amusement park | Amusing the Zillion

Archive for the ‘amusement park’ Category

Coney Island Scream Zone’s Official Opening Set for Today

Posted in amusement park, Amusement ride, Photography, tagged Bruce Handy, Coney Island, MotoCoaster, Scream Zone, Steeplechase coaster, Zamperla on April 20, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Zamperla's Steeplechase Motocoaster Under Construction in Scream Zone. April 19, 2011. Photo © Bruce Handy/Coney Island Photo Diary via flickr

On Wednesday at 1 pm, Mayor Bloomberg and other electeds, officials and guests will celebrate the “Grand Opening” of Scream Zone. The new thrill park in Coney Island will open to the public on ~~Thursday~~ at 12 noon. (UPDATE…. On Thursday, Luna Park’s Facebook page said “Scream Zone will open to the public this weekend. We appreciate your patience and enthusiasm as we work on the finishing touches.” Coney Island Fun Guide updated the event page for Saturday, April 23rd. As of April 30, all of Coney Island’s 64 rides, including Scream Zone, Luna Park, Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park and the Cyclone are open Saturdays and Sundays through end of May, when the summer schedule begins.)

Which one of the park’s four rides do you suppose will appear in the photo op? We wouldn’t be surprised to see the Mayor and officials sit astride the “Steeplechase coaster” horses still under wraps in the above photo. Zamperla’s Steeplechase MotoCoaster takes its name from Coney Island’s signature horse race ride that made a circuit around Steeplechase Park. But it does differ quite a bit in design. Most notably, the horses are part of a single train instead of racing against each other on multiple tracks. Another big difference: The ride’s seating design and restraint system are new and improved to comply with current-day safety standards.

At last year’s opening of Luna Park, official “Lunatics” took a group picture on the Electro Spin, though they did not actually go for a spin. We don’t expect them to go for a ride on the coaster, which is still getting finishing touches. But perhaps one of their assistants will be daring enough to try the Sling Shot, which has already been tested and is ready to ride?

Here’s a look at Zamperla’s Pony Express-themed MotoCoaster at Knott’s Berry Farm courtesy of Ryan Childers via YouTube…

UPDATE 8pm…As it turns out the Sling Shot provided the photo op. Mayor Bloomberg and Brooklyn Borough Prez Marty Markowitz pulled the switch to launch a couple of daring 12-year-old kids into the air. Here’s the video!

Coney Island’s Luna Park Hiring for 2011 Season

Posted in amusement industry, amusement park, tagged career, Central Amusement International, Coney Island, Luna Park, seasonal work, summer job on January 17, 2011| 2 Comments »

Luna Park Coney Island, Surf Avenue Entrance. June 6, 2010. Photo © Bruce Handy/Pablo 57 via flickr

If you’re seeking a career in the amusement industry, Central Amusement International, the operator of Luna Park Coney Island, has listed five plum jobs on Craigslist. They’re hiring an Assistant Operations Manager to help oversee the park operation (salary of $30,000-$40,000 per year) as well as a Seasonal Assistant Operations Coordinator and a Seasonal Assistant Administrative Manager (pay rate of $14.45-$19.25 per hour). The seasonal positions are late March through early November. Luna Park and the new Scream Zone are expected to open for the 2011 season in mid-April.

Luna Park is also looking for a Maintenance Coordinator with five or more years experience and NAARSO and/or AIMS certification (salary of $50,000-$70,000 per year) and a Maintenance Technician with vocational or technical training (pay rate of $12-$18 per hour).

Information about entry level jobs such as ride operator, game operator, ticketseller and retail sales is available on the park’s website. When the new park opened last May, the City announced “in its inaugural season Luna Park is projected to create 247 new jobs in Coney Island, increasing to 330 full and part time positions in 2011, with an emphasis on local hiring.” The amusement park is a public-private partnership with the City of New York.

Nov 13: Live-Tweeting from the Coney Island Boardwalk

Posted in amusement park, Redevelopment, tagged Boardwalk, Coney Island, Last Hurrah, Paul's Daughter, Ruby's on November 13, 2010| 1 Comment »

Easter Brunch at Paul's Daughter on the Boardwalk. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

Easter Brunch at Paul's Daughter on the Boardwalk. April 4, 2010. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

We’ve set up our phone to live-tweet today’s last hurrah of Coney Island Boardwalk mainstays Paul’s Daughter and Ruby’s. The party starts around 12:30 at Paul’s and goes on till ??? ATZ will be there by around 2 pm. We expect to see many of our friends. If you can’t make it, follow us on twitter @AmusingZillion or on the web at http://twitter.com/AmusingZillion. “misscox,” who inspired us with her live-tweets from last Saturday’s “final last call–or maybe not?” at Ruby’s Bar, will be tweeting, too. Follow that girl! Ruby’s will be open today with cold beer and live music for what we’ve decided to call final final last last call (we hope not).

Final Last Call at Ruby's Bar. Novembe 6, 2010. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i

The family of Paul Georgoulakos, 81, who has been selling food in Coney Island since 1950, is throwing a party at Paul’s Daughter, formerly known as Gregory & Paul’s. The refreshments, including what we consider the best french fries in Coney Island, will be “on the house.” We’ve been a fan of G & P’s hand-cut fries since we first came to Coney in the 1970s and feel inexpressibly sad at the thought of eating our very last french fry at Paul’s.

Paul's Daughters: Tina and Valerie Georgoulakos with Tina's daughter Natalie. November 6, 2010. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

‘”We just want to say ‘Thank You’ to the Coney Island community,” Paul’s daughter Tina Georgoulakos told ATZ about Saturday’s party. “It is a celebration of the life of this store and the people who love it and Coney Island. We really feel everybody needs a feel good day to get rid of some of the ugliness that has happened.” Founded as Gregory & Paul’s in 1962, the restaurant and eight other Boardwalk businesses were evicted by Luna Park operator Central Amusement International to make way for redevelopment.

In an op-ed in the Brooklyn Paper, CAI and Zamperla USA CEO Valerio Ferrari writes: “The multi-million dollar program will bring back the world-class mix of entertainment, dining and nightlife that was once a hallmark of the famed Boardwalk.” Shoot the Freak’s Anthony Berlingieri, who also lost his lease, responded “Where’s our thanks?” Shoot the Freak was not among the Boardwalk businesses that reopened last weekend to say a bittersweet farewell to friends and fans. As for this weekend, we’ll let you know via twitter…

UPDATE

As we tweeted on Saturday: Boardwalk biz owners met for round table strategy session with their attorney in front of Cha Cha’s. Although tomorrow, November 15, is the date they originally had to get out, notices of landlord CAI’s intent to sue for eviction were delivered or posted on their premises mid-week extending the vacate date through November 19.

When we left Ruby’s on Saturday at 5:30, the joint was still jumpin. It will be open again Sun & “on the house” party 2 doors down at Gyro Corner. Grill House also remained open for Last Hurrah Weekend.

Rubys host emailed on Sunday morning: “Busy schedule. Polar Bears swim @ 1…Killer Joe @ Gyro 1 pm – blues rock & soul…Neptune Jam @ Grill house 1:30 – Paul Sanchez. Bratva – w12/ Surf @ 2 – Changes – bike classic rock band – Richi Lupo – played at Rubys yesterday.”