American Experience - Coney Island (1991)

The emergence of American mass culture is intimately connected to the history of Coney Island. From the mid-1800s New York's Coney Island emerged as a playland where the fabulous and fantastic met. Coney Island is Ric Burns' loving documentary about a unique time and place in American history where both the hot dog and the roller coaster were invented. The largest herd of show elephants a miniature village of hundreds of midgets and many fantastic sideshows were all the unique properties of this resort district. An elegant documentary Coney Island tells the story of the rise and eventual decline of a slice of modern life. ~ Cara Saposnik All Movie GuideFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DOCUMENTARIES/MISC. UPC: 841887050562 Manufacturer No: 705056 Product Description

Coney Island On DVD

This is something I remember first watching when I was 11 or 12 years old. It was something my mom wanted me to see because she experienced herself the joys of the (final) years of Steeplechase Park at Coney Island;the human roulette wheel,the blow hole theater,the Nathan's hot dogs;she did it all and all of that is here only more. After watching this I have to admit to myself Luna Park,although it's heyday was at the turn of the century and it burned down 40 years before I was born,looked pretty cool. This documentary shows how a famous beach inspired forward thinking showmen and arcitects to build three amusment parks on Coney Island in the early 1900's;how they provided whimsey,abandon and in some cases cultural stimulation to Americans.At the time Americans were witnessing the end of the Victorian age and the beginning of the modern world-Coney Island blended the two by inventing it's own world that mixed both the reason and morality with invention and industriousness;the perfect mix of old and new. This story becomes bittersweet at the end when Coney Island goes into decline-reason being first one of it's three assmusment parks burning down,the passing and downfall of it's innovators and the fact that the rest of New York (and the country) started catching up fast to the diversions Coney Island offered after WW1. One thing I should say about this is this movie is at least 15 minutes longer then the one PBS originally aired. One whole segment taken entirely from the televised version revolves around how after WW1 Coney Islands two remaining amusment parks began to rely mainly on circus type sideshows,not rides or spectacles to stay afloat. This dreamy documentary is mainly fancinating except,as stated by another review it does feature a chilling film made at Coney Island around 1907 or something of an old elephant named Topsy being electrocuted.Some might find this offensive and not want young kids to see this.And while it is highly unpleasant it illustrates that even the most fun place in the world has it's darker side. But there is a happy ending to this story not shown on this DVD;several years after this was made Austraillia opened up it's own Luna Park;not only does it have a lot of the same features as the original but it remains highly popular. Which proves to me with no doubt that if fire hadn't gutted it the original Luna Park,in the proper hands would've surely made a comeback.A compelling DVD for fans of Coney Island history,amusement parks and even some sociologists. September 28, 2008

Nostalgic Laughter

Coney Island has become legend. What once was a place for people to gather in excitement and fun is now a hollow ghost of its former self. Still, it is fun to look back on the way it once was during a simpler time in history.

This documentary is extremely well done. The narration is excellent and combines well with the film clips used. The editing is also masterful and helpful to the storytelling. Surprisingly, the film footage is in good condition. Since most of it did not come from a major motion picture, one would think it would be in the same condition as most newsreel footage, but it is clear and watchable. (Ironically, the bit from Clara Bow's "It" is in bad shape; it has since been restored.)

The only major flaw here is the little information provided about the 1920s and 30s. So much is explored from the early 1900s because that is when the amusement parks really took off, but what of the time between that and the collapse? One can get an idea of what it was like based on the film clips, but judging from the bathing suits, most of the clips come from the earliest parts of the century.

Overall, this film is a fascinating look at an era lost to the modern world. It is nostalgic and lovingly told. January 12, 2008

Dated, but still good

Recently, after reading Sarah Hall's book "The Electric Michelangelo" i became interested in Coney Island and it's history. Stumbled across this DVD and ordered it. I was a little surprised at how dated the production seems to be. Not that it really interferes with the content since it deals with the history of Coney Island. There are some amazing images here of the three original amusement parks. The thing that I was really hoping for that was not here was some shots of what is in these locations today (I love that kind of stuff). Otherwise, it's a good, if slow paced, documentary. October 31, 2007

coney island

A beautiful film that gives a fascinating history of Coney Island from its discovery by Europeans to its current fading glory. As a child of the 50's, I'm happy to revisit a happy cache of memories. It also makes you wish you could have glimpsed Dreamland & Luna Park because the venues seem to rival the attractions available in today's amusement parks. I hope that the planned gentrification of modern Coney doesn't spoil the flavor & enchantment for future generations. Thanks Ric Burns for preserving an important piece of history, not just for New Yorkers, but for everyone who has a sense of imagination & love of adventure. October 2, 2007

Coney Island, my home town!

For anyone to understand what Coney Island means to people (especially those with a direct connection to the place), they'd have to see this documentary. The legendary amusement parks and their eventual demise is a compelling story of the rise and fall of a universal icon.
In this, the first of Ric Burns' American Experience documentary films, the dynamic of this unique place is captured so well, I can barely watch it without tears emerging uncontrollably from my eyes.
A must see for anyone interested in New York City, the rise of recreation and amusement in America for the new working class with a day off, amusement parks; and most of all Coney Island itself. June 26, 2007

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