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September 20, 2007

Video of the Day: Matt Dillon Looks Back at Coney Island's Wild Rides

In 1982 Matt Dillon hosted a film on the history of the amusement park (in particular roller coasters) called Wild Rides. He discusses a lot of the Coney Island rides, and there's some great old footage -- check out that "human pool table"! We'd be interested in seeing some numbers on how many people got injured on rides during this time.

There are also some shots of Steeplechase Park which opened in 1897, we wonder if the proposed new one will include a real steeplechase ride.

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Comments (6)

There's one of those terrific, folksy PBS documentaries called "Great Old Amusement Parks" that has some really great old Coney Island footage. Great stuff.

 

Of all the people they pick Matt Dillon; so strange and random.

 

I love those rides that spin people off the edge haphazardly. Also, everyone was so dressed up, ladies in heeled boots and dresses and men in ties. I wonder if the fabric got caught on rides all the time.

 

Mmm, I'd love to bat the balls around his human pool table anyday.

 

Today's grammar lesson:

You wrote: "There's also some shots of Steeplechase Park which opened in 1897, we wonder if the proposed new one will include a real steeplechase ride."

Here it is again, properly: "There are also some shotw of Steeplechase Park, which opened in 1897. We wonder if the proposed new one will include a real steeplechase ride."

 

HAHA #5 YOU SPELT IT "SHOTW," YOU MEANT SHOWT

 
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