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SUMMERTIME HOLDS great memories for me. I’m reminded of my upbringing in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn. We were average folks living in a modest house. But our home was just outside a private gated community called Sea Gate, at the westernmost point of the island. It was formerly called Norton’s Point.
There, you could find mansions from the Gilded Age, some designed by the noted architect Stanford White. It was also home to the famous opera singer Beverly Sills. When I visited a school friend’s home in the community, it was the first time I saw an actual real-life maid in a uniform—and not just the ones I’d seen in movies.
At every opportunity, weather permitting, Mom took me to the beach. I loved people watching and, as a quiet little girl, I was an unnoticed spectator. The ocean was restful, too. Somehow, being near water is sort of magical. It has a calming, peaceful, soothing effect on the senses, and we were mesmerized by the sound of the ocean and by the ebb and flow of the waves, the sea breezes and the smell of salt air.
Some days, Mom’s errands brought us near the boardwalk. The big attraction for me was the B&B Carousell. I always chose the horse who, I imagined, looked like a noble warrior horse—eyes flaring, head held high, the fearless look of a conqueror. I had a far-ranging imagination. Every time the carousel completed a round, Mom was there, waving to me.
We didn’t often go to the amusements area on the other side of the Island. The iconic Parachute Jump ride terrified me. Ditto the famous Cyclone rollercoaster ride. The Wonder Wheel looked a little safer and more my speed, but I never liked heights. I was too young to go on most of the rides. A block from the boardwalk, the carnival barkers bombastically urged passersby to witness amazing, never-before-imagined sights—sword swallowers, tattooed ladies and human oddities, to name a few, all promoted by colorful posters, garish but fascinating.
Sometimes, we would stop at the Nathan’s Famous hot dog stand. When you bit into those hot dogs, there was a satisfying crunch and snap. But to this day, I still think the frozen custard ice cream cone is the best treat ever.
My favorite fun place was Steeplechase Park. A large enclosed amusement park, you could have all-day entertainment by buying a ticket for 70 cents, which entitled you to nine rides. There were also the monkeyshines of the clowns, with a small theater area where you could sit and watch their antics. But best of all was the horse race ride where people rode on a mechanical horse side by side, two by two, pulled by cables along a 1,000-foot track, simulating a horse race.
Later, we moved to a community called Sheepshead Bay, east of Coney Island. It was quieter and more subdued. The neighborhood had the charm of a fishing village—at least back then. There were lots of fishing boats, party boats, sail boats and a unique enclosed bay area with a footbridge that spanned the bay to the opposite side. People would go there to fish, cross to the other side or just idly watch the daily activity. And for $2 you could take a roundtrip boat ride to Breezy Point, a private community in Queens, known as the Irish Riviera, to enjoy the summer sea breezes and beautiful beaches.
The Bay was an idyllic setting. In the summer, it would come alive with vendors and artists who set up around the perimeter. The sun always seemed to be shining in Sheepshead Bay. The shops and subway station were more convenient, and somehow the winters didn’t seem quite as desolate because of the greater population of year-round residents. But I missed the boardwalk and, of course, the carousel.
We moved from Brooklyn in 1963. America’s largest suspension bridge, the Verrazzano-Narrows, was just nearing completion. By the late 1960s and 1970s, the Coney Island area and parks began a great decline. Sheepshead Bay fared a lot better, but most of the modest houses were torn down to make way for McMansions and newer homes. It’s now overcrowded but still considered one of the nicer places to live in New York City.
I’ve never been to Paris or Prague, Timbuktu or Tokyo, but I consider having lived in Brooklyn gave me broad exposure to various cultures, people of diverse backgrounds, and a good understanding of human nature and all of its elements. And I lived there during the best of times.
Marjorie Kondrack loves music, dancing and the arts, and is a former amateur ice dancer accredited by the United States Figure Skating Association. In retirement, she worked for eight years as a tax preparer for the IRS’s VITA and TCE programs. Check out Marjorie’s earlier articles.Want to receive our weekly newsletter? Sign up now. How about our daily alert about the site's latest posts? Join the list.
Brooklyn, my hometown in America. Thank you for writing about it. My parents still live there, and I go up there every couple months to visit them in Sunset Park area. I went to John Dewey High school, which is one subway station away from Coney Island.
So many memories. I haven’t been back in many years, but attended St. Brendan’s H.S in kings highway section and graduated from Bay Ridge H.S.—both all girls schools. It was a different time. I look in my yearbook and remember how sweet the girls were.
Such nice writing! I could practically smell the hot dogs and taste the custard!
My closest experience, having grown up in California, was the first time I went to Disneyland, in 1970 at age 9. My grandmother took me and my younger sister. That was old-school Disneyland: ticket books where you had to ration “E tickets” (which got you onto the best rides), no Fast Passes, delicious popcorn from the carts. I don’t remember it being nearly as crowded. The last time I was at Disneyland was in 2017, with our adult daughter and her boyfriend, and it was so packed that it was miserable—not to mention insanely expensive. I have no desire to ever go back now, but it was magical when I was a little girl.
Thank you, Dana. I’ve never been to Disneyland. Everyone seems to love it but all agree about it being too crowded and expensive. I think you saw it at its best during your first visit, and through the wondrous eyes of a little girl.
Wonderful article, Marjorie. I’m far from a New Yorker but your descriptions give me a good feeling for what you experienced there as a child.
The closest experience to your Coney Island one I had as a kid was the State Fair of Texas. Growing up in Dallas, it was an annual fall ritual and I’d always go at least twice: once was a sedate version with my parents and the other, when I was a little older, was with my buddies. Our parents would give us each a few bucks for the day, but of course we could go through that in short order. So we came up with a plan which, as you say, could provide “all-day entertainment”.
There was a game on the Midway where the prize was cigarettes, with no rules about how old you needed to be to play (try that these days!). So we’d play till we’d won a few packs, then stroll down the Midway and hawk them to the carny workers. That was actually more fun than the rides or games as we got to interact with some very interesting folks. And since it provided some continuing revenue, it kept us solvent the whole day!
Got a kick out of your enterprising antics, Andrew. So funny. Also reminded me of the 1962 version of the movie State Fair, which was portrayed as being held at the Texas State Fair in Dallas.
Thank you for sharing your memories.
Another delightful article, Marjorie! Having grown up in Atlantic City, this article brought back many very fond memories.
Hi Nancy…visited Atlantic City many times, living in New Jersey. Wonderful boardwalk. Even though it’s now a gambling Mecca it still retains the lure of the seaside and a fun day out.
Thanks for your comments.
Thanks for sharing this story. I was born and lived in Cincinnati until I was 16. Nearby and up the Ohio river was Coney Island (of the west), an amusement park which seemed to pattern itself after the NY park.
In the early 60’s Dad was an employee of P&G who sponsored a company day at the park. I particularity enjoyed riding the Shooting Star and Wildcat roller coasters, a couple of wooden sit down rides, from arrival till close. I can still hear the unique clicking sound of the gears powering the chain pulling the coaster up to the peak of the out and back track. If you rode all day you might get lucky and get the prized front seat.
The location of the Cincinnati Coney Island suffered from flooding and over the years after I moved away the park moved, morphed, closed, and reopened and as I understand all the rides are now gone except in the childhood memory of those of us who were lucky enough to be at that place and time.
What fun hearing about the Cincinnati Coney Island. Your roller coaster ride and the prized front seat reminded me of the carousel—where if you caught the brass ring you got a free ride.
Thanks for your comments.
Sounds like a great childhood. I spent a lot of my summer holidays hanging out at the local swimming pool. We spent a week or two at the beach each year, but not ones with fun fairs. For several years we rented a house at the Kent coast, and there was a narrow gauge railway that ran nearby. I always enjoyed riding it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romney,_Hythe_and_Dymchurch_Railway
Kathy…enjoyed your link. So interesting about the railway. Thanks for adding your memories.
A great story of memories! It caused me to think about the things I did and saw growing up surrounded by the Great Lakes..which I miss dearly.
You lived in a beautiful area, Olin. I’m sure you do miss it. A big part of memories are the fun and joyful experiences of our youthful days, wherever we lived.
Thanks for bringing back my memories of this wonderful area of Brooklyn.
You forgot to mention the corn on the carb stand next door to Nathan’s and a wonderful restaurant in Sheepshead Bay called Lundy’s.
Ah, yes Paul..the long lost and lamented Lundys. I can still visualize the green and white awning on the outside. People came from all over to eat there. It would take another article to describe the wonderful Bay Area, but you were right, Lundys was an iconic landmark.
Thanks for sharing your memories.
Lovely reminiscing Marjorie. I’ve never been to Coney Island or Brooklyn even though I live just across the river.
What you write brings back memories of the 1950s in Atlantic City when some bit of the old AC still remained- no walking on the boardwalk in a bathing suit. There was a Steeplechase pier there too, but I was never allowed on the rides.
And yes, the frozen custard. It tasted like really cold whipped cream. AC had the Planters Peanut shop too, I can still smell them roasting.
Memories seem to be more and more important these days.
Hi Dick…I have a close friend who grew up in Atlantic City and she echoes your sentiments.
I agree with your last comment about memories,
somehow, as things change, they become more precious.
Thanks for your comments.
Nice, Marjorie. I don’t share memories of your childhood entertainment spots, but you reminded me of mine in pre-Disney Florida. Thanks.
Thank you Edmund. Writing this brought so many memories of childhood and my parents and all the advantages of living in Brooklyn at that time. On weekends my father took us to Jones Beach on Long Island
and the Rockaways. We loved the ocean. My father died when I was a young girl so I was especially close to my mother. It was a sentimental journey for me.