Gothamist: Photo(s) of the Day: Goodbye Coney Island?

May

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 18:49:36 -0500

I was on the parachute ride...of course it was many, many years ago. You had to take your shoes off, then, while an attendant held the canvas seat in place you jumped up, backwards, so you could sit on it. Then they put a strap across your lap and secured it on the side...that was IT! You ascended up, and up, and seemingly forever up. The real "thrill" was when you hit the top, because you plummeted down until the parachute fanned out...then it glided down. When you reached the bottom you surged back up for a few feet before it finally came to a halt...and it was necessary for an attendant to pull it down, steady it, and be helped off. One of the most memorable recollections I have about the parachute jump was that some rider(s) would, occasionally, get STUCK -- suspended in mid air-- and going no where. When that happened they would stop any further riders from getting on, allowing the other riders to descend, and proceed to manually try to bring the unfortunate riders down to the ground. Sometimes it was necessary to call out the Fire Department. It REALLY got interesting when there was an approaching thunder & lightning storm...and don't think it didn't happen! It had been brought to (Steeplechase) Coney Island after the 1939-40 world's fair in Flushing Meadow, Queens.

TimSPC

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 21:32:46 -0500

MidC Frank, don't forget The Cyclone. That's not going anywhere. I look forward to 15 years in the future when I can take the D Train to the end of the line and ride the Cyclone next to some luxury condos.

Krieger

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:48 -0500

That top photo is amazing.

Spiritof76

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:11:38 -0500

I don't think the Parachute Jump would have been terrifying. Exhilarating would be more like it. Terrifying would be actual skydiving from 15,000 feet. It's just not natural to step into nothingness at that altitude.

MidC Frank

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 17:59:55 -0500

The "above . . . terrifying ride" is the Parachute ride -- the only thing besides the Wonder Wheel guaranteed to be with us whatever Coney Island's future. (And I'm old enough to remember one of my aunts taking it the last year it was in operation -- in the early 60's -- and it was terrifying for a 5 or 6 year old!!!)

DCfist

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 15:45:21 -0500

Gotta love putting on a suit & jacket... to go to the beach.