Illions Horse on the B&B Carousell, Coney Island Photo via Luna Park NYC Facebook
The lead horse on the beautifully restored and just reopened B&B Carousell is a rare steed. Sumptuous detailing on its trappings includes a relief of Abe Lincoln and the Coney Island carver‘s signature “Built by MC Illions.” According to carousel historian Marianne Stevens, the horse was carved in 1909, the same year the Lincoln penny was issued, in honor of the Centennial of Lincoln’s birth. It was one of four Lincoln horses carved by Illions for various carousels and the only one remaining on a working carousel. Stevens says the other jumper is on display at the New England Carousel Museum and the whereabouts of the two standers is unknown.
Lead Horse ‘Built by MC Illions’ on the B&B Carousell, Coney Island. May 24,2013. Photo © Bruce Handy via Coney Island Photo Diary
The horse is the only one of the B&B’s 50 horses carved by Illions, who developed the Coney Island style of carving. The rest are the work of Charles Carmel, another master carousel carver who also emigrated from Russia and worked in Brooklyn. How did the Illions horse come to be part of the B&B Carousell? It is thanks to Jimmy McCullough, whose family operated four historic carousels in Coney Island which are now in New York City’s parks.
One of them was the Stubbmann Carousel, known as the Steeplechase Carousel when the McCulloughs operated it at 16th Street and the Boardwalk. It was sent to the New York World’s Fair in 1964 along with some horses from Feltman’s and still operates in Flushing Meadows Park. When the Stubbman closed, James McCullough and his son Jimmy each chose a horse to keep, according to Stevens. Jimmy chose the Lincoln jumper which is now on the B&B, a carousel that he operated since the 1970s and sold to the City in 2005 after the death of his business partner Mike Saltzstein.
Illions Horse on the B&B Carousell, Coney Island Photo via Luna Park NYC Facebook
The other Coney Island carousels that are part of the McCullough legacy are the 1908 Stein and Goldstein Carousel brought to Central Park from the trolley terminal at W 5th and Surf Avenue and the 1912 Charles Carmel Carousel in Prospect Park that operated at 8th Street and Surf. Last year, McCullough’s Kiddie Park, the family’s last remaining business in Coney Island, closed after a 50 year run.
Thanks to Coney Island photographer Bruce Handy, and Luna Park, which operates the B&B Carousell in the new Steeplechase Plaza, for their photos of the MC Illions horse.
Lead Horse ‘Built by MC Illions’ on the B&B Carousell, Coney Island. May 24, 2013. Photo © Bruce Handy via Coney Island Photo Diary
Related posts on ATZ…
May 24, 2013: Photo Album: B&B Carousell’s Showy Letters Go Up
April 24, 2013: Photo Album: Coney Island April 2013 Construction Update
September 4, 2012: Exclusive: McCullough’s Kiddie Park Closing After 50 Years in Coney Island
December 4, 2011: Brass Ring Dept: Coney Island “Carousell” RFP Up for Grabs
Amusing the Zillion 
AZ – thank you. The photos taken by me do not capture the magic. This majestic horse must be seen up close to appreciate it’s splendor. The reopening of the B&B Carousell has restored part of the People’s Playground’s legacy. No money required. From Stillwell Ave you can hear the carousel organ music dreaming the boardwalkers. Up close, leaning on the carousel rail, the illusion returns.
Along with the gallant steeds, I see one of the clown face medallions has been included in the B& B restoration! Yay!
All of the art from the old B&B Pavilion on Surf Ave has been restored and is on display inside the new. After the first couple of days, the Lincoln horse was roped off and has a sign no riders as recommended by the carousel’s restorer. The organ sounds glorious!
Signage is displayed around the pavilion high up on the walls facing the Carousell. But also there is a small party room and in the room are the characters that were on the walls on Surf Ave. The party room is separated from the Carousell by a glass wall, so you can see the characters from the pavilion.
Also just noticed on the glass partition are photos of MC Illion’s Lincoln horse on Surf Ave before restoration.
Roped off with “NO RIDERS” sign? Oh come on folks! No brass rings & now THIS? What’s next…all stationary cars on the Wonder Wheel? Where’s the sense of FUN & ABANDON here. I could maybe understand a weight limit, or a whole slew of demands regarding removing accoutrements that could possibly scratch the finish or something – but to just jump to exclusion is really not cool in my book. Better to remove it & place it in a glass box or feature it in some other fashion if they’re that worried about it.