October | 2010 | Amusing the Zillion

Archive for October, 2010

Coney Island to Get Flying Coaster from Denver’s Elitch Gardens

Posted in Amusement ride, Redevelopment, tagged American Eagle, Elitch Gardens, flying coaster, Luna Park, Volare, Zamperla on October 17, 2010| Leave a Comment »

The coaster that NY1 described last week as a “new, cutting-edge roller coaster” coming to Coney Island may be relocating from a park in Denver. Theme park website Screamscape reported on Saturday that the Flying Coaster from Elitch Gardens was bought back by Zamperla with the intention of refurbishing it and installing it in Coney Island in 2011.

Zamperla calls the coaster the Volare, which means “to fly” in Italian. The Elitch Gardens coaster was a prototype that made its debut in May 2002. The ride has been SBNO (standing but not operating) since 2008 and since the cars were removed coaster fans have been tweeting that it’s headed for Luna Park. The Coney Island Rumor Mill had speculated for months that the Elitch Gardens coaster would come to Coney. Zamperla flying coasters can also be found at Rye Playland (“Super Flight”), Canada’s Wonderland (“Time Warp”), Vienna’s Wiener Prater, Genting Theme Park in Malaysia and Kaeson Youth Park in North Korea, among others.

Last month, ATZ attended a panel discussion in which Zamperla USA’s CEO Valerio Ferrari unveiled a rendering of the flying coaster “American Eagle” aka the Volare in a presentation about new rides slated for Coney Island’s Scream Zone. Zamperla/CAI’s Scream Zone will be located on “Parcels B & C, ” the City-owned property at Stillwell and the Boardwalk.

When Scream Zone is completed, Coney will have four of the 12 variations of coasters shown on Zamperla’s website: Luna Park already has Zamperla’s Twister Coaster (“The Tickler”) and Speedy Coaster (“Circus Coaster”). In addition to the Volare, Scream Zone will have a Pony Express-configured Moto Coaster (“Steeplechase Cavalry Coaster”).The thrill park is expected to open in 2011.

Zamperla's American Eagle Coaster aka The Volare will be the second coaster in Coney Island's Scream Zone. Photo © Jim McDonnell via smugmug

According to Elitch Gardens’ original press release for the flying coaster in March 2002: “If you’ve always wanted to skydive or hang glide…or just want a unique thrill that is really out of this world this is it. This one-of-a-kind thrill is perfect for Guests who want to be the first in the world to experience a ride like this. They’ll flat out FLY!”

Thru Oct 17: Blues & Rock Salute to JT at Cha Cha’s of Coney Island

Posted in Events, Redevelopment, tagged Bluesball, Cha-Cha's, Coney Island Boardwalk, John Thomas, Kenny Lombardi, Robert Ross, Ruby's, Zamperla on October 16, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Robert Ross Band at Cha Cha's of Coney Island. October 15, 2010. Copyright © Kenny Lombardi 2010. All Rights Reserved.

ATZ enjoyed some great music and great company last night at Cha Cha’s in Coney Island. The fact that both the 2010 season and the leases of the Boardwalk businesses end on October 31 makes us appreciate the good times even more. Last night, Robert “Bluesman” Ross and his Bluesmanian Devils played some smoking hot blues and kicked off a weekend tribute to JT.

John Thomas, who passed away in September, was the general manager of Cha Cha’s and its predecessor Club Atlantis for many years. He gave quite a few bands their start, which is reflected in the line up for Sunday’s all-day jam session: Classic Rock with Girls on Top, Bridgid Bibbens of Viper Vixens, Mel “Guitar” Williams, Amy Madden, Phoenix Rivera, Stephen Porro and Paul Sanchez are among the musicians who will perform beginning at 2:30 pm.

ATZ will be back on the Boardwalk tonight to hang out at Ruby’s with South Brooklyn bloggers Brian Hedden of BK Southie and Ned Berke of Sheepshead Bites, among others. Then we’ll adjourn to Cha Cha’s to catch Bluesball’s set. The group performs music by Muddy Waters, Otis Rush, Little Walter, and Howling Wolf. Perhaps they will play “How Many More Years”…

Cha Cha's Bar & Cafe on the Boardwalk in Coney Island. June 1, 2009. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

Last night we asked John “Cha Cha” Ciarcia, owner of Cha Cha’s and nearby Beer Island, if he expected to be back next year. “I’ll be back,” he vowed, “If they let me.” Ciarcia and other longtime business owners on the Boardwalk were required to submit business proposals to new landlord Luna Park/Zamperla to qualify for a 9-year lease. The City purchased the land from Thor Equities last year. Zamperla USA CEO Valerio Ferrari tells us some of the Boardwalk businesses will be back in 2011 and some won’t. Will the good times roll in 2011 at Cha Cha’s and Ruby’s? An announcement is expected on October 31. In the meantime, go and enjoy the last few weeks of the season. If you have a sentimental favorite, take some photos as a souvenir. Word on the street is the Boardwalk is going to look a lot different next season.

Photo of the Day: The Bank of Coney Island, Now & Then

Posted in Coney Island Redevelopment, historic preservation, Photo of the Day, tagged Bank of Coney Island, Charles Denson, demolition, Eric Kowalsky, Thor Equities on October 14, 2010| 1 Comment »

Bank of Coney Island with Demolition Scaffolding. October 13, 2010. Photo © Eric Kowalsky

On Wednesday, demolition scaffolding was erected around Thor Equities-owned Bank of Coney Island on 12th Street at Surf Avenue. In Eric Kowalsky’s stunning photo, the long, black boards resemble a coffin for the doomed bank. A demolition permit has been issued and the work is expected to be finished within 40 days.

ATZ has already spent–some would say wasted–considerable time advocating for the preservation of this building. “A Rare Peek Inside Endangered Old Bank of Coney Island” was posted over a year ago on October 9, 2009. Nothing whatsoever has changed since then. A few weeks ago, Save Coney Island’s splendid rendering of the building re-imagined as the “Banker’s Ballroom” was a hit in the blogosphere. But it was a quixotic effort because real estate speculator Joe Sitt never gave it the time of day. Shame on Thor Equities for not even responding to the written pleas of individuals and organizations to re-purpose the building or at least save the facade. Shame on the City of New York for sacrificing the building by rezoning the parcel for a 30-story high rise in July 2009.

In the lovely archival photo below sent to us by historian Charles Denson, the Bank of Coney Island is a branch of Banker’s Trust (1928-1950). The bank was later sold to Manufacturer’s Hanover. In December 1987, the branch closed and the property was offered for sale, with a minimum acceptable bid of $225,000, all cash. The building has remained vacant since real estate speculator Joe Sitt bought the Bank of Coney Island building in 2005 for $3 million.