Viewing NYC Articles Categorized Under Amusement Parks

[WATCH] "The Top" - 1910s Coney Island Roller Coaster That Moved Round and Round Underneath the Carts

2025-12-30T12:00:00-05:00

The Scenic Spiral Wheel was a unique roller coaster installed in Coney Island's Luna Park back in 1917.

It was a 45 ton, 70 foot diameter steel wheel that was tipped towards its heavier side where it rested on its bottom edge. Roller coaster track spiraled around its outer rim from its top to its bottom. As the four car train circled the rim of the wheel, its weight changed the wheel's tilt so that the entire rig gyrated around like a top running low on spin. The train slowly spiraled down and covered 3200 feet of track in two and one half minutes. A second train with a separate admission climbed up to the top of the wheel, then descended through a long tunnel.

Apparently, the ride was not as exciting to ride as it was to watch, so it was shut down in 1921 after only 4 years.

The post [WATCH] "The Top" - 1910s Coney Island Roller Coaster That Moved Round and Round Underneath the Carts appeared first on Viewing NYC

[WATCH] Why Coney Island is Totally Corrupt

2024-12-01T12:00:00-05:00

Step into the twisted past of Coney Island, New York, as we uncover the shocking corruption and fascinating tales that have plagued this legendary amusement hub for centuries. From its early beginnings under Native American control to its rise as a playground for thrill-seekers, this video delves deep into the dark underbelly of Coney Island's history.

Chapters:
00:00 - Introducing Coney Island, New York
00:31 - Coney Island under Native American control
00:51 - The early development of Coney Island
03:11 - Coney Island’s corrupt Politician (John 'Boss' McKane)
05:37 - Sea Lion Park
06:58 - Paul Boyton’s Water Chutes
05:15 - Coney Island’s Insanely corrupt property laws
06:28 - The Downfall John 'Boss' McKane
07:13 - The Rise of Coney Island Rollercoasters | The Fearless Frogman
08:34 - Paul Boyton’s Water Chutes | Coney Island’s First amusement park
09:05 - The Flip-Flap Railway - The First Looping Rollercoaster
10:07 - The Grand opening of Paul Boyton’s Water Chutes
12:02 - Steeple Chase Amusement Park
13:19 - Why Coney Island is not an island
13:40 - How Steeple Chase Park transformed the amusement park industry
14:23 - Luna Park (formerly Astroland)
15:06 - Why Coney Island amusement parks don’t last
15:47 - When Astro Tower almost collapsed
17:11 - Coney Island during the global shutdown
18:12 - Coney Island in the modern day

The post [WATCH] Why Coney Island is Totally Corrupt appeared first on Viewing NYC

[VIDEO] "The Top" - 1910s Coney Island Roller Coaster That Moved Round and Round Underneath the Carts

2023-03-24T12:00:00-04:00

The Scenic Spiral Wheel was a unique roller coaster installed in Coney Island's Luna Park back in 1917.

It was a 45 ton, 70 foot diameter steel wheel that was tipped towards its heavier side where it rested on its bottom edge. Roller coaster track spiraled around its outer rim from its top to its bottom. As the four car train circled the rim of the wheel, its weight changed the wheel's tilt so that the entire rig gyrated around like a top running low on spin. The train slowly spiraled down and covered 3200 feet of track in two and one half minutes. A second train with a separate admission climbed up to the top of the wheel, then descended through a long tunnel.

Apparently, the ride was not as exciting to ride as it was to watch, so it was shut down in 1921 after only 4 years.

The post [VIDEO] "The Top" - 1910s Coney Island Roller Coaster That Moved Round and Round Underneath the Carts appeared first on Viewing NYC

[WATCH] Vintage Video Showing Festivities on Coney Island Circa 1903

2023-03-21T12:00:00-04:00

This film, titled Rube and Mandy at Coney Island, was originally a silent film from 1903, the same year the original Luna Park opened to the public. The film was a comedic short produced by the Edison Manufacturing Company and follows a country couple as they explore the park.

The first scene shows a country couple entering Steeplechase Park. They proceed to amuse themselves on the steeplechase, rope bridge, the "Down and Out" and riding the bulls. The scene then changes to a panorama of Luna Park, showing Rube and Mandy doing stunts on the rattan slide, riding on the miniature railway, shooting the chutes, riding the boats in the old mill, and visiting Professor Wormwood's Monkey theatre. They next appear on the Bowery, visiting the fortune tellers, striking the punching machine and winding up with the frankfurter man. The climax shows a bust view of Rube and Mandy eating frankfurters. Interesting for the humorous features, and the excellent views of Coney Island and Luna Park.

The audio was added into the video for ambiance and uploaded recently by YouTuber Guy Jones, making it a lot easier to imagine yourself back in 1903's Coney Island.

The post [WATCH] Vintage Video Showing Festivities on Coney Island Circa 1903 appeared first on Viewing NYC

[WATCH] Inside Coney Island, NYC: The World's Amusement Park

2022-10-08T12:00:00-04:00

Tom Delgado shows you around New York's Coney Island, the Brooklyn neighborhood that birthed the modern theme park. He tells the story of Luna Park, Dreamland, Steeplechase Park, and Fred Trump. Shot by Eric Thirteen.

The post [WATCH] Inside Coney Island, NYC: The World's Amusement Park appeared first on Viewing NYC

Wednesday, June 1st, 2022, Good Evening!

2022-06-01T18:00:00-04:00

Good evening! Wishing you a happy Wednesday, June 1st, 2022 from all of us at Viewing NYC!