September | 2012 | Amusing the Zillion

Archive for September, 2012

Video of the Day: Gotta Love Coney Island by Jay Singer

Posted in amusement park, film, video, tagged Coney Island Film Festival, Gotta Love Coney Island, Jay Singer on September 25, 2012| 2 Comments »

One of the films in ATZ’s “5 Coney Must-Sees at the Coney Island Film Festival” is now on YouTube after premiering over the weekend. “Gotta Love Coney Island” by Brooklyn native and Coney Island regular Jay Singer is frenetic and hypnotic. If you’re at work, you may want to adjust the volume before watching. The soundtrack is Faith No More’s “Woodpecker from Mars.”

Scenes of the filmmaker being catapulted into the sky in Scream Zone’s Slingshot are intercut with vintage footage of Steeplechase Park’s Parachute Jump and Human Pool Table. “It is 275 separate scenes at various speeds composited into a ‘one reel’ experimental film,” Jay told ATZ last week. “The goal was to capture the ‘pulse’ of Coney Island on a busy day, with intercuts of vintage footage filmed by my grandfather alongside contemporary footage of my own.” “Gotta Love Coney Island” is dedicated to Scott Fitlin, the operator and DJ extraordinaire of the Eldorado Bumper Cars, which appears at the beginning of the film.

Photo Album: First Brunch at Tom’s Coney Island by Bruce Handy

Posted in Food, Photo Album, Photography, tagged Boardwalk, Bruce Handy, Coney Island, restaurant, Soft opening, Tom's Restaurant on September 23, 2012| 7 Comments »

First Brunch at Tom’s Coney Island. September 23, 2012. Photo © Bruce Handy via Coney Island Photo Diary

Coney Island resident and photographer Bruce Handy was one of the first customers at Tom’s Coney Island’s soft opening at 9am this morning. “I had two eggs over easy, home fries, whole wheat toast and coffee, all good,” said Bruce, who posted these photos of Tom’s first Sunday brunch on his Coney Island Photo Diary.

Are they serving pancakes yet? “Not sure, guy next to me had waffles,” he said. On Friday, Tom’s manager told ATZ the full menu will be identical to that of Tom’s Prospect Heights location with the addition of seafood entrees, but their famous pancakes and some other items may not be available just yet. We’ll let you know later. ATZ’s afternoon plans include popping into Tom’s before heading over to a screening of four of these five Coney-themed films at the Coney Island Film Festival.

Update… Yes, Tom’s Coney Island has pancakes! We tried the Danish pancakes made with ricotta cheese and served with a choice of flavored butter. Delicious! Breakfast is served all day. Our friend had the turkey club sandwich which is his favorite at Tom’s in Prospect Heights. Vegetarians will be happy to know there’s a vegie burger on the menu and it is cooked on a grill separate from the one used for meat. Owner Jimmy Kokotas says weekday hours are 8am till 5pm. On weekends, he hopes to stay open till 7pm. In addition, Tom’s has a liquor license and is serving beer. Other alcoholic drinks will be available after they get a delivery, probably the end of the week or next week. At that time, beer and alcohol will be on a separate menu.

Tom’s Coney Island is located on the Boardwalk at the corner of Stillwell Avenue. Though the restaurant is opening near the end of the amusement park season due to months of construction, it is expected to initially remain open at least nine months of the year. We predict it will become a neighborhood favorite. Join us in welcoming Tom’s to Coney Island by dropping by for breakfast or lunch!

Tom’s Coney Island, 1229 Boardwalk (at Stillwell Avenue), Brooklyn, NY 11224. Phone 718-942-4200

Saturday Matinee: Coney Island’s Mite Mouse Coaster (1992)

Posted in Amusement ride, history, video, tagged 1990s, Allan Herschell, Coney Island, Jumbo Jet, Mite Mouse, roller coaster on September 22, 2012| 4 Comments »

This rare footage from 1992 is all that remains of the Mite Mouse roller coaster, which was in Coney Island for just a few seasons. Nestled against the Jumbo Jet, seen in the background, the little coaster kept a low profile. When YouTube user swampfoxer posted this video clip of two friends riding the Mite Mouse, he noted that “most people I know that frequent Coney Island never knew it was even there. Guess I picked the lucky year to visit Coney Island.” His footage of the Jumbo Jet, shot the same day, was featured in “Remembering Coney Island’s Jumbo Jet Coaster 1972-2002” (ATZ, April 21, 2011).

The first Mite Mouse came out of the Allan Herschell factory in North Tonawanda, New York, in 1959 and traveled with Conklin Shows. The manufacturer described the ride as “extremely portable and ideal for smaller carnivals and such permanent installations which want a Mouse ride but do not require the larger Mad Mouse.” The Coney Island ride had previously operated at a park in Ocean City, Maryland, where it was called Miller’s Gold Mine.