March | 2010 | Amusing the Zillion

Archive for March, 2010

Will MTA Ever Fix Burned out “E” in Coney Island Sign at Stillwell?

Posted in Coney Island, Photo of the Day, tagged Brooklyn, maintenance, MTA, MTA Chairman Jay Walder, Stillwell Terminal, subway station on March 12, 2010| 3 Comments »

CONEY ISLAND is CON_Y ISLAND! Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

CONEY ISLAND is CON_Y ISLAND! March 11, 2010. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

How many MTA employees does it take to change a light bulb? How many months or years does it take them to get the job done? Or did alphabet lights get slashed from the MTA’s budget?

Last night we took this photo of the entrance to the MTA’s Stillwell Terminal, the largest above-ground subway station in the world and the gateway to Coney Island. It would be a postcard perfect shot except for the fact that the “E” in CONEY ISLAND is burned out and has been burned out since last summer. We con you not: the photo below of CON_Y ISLAND was taken in July 2009.

When we phoned the MTA’s customer service line in June, the rep dutifully took down the info. But he just didn’t get it: “You can still read it,” he said of the burned out “E.” Personally we think it ruins an iconic photo op. We called up a friend who has a job at the MTA and asked him to pass the word along to the correct department. He wouldn’t and couldn’t. Told us it was against protocol.

Dear MTA Chairman Jay Walder, please send a crew over to fix the “E” and replace the other burned out bulbs asap before Coney Island’s opening day! That will be March 28th, just 16 days away. And while they’re here, get them to straighten out the “L” in ISLAND, which looks like somebody gave it a whack. Millions of visitors will arrive and depart via Stillwell Station this year. We want the new Coney Island to put her best face forward. Burned out lights say who the hell cares.

UPDATE March 17, 2010:

Yesterday we received a message that the “E” in CONEY had finally been fixed and was two-third’s lit! And the crooked “L” in ISLAND had been straightened out, too! Yay and hooray! We’re almost tempted to say the repair of the Stillwell Terminal’s signature sign after months of neglect presages the rebirth of Coney Island. See “Photo of the Day: The “E” is Relit in Coney Island Sign at Stillwell”

Welcome to Con-y island! All Aboard! Coney Island, NY. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

Welcome to Con-y island! All Aboard! Coney Island, NY. July 25, 2009. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

Coney Island Sideshow to Add Girlie Freak Show, Run 7 Days a Week

Posted in sideshow, tagged Coney Island USA, ConeyIsland 2010, Fire Breather, Fire Eater, freak show, Heather Holliday, Norman Blake, Photography by Norman Blake, Sideshows by the Seashore on March 10, 2010| Leave a Comment »

When the Coney Island Girlie Freak Show premiered last month at BB King’s, Dick Zigun announced that in Summer 2010, Coney Island’s Sideshows By the Seashore would run seven days a week instead of five. The schedule will be expanded in anticipation of a busier than ever season in Coney Island after Memorial Day’s grand opening of the new Luna Park.

Heather Holliday spits a bit of Fire on stage at Coney Island USA. © 2009 Norman Blake. All rights reserved. NB Photo Flash via flickr

From June 12 through Labor Day, there will be two completely different sideshows at CIUSA. “The rough schedule is up on our calendar of events,” says Zigun. “During that time period the CONEY ISLAND CIRCUS SIDESHOW will feature Donny Vomit and Heather Holliday and the CONEY ISLAND GIRLIE FREAKSHOW will feature Angelica and Serpentina.”

That means two different female fire-eaters will be in residence at Coney Island USA. It’s a double wow! Heather Holliday, who is known as the world’s cutest sword swallower and the Princess of Peril, added a stunning fire act to her repertoire last season.

We welcome back Anjelica, who took a break from the ten-in-one last summer. Her fire act is hypnotic, sensuous and lovely all at once. Not to be missed! These amazing shots by Coney Island photographer Norman Blake capture the wonder of the “blow out,” the most dangerous and difficult feat of the fire breather’s art.

Anjelica performing during the opening night party at the 2007 Coney Island Film Festival. © 2007 Norman Blake. All rights reserved. NB Photo Flash via flickr

The Coney Island Girlie Freak show at BB King’s featured Angelica, Serpentina, Kryssy Kocktail, Pain Proof Rubber Girls and guest artist Bearded Lady Jennifer Miller.

The Coney Island Sideshow opens for the season on Saturday, April 3rd, 1-8 pm. The sideshow cast will also perform at CIUSA’s 30th Anniversary Gala on March 25th in Manhattan. Advance tickets are available online.

Thor’s Coney Island: Wanna Lease Stillwell? That’ll Be $500K Up Front!

Posted in Coney Island Redevelopment, Real Estate, tagged amusement park, amusement rides, Coney Island, flea market, go karts, Joe Sitt, Stillwell Avenue, Thor Equities on March 9, 2010| 1 Comment »

Thor Equities abandoned flea market on Stillwell Ave in Coney Island. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

Thor Equities abandoned flea market on Stillwell Ave in Coney Island. October 30, 2009. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

One month ago, ATZ asked “What is Joe Sitt planning for Stillwell Avenue in Coney Island 2010?” Still no word on Stillwell from Thor Equities, though Coney Island’s 40-plus rides and diverse attractions will open in just 20 days. Palm Sunday– March 28th this year— is the traditional season opener in Coney Island.

The Cyclone roller coaster, Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park, McCullough’s Kiddie Park and the Eldorado Bumper Cars are busy getting ready for the big day. In fact, the Eldorado as well as Paul’s Daughter, the Grill House and Gyro Corner on the Boardwalk were already open last weekend! Yet Thor Equities property on Stillwell, the gateway to Coney Island’s beach and Boardwalk, still looks like the ghost town of last summer’s failed flea market.

Here’s why: The Coney Island Rumor Mill says that Sitt is asking $500,000 for both sides of Stillwell and he wants all of the money up front!

According to sources, Sitt is not willing to negotiate on the amount either. This lack of flexibility doesn’t surprise us. Half a million is actually a 75 per cent reduction from Sitt’s original asking price! As ATZ reported last month, sources said several carnival and amusement park operators balked at Thor’s initial asking price, a cool $2 million for the two 50,000 square foot parcels.

New Sign on Stillwell. Photo © Bruce Handy/Pablo 57 via flickr

Some of the interested parties were contenders in the City’s RFP for a Coney Island Amusement Operator, which was won by Zamperla. The Coney hopefuls who put in bids for Thor’s parcels were said to be balking at the slew of onerous lease terms such as a 30-day-vacate clause. (“Coney Island: Amusement Operators Balk, Money Talks at Stillwell,” Feb. 10, 2010).

Negotiations continue for carnival rides and a go kart track though rumor has it that one of the potential amusement operators told Sitt’s agent where to take his lease and shove it. Good negotiating strategy or goodbye Coney Island?

When all is said and the deal is done, we may see Geren Rides back on Thor’s property for the third year in a row. The Georgia-based carnival operator did after all buy a Schwarzkopf Wildcat roller coaster, Reverchon Himalaya and other rides last year with the intention of coming back to Coney.

UPDATE March 10…Sources say amusement operators from Wildwood, New Jersey, are close to signing a 5-year lease with Sitt for a go-kart track on one of his Stillwell parcels. If they ink the deal and if CAI/Zamperla goes ahead with their plan for go-karts on the City’s Stillwell parcels in 2011, Coney Island will have duelling go karts on the site of the much missed Coney Island Batting Range and Go Kart City. Why not bring back the Batting Range? As one of our friends says, “I still miss the batting cages. Without a doubt, they were the best in the entire city. Watching the balls fly off your bat with the Wonder Wheel in the distance was a thing of beauty.”