesting... http://www.thevirtualdimemuseum.com/2009/11/coney-island-bowery.html Wacke's TrocaderoFree Movies With Beer Coney Island theater proprietor Herman Wacke, no stranger to the moving image, is touted by some as the first commercial exhibitor of a motion picture at his Trocadero Hotel in 1893. Wacke's hotel, a stalwart from Coney's early years located along a strip of cabarets and beerhalls affectionately called the Bowery, was nearly destroyed in the fire that consumed Steeplechase in 1907. In 1912, Wacke fanned a few new flames. He began showing films for free in the saloon as a way to entice people to come in and purchase food and beer. Wacke's was probably the best known of many along the Bowery to exhibit films in this fashion. But the proprietor didn't have a license to do so, and during one particular sting, Wacke was arrested -- "charged with conducting a free show in connection with his bar" -- and fined $5. Not a huge sum of money for a successful saloon owner, and Wacke went willingly, becoming a test case for a law that many certainly thought was rigid and overly meddling. The Bowrey Boys - New York City History Cinnamon Rolls & BeerAnd there on the left you can get your fresh cinnamon rolls to go with your Export Lager Hot Crisis Vaffles 3 for 5 cents?The curlicue tool held by the woman in the booth on the left intrigued me. I stretched and skewed the sign on the front of her stand, but I still cannot make sense of it. [HOT CRISPS WAFFLES / 3 for 5¢ - Dave] Love this picture!Wonderful, evocative detail. Please, somebody colorize this one for us! Get a RoomCould that couple actually be holding hands in public? It's shameless is what it is. Ballantine'sBefore I read the comments, coincidentally, I did the same as JeffK, but with the sign over the street on the left. Ballantine's Export Beer was well advertised! 3 Balls 5¢Are they for a throwing or bowling game? I can't imagine they're talking whiskey at that price. Cheyenne Joe's Cowboy TavernFrom The Summary - Published weekly by and for inmates of the New York State Reformatory at Elmira. The Summary, July 4, 1908. Coney Island: The World's Greatest Play Ground As it is To-Day. … Cheyenne Joe's Tavern is free and once inside a long bar is visible. On one end sits a cowboy with two six-shooters protruding from this belt while he plays a violin. Another cowboy acts as waiter while a third tends bar. A group of these typical westerners are around a table and in the corner of the cabin stands a pony restlessly. The floor is sprinkled with sawdust and newspaper is made to supply wall paper. … Personal Time MachineThis is what I love about Shorpy. Whenever I want to go to a different time and place, I just come here, find a wonderful picture like this, click on "View Full Size," step into the picture and go for a fascinating visit. Oh the hats! I believe when we stopped wearing hats, it was the beginning of the fall of civilization. Great PhotoThis is a perfect amusement park photo from the turn of the 20th century. I wish I could time travel back to 1903. I’ve often wondered how many of these amusement park scenes are set up by the photographer. The couple walking towards the camera could be models. People are in just the right places. I’m sure they spent a lot of time setting up for the perfect shot. Belly Up To The Bar Boys. I'm BuyingQuite a few always wax nostalgic when an idyllic tree lined residence street with an little girl is shown and wish that they could go back to that peaceful scene. Not me. This is where I'm taking the Time Machine and a hundred dollars. A sports bar, German beer on draught, Ballentine Ale, cinnamon buns, good 5¢ cigars, hot crisped waffles 3 for 5¢, chops, a cowboy bar with sawdust on the floor plus a pony, cowboy waiters, cowboy entertainers, an Oriental shop with 10 ¢ large ????, and last but not least an Irish Hotel Bar. Since I am of Irish/German ancestry, a known beer drinker, and an occasional cigar smoker I would have been right at home here and would have spent the day slipping in and out of the various establishments announcing each time, "Drinks on me, boys and may ye be dead an hour before the devil knows it." Ah wouldn't it have been a glorious day filled with oompah bands and Irish reels, good food, cold beer, and possibly meeting relatives from Strokestown, County Roscommon Ireland or Dusseldorf Germany?" (The Gallery, Coney Island, DPC)
Steeplechase Park (Colorized): 1903
... of Atlantic City, this time it's Steeplechase Park at Coney Island. Around thirty hours of work went into this one; I swear I still can't ... 
 
Posted by scottr - 07/02/2011 - 4:11pm -

My fifth colorized image, but instead of Atlantic City, this time it's Steeplechase Park at Coney Island. Around thirty hours of work went into this one; I swear I still can't predict with any degree of certainty how long any particular picture might take. "Longer than you expect" is probably a good rule of thumb. The original is here. The dimensions are different, as I've cropped it to serve as computer wallpaper. I'm pretty sure the colors on the American flag are more or less correct. And the skin tones are probably reasonably close. The boardwalk probably really was brown and the sky probably really was blue. The other colors are sourced purely from my imagination. View full size. BravoSuch a beautiful job. I just printed it. Probably going to frame it. Thanks. A World in ColorWhat can I say except, "Bravo"! Made me want to listen to Jamey Johnson's newest song, "You should have seen it in color", and learn how to do this myself. Funny how color makes these images look not so long ago. Perfect!This is the most breathtaking colorization I've ever beheld! Congratulations! Any chance that an even higher-res version could be posted to serve as the desktop for a 27" iMac (2560 x 1440)? SpectacularEveryone that has walked by my computer today has been impressed by this and they're not even colorization people. It is spectacular. Simply Amazing!It's like stepping back in time. Awesome work! Awesome!I'm normally not that keen on colorized photos as sometimes the colours are not realistic, but this is fantastic. Looks like a still from the set of Boardwalk Empire (this is a bit earlier I know, but it looks that fresh) "Boardwalk Empire" for realWonderful! Thank youWhat a powerful image and so appropriate for celebrating our nation's birthday. California sends our sincere gratitude for your painstaking work in so masterfully bringing this scene to life. Very Nice JobAnd that's from an old coot who doesn't particularly enjoy colorized photos. Colorful(Sorry, my pun writer is on holiday). I was thinking if you referenced picture postcards from the day you might get an idea for some of the colors, but those artists probably used the same guess work as you. Very well done, my new screensaver. The choice of red hair for the women in front is a good one, I think, based on her features. Well DoneA step back in time. Well done! KudosVery natural look to it. Great use of contrast. Excellent! Beautiful!!Fantastic work! Beautiful picture. Thanks for all you do! Echoing everyone elseI'm repeating what so many others have said, but seriously, that is the first colorized image I've ever seen that looks absolutely real. It's magnificent. I've seen some wonderful colorizing here on Shorpy that comes very close to the mark, but you absolutely nailed it. I'm in awe. I look forward to seeing more of your work in the future. It obviously took you a long time, but it's very much appreciated. And it's also my wallpaper now as well. Huge thumbs up. Yeow!Your colorization is just crazy good and, your choice of photo is too excellent. Thank you for all the work you do. Every photo you post are jewels. Grant DumbstruckThis photo and the colorization is simply amazing! It is now my desktop photo and when it completely filled the screen, I was immediately part of the crowd at Steeplechase. The effect is truly wonderful. Thank you for this moment when we can all step back in time. I just know any moment, I will be speaking to the striking couple coming my way. Great!Keep 'em coming! Wilse Thanks, Everyone!Oh my gosh, thank you all so much for your kind words! I am absolutely blown away by the positive reactions I've received, and am extremely pleased that people are enjoying what I did with this photo. You cannot imagine my surprise at seeing it placed on the front page (seriously, I did not expect that), and am doubly pleased that it was judged worthy of such an honor. Thank you all again! You are a talented guyIt's the best colorization I have seen. Thanks for being part of Shorpy's. Wow!Congratulations. That is as previously said "awesome". Really brings it to life. Really beautiful!It's amazing how a little color really brings the past alive. It feels more like last week instead of last century. Excellent JobI'm impressed to see that kind of quality work after just a short time colorizing photos. And congratulations on having the first Colorized photo show up on Shorpy's Home page. Maybe we'll see more in the future. Keep at it so we can continue to see more of your work! [This is a great job, but not the first colorized image on our front page. - Dave] SpectacularBravo! Excellent job. Whew!Magnificent job! That really brings it to life. Well done, Scott. OutstandingI am blown away by this. What fantastic work. A great present to all of us for the 4th. Bravo! Great JobThat is a great job of colorizing. After seeing so many old black and white photos, it is amazing to realize that people really did live in color back in those days instead of different tones of grey. It's beautiful. Thank you!You should get the trophy for making so many so happy! Great work! Hot Dog!If you look closely, it seems that Mr. Lemmerman beat Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs by at least 15 years! A sunny day at Steeplechase ParkLike most here, you can feel the life inn this photo. It is so lifelike that it would be fun to go back there and enjoy the Park for the day. Love the couple just strolling down the boardwalk like they haven't a care in the world. They do have each other and I'm guessing that it may be time for a nice cold 1 cent lemonade. It does sound refreshing especially at a penny. Well I'm off to the Steeplechase and see if it is a much fun as stated. See ya!!! Ice coldLemoade? Love it!I think what really does it for me is - and I'm not decrying your excellent work at all - that it isn't quite perfect. When I looked at it first - and again afterwards - I had to think "is it or isn't it?" Also, a happy birthday to all of youse out in the colonies! WOW!!!WOW!!! I've never commented on a photo here. Been lurking daily for months. One of my favorite sites. But this is fantastic. Great Work!!! Sure my room is a little noisy.But hey, I live next to Steeplechase Park! Congratulations Scott on an awesome job. Really brings this scene to life! And it looks terrific as a desktop on my 23-inch screen. Keeping in mind that I wouldn't even attempt this masterpiece even if I knew how, I will tell you what I would have annoyingly said had I been looking over your shoulder: "Make the left-hand poster high above the entrance full color." But I'm sure that would have added several more hours. (I know, I'm a jerk!) Seriously, great job! Color NoteThe midday sky in the Northeast is generally not robin's egg blue. More whitish-grayish. Aesthetically, though, sky-blue is definitely prettier. Color me impressedWow! Wow! Double Wow and Holy Cow! And allow me to reiterate -- wow! Don't know the first thing about colorization but I would bet it takes far more patience than I could muster. You are to be congratulated - and let's congratulate Shorpy's for the fine talent that it attracts. Gasp!Having spent countless hours in Photoshop trying to colorize a scan of a family photo from just after WWII (and I know the location well and most of the colors!) I must defer to your superior skills. Outstanding. I look forward to your future efforts, perhaps I'll learn something. Incredible!!This is a truly wonderful piece of work. So many of the photos on Shorpy transport the viewer into a time long ago, but none so convincingly as this. Thank you for your work, you have made a lot of people very happy with this picture. Awesome!This may be the best colorized photo I have ever seen! I feel like I could literally walk into the picture. Great job! Choice of colors.Being a professional that uses PhotoShop daily, I can appreciate the time and talent it takes to colorize a black and white print this well. Beyond that, one of the more difficult things to do is deciding what colors to use — to keep it realistic yet not repetitious. Kudos. Jaw DroppedAbsolutely stunning! I called my wife in to look at this, her jaw dropped, literally. (And we look at a lot of colorized pictures). New colorization fanI must confess, I'm not a big fan of colorization...until today! If it's done well [and this one certainly goes beyond that!]... I can almost taste the lemonade, and smell the hot dogs, and hear the calliope...well, you get the idea. Wish I could climb through my computer screen and into this photo. And, from one who is partial to redheads, good choice on the woman's hair. Excellent job, Scott. Can't wait to see your next work. Wow!I too have this as my wallpaper. Your eye for color is amazing. Thank you! Wow!I can't even being to imagine how difficult this must have been, particularly the flooring with all its different hues. It's funny, until I see something like this, I tend to think that era was drab and dull. You have a great eye for color. The gold accents on the columns, the dresses that match the hats, the lady in the foreground with the red hair...very nice! Absolutely beautifulI have this as my computer wallpaper at work and people stop and gawk at it constantly. I love being able to "take a quick break" at Steeplechase during a dreary day. Wonderful job. (Colorized Photos)
Jackknife Bridge: 1907
... foreground -- what the heck is it? It reminds me of the Coney Island Submarine . Or possibly some kind of covered barge? It seems to have ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/21/2012 - 11:20am -

Chicago, Illinois, circa 1907. "Jackknife Bridge, Chicago River." Our second look at this riveting (and riveted) span. Glass negative by Hans Behm. View full size. Great Lakes Lifeboat?The rounded top and porthole cockpit of the boat in question appears akin to modern offshore lifeboats. Non-Submerging SubmarineI've seen some strange watercraft in Shorpy pictures, but none stranger or less obvious of its purpose than the one in the foreground -- what the heck is it? It reminds me of the Coney Island Submarine. Or possibly some kind of covered barge? It seems to have sliding panels on the top. Maybe someone's homemade houseboat? Odd boats!The boat on the left reminds me of The African Queen, and the one on the right looks a bit like a Jules Verne submarine! What sort of uses is that riveted tubular craft designed for? Is there a name for the design? Rolling lift bridgeThe Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad trains crossed the Chicago River just south of Jackson Boulevard on this example of a Scherzer Rolling Lift Bridge, one of at least ten crossing the main channel and the north and south branches of the Chicago River, designed by Chicago's Scherzer Rolling Bridge Co. The western terminus of the "Met" was in my hometown, Westchester, Illinois, a "planned" community developed by traction magnate Sam Insull, and, as part of the CTA, ran into Westchester until the mid-1950s. I vaguely recall the station on the north side of Canterbury between Balmoral and Westchester Boulevard, and the ground level crossing at Canterbury. The western terminus was moved to Forest Park, and is still the main westside "L", running in the median of the Congress Park Expressway (excuse me, Eisenhower Expressway!). RivercamperIf Airstream made a boat in 1907, it'd probably look like that strange vessel at the bottom of the picture. A Steampunk ShrineIt should be! As engineers sought a better solution to Chicago's bridge problem, the city entered its experimental phase. A jack-knife bridge that folded back on itself was built in 1891 but was deemed a failure. The first vertical lift bridge, with tall towers at either end controlling counterweights to lift a center span, was completed in 1894. And, in 1895, the Scherzer rolling lift bridge was developed in Chicago, opening at Van Buren Street. But the bridge type most associated with the city is the trunnion bascule. Trunnion bascule bridges have leaves that rotate on a shaft, or trunnion, located on the shore. A complex system of counterweights, gears and electric motors, operated by a bridge tender, raise the leaves upwards and away from the center of the river. The first trunnion bascule bridge in the United States was completed in 1902 at Cortland Street, and it is still there today. Not only did the design prove effective, but it was copied around the world and became known as the Chicago-type bascule. Most of the bridges you see in Chicago now are of the bascule-type, but examples of the swing bridge, vertical lift and Scherzer lift still exist, though many are now inoperable. FencingIt looks like they're using that newfangled chain link fencing - introduced to the US a mere 16 years ago. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Chicago, DPC, Railroads)
A Swimming Hole: 1904
... without those woolen bathing costumes they had to rent at Coney Island and Atlantic City? Why, I'm shocked! Shocked, I tell you! ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/02/2012 - 5:52pm -

Duluth, Minnesota, circa 1904. "A swimming hole, Lester Park." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Where the Boys AreNo doubt. RiddleDo you know what they do in Minnesota in the summer? If it falls on a Sunday, they go swimming! (Oh, I slay myself.) Shocking!!!You mean boys used to go swimming in the local quarries without those woolen bathing costumes they had to rent at Coney Island and Atlantic City? Why, I'm shocked! Shocked, I tell you! "View full size"You just know what the PO'd lookin dude is thinking -- "A hundred years from now, there better not be an Internet!" Still thereSwimsuits no longer optional. Scandalous!I was expecting rented bathing suits up to the neck. I can't help but wonder if they felt they were being naughty, way back in 1904, or if we have just become sensitized from all the full body bathing suits we have seen on Shorpy. BrrrBeing in Minnesota and all, that water is cold! Obviously. Blissfully unattendedWhat I find remarkable about this photo is that there's nary an anxious, hand-wringing parent in sight. "Christopher, come out of there this instant, before you break your skull on those rocks!" "Water moccasins can swim, Jason. Now get dressed and come home right now!" "You just ate lunch, Ryan. Do you want to get cramps and drown?!" Childhood was probably more hazardous in those days. And probably more fun. I'm surprisedI'm surprised, not that some of them aren't wearing swimsuits, but that some of them are. I was given to believe that at the old swimmin' hole, you just took off your clothes and jumped in. Clearly, the truth was something different. I wonderEvery time I see an old picture of kids I wonder what became of them. Did they survive childhood? Get killed in the war? Children and grandchildren of their own? It would be neat if their ancestors could identify the picture and fill us in. A Bracing DipI just love the look on the face of the boy entering the water in front of the waterfall. Swimming in fresh spring waters I've seen it many times. it says "COOOOLD!" Girls?Either girls weren't allowed or these guys were too young to care. MemoriesWe didn't go swimming here, but used to go camping with my mom's youngest brother and would swim in a similar quarry with a bit of a cliff in western New York. We didn't bother with swimsuits either, and this was in the 1970s. There was a little bit of embarrassment until you hit the water and then you just kind of forgot about being nekkid (even when you climbed back out to jump in). It was all very innocent. Top ManLooks an awful lot like our very own Mr. Terrace, or maybe his grampa. Get much sun? The ol' swimmin' hole When I was a kid we didn't have anything that spectacular, but we did have Cow Creek and it worked just fine. Only one thing missingMud for a good mudball fight. Summers in MinnesotaMy dad told stories of swimming in the summer in Minnesota. He came from a family of 15 and lived a little ways off an river in the 1920s. The boys had a spot on the river for skinny dipping and the girls had a spot farther down stream for the same. He said after swimming they would jump on the neighbor's horses and ride bareback through the fields. The gypsies also camped close by. Been there, done thatGrowing up in Indiana near White River, we often skinny dipped. We were banned from ever going near a quarry. Still had fun jumping of a 15 foot cutbank and sinking to the bottom with a huge chunk of mud in our arms. Lester RiverI believe the photo was taken at the Shallows, along the east branch of the Lester River near Lester Park golf course. The "Day at the Deeps" video was shot at the Deeps, on the west branch of the Lester, also known as Amity Creek. Cliff jumping at the Deeps!Cliff jumping at the Deeps! 106 years later, this looks exactly the same, and is still a close retreat for people from the neighborhood. When I was a college student in Duluth, this was the best way to cool off on hot, lazy summer days. In fact, my brothers just went there yesterday! For those of you who have never been, nothing beats a summer in Duluth. It's beautiful! (The Gallery, DPC, Duluth, Sports, Swimming)
The Tickler: 1909
... late 1920s I think is when they closed Chester Park. Coney Island and the new Riverdowns horse track took over by the 1930s. I always ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/29/2012 - 2:41pm -

Cincinnati circa 1909. "Chester Park -- the Tickler." Now "not as rough." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. The lady's not for TickleringOnly young men seem to enjoy it. The women standing below are gazing at it dubiously - as I would too. For one thing, their hats are a lot more difficult to put on and take off. For another, the excitement the ride induces probably isn't appropriate in public mixed company. The Atlantic City theme continues, with boxes of its famed salt water taffy proudly offered! You may have had to leave your idylls of the Jersey shore, but taffy's teeth-pulling sweetness is still available to remind you of the salt spray, even after you're back in Ohio. What goes downI'm sure that even with the remodeled Tickler, many still lost their popular price luncheon! By the late 1920sI think is when they closed Chester Park. Coney Island and the new Riverdowns horse track took over by the 1930s. I always thought Coney Island was Cincinnati's first amusement park until I saw this site. The current location now holds a Honda dealership and a Kroger grocery store. Tickler on the West CoastThe Tickler could also be found at the 1909 Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition held in Seattle. The fabulous documentary "The Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition: Seattle's Forgotten World's Fair" has footage of the Fairy Gorge Tickler in action beginning at 24:27: http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=4030901 Another good image of the ride in question being used is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/uw_digital_images/3383228748/ You can tell just how popular it was by the line of people waiting to get on! Evidently the thrill was worth the whiplash. My aching neck!Claims to be not as rough, but I hurt just looking at it! Also known asThe Kidney Stone Crusher! Rubber bumpersThe secret to the ride is the rubber bumpers. The bumpered car rolls along against the railings, carrying it down the slanted floor. The cars would spin along the track as they descended. Tickler historyThe idea of a ride named ticker has apparently been around for a while. The Tickler name holds special significance in the history of amusement rides and of Coney Island. The Tickler was the first amusement ride "designed to jostle, jolt and jounce its riders about in their seats when the ride was in motion," according to its inventor and manufacturer William F. Mangels. More here. Human pinballIt's interesting to see there are reflectors mounted on the arc lamps in this photo. "Not as rough as last season"Those six words make my imagination go wild. Just how bad was it last season that they feel compelled to mention it? New and ImprovedIt shouldn't kill nearly as many people this year! "Not as rough"Quite a bit more popular than its predecessor, "The Lacerator." The Hat ExchangeThere is a sign that reads "HATS" and some lined circular containers nearby. I guess if you were afraid that your hat might blow away during your Tickler experience you left it in one of those receptacles. If there were enough of them in the bin I wonder if someone looking for an upgrade just helped themselves and left you theirs. [The "lined circular containers" are what you ride in. The hat basket is what the sign is attached to. - Dave] FrazzleI want to know what's inside "Frazzle." RemodeledAny truth to the rumor the work was done by a French company? "Mangels"The inventor was a man named Mangels? Ah. Last season must have been a hoot and a half. The First VariationThis must have been the predecessor of The Price Is Right's Plinko game on a slightly larger scale. Frankly, I've love to see it in motion. Amusement park rides of yesteryear had so much more charm than the overly padded and seat strapped and belted rides of today. There is something to be said for the thrills one gets from riding and surviving intact a hair raising ride such as this. Today's rides may be higher and faster but they lack the genuine fear factor and adrenaline rush that real danger provides. I can only imagine the concessions possible on the "I survived the Tickler" wool t-shirts, wool neckties, and wool bathing suits. Instant InjuryJust don't let your arms hang too far down on the outside, or your fingers will get squished into useless tentacles. HeadwaiterThe bloke wearing the dark suit looks like the headwaiter in a mortuary. Maybe he is waiting to pick up customers that didn't survive the ride. [I don't even want to ask what kind of mortuary employs waiters! - Dave] Instant injury (2)And be careful how your tentacles are hanging as well!! How does it move side to side?Since the cars don't appear to have any motors and the planks have no rails to guide the cars, I wonder how they move thru the railings left to right/right to left? Gravity wouldn't move the car sideways, only down. [The rotation of the car might be enough to move it from side to side. Or the railings might be angled down a bit. Or both. - Dave] MisnomerHow would this "ride" do anything but rattle you to the core? Tilt-a-whirlThis looks like an early albeit extremely-dangerous looking tilt-a-whirl from amusement parks of today. Oddly, there doesn't look to be any sort of stopper mechanism at the end (or padding)... hopefully it didn't go too fast. The sign at the top is amazingI'd love to get a large image just of the sign at the top. The decoration on the lintel is also great. (The Gallery, Cincinnati Photos, DPC, Sports)
Steeplechase Park: 1903
New York, August 1903. "South end of Bowery, Coney Island." Be sure to bring the kiddies -- "All the children will be presented ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/20/2012 - 7:14pm -

New York, August 1903. "South end of Bowery, Coney Island." Be sure to bring the kiddies -- "All the children will be presented with toys to-day." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. ReliefAfter you eat your rosted peanuts and drink your lemoade, you can go to the tolet upstairs! SignageIncredible photo! I spent a half hour just reading signs. 1963I visited Coney Island exactly 60 years after this photo was taken. You could still avail yourself of the Steeplechase Horses and Parachute Jump. And George C. Tilyou is the name behind the flags. Who says there's no such thing as a time machine?I love photos like this one - so clear and so detailed, its like you could step right into them! Thanks, Shorpy! When Life gives you LemosCheck out the sign: LEMOADE! At nightthis place is lit up like Luna Park! They all just seem to be in costume. It's hard to believe that people wore those kinds of clothes. Especially the women. It just seems all so civilized. My first impulse upon seeing this image, was to jump into it to hear the sounds and smell the smells of what this grand place was offering. The Guy on the Leftis ready to start a fight. Maybe he's the guy who misspelled "Lemonade." "The Funny Place"Does anyone else remember the old newspaper ads for "Steeplechase, The Funny Place," whose logo was the caricature drawing of an idiotic grinning man? I always thought it was George C. Tilyou himself. What's there today?What a beautiful picture. Coney Island is such a wonderful chameleon. Steeplechase Park was on the western end of the Coney Island amusement area, roughly where the minor league Keyspan Park and its parking lot are today. This means that if this picture was taken at the western end of the Bowery, which stopped at the Steeplechase property line, then that puts us on the Bowery just west of W. 15th Street. Here's the the corner on Google Maps. Keyspan Park would be directly in front of us where the Steeplechase admission gates are. The spot to our left, in later years, would've been the Thunderbolt roller coaster with the Kensington Hotel underneath its far turn (the house from Annie Hall where Alvy Singer grew up.) The roller coaster sat dormant from 1983 to 2000, when Guiliani tore it down in 2000 to make way for a much-needed vacant lot. Anyway, I just realized I'd taken a picture of that spot from a similar angle in 2000. As you can see from the 2000 picture the street was no longer a public way, but you can get a good sense of the use of the land then and now. I'm willing to bet Kensington Walk is the little turn-off to the left that you see in the 1903 pic. The Kensington was built in 1895 and according to this story from a NY folklore society it "survived the Bowery fire of 1903". The New York Times story on the fire puts the date of the blaze as November 1, 1903. This photo is dated on or before August 25, 1903 if the Knights of Columbus sign is any indication. Most of these buildings, then, didn't have long to live when the picture was taken. Most of the Bowery from Steeplechase all the way to Feltman's Restaurant (where Astroland Park recently stood) was ruined. Out of the ashes of the bordellos and gambling parlors came, well, more bordellos and gambling parlors. Coney Island has always had that amazing knack for giving people what they want. This is why I love shorpy.com so much. With a little work and some luck, we can still uncover those connections from the past which the photographs (and the newspaper morgues, bless the NYT) have so kindly kept for us. Budget Sign Co.You may have needed some of that LEMOADE to wash down those fresh "rosted" peanuts. Back into my ancestors' livesMy grandfather was born in Brooklyn, not far from here, the month after this was taken. Seems like a completely different world. Wonderful image. PalmistI want my life read to me by Eaton the Great! That clock tower is amazing! No No, can't have it here!"Yes, we need electricity, but placing a utility pole here would get in the way of our customers buying our waffles for 35 cents. Figure something out." "Well, ok, but we'll have to balance a pole up on your balcony and tie it to your roof. We try not to do anything in an attractive way, you see." So the power companies and telegraph companies set a precedent that stays with us to this very day. Steeplechase JackYou can see "Steeplechase Jack" and his grin inviting you into "The Funny Place" near the center, below the weathervane, to the left of the signs for Cummins Indian Congress (a Wild West show)! (The Gallery, Coney Island, DPC, Sports)
Queen and Commoner: 1906
The Ohio River circa 1906. "Coney Island Co. sidewheeler Island Queen at Cincinnati." Let her not blind us to ... Guiding Star was another excursion boat making trips to Coney Island amusement park. Re: Folding Stacks Perhaps there were no ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/29/2012 - 2:43pm -

The Ohio River circa 1906. "Coney Island Co. sidewheeler Island Queen at Cincinnati." Let her not blind us to the more modest charms of the Guiding Star. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Riggers and allPoor forlorn rowboats! There, I mentioned them so they wouldn't be left out too. House on the HillAcross the river, on the middle right is a fantastic gothic mansion on top of the hill. Anyone know what that is? I hope it still exists. The Ohio and the Licking This photo was made near the present day Great American Ballpark from the Ohio side looking south over the river toward Kentucky. The river in the background going under the bridge is the Licking, which runs between Covington and Newport. Women and Children FirstEven if we assume there are two more lifeboats on the starboard side, they're gonna fill up fast. "Guiding Star""Come over and visit us anytime in our humble boat. Please be careful when walking the plank." Folding StacksI wonder how long and how many crew it took to lower/raise those stacks to get under a low bridge. [I doubt if there were any "low bridges" across the Ohio. - Dave] too few life boats!And I thought that the Titanic didn't have enough life boats! Low clearanceThere may not have been low bridges, but there were low hanging wires. The Island Queen hit one that knocked down her stacks in 1914. The Guiding Star is most likely a wharf boat for a steamer of the same name. Guiding Star was another excursion boat making trips to Coney Island amusement park. Re: Folding StacksPerhaps there were no "low bridges" across the Ohio River but there were certainly times of high water. A prior Shorpy post: Steam Under the Bridge: 1906, shows the sidewheeler City of Cincinnati having to fold its stacks in order to pass under a Cincinnati bridge during a period of high water. The Island Queen appears to have similar hinges and rigging to enable lowering its stacks. Church SteepleThe church to the left of the bridge is the Salem Methodist Church. It had the highest steeple in Newport, KY. The Church is still standing and is known as The Stained Glass Theater and is used for community theater productions. However, the steeple was demolished by a tornado in 1986. View Larger Map Gaurd dog!Watch out for the little doggy when approaching the Guiding Star. House on the HillThe "House on the Hill" is actually two houses. The front one is the Graziani House. http://www.nkyviews.com/kenton/kenton1941.htm Its still there but with the fourth/fifth story tower visible in the photo has been removed. View Larger Map The one in the back is the Shinkle Mansion, on the other side of Second St. from the Graziani. http://www.nkyviews.com/kenton/kenton666.htm It was later donated to the Salvation Army for use as a hospital, and was demolished in 1920; replaced by a newer hospital building. http://www.nkyviews.com/kenton/pdf/bricking_shinkle.pdf A regal beauty indeedWow! What a mighty Queen! And moving at a fair clip, judging by the wake, and the spray at the bow. I always find it disturbing, though, when a ship's flags, and smoke, are blowing in the direction of travel, as they are here. More on stack heightsAlthough clearance under the later Cincinnati bridges at normal Ohio River water levels may not have been a problem, quite a brouhaha developed further upstream over clearance issues in 1847. The town of Wheeling Virginia (it didn't end up being in West Virginia until the 1863 split) built a suspension bridge to carry the National/Cumberland Road across the Ohio that impeded the passage of taller boats to further upstream ports like Pittsburgh under some river conditions. Hinged stacks could address the issue, but the steamboat operators (who favored high stacks for their boiler draft efficiency and ash/cinder/smoke dispersion benefits) didn't think they should have to bear extra equipment/crew/maintenance costs so bridge developers could save money by skimping on clearance height. Add in the desire of the community to avoid the negative infrastructure/condemnation process impact of higher and necessarily longer approach ramps through already developed areas and you had the makings of a lawsuit. The steamboat operators were apparently able to convince the state of Pennsylvania that their having to fold their stacks would somehow limit the growth and economic viability of Pittsburgh, so the state championed the case against the bridge that was 50 miles downriver in another state. None other than E. M. Stanton (namesake of a certain serial Shorpy poster) represented the state of Pennsylvania in a landmark lawsuit against the Wheeling and Belmont Bridge Company, but even in losing produced a still important interpretation of the Commerce Clause of the U.S Constitution and clearly demonstrated the need for something like the Interstate Commerce Act, which Congress got around to enacting a quarter of a century later. Someone even wrote a book on the case. At one point, even Mother Nature appeared to weigh into the battle, and on the side of Pittsburgh by taking out the six year old bridge with a storm in 1854. It was rebuilt and survives to this day through laudable preservation efforts. Dave's crafted photo of the Island Queen is one of the clearest I've see in terms of stack hinge and folding mechanism detail. Bridges and MansionsRiverboat interests were so strong in Cincinnati that all the bridges were built high enough so the smokestacks wouldn't need to be lowered, at least until certain high water or flood stages anyway. The Island Queen was used to take patrons between the Cincinnati Riverfront and the Coney Island amusement park that remains today upstream on the Ohio River in the city's California neighborhood. In 1905 the 12 year old steamboat "Saint Joseph" from Mississippi was refitted and renamed the "Island Queen" that we see here. It was destroyed by fire in 1922. There's dozens of great photos of the old gal and her successors at: http://wiki.cincinnatilibrary.org/index.php/Island_Queen It didn't end wellMy boyfriend's great grandfather, Fred Dickow, was the chief engineer on the Island Queen when it blew up while in port in Pittsburgh, PA. It's said that he lit a welding torch to repair a loose stanchion near some oil tanks causing a spark to ignite an explosion. He was a veteran engineer who had worked for the company for 30 years. http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19470911&id=sFsbAAAAIBAJ&... MemoriesGrowing up in the Cincinnati area in the late 30s and 40s, I rode the Island Queen to Coney Island Park many times. I had no idea that there was more than one Island Queen, but it appears that they all seem to have been side wheelers, not the more common stern wheelers. In my case, I was much more excited about riding the "Queen" than attending Coney Island. I remember watching the Island Queen approaching the Cincinnati public landing, coming downstream from Coney. I think the steam calliope could be heard all over town! The side wheels would slowly stop, then reverse until she had stopped some what below the landing, then one side wheel would slowly reverse direction and she would slowly turn in place 180 degrees. Then she would move ahead and slowly maneuver to the landing. Beautiful! Once on board I would go to the lower deck to watch the fascinating machinery. There was a huge (at least it seemed huge to me) wood walking beam on each side that connected the engines to the paddle wheels, and they were painted white, trimmed in red, polished, adorned with several large red stars. If I remember correctly, there was an annual race against the Delta Queen. It was very sad to hear of her demise in Pittsburgh. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Cincinnati Photos, DPC)
Luna Park: 1905
Coney Island, New York, circa 1905. "Whirl of the Wind, Luna Park." 8x10 inch dry ... have experienced the park in its heyday. Well-to-do Coney Island before the subway opened was a destination of the middle class and ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/13/2022 - 8:49pm -

Coney Island, New York, circa 1905. "Whirl of the Wind, Luna Park." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Meet me in DéjàvulandBravo Dave, for the lovely pairing of this photo with tterrace's latest post. And, down in the lower left corner, isn't that little Tootie Smith and her older sisters, visiting all the way from St. Louis? Little Debbie is there!Maybe she has the Cake and Cookie concession. Safety First!That ride looks perfectly safe to me! Later That EveningNoting all the decorative lights makes me want a night view version of this as well. I can only imagine! Counting lightbulbsI started counting the lightbulbs in this photo but gave up when my vision went blurry and a migraine set in. Then I found some info on the internet that said, "By 1907, Luna Park was illuminated by 1,300,000 incandescent bulbs at a cost of $5,600 a week." It must have kept a squad of workers busy just replacing the burned out bulbs! Not like the amusement parks we knowI still can't get over how well some people dressed in those days. I have to imagine that Luna Park attracted a more well to do customer and that the price of admission may have been the reason. American GothicHow does that thing even work? It's very Edward Gorey. It was bound to happen.Combining the wood used to build the park, the number of light bulbs, and the period electrical wiring of the times, it's no wonder it burned. I'm just surprised it lasted until 1944 before it did so. Though, I would have loved to have experienced the park in its heyday. Well-to-doConey Island before the subway opened was a destination of the middle class and up, hence the fashion. I learned this just today from the Bowery Boys' posts (with podcasts) on Coney Island history. (Post 1, Post 2). Just an ImpressionPhotos like these make that period seem impossibly elegant. Pocket full of quartersThe name Luna Park was here used for the first time. It went on to be used in several other fairgrounds all over the world, and eventually became (at least in Europe) a generic name for fairground attractions, or part of them. During my childhood ('70s and '80s), where I lived in Belgium, we had a winter fair that came to our town every year. One part of it was a covered affair that presented to us youngsters the latest in arcade video games. It was called ... Luna Park. Nobody knew where that name came from, or what it stood for. And at the time, the name "Luna Park" even became a generic name for an arcade video game place. The arcade video games died out in the '90s, but even now, slip the name "Luna Park" to any guy from my generation, and they'll turn into a boy again, eyes gleaming, and pockets full of quarters (or their equivalent). Not GothicFYI, like another comment I made today, this is not Gothic. The arches are not pointed, and the building has not vaulting except some barrel vaulting. This is Romanesque, not Gothic. It does, though show some influence of Byzantine and Eastern culture [very popular in that period] much like structures in resort areas from the same period in Brighton and Eastbourne on the south coast of England, on which it was likely based. (The Gallery, Coney Island, DPC)
Jersey Shore: The Prequel
... what we've become. The images of both Atlantic City and Coney Island have so much wonderful architecture in them and the crowds demonstrate a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/03/2010 - 3:12am
Loop the Loop: 1903
Circa 1903. "Loop the Loop at Coney Island, New York." Watch out for pickpockets. Detroit Publishing Company glass ... the amusement enterprise known as the "Loop the Loop," at Coney Island, which was stopped a few days ago by Deputy Commissioner York, on ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/20/2012 - 10:22am -

Circa 1903. "Loop the Loop at Coney Island, New York." Watch out for pickpockets. Detroit Publishing Company glass negative. View full size. What could be safer?I'd have no problem riding that, since I'm sure they adhered strictly to the no-doubt comprehensive roller-coaster-construction rules of the time. And since it's so unlikely anyone got paid to look the other way when it was inspected -- for surely it was inspected! -- what could be the danger? Oh! How brave of them!I guess early rollercoasters didn't have safety bars. Those passengers look to be just bracing themselves going upside down! It's a MessI prefer the warning sign to the left. From the look of the begloved woman in the high hat, the sign likely reads: "Beware: high likelihood of fouling yourselves" New York Times, 28 July 1901Sorry about the neck and all, but you're in the minority, bub. LOOP THE LOOP TO OPEN AGAIN. -- Temporary Injunction Against Police Interference Secured Ex-District Attorney Foster L. Backus yesterday obtained from Justice Hooker, in the Supreme Court, Brooklyn, an order directing Police Commissioner Murphy to show cause to-morrow why the police should not be permanently restrained from interfering with the operation of the amusement enterprise known as the "Loop the Loop," at Coney Island, which was stopped a few days ago by Deputy Commissioner York, on the ground that it was dangerous. ... A mass of affidavits was presented to the court to show that many thousands of persons had taken the trip on the Loop the Loop without any having received personal injuries. New York Times, 28 July 1901 Go WhitefishCongratulations kid, you just passed Physics. Hot Wheels - LifesizedThis ferocious loop-the-loop was a large part of the magic of Hot Wheels that our sons experienced in the 60s and 70s. They happily spent hours clamping their track to anything sturdy in the house and ran their cars from room to room, finishing with a huge jump out the window into the flowerbed. While it was great fun helping them set up and listening to their verbal descriptions of the driver's derring do, we were all too chicken to ever try a real rollercoaster loop. Circular Loops of DoomNotice that the loops here are circular. If you look at modern roller coaster loops they are more oval, almost a teardrop shape, known as a clothoid loop. The G forces on riders in these circular loops is very intense, much more so than some of the most intense coasters out there today. My guess is, like many intense coasters of the time, that this one probably had a nurse on staff. Nosebleeds were probably common on this ride as well as graying out or blacking out. Loop the LoopAccording to Ultimate Roller Coaster's article on Early Coney Island coasters: Edwin Prescott's Loop-the-Loop was built at West 10th Avenue, Coney Island in 1901. The ride showcased engineering that greatly improved on the Flip Flap. The track was made of steel, the loop was larger, but most importantly it was an ellipse which pulled relatively few g's and provided a safe ride. Sadly, the public was more inclined to watch than ride. The Loop-the-Loop limped along until World War One, making money by charging people admission to the viewing area. Many more paid to watch than to ride and the coaster faded into bankruptcy Beware of PickpocketsHow come modern amusement parks don't have such helpful signs? Maybe it's because our pockets have already been cleaned out getting into the park. (The Gallery, Coney Island, DPC, Sports)
The Oriental: 1903
...   The Oriental Hotel, at the eastern end of the Coney Island peninsula, opened in 1880 and was demolished in 1916. 1903. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/03/2014 - 11:57am -

        The Oriental Hotel, at the eastern end of the Coney Island peninsula, opened in 1880 and was demolished in 1916. 1903. "Oriental Hotel and boardwalk, Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, New York." Panorama of two 8x10 glass negatives, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. Ruh-rohThis can't be good. College at the beach, or vice-versaWhile hotel's receding into the mists of history, and the boardwalk no longer extends that far east, a small, crescent-shaped portion of Oriental Beach still remains. What makes it a bit unusual is that it is located on the campus of Kingsborough Community College and students use it as a lounge and outdoor lunch area. During the summer, outsiders can get special permits allowing them to use the beach, accessing it via a walkway that keeps them away from campus buildings. And yes, that's Dead Horse Island in the background, though its proper name was actually Barren Island. Landfill has since connected it to the mainland. The more things changeLook at the woman's waist. That can't be healthy. A wonderful imageby any standard, in any century! Was that panoramic pair printed in 1903 or was it a contemporary collaboration with Shorpy? If so, all hail Photoshop! [Photoshop! - Dave] Pre-sprinkler eraGroundskeepers watering all that lawn by hand!?! DreamlikePossibly the most beautiful image I have seen on Shorpy so far (and I have been coming here for a long time). SpectacularWhat a beautiful building! I'm often surprised to see just how short-lived some of these magnificent buildings were. A mere 36 years is all this gorgeous hotel existed. I guess that's the price of progress. Homeland Security 101On the sidewalk to the left we see that the local constable is making a beeline towards the suspicious GWC (guy with a camera). After all he could be a spy or something. Getting Oriented Trying to figure what's off in the distance behind the two promenaders. Maybe Dead Horse Island? Add My VoteSuperb image; surreal and very simple, but can be interpreted on several levels. Thank you, Dave. Shorpy does it again! I was a student at Kingsborough Community College. When I attended,the campus consisted of barracks left over from a WWII training facility. The old wooden buildings wouldn't have been worthy of being outhouses for this grande dame that stood on the sight earlier. Groundskeeper Willie x2I bet it's the same guy, this must be where the negs split, there's a line of bad focus running up through there. SousaDuring the summer of 1893, John Philip Sousa and his band were engaged to perform several daily concerts at Manhattan Beach for a 10 week period. Manhattan Beach March was written directly after that summer concert series and was an immediate hit. (Panoramas, Coney Island, DPC, NYC)
Board Track: 1925
... miles of highways were paved with wood. Even in Brooklyn, Coney Island Avenue was originally called Coney Island Plank Road. Laurel board ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/04/2012 - 4:56pm -

July 11, 1925. "Auto races at Laurel, Maryland." The 1⅛-mile wooden oval at Laurel Speedway. National Photo Company glass negative. View full size. Sibling rivalryLooks like both Ralph and John DePalma were racing that day. Black BoxesFor a good while I kept wondering what were those neatly arranged squares in the outfield. I guess I'm slow on the uptake. Notice the Parking Lot?Every car in the lot is black. Finding your car after the race must have been hell! And sitting in the stands squinting into the glare from all those skimmers...... A Sea of Menall looking toward the track, and one lone woman with a parasol looking toward the camera. Interesting composition. Sharing a memory...There was a graphic design studio I worked in for a time and it (rather oddly) had a race car set in the middle of the office of the same type in the photos. I recall one office party where I (accompanied by my beer) finally worked up the gumption to climb into it. I remember sitting there, hands on the wheel, and just letting my mind wander back to a scene similar to the one in this photo. The car was much larger then I would have imagined. Amazing Uniformity of HatsWhat's with all the straw hats? It must have been the style in 1925 ... but still, did 98% of the men of the time wear the same kind of hat? It's really kind of freaky. [Check out this photo. - Dave] Hat DayMust have been Hat Day at the track. You know, they give away free hats. Also, the banking in turn 4 is not supported by dirt. It is actually up on supports , which you don't see anymore. To what degree?That has to be the most steeply-banked track I've ever seen! The corners appear to be way steeper than Daytona or Talladega. I wonder just what the degree of banking actually was. [48 degrees. - Dave] HiddenAnd not a Marx Brother in sight? Not even a Harp! Sea of HatsSkimmers or boaters were the hat of choice, much like ballcaps today. You can still get one, I love mine. Newspaper BrimsPlenty of folks have extended the coverage of their hats with sheets of newspaper. That's a lotta woodThe idea of a wooden racetrack for cars is incredible! It takes a hefty underlying support structure to keep the surface boards in place. Even with that the pounding of the racecars would loosen the nails and the resulting clickity-clack sound would have been very loud. I remember that effect from some wooden bridges we used to have around here. Unless all the wood was treated with creosote, the usual preservative back then, the whole track might rot away in a few years. Wonder how many years the track did last? Why wood?Why was it made of wood? [It was a relatively cheap way to build a banked racecourse. Board tracks were quite popular in the early part of the century. - Dave] Deadly SplintersBoard tracks were used for motorcycle racing at the time as well and taking a spill on the lumber was a nasty experience. LostHave you seen my dad? He was wearing a white shirt and a straw hat. Quite a lineupRalph was the only DePalma racing that day. The partially-obscured "DeP___a" was a misspelling of Pete DePaolo's name. Pete was Ralph's nephew, the winner of the 1925 Indy 500, and also the winner of this race. A list of the results can be found here. Interesting to see so many jackets on a day marked by "extreme heat." Board track racer Jim DavisA few years back I had the pleasure of meeting long retired board track racer Jim Davis, who raced motorcycles for the Indian Company beginning in 1916. He told stories of running over 100 mph on the boards and having splinters thrown up by other bikes with such force that they would pierce the protective leather gear. At the end of one race as he slowed to a stop he discovered he couldn't remove his foot from the peg of his bike and found that a large splinter had pierced the leather of his boot and wedged itself between parts of the bike. Fortunately it somehow missed his foot. It was all insanely dangerous but when you were 17 years old and could make $25 a week plus expenses and prize money, why not? Mr. Davis was a very polite man, friendly, and could tell racing stories 75 years after they happened like they happened last week. Finish LineThe results linked to in an earlier comment are interesting. All cars save one were a Duesie or a Miller and the average speed for the 250 miles was around 124 mph. Very impressive considering the venue! I wonder if it was AAA sanctioned. A board track legendNeedless to say, the elaborate framework of a board track allowed ample opportunity for boys to climb around under the track. A legend goes that during a race at Beverly Hills, a driver came into the pits pale and shaking. When asked what's wrong, he said "There has been a crash and I saw the guy's head bouncing down the track!" He was told there had been no crash. What he saw were local urchins getting the best view of a race imaginable; through holes in the boards. They would duck down as the cars passed and then pop back up as they cleared. Then and NowHere is the track today, overgrown but still recognizable: View Larger Map Woodpeckers not allowedThe official name of this track is The Baltimore-Washington Speedway and all races ran there were AAA sanctioned. It had 48 degree banked corners and was built by Jack Prince. However it was very short loved in that it was operational between the June 1925 and the September 1926. The first board track was built at the Los Angeles Coliseum Motordrome in 1910. The design was based on the velodromes still used for bicycle racing. Regarding the dress code of the day, considering that these were the days when men wore not only hats, but suits and ties to the movies, to ballgames, horse races and in this case, to auto races, it was expected to be a very hot day at the event thus the white dress code and straw hats. As a racer, the topic of board tracks has been one of my studies for several years all of which had some amazing historical value. That said, in my opinion, the board track in San Francisco was the most beautiful of all with a significant amount of historical value. It was built overlooking San Francisco to coincide with the 1915 Pan Pacific International Exposition (World's Fair), where the 1915 Vanderbilt Cup race was run. I have some beautiful photos of them and the cars. CamerasMakes you wonder what ever happened to the pictures they are taking down in the race lane, and if, some time in the future, Dave will find and post them. [A clever ploy. More here and here. - Dave] Google Maps imageI am fascinated by the Google Maps image posted below. I'd love to get into that property just to look around and walk the old layout and stand where such an amazing track was. Sadly, I'm in Arizona so it's not likely to happen. Hats and Plank roadsI can also attest to the terrific comfort of a straw boater. I got an antique boater recently (ca 1930s) and it's amazing how shady cool and comfortable they are. And yes, just about every man in America wore one. May 15 was the traditional "Straw Hat Day," when straws were "officially" sanctioned to be worn. Regarding the wooden track, this was also the era of plank roads. In an era when wood was tremendously abundant, miles and miles of highways were paved with wood. Even in Brooklyn, Coney Island Avenue was originally called Coney Island Plank Road. Laurel board trackWhen I was a kid, we used to ride our bikes in the woods there. Unfortunately, the current image above does't show any remains at all of the old track. 4 or 5 years ago they cleared the land. Now its just a grass field. About 10 years ago, when we found the track, we thought it was a road. We road our bikes on it and and discovered it was huge oval. Since the track was all sand, we thought it was once part of the horse track. Since the horse track is across the street(brock bridge rd), it only made sense to us. Wish it was still there since I now know what it is. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Natl Photo, Sports)
Captain of the Guards: 1905
New York circa 1905. "Capt. Riley and lifeguards, Coney Island." No horseplay or swooning allowed. 8x10 glass negative, Detroit ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/05/2012 - 1:33pm -

New York circa 1905. "Capt. Riley and lifeguards, Coney Island." No horseplay or swooning allowed. 8x10 glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. Reilly Really Riley. Really.Thanks Dave, my oops. Indeed, he was Thomas J. Riley, as correctly reported in the NY Times article of 1898, and in the LOC photo file. However, he was also misidentified in other Times articles as Reilly, for example in the 1902 story about missing men who may have drowned. I managed to get confused about which spelling was really correct, and chose the wrong one. Here's a clipping from one of those "Reilly" articles. As for the $300, the type was rather broken, and I misread it. My oops again. Even $300 was a huge wage in 1898. By going back to look again, I found a half-page biographical feature on Capt. Tom Riley, with artwork and a photo, published July 16, 1905. [These are all quite fascinating. A big Shorpy round of applause. Clapclapclap! - Dave] Photographer's note to self.Too many shots of fit, attractive people; get group shot of the Homely ones before leaving. Professional Perils of LifesavingCapt. Thomas J. Reilly, captain of the life-savers at Coney Island's Balmer's Pavilion, was a former champion swimmer whose career as a life-saver earned him several notices in the New York Times. He was credited with saving the life of a man who nearly drowned in 1901. More sensationally, Reilly was fired and later regained his job in 1898, when he was blamed for laxity that was thought by his employers to have resulted in the supposed drowning of Miss Louise King, a wealthy young woman whose distraught personal maid reported her disappearance on Sunday, September 11, 1898. The maid, Alma Lindstrom, was described in a story dated September 28 as "an ignorant but honest Dane." It turned out that Miss King had fooled her maid and had faked her disappearance in order to elope with her fiance, and she turned up a few days later as Mrs. S. Lloyd Chamberlain of Philadelphia. Capt. Reilly, still in disgrace, eventually sued her for damages in November 1898, having lost his $800-per-month position as a result of her little ruse. He did at least get his job back. In August 1902, Capt. Reilly and his team were mentioned again in the news during another questionable set of drowning disappearances of two men on the same day, only one of whom may have actually drowned, while the other was thought by police detectives to have faked his death for undisclosed reasons. That article named two of Capt. Reilly's assistants, John Carroll and John Vogelstein, whose post was a rowboat near two anchored rafts in 14 feet of water. [A great story, but I think the name is Riley, and he made $300 a month, not $800, according to the New York Times. - Dave] Comments we won't see.Such as: not one person in this photo is overweight. At least two of these guys could serve as flotation devises! OMG will you look at the size of that guy's arms! Put out that smoke before you jump in!Like the portly lifeguard with the cigarette! Guinness is good for you!Looks like some of my relatives are mixed in there. However, I think most of the Quinns, Gormleys and Burkes were already established at the "Irish Riviera" -- Rockaway Beach, several miles east of these folks. Skip ... per!That fellow in the captain's hat sure is a wee bit portly, eh? Life Guard Large and In ChargeThus proving American obesity is not necessarily a recent development (nor, for that matter, is form-fitting swimwear, at least for the men). I would, however, love to have a swimming outfit, complete with black stockings, such as that worn by the woman at the right edge of the picture. Zat' you George?Could that be George C. Tilyou smiling there in the middle? Sink or swim!Imagine that -- an obese lifeguard who's smoking! No thanks. Just throw me the life preserver. Don't smoke and swim!I love the cigarette in "The Captain's" left hand! Coney lifeguards were still taking group photos into the early 1960s. This one is inspiring! Baywatch, 1904Need I say more? YesI looks like the good Captain has remained true to his heritage. A slow pour, please! Come now!The fat fellow is perfectly fine and looks ready willing and able to float out and save a life. The rest of them are fine too. People were very frank in a way back then. If I Had a BoatIs Lyle Lovett's family from New York? One day sonNote the young lad to the left looking a bit peeved due to the fact that those guys have ALL the girls around them. Ah, to live the life of Riley. (The Gallery, Coney Island, DPC, Swimming)
Hiawatha Temple: 1908
... I might have to change my wallpaper from the colorized Coney Island photo to this one! Another excellent job and keep 'em coming. ... 
 
Posted by Tacoma - 04/22/2012 - 6:07pm -

St. Paul, Minnesota, circa 1908. "Wabasha Street." The early 20th century was a golden age of signcraft. Gilded wooden letters and 24K gold leaf window treatments were standard. Several classic lettering manuals were published during this time, with graphic styles influenced by Victorian ornament and the Art Nouveau movement. To an ex-sign painter (a profession killed by the computer, alas), Wabasha Street is a candy store. This is how I imagine it looked, a chilly morning in St. Paul one hundred years ago. Keen-eyed Shorpians may notice a couple of small modifications to the original photograph. View full size. Re Big CudosDave, you are why "LOL" was invented. (Chuckling to myself.) Well done, Tacoma!Thank you for all the time you must have put into this. I loved seeing. ( And I love seeing all the pictures here, and this has become my biggest time-sink.) Oh, that was sneakyYes, a sneaky way to work in the shorpy.com watermark! WagnerThrough the eyeglasses G Nebelung, Only missing Rheingold, die Valkyrie, Siegfried and die Gotterdammerung to complete the ring. BIG CUDOS!!!You make colorizing look like a piece of cake! So perfect. This one is just beautiful. BIG CUDOS!!! [I sekond that. -Dave] IncredibleThis has to be one of the finest color interpretations I've ever seen. "Watch" Out For CluesLove the touch on the face of hanging watch under the spectacles! Shorpy does it again! The land before Time Warner....There it is over there on the right, look, its the CABLE COMPANY! There they are before TV was even invented. I wonder how many people needed steel rope in 1908 that a storefront was needed. Or was the the local Western Union office? Either way the name seems somewhat ominous with the fog of time. [The Cable Company was a major producer of pianos, with agencies in many cities. Note the sign above indicating this was a piano store. - tterrace] So real I can almost smell those horsesFabulous job. Looks real, not colorized at all. Mostly the muted color palette does it. Sort of overcast day with overcast colors. The art director of a motion picture couldn't have created this scene any better. Trouble closing my jawGood Lord this is gorgeous. You did this one RIGHT. Nice work on the color choices and overall balance. Very impressive indeed! Great colorization job!You can almost feel the chill in the air, as you walk carefully, so as not to slip on the light snow. shorpy the clockmaker?Beautiful colorization job. It brings the scene to life. I was not aware that Shorpy was in the clockmaking business though. Sly! congratsGood job, perfect. BrilliantI tip my hat to you, Sir. Extremely well done :) Lunch and 2 beers15 cents, you can bet we'll be late for work again today. Ah, Colorization!Certainly a meticulous job and as always, it looks beautiful and unreal. Un bel dì, vedremoThe Geisha Girl hanging sign over Mr Hough's Edison Phonograph shop was probably a promotion for the Puccini Opera, Madama Butterfly, which debuted a few years earlier. StyleThere is so much style in the old photos. Store fronts, the people, and even handrails and lamp posts had style. Pick a street scene today and compare. Note the stark contrast. Thank you Shorpy for the steady barrage of vintage photos! BreathtakingA brilliant piece of work. Oh, to be able to step into that scene.... Wonderful job.Love this photo. More! Ya done good Tacoma!You've really brought this photo to life with your accurate colorizaton. It looks like the opening scene of a movie. I'm hearing the "clomp, clomp, clomp" of the horses and seeing the carriage wheels turning as the story begins. Beautifully doneTo the movie scene comment, I don't think even James Cameron could afford to pack a street scene with this much period detail. And then to have it frozen so you get a chance pore over every pixel, that's where Shorpy shines. Would it be rude to ask how many hours went into colorizing this? To the uninitiated [me], it seems like hours and hours of color decisions and incredible detail work. Beautifully done Tacoma. May we please have more? I only see one problem hereI might have to change my wallpaper from the colorized Coney Island photo to this one! Another excellent job and keep 'em coming. HiawathaAl-Thib, I changed it this morning. Mrs. McG saw the photo and guessed it was taken somewhere in "The Cities", as she grew up near here. 4 Years LaterHere is the same exact street perspective photo on a postcard 4 years later, 1912, being sold on Ebay. Beer signsHamms and Blatz. That alone should tell you you're in the Midwest. Good Gold!However do you get the gold to shine so well? Especially in the beer windows. As a signpainter myself, I wonder if it gave you an 'extra edge' by knowing what things were meant to look like. There are some nice bits of signwork there. The carved eyeglasses are about to get pushed out by electric signs, here just starting as naked light bulbs. Many thanks, Shorpy & Tacoma Super jobNow my second favorite image on this wonderful web site, and my wallpaper now replacing my favorite image, only because of the magnificent job that you did in breathing more life into an image already brimming with it. My favorite image so far you may wonder? Rochester, New York, circa 1908. Now if you colorize that one, I know that it would come out equally amazing. What draws me to that image is the winged statue on the building on the right hand side, and especially the top floors of that building. I would so love very much to take a tour of that place that is now sadly, long gone. (ShorpyBlog, Colorized Photos)
Island Queen: 1907
The Coney Island Co. side-wheeler Island Queen passing beneath the Roebling Suspension Bridge on the Ohio River ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/29/2012 - 2:39pm -

The Coney Island Co. side-wheeler Island Queen passing beneath the Roebling Suspension Bridge on the Ohio River between Covington, Kentucky, and Cincinnati in 1907. View full size. Detroit Publishing Co. If this bridge looks familiarit's because John Roebling, its designer and builder, is the same man who started building the Brooklyn Bridge in NYC. His son, Washington Roebling, finished it after John died. Roebling BridgeHow cool, it really is a smaller twin of the Brooklyn Bridge. Wow, I lived and grew upWow, I lived and grew up just a couple miles from where that picture was taken. Have stood on that exact spot even I think. Very cool, and amazing that the bridge is still going strong. You can't tell from the photo, but the road 'surface' is actually steel grates (like vents in the sidewalk for subways). The wheels of the cars going over them make a noise that has led to the Roebling sometimes being called the 'Singing Bridge'. Two bridgesConstruction on the Roebling bridge was actually begun before work on the Brooklyn bridge. however, due to worries of Confederate advances into the industrial heart of Ohio, work was halted, and the Brooklyn bridge was completed first, making it the world's first completed suspension bridge. +101Below is the same view from August of 2008 looking north across the Ohio River toward Cincinnati from Covington, Kentucky. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Cincinnati Photos, DPC)
Help! Fire! Help!
Coney Island, New York, circa 1905. An attraction called "Fighting the Flames." 8x10 ... 18, 1904 Many insurance men are nightly seen at Coney Island, with their wives and families, watching the firemen in "Fighting ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/05/2012 - 1:25pm -

Coney Island, New York, circa 1905. An attraction called "Fighting the Flames." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Where can I get some?I'll take a box or two of that Mennen's toilet powder. SidelineApparently the androgynous Mr. Brown augmented his shoe sales income with his ginger snap gig. Six years laterDreamland burned down! No tickets required, either. Moxie stand!Another old favorite. Hey Cousin!How about throwin' a few of those unredeemed diamonds my way?! It's Sensational... Spectacular! Realistic! Now featuring that marvel of the Modern Age: Product Placement! Painterly qualityWow! There is so much to see in this photo. The juxtaposition of the buildings makes it look like a backdrop for a stage. Smoke, fire engines, people climbing down fire escapes and ladders. An Undertaker wagon at the bottom. A horse drawn ambulance in the lower right. Wonder how long it would take to get to the hospital that way, and in what shape. All the advertising all over the buildings and signs. And lastly, the prophetic banner at the top proclaiming "...se... fighting the flames." And lower, "Sensational. Spectacular. Realistic." [It looks like a painted backdrop on a stage because it is a painted backdrop on a stage! - Dave] U-Lika Bis-KitAt first I thought the set designers were afraid of using the name Uneeda Biscuit so they came up with a pseudonym of "U-Lika Bis-Kit." But they didn't seem to have any problem touting Mennen, Painless Parker, Chiclets, and scads of other brand names. Then I found the following in "Profits" Magazine, March 5, 1904: Quiet Little Biscuit War A quiet little war is being waged in the biscuit line in New York and nearby centers, the outcome of which will be watched intently by those opposed to trusts in general and especially where one will receive for their nickel an article conceded by all to be of very much better quality and manufacture. The Manhattan Biscuit Company, the largest independent bakery In the United States, are making a feature of the U-lika Bis-kit, and it has already taken a prominent position alongside of, if not in advance, of its famous competitor. Instead of spending the greater portion of their receipts telling what they mean to do, the Manhattan Company expend every possible dollar in the manufacture and perfection of the biscuit as a whole before being offered to the critical housewife and consumer. This company, must of necessity, soon occupy a distinct position in its respective line; i.e., the partial refreshing of the hungry broker in his family circle, where they all U-lika Bis-kit. GeronimoIs that dude jumpin to his grizzly death? [That was across the street -- "Fighting the Bears." - Dave] Freedom Land, 55 years earlierIn the one time I was taken to Freedom Land in the Bronx (now the site of Co-op City), there was a "fire" that we kids could all help all put out--the great Chicago Fire. I remember thinking as a kid "what a wonderful and new idea" it was to have an attraction like that. Ha! BTW June 19 was the 50th anniversary of the opening of that park, which was supposed to be the Disney Land of the east, but which, unfortunately, did not last long. Popular with the Insurance Men The Summary, Vol. 33, 1905 "Fighting the flames" proved to be so popular as to warrant extensive elaboration of last year's scheme and construction and recasting involving an expenditure of $40,000. An entire block of buildings will be fire-ravaged at each performance. At the "fire lines" will be a crowd of 600 spectators. Taking part in the exciting illustration of department excellence and intrepidity will be 120 firemen. Chief Sweeney, once of the New York Fire Department, will be in charge. The Insurance Press, Vol. 18, 1904 Many insurance men are nightly seen at Coney Island, with their wives and families, watching the firemen in "Fighting the Flames." Billboard Magazine, Feb 26, 1949 Obituaries Murphy, Fredrick J., 89, one-time circus man, February 15 in Utica, N.Y. He once toured with the Buffalo Bill Show, the Barnum and the Frank A. Robbins circuses. In 1904 he developed an exhibit called Fighting the Flames, which he showed at Coney Island and Revere Beach, Boston. Moe Levy says "Fire Sale! Bargains Galore!"I was sure the product names on the backdrops not particularly in flame's way (so to speak) were things people actually could buy. But Moe Levy's emporium, right smack next to the action, had to be fictitious, I thought. Who wants to have a company name associated with tragedy, real or make-believe? Then I found this photo on Walter Grutchfield's site with this text: "Moe Levy 'Outfitters to Man & Boy' (established 1882) was in business as Moses Levy, tailor, at 119 Walker St., New York City in 1896. Moe Levy manufactured and retailed men's clothing and specialized in low prices. "From the home base of 119-125 Walker St. (which would now be considered a part of Chinatown) he opened numerous branch outlets in the city including Brooklyn, the Bronx and Jamaica, Queens. Particularly long-lived was the branch store on East 149 St. in the Bronx, first at 409 E. 149 (1921-1939), then across the street at 380 E. 149 (1940-1951). "Moe Levy & Son went out of business in the early 1950's. This sign can be precisely dated to the range 1906-1908." Now THAT is product placement. Whew!As a volunteer firefighter I couldn't help be worried about the fate of that structure - there were only two hose and ladder companies for such a large structure, only one working hose line and one chief officer (white helmet). Then I noticed the "real" people in the foreground and noticed the advertisement for FIGHTING THE FLAMES. Then I saw the repeating horizontal lines in the photograph and realized it was some sort of backdrop. As I said before, Whew! And, for myself, an added "Duh!" The Fall GuyIs that guy gonna bounce off the awning and land on his feet and say "TA DA!!"? (The Gallery, Coney Island, DPC, Fires, Floods etc.)
Fun Noir: 1905
... a series of Detroit Publishing glass negatives showing the Coney Island attraction at night circa 1905. View full size. Time machine ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/05/2012 - 1:24pm -

"Luna Park at night." Third in a series of Detroit Publishing glass negatives showing the Coney Island attraction at night circa 1905. View full size. Time machineThis picture makes me want to go back and feel what it was like to live back then. MagicalI was so caught up in the lights and decorations that I didn't even notice the people at first--with the soft blurring they look like lights too. Fun Noir...... is a popular expression, in French Québec, meaning a whole lot of fun. Ils ont eu un fun noir -- "they had so much fun." (I know Dave made a wordplay, but still it surprised me to see that expression.) Wow!I missed this great photo somehow! [Click the "Coney Island" tag above the photo and you will find even more! - Dave] (The Gallery, Coney Island, DPC, Sports)
Dog on the Beach: 1905
New York circa 1905. "Bulldog on the beach, Coney Island." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/20/2012 - 2:07pm -

New York circa 1905. "Bulldog on the beach, Coney Island." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. In ChargeI wonder who's walking whom. Bull DogsOnce an American favorite, the American Staffordshire Terrier is now reviled as the pit bull. Someone, no doubt, will point out this is the same breed of dog from the Our Gang series of films starring the Little Rascals. Pete, the dog with a distinctive ring around his eye was an American Staffordshire Terrier. The dog's popularity only declined after America entered an affluent life style affording the ownership of more breeds of dog companions. BewareBoys and a big dog on the beach. No good can come of this. How can they get in trouble? Let us count the ways. A Dog on the Beachis worth two in the woods? Dog YearsWow! That dog would be 735 years old now. A timeless theme of kids with a dog on the beach. Great stuff. Geez LouizzI always wondered what a "sea dog" looked like!! I spyI think I see Shorpy Higginbotham in that photo. I'm glad he got a vacation at the beach. Treasure!This was what they must have used before metal detectors were invented. Bare legs!Three girls on the beach and nary a black stocking! I guess that's the difference between Coney Island and Atlantic City. It's just under the surface here somewhere...If he's anything like my dog, he's searching for cat poop, a.k.a. kitty roca, in the sand. Impressive sharpnessFrom a 10x8 neg, on a beach with moving subjects. Really impressive considering the camera must have been on a tripod with a groundglass and the photographer under a darkcloth due to the sun. (The Gallery, Coney Island, Dogs, DPC, Swimming)
Light Rail: 1905
New York circa 1905. "Miniature railway, Coney Island." All aboard! 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing ... late, great New York Central Railroad. (The Gallery, Coney Island, DPC, Railroads) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/05/2012 - 1:26pm -

New York circa 1905. "Miniature railway, Coney Island." All aboard! 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. I've been working on the RailroadThat locomotive is quite spectacular. I'll bet it was made of brass. The expression on the face of the "engineer" seems to say "I've see the same half mile of amusement park 20 times a day for the last 4 years. Somebody please shoot me." Early Sputnik DesignThe light fixtures were some fifty years ahead of their time. The EngineHow were these miniature engines powered? It seems like the fake coal car could house batteries but could an electric engine really haul three passenger cars (at least) with eight people in each? [These miniature locomotives were powered like the big ones, by live steam heated in a coal-fired boiler. The engineer rode with his feet in the coal box of the tender, which also carried 15 gallons of water for the boiler in a tank under the seat. - Dave] Conspicuous lackThere is a lack of children on board. I only see a couple. I have seen miniature trains before at amusement parks and our local zoo, and they're definitely billed as children's attractions. I think a lone adult would be viewed as a little off. I fine bunch of swellsAll of them hurrying to go nowhere. Someone needs to tell the man in the second row that there's no smoking allowed on the train. It's more fun than it seemsMy father built model steam locos like these as a hobby, so I spent much of my youth driving them. It's not as dull as it looks. They're like aircraft: the smaller they get, the more challenging they are to operate. Keep the fire stoked and the boiler level up, make sure there's water in the tank and that everything is well lubricated - things can happen quickly. And there were always some boys between the age of 5 and 95 looking on enviously. Oh, and they're not made of brass. They're mostly cast iron and steel, with some brass fittings and embellishments. For the Young, or Young at HeartIt is interesting to note the ages of those riding the train. Only two "kids" (2nd car, first row) can be seen, but I suppose they are all kids at heart. The majority of riders are male, illustrating the draw of train to guys, even when it is done in miniature. Steaming in a different placeWe have a great little steam club near Edinburg, Indiana. They have steam and gas trains about the same size that you can ride on. Great fun. Ouch It would be a great photograph if the man to the right of the train had just gotten his foot run over and he was hopping up and down holding his foot and shouting Oweee! Live steamThis is a amusement park train that was common at the end of the 19th and early 20th century. One of the major manufactures of these trains was company from New York called Cagney. Most were built to 16 in gauge or smaller. Some of these locos are still used at different rail parks around the country. Also several National Expositions had live steam trains as part of the exhibits. Very popular during this period. Today live steam clubs build and operate steam operated train parks for members. This hobby is for people who are interested in machine tools and assembly of locos from kits or from scratch. Cagney EngineShe's a beauty. Cagney live steam locomotives of this type owe their styling to the superb New York Central & Hudson River Railroad 4-4-0s designed by William Buchanan. The most famous of the Buchanan NYC&HR 4-4-0s was No. 999, which set an unofficial land speed record (unofficially) of 112.5 mph. We can assume this tiny wonder, though, seldom eked out more than about 10-15mph at any time. Those great little incandescent cluster-light fixtures are baby versions of the even more wowing electroliers inside the passenger concourse ramps at New York's Grand Central Terminal, the former home of the late, great New York Central Railroad. (The Gallery, Coney Island, DPC, Railroads)
The Submarine Boat: 1904
New York circa 1904. "The Submarine Boat, Coney Island." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/20/2012 - 1:30pm -

New York circa 1904. "The Submarine Boat, Coney Island." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Get your incubators here!Boy, Coney Island had everything back then! Been needing an incubator for your infant? After you take in the Submarine Boat, step right down and grab one for your ride home. Ice cream? Yuck.Hundreds of people on the boardwalk, and not one wants any ice cream. Love the fake guns!Total kitsch! The lifeboats, smokestack, boiler room ventilators, even a pretty good imitation of a torpedo at the foot of the steps. The heck with the Submarine BoatsLet's go see the Baby Incubators! Now that's something not even Disney has in its parks. Stub HubIn any case the price was right, 15¢ for Adults, 10¢ for Children. I guess it was affordable. What does that Capt Nemo Submarine Ride at Disneyland (or is it Disney World) cost? C'mon MargeWe can get an infant incubator over by the submarine boat. Prime AttractionAt 15 cents a pop, this was the E-ticket attraction of its day. Sixty Years Before Disney's Submarine Ride"Under and Over the Sea," the park's showstopper,. was located on the west promenade near Beacon Tower. The building was constructed along the lines of a Man-of-War with turrets, protruding guns, lifeboats and a deck. E.C. Boyce's attraction offered the public a simulated submarine ride under the Atlantic, where viewing the action through portholes, they experienced a confrontation with a giant squid, sharks and other strange inhabitants of the deep. It was reminiscent of the adventure scenes in Jules Verne's exciting novels which boys read enthusiastically at the turn of the century. Those waiting in line for the ride on a miniature island could trace the submarine's path via a little flag remaining above the surface. ["The Submarine Boat" and "Under and Over the Sea" were two different rides. More on the various Dreamland attractions here. - Dave] Infant Incubators?I'm not sure I really want to know. [Quite interesting. More here. - Dave] The Best PartFunny, I think the guy behind the counter of the ice cream stand with the tray on the counter is the best part of the picture. Just a workaday guy getting ready for business. You don't usually see something like that in old pictures. Only "quite interesting"?I did some following up and found the whole story of Coney Island infant incubators to be absolutely fascinating. It's a tremendous story -- and was rather a shock to realise, that for so many years, hospitals didn't think premature infants were worth saving. My father was born very prematurely in 1929 - and ended up in the warming tray of the oven to keep him alive because no facilities existed in the local hospitals - I suppose I rather think he was worth saving! I'd assumed incubators hadn't been invented... but they'd actually been available for years. There is a little more (actually a lot more) information here if anyone is interested. http://www.neonatology.org/pinups/coneyislandnurses.html (The Gallery, Coney Island, DPC)
Surf Avenue: 1903
New York circa 1903. "Surf Avenue, Coney Island." Plus: Delicious Ice Cream and Pop Corn. 8x10 inch glass negative, ... which is why you won't see that same overhead mess in Coney today. Speaking of which, does anyone have any idea exactly where ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/14/2012 - 11:13am -

New York circa 1903. "Surf Avenue, Coney Island." Plus: Delicious Ice Cream and Pop Corn. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. "Real German Beer"?I find it amusing that Piel's sold its product with that slogan back in 1905. By 1965, during the days when Bob and Ray did the "Bert and Harry" cartoon commercials on TV, Piel's had turned itself into a flavorless, highly carbonated product that Bob and Ray couldn't even help to move it to consumers. On the other hand, Trommer's was always a good and flavorful brew. What a Turning PointHorse poop on the cobblestone road and an incredible tangle of wires overhead. Wires goneNYC eventually mandated the burial of most electrical wires in the city, which is why you won't see that same overhead mess in Coney today. Speaking of which, does anyone have any idea exactly where this photograph was taken on Surf? I'm trying to get a handle on the pre-Robert Moses geography of Coney Island. Loop the LoopThe photo's giveaway is the Loop the Loop on the right, the first roller coaster to have the vertical ellipse on Coney, which was built in 1901. That would put this image at Surf and West 10th Avenue. West 10th was removed in favor of the rail and condos, and the current occupant on the south side at this site is the famous Cyclone. What a messHow interesting it would be to view this collection of buildings without that incredible jumble of wires obscuring the scene. But, even today in towns that have similar poles and power lines people don't seem to notice. Interesting how we can edit to suit our preferences. Look - up in the sky!There are so many electric wires they practically blot out the sun! Yes, the wiresGotta wonder if anyone ever debated worth of the blight. My own home town has a 2.5 inch cable sagging on the poles all the way down the street. My new camera wasn't much fun when every shot I could take was marred by lines. (The Gallery, Coney Island, DPC)
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