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Posts Tagged ‘Bumper Cars’

Good News from Coney Island! Eldorado “Bump Your Ass Off” Bumper Cars To Reopen

Posted in Amusement ride, News, tagged Bump Your Ass Off, Bumper Cars, Coney Island, Eldorado, Kevin C Downs Photography, Scott Fitlin, Surf Avenue on November 18, 2010| 3 Comments »

We’re happy to be able to report a piece of good news from good ol’ Coney Island, which is reeling from a series of deaths, demolitions, and evictions. The good news is Eldorado Auto Skooters, Coney’s famed disco palace of bumper cars, will reopen in 2011. It’ll be “Bump, Bump, Bump your Ass Off” at 1216 Surf Avenue in memory of the Eldorado’s heart and soul, Scott Fitlin, who died in October.

ATZ received a personal note from Sheila and Sandy Fitlin, the owners of the Eldorado Bumper Cars, to thank us for ATZ’s eulogy to their son. We can’t tell you how happy we were to read the words: “Stop by to see us at the Eldorado this summer.” The Coney Island Rumor Mill had been speculating whether or not the Eldorado would reopen. Some were worried that the building, which is owned by the Fitlin family, would be sold.

We were amazed and moved by the response to “Rest in Peace: Scott Fitlin, Coney’s Eldorado Man” (ATZ, October 13, 2010). Our eulogy was read by thousands of people from all over the world! As Sandy Fitlin writes, “Tricia, Scott had friends he probably didn’t know cared for him so much.” We think Scott would have been surprised by the many remembrances and condolences posted on ATZ and the audio discussion forums Audio Heritage and Wave Music, among others. Scott’s friends will want to stop by the Eldorado this summer to hear the legendary sound system and “Turn that Wheel!”

Eldorado Marquee at Night. September 5, 2009. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

Eldorado Marquee at Night, Surf Avenue in Coney Island. September 5, 2009. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

Photo Album: Oct 15 Tribute in Sound & Light to Scott Fitlin

Posted in Amusement ride, Photo Album, Photography, tagged Bumper Cars, Coney Island, Eldorado, Scott Fitlin, tribute on October 17, 2010| 3 Comments »

Eldorado Ticket Booth. October 15, 2010. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

The funeral services for Scott Fitlin, the operator and DJ extraordinaire of Coney Island’s Eldorado Bumper Cars were on Friday in Long Island. At 9 am in front of the Eldorado, guests began boarding a chartered bus. We’re told that while the passengers waited for everyone to arrive, a friend rolled up the steel doors of the Eldorado, put on some music, and turned up the volume in tribute to Scotty.

Eldorado Auto Skooter, Coney Island. October 15, 2010. Photo © Tricia Vita

By 10 am, the bus had left Surf Avenue. Before the friend locked up and left to go to the funeral, he paid one more tribute to Scotty: He turned on the lights of the Eldorado’s dazzling marquee and the neon lights in the ticket booth. That’s why we found the Eldorado all lit up, though it was closed, when we got to Coney Island at 4:30 and took these photos. The lights were still blazing at midnight when we passed by on our way home. The friend returned the next morning and turned off the Eldorado’s lights for the 2010 season. RIP Scott, your passion for Coney Island and knowledge of its history were greatly admired. You will be missed more than you could ever know.

Eldorado Canopy, Surf Ave in Coney Island. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

Eldorado Canopy, Surf Ave in Coney Island. October 15, 2010. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

Rest in Peace: Scott Fitlin, Coney Island’s Eldorado Man

Posted in Amusement ride, In Memoriam, News, tagged Bumper Cars, Coney Island, disco palace, Eldorado, obituary, Scott Fitlin on October 13, 2010| 40 Comments »

Scott Fitlin at Coney Island's Eldorado. Photo © Charles Denson

Sorrowful news from Coney Island this morning: Our friend Scott Fitlin, who operated the Eldorado Bumper cars for his family, died on Monday in his apartment. Scott was the DJ extraordinaire of Surf Avenue’s legendary disco palace of bumper cars and a steadfast defender of the amusement zone. Coney Island will miss him more than we can say.

These never-before-published portraits of Scott Fitlin were taken by Coney Island historian Charles Denson, who photographed Scott at work in the Eldorado this summer.

Coney Island raconteur Stan Fox, whose family operated the Playland arcade, recalled saying that when Mike Saltzstein of the B & B Carousell died in 2001, the music died. “Today’s another day when the music died,” Fox said.

Scott Fitlin was proud of the Eldorado’s sound system. Last March, ATZ did a post celebrating the Eldorado, in which Scott related the history of the ride and the sound system. Here is an excerpt:

Eldorado was hand built by my grandfather Joseph Buxbaum, my Dad Sandy Fitlin, and my Uncle Peter Buxbaum, and a carpenter named Rafael. Opening date was March 21st 1973, admission was 50 cents and 25 cent re-rides.

The lighting is disco style from the Studio 54 era, and we are upgrading this year to newer LED technology effects.

Our sound is custom built, by us, and we have had professionals in from time to time, back in the old days it was Richard Long, famous for the sound at Studio 54 and The Paradise Garage. Our sound is extremely powerful yet very easy to listen to, it doesn’t hurt the ear. CRYSTAL CLEAR, lightning fast, and stunning transient response, the crack of the snare drum is scary. Our bass is tremendous, and I play dance music, the sound that has energy and life, and POSITIVITY!

Our Bumper cars are Italian made Soli cars. They look good, run fast, and bump good.

The Eldorado Arcade opened for the spring of `71, the bumper cars were constructed during the winter of `72, and grand opened March 21, 1973. The FIRST record played was Cisco Kid-War!

Over the summer, Scott sent us a note about the upgrade to the Eldorado’s sound system:

I was always devoutly into audio, and music. Once I have performed and completed this years sound system repairs and upgrades, once again, NOTHING sounds like The Eldorado.

If you really begin searching the web using my name, you will find that I am one of the foremost authorities on the RLA [Richard Long] sound, and dance club style sound.

I have been working the 1216 Surf Ave Eldorado like it is a nightclub, for years. The only difference between my place and a club, is that in a club you dance on the floor, in my place you drive electric cars around the floor. Essentially, I run a disco on wheels.

Services will be on Friday, October 15th, at 12 noon at the Boulevard Chapel in Hewlett, Long Island. Phone 516-295-3100. The Fitlin family has chartered a bus to take anyone who wishes to attend but does not have transportation. The bus is expected to leave from the Eldorado between 9 am and 10 am.

UPDATE October 22, 2010:

The Coney Island History Project has posted a very moving excerpt from an audio interview that Scott did with CIHP director Charles Denson
http://www.coneyislandhistory.org/news/?p=484