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Posts Tagged ‘Roller Skating’

Rare & Vintage: Roller Skating Monkey Banner by Bobby Wicks

Posted in Amusement Game, art, Auction, tagged banner, banner painter, Bobby Wicks, monkey speedway, Roller Skating, Royal American Shows, scenic artist, sideshow banner on January 29, 2016| 1 Comment »

Bobby Wicks Roller Skating Monkey Banner

Vintage Roller Skating Monkey Sideshow Banner by Bobby Wicks. Morphy Auctions

Brooklyn-born Bobby Wicks (1902-1990) was a banner and show painter and tattooist greatly admired by his fellow artists. Wicks once told a reporter that he got his start as a boy painting signs that said “Frankfurters 5¢” for Coney Island hot dog stands. Though both his paintings and tattoo flash are hard to come by, a delightful roller skating monkey banner that he did for a carnival’s monkey speedway will be on the block at Morphy Auctions on Sunday.

The 9-1/2 foot tall by 7-1/2 foot wide advertisement was part of a banner line designed to draw people over to a midway attraction that remained popular through the 1950s and ’60s. Trained monkeys in little metal cars raced around a track while customers placed bets on the laydown of numbers. The banner painters often took liberties and portrayed the monkeys in a variety of eye-catching scenarios, from walking a tightrope to dining in a fine restaurant, that were not part of the show.

According to Wicks’ page on the Tattoo Archive, in his early years in Coney he painted shooting galleries for the McCulloughs, worked with several banner painters, and had learned tattooing by age 14 or 15. After making and losing a fortune as a tattooist in the 1920s, he joined Royal American Shows, “The World’s Largest Midway,” and became their chief scenic artist and show painter.

The auction is online and one can bid now or in real time during Morphy’s January 31st sale in Las Vegas.

Update: The banner sold for $1,500 plus a 22% buyer’s premium.

Coney Island’s Xanadu: Dreamland Roller Rink Celebrates First Birthday

Posted in amusement park, Events, tagged Coney Island, Dreamland Roller Rink, Lola Staar, party, Roller Skating on July 25, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Happy First Birthday to Lola Staar's Dreamland Roller Rink! Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

Congrats to entrepreneur Dianna Carlin aka Lola Staar! Her Dreamland Roller Rink opened one year ago in Coney Island’s long vacant terracotta palace known as the Childs Building. You’re invited to help celebrate the occasion on Saturday night. Dreamland’s birthday bash will be a Xanadu themed skate party with Roxy’s DJ Julio spinning skate-classics, music and imagery from the dreamy film Xanadu.

Saturday, July 25, 8 pm – midnight

$12 admission ($10 with Xanadu Attire), $5 skate rentals
21 and over

Dreamland Roller Rink, Boardwalk at W 21st St., Coney Island

This business closed at the end of the 2009 season and is seeking a new location.

Coney Island-O-Rama: Weekly Events June 15-21

Posted in Events, tagged bicycling, circus, Coney Island, Coney Island Boom A Ring, Coney Island History Project, Mermaid Parade, Ringling, Roller Skating on June 15, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Hippie bus mer people. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

This week is an eventful one in Coney Island. Ringling Bros. troupe of acrobats, daredevils, clowns, tigers, elephants and dachshunds are arriving for a summer-long run. The Coney Island Boom A Ring Circus opens on Thursday, June 18th. The Brooklyn Cyclones season opener and the first Friday Night Fireworks of the season are on Friday, June 19th. Mer people from all over the world are on the way to Coney for the 2009 Mermaid Parade and Ball on Saturday, June 20. See you there!

MONDAY, JUNE 15

Live Jazz at Cha Cha’s Bar & Cafe on the Boardwalk

Puppets Jazz Club of Park Slope & JT of Cha Cha’s present Live Jazz on Mondays at Cha Cha’s of Coney Island.

Monday, June 15, Cha-Cha’s, Boardwalk just east of Stillwell Ave, 718-946-1305

TUESDAY, JUNE 16

Ringling Bros.Coney Island Boom A Ring Circus opens for the summer on Thursday, June 18. Photo by rbbbconeyisland via flickr

Ringling Circus event celebrating the renaming of 21st Street “BOOM A RING Blvd.” for the summer

Don’t forget your camera! Members of the Coney Island Rumor Mill have been expecting their first sighting of Ringling’s Asian elephants at Tuesday’s celebration. It turns out there is a Ringling Boom A Ring Rumor Mill too! They’re sayin’ the elephants will not be part of tomorrow’s event, but the performers will be there to meet their new neighbors. It will be FUN….

The celebration will include representatives of and performers from The Greatest Show On Earth, the unveiling of “BOOM A RING Blvd.” and “Elephant Crossing” signs, special guest Lynn Kelly, President of the Coney Island Development Corporation (CIDC), and music courtesy of Brooklyn’s own Soul Tigers Marching Band.

“We are thrilled that the Ringling Brother’s Circus has come to Coney Island,” said CIDC President Lynn Kelly. “With the Circus in town, and Coney’s iconic rides and amusements really fun and really open this summer, this is the beginning of what we hope is a long relationship with Ringling Brother’s and a preview of what’s to come.”

Tuesday, June 16 at 11 a.m. Corner of 21st Street and Surf Avenue, Coney Island

Ringling Bros Coney Island Boom A Ring Circus Posters in Stillwell Station. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

THURSDAY, JUNE 18

Opening Night of Ringling Bros. “Coney Island Boom-A-Ring” Circus with a special performance saluting Coney Island

Performers include Vicenta Pages and her seven white Bengal tigers; the daredevil Urias family with their Motorcycle Globe; the Negrey Troupe of Russian acrobats; “Eccentric Personality” and bicyclist extraordinaire Justin Case; Diana Yedvashkina and her dachshund dog act; and a trio of Asian elephants. The Circus will run on Thursdays through Sundays from June 18th through September 7th. Tickets cost $10-$65.

Thursday, June 18, Ringling Bros. Coney Island Boom A Ring, Surf Ave and 21st St, Coney Island, 800-745-3000

Justin Case Bicycles through a Ring of Fire in Ringling Bros. Coney Island Boom A Ring Circus. Photo by rbbbconeyisland via flickr

FRIDAY, JUNE 19

Time’s Up First Bicycle Ride of the Season to Coney Island from Manhattan

The group’s “Coney Island Cyclone Ride” goes to Coney Island’s Amusement District from Manhattan and is described as a casual bike ride at a relaxed pace.

This season’s first ride meets on June 19 at 7:00 pm on the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge (SW corner of Chambers and Centre St/Park Row) OR 7:25 in Brooklyn at the Carroll St Drawbridge (between Nevins and Bond) OR 7:50 at the 69th St Pier in Brooklyn at the Shore Pkwy bike path entrance (take 68th St). It arrives in time for the fireworks. Upcoming rides are on July 10 and August 21.

Friday, June 19, Time’s Up, NYC’s Direct Action Environmental Organization, timesup@panix.com, 212-802-8222

Brooklyn Cyclones Season Opener and Friday Night Fireworks

Staten Island Yankees vs Brooklyn Cyclones at Keyspan Stadium at 7:00 pm. The first Friday Night Fireworks of the season are at 9:30 pm. The Friday Night Fireworks are sponsored by the Brooklyn Cyclones on 7 nights from June to September. Additional dates of Friday Night Fireworks are sponsored by Carol Albert of the Cyclone Roller Coaster and former Astroland; the Vourderis family of Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park, and the Brooklyn Cyclones baseball team. Additional participants in the fireworks include Nathan’s, the Aquarium, the Coney Island Development Corporation, and City Councilman Domenic Recchia’s office. Please show your appreciation for the continuation of this Coney tradition by patronizing the sponsors!

Friday, June 19, Brooklyn Cyclones, Keyspan Stadium, 1904 Surf Avenue, 718-449-8497

SATURDAY, JUNE 20

Coney Island USA’s 2009 Mermaid Parade

Featuring King Neptune Harvey Keitel and Queen Mermaid Daphna, The Uptown String Band from The Philadelphia Mummers Parade, Recording artists They Might Be Giants performing on a float, Monster Truck ‘Blue Thunder’ performing a parade prelude, and performers from Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey’s Boom A Ring Circus.

Mermaid Parade, Saturday, June 20th, 2PM! Rain or Shine!

The Mermaid Ball at Dreamland Roller Rink

The Ball will run in two skating sessions: 5:30pm-8:30pm and 9pm-Midnight. Tickets are $20, skate rental $5. DJ Misbehavior, Burlesque and Sideshow performances. Concession stand will be open, alcohol is prohibited.

The first 100 guests who present their ticket stub from the
June 20th 6:30pm Circus benefit for Coney Island USA will get $10 admission to the 9pm skate session.

Mermaid Ball at Dreamland Roller Rink, Boardwalk at 21st St, Coney Island

Amy Winehouse Marches in Coney Island Mermaid Parade 2008. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

SUNDAY, JUNE 21

Free Exhibition: “Coney Island Icons: The Story Behind the Landmarks of the World’s Playground”

The Coney Island History Project’s free public exhibition center is located on Surf Avenue under the Cyclone roller coaster. This season’s featured exhibition uses archival and contemporary photos, documents, anecdotes, interviews, souvenirs and artifacts to tell the story of Coney Island’s four city landmarks — The Cyclone Roller Coaster, Wonder Wheel, Parachute Jump and Childs Building. The exhibition is curated by historian Charles Denson, the author of the book Coney Island:Lost and Found. The exhibition center is open 1:00- 6:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day.

Coney Island History Project, 834 Surf Ave, just east of 10th St, Coney Island, 718- 266-0012

The Coney Island History Project’s free public exhibition center under the Cyclone Roller Coaster is open on weekends. Photo by Coney Island History Project via flickr

Roller Dance Skate Classes at Dreamland Roller Rink

The Miss’ile Roller Dance Crew from France will be teaching a dance workshop at Dreamland on Sundays from 3-4:30 p.m. $20 class price includes free admission to Dreamland Discoteque.

Dreamland Roller Rink, Boardwalk at 21st Street, Coney Island, 800-362-5116