Amusing the Zillion

Happy first Saturday of summer and Mermaid Parade Day! Photo from my carnival collection of diving girls from the Neptune's Daughter show with the Great Wortham Shows, 1917 season.

DYK Coney Island's big wheel, Deno's Wonder Wheel, has a Masters Cycling Team founded in 2003? #cycling #wheels @WonderWheelPark

Thank you for speaking out for #Brooklyn Assemblyman @AlecBrookKrasny. The Advisory Committee needs to meet in #ConeyIsland so the people can be present and share their thoughts about the casino. @BrooklynBP can you find a spot at MAIMO Park or the coneyislandsandbar.com?

Hit the Hammer, Ring the Bell! My article about the history of the high striker is published in the July issue of Amusement Warehouse. The strongman game is said to have inspired the phrase "close, but no cigar" because a cigar was your prize if you rang the bell.

Politicians who are responsible for destroying Coney Island for a casino are going to be politicians without jobs.

If you show up in Coney Island you would know the people here don't want this casino destroying our neighborhood. Tens of thousands of people from all over this city have also signed the petition against it. So elected officials should pay attention to that if they want votes.

Via @politico @JCColtin: The Coney casino lobbyist Robert Cornegy hosting fundraiser for Eric Adams while casino bid seeking OK from mayoral appointee (L). Via FB: Cornegy at Kaiser Park using Coney Island kids as "The Coney" casino billboards (R) #followthemoney @NoCasinoInConey

UPDATE July 22: The NY State Gambling Commission issued the email address where you can send comments about the Coney Island casino. [email protected]. When the Community Advisory Committee schedules the dates of its two public hearings, we'll post the info.

The Wacky Wire Wizard on Dreamland Amusements midway at the Empire State Fair. I once wrote a cover story for IAAPA Funworld called 'The Game Within' about the three brothers who masterminded and manufactured this game and many others: triciavita.com/the_game_withi…

Absolutely knocked out by BRIGHTON BEACH, a 1980 documentary by Carol Stein & Susan Wittenberg. Shot over four years (1976–1980), it’s a vérité portrait of Brighton Beach & Coney Island at a time that’s long gone. Gorgeous, both visually & sound-wise. 54 perfect minutes. On Tubi.

This week @NYSenator_JSS has mobile office hours in Coney Island & adjacent neighborhoods. She's 1 of 6 on Gaming Facility Board's Community Advisory Cmte who will vote on the Coney casino & appointed herself. Tell her your thoughts on @NoCasinoInConey in person, via phone/email

Evening Cool of Cats, by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, 19th century, ColBase（colbase.nich.go.jp）

Happy National Hot Dog Day from Coney Island! This 1967 photo shows Arlene Shaw, National Hot Dog Queen, in front of the Wonder Wheel on the 100th anniversary of the hot dog. DYK Deno's Wonder Wheel has a Nathan's Express beside it? Grab a frank and fries after your ride 🎡🌭🍟

NEW in our oral history archive: Randy Profeta, great grandson of Coney Island sign painter Harry Wildman (1875-1930), shares family stories. Recorded for the Coney Island History Project by @AmusingZillion. coneyislandhistory.org/oral-history-a…

Are you going to help Coney Island dodge the bullet that is a massive, unnecessary casino in place of the iconic landmark amusement park?

This is what Councilman Justin Brannan should have been able to do for his district, the iconic Coney Island. Brannan is a dud of a politician so he didn't lead on voting against the casino trying to set up in #ConeyIsland

Last day to see Globe of Death motorcyclists with Circus Murcia with Dreamland Amusements at Empire State Fair 🎪 #globeofdeath #nassaucoliseum

Visitor from Vancouver, Canada, who loves Coney Island so much he has the Steeplechase Funny Face tattooed on his arm! Our exhibit center is open Saturdays, Sundays & holidays 1-7 PM. Take a souvenir photo with the Spook-A-Rama Cyclops & view historic artifacts and photos. #FREE

‘…the proposals have drawn serious backlash from the communities…In Coney Island, locals and amusement park operators have protested against the plan. Local organizations around Citi Field have also protested…suggesting an alternative for the area.’ thecity.nyc/2025/07/11/cas…

Thank you @AlecBrookKrasny for appointing a #ConeyIsland resident to the committee. #ConeyIsland #Brooklyn #StandUp #NoCasino While many NY'ers know #ConeyIsland for the beach and the amusement park, it's a great community of people and families too!

The Coney casino developers are falsely claiming that gambling casinos were once a traditional business in Coney Island & @NYCPlanning bought the lie. History lesson: coneyislandhistory.org/blog/coney-cas…