Brooklyn Back When - Open Thread

tony mei

Old Goat

I believe the "Paracute" and the "Cyclone Roller Coaster" are now holding land mark status. You discribed Steeplechase quite well. You have the history down pat. I did enjoy going there. I am sure you remember right across the street was Ravenhall Pool. My family would get season lockers there each year. I remember watching some very intense handball games on the courts along side the pool area. Some of those guy's were unbelievably good. And when going home to Park Slope you had to have a bag of Pink and White popcorn you bought from a vendor right inside the Stillwell Av. entrance to the train. Took the Express train to 36th Street and crossed to the other side of the platform to get on the 4th AV. Local.

francesca

Hi OLD GOAT,
I'm with Anthony. It's hard to call you Old Goat, given we were raised to respect our 'elders.'

Great memory of Steeplechase. I remember most to all of what you say;
other than the man made horses running. We knew of them, but believe they were defunct by time we (my generation) went to Coney Island
(I was born in 1952).

I am also the one who mentioned Brooklyn's great drinking water. And yes, unfortunately I am aware of the awful water in Florida. I never drank it. It also does a number on my hair - dries it out terribly. When lawns are being watered you can smell the sulfer a mile away.

I will be your neighbor in a few months. I believe you live in Sarasota (beautiful place); my husband and I are moving a little south of you - to Venice. Heading there next week for a week. Stay well and save some
sunshine.

Ciao!

anthony umbria

HI TONY

THATS RIGHT THE POP CORN WOOOOOOOO

REMEMBER THE SEATS ON THE TRAIN THEY WHER THAT HARD STRAW WEAVED STLYE SEATS THAT KIND OF PINCHED YOUR ASS

anthony umbria

DID ALL YOU KNOW THEY ARE PLAING TO CLOSE DOWN ASTRO LAND ALL OF IT BUT THE WONDER WHEEL THERE IS GOING TO BE NO PLACE LEFT IN BROOKLYN TO ENJOY A DAY OUT WITH THE KIDS OR GRANDKID
THERE IS STILL NEILY BLYS BUT THATS IT IN BROOKLYN

barbaraspencer

Hi Anthony: Yes please tell Uncle Alan and Aunt Barbara I said hello. I know Alan would remember my family better than Barbara. You can also tell him that my brother Frank Blue passed away about 1 1/2 years ago. Very sad. I don't know if he was as friendly with my other brother David Blue his twin. He lives in Jersey and is doing o.k.

anthony umbria

I SAY REBUILD CONEY ISLAND HOTELS A FEW COSINOS BUT REBUIKD THE BOARDWALK AS THE CITYS LARGEST AMUSMENT AREA FOOD VENDORS RIDES FREAK SHOW THE HOLE NINE YARDS
AS GREAT AS A.C BUT WITH LESS COSINOS DONT NEED SO MANY 3-4
THAT SHOULD BE GOOD

LOL

ANTHONY U.

anthony umbria

BARBARA WILL DO

karendritto

All this talk about Coney Island and I could go for a Nathan's hot dog and some of the candy from the store - the name I can't remember - a few doors (or maybe blocks) away from Nathan's. The one that had the cotton candy and jelly apples and ice cream custard and the list is endless... I think all the sand and dirt gave everything a much better flavor.

I remember Ravenhall Pool too. I think most of the neighborhood went there. I also remember swimming in Sunset Park Pool. Walking there and back and stopping in the bus depot on 36th & 5th for a drink of cold water to finish the trip.

Hmm, maybe we can have the next reunion in Coney Island!! Wouldn't that be fun. Oh, but there won't be any rides. Bummer.

Very quiet day today. Wish I was home. Soon enough.

Karen

anthony umbria

HI KAREN
DO YOU REMEMBER THE KANISH GUY ACROSS FROM SUNSET POOL ON 7 AVE

old goat in fl

Subject: Old Goat Name

ANTHONY UMBRIA wrote: HELLO
I DONT WANT TO CALL YOU OLD GOAT SO PLEASE IF YOU DONT MIND WHATS YOUR FIRST NAME

ANYWAY CONEY ISLAND

WE MIGHT BE LOOSING IT SOON
AND THAT WILL BE A SHAME
I THINK IF NJ CAN HAVE SUCH GREAT SEA SIDE AND BORDWALKS WHY CANT NY DO IT I JUST DONT UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WOULD LET SUCH A GREAT PLACE LIKE CONEY ISLAND GO AND NOT REBILD IT AS NY. GREAT RESORT AREA

First of all my name is Warren. I do not mind being called Old Goat but if you are more comfortable with Warren, Fine.
I agree, Coney Island anywhere else would be considered a jewel. Board walk comparable to any. The Ocean which people all over would almost kill to be next to. All this right on the shores of the best borough of the best City in the world!

old goat in fl

Francesca wrote: Hi OLD GOAT,
I'm with Anthony. It's hard to call you Old Goat, given we were raised to respect our 'elders.'

Great memory of Steeplechase. I remember most to all of what you say;
other than the man made horses running. We knew of them, but believe they were defunct by time we (my generation) went to Coney Island
(I was born in 1952).

I am also the one who mentioned Brooklyn's great drinking water. And yes, unfortunately I am aware of the awful water in Florida. I never drank it. It also does a number on my hair - dries it out terribly. When lawns are being watered you can smell the sulfer a mile away.

I will be your neighbor in a few months. I believe you live in Sarasota (beautiful place); my husband and I are moving a little south of you - to Venice. Heading there next week for a week. Stay well and save some
sunshine.

Ciao!

Hi Francesca, I am not insulted by Old Goat but my name is Warren. You are being charitable when you call the smell of the water like Sulpher. I think it is more like Alligator poop!
Actually I live a little further North then Sarasota. Between Bradenton and Tampa in a senior development.

old goat in fl

Subject: Coney Island

Tony Mei wrote: Old Goat

I believe the "Paracute" and the "Cyclone Roller Coaster" are now holding land mark status. You discribed Steeplechase quite well. You have the history down pat. I did enjoy going there. I am sure you remember right across the street was Ravenhall Pool. My family would get season lockers there each year. I remember watching some very intense handball games on the courts along side the pool area. Some of those guy's were unbelievably good. And when going home to Park Slope you had to have a bag of Pink and White popcorn you bought from a vendor right inside the Stillwell Av. entrance to the train. Took the Express train to 36th Street and crossed to the other side of the platform to get on the 4th AV. Local.

Hi Tony, I remember the subway okay but many times we took the trolley to Bartel/Pritcahrd square (CIRCLE) and then walked the rest of the way home. Do you remember the huge Carousel at the Stillwell Ave Station in Coney Island. It was the first and last ride at Coney. Never could reach the damned Brass ring though.

karendritto

Anthony - no I don't remember the knish man across from Sunset pool. I guess I didn't pay attention since all I wanted to do was swim not eat. Wow, wish that would happen to me now!! Swim instead of eat!

Karen

anthony umbria

HI WARRN "OLD GOAT"

THEY TOUR DOWN THE CAROSEL SORRY TO SAY BYT MY GRANDDAUGHTER WHO IS 10 GOT TO RIDE ON IT BEFORE THEY DID THAT EVELTHING

anthony umbria

KAREN
I GOT YOU LOL
BUT I DO LOVE FOOD SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

ralph marsella

WOW ALL THIS TALK OF CONEY ISLAND HOW ABOUT........


" GET YOUR COLD BEER AND HOT KINISHES "

t-bone51

anthony,
I DO REMEMBER THE STORE ACROSS FROM THE POOL.
KAREN,
MARGARET AND I USED WALK TO THE POOL AND BACK AND SAVE THE MONEY SO WE COULD BUY KNISHES AND CANDY FOR THE WALK HOME AT SUNSET POOL. LOVE TERRY ANN

t-bone51

I ALSO REMEMBER GOING WITH MY PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS TO NATHANS AND EATING CORN ON TH COB IN THESE LITTLE BOOTHS ON THE SIDE OF NATHANS. GOING AND WATCHING THE FIREWORKS AND AS A CHIL WOULD SCREAM AND CRY AND HOLD ON TO MY MOMS LES, I WAS TERRIFIED OF THE FIREWORKS.

MY DAD TOOK ME ON THE PARACHUTE WHEN I WAS A YOUNG GIRL I REMEMBER WE HAD TO TAKE OUR SHOES OFF. WE WENT UP SLOW AND WHEN WE GOT TO THE TOP IT HIT HARD AND CAME DOWN. AMAZING!!!!
love terry

carol dl

RALPH MARSELLA

you asked about a Sally Gerrossi - 20 6&7 Did he live with his mom and Aunt ? Maybe 329 20th. Was he related to the Uccio's ?

If it turns out it is him I may have a contact.

carol dl

CANDY WITH THE LITTLE SPOON

JANET if you find that candy I will have to give it to you for determination !!!

Anthony Umbria said that candy was chocolate.

carol dl

SUNSET POOL

I remember the store across the street. We couldn't wait to leave because we knew it was Kanish time AND they sold these vanilla cookies with starwberry cream filling (like an Oreo ) they were lined up in a box and you bought as many as you wanted.
Good times, we traveled alot too.

We had a nice big yard on 20th St. but traveled to Sunset pool.
Here on S.I. some of my kids fun times took place in the yard pool & all & no where near 20th streets size. Go figure.

anonymous

Hi Bloggers:

All of this talk about Coney Island has brought back some more memories like the rides the Wild Mouse, The Himalaya and the Thunderbolt roller coaster ( a little tamer than the Cyclone for all of us chickens)! And what about the Aquarium - I remember peeking at it through a knothole in the stockade fence that surrounded it on the boardwalk.
f
I also remember hot summer days and opening up the johnny pump when the beach or Sunset pool wasn't an option - we used to use pieces of wood or soda cans with both ends cut off to direct the stream of water...also remember the cops coming and turning it off!

t-bone51

LORETTA,
The johnny pump..We discussed this awhile ago but it always is nice to hear it again. I just remember my mom yelling about the street water something about getting polio if we drank it. lol
CAROL.,
Remember the pretzels we would buy in sunset pool. You were not allowed to bring them into the pool area so we would stick them down the top of our bathing suits and sneak them out. They were the pretzel rods.
love terry

t-bone51

FUNNY...When u go out of town people dont know what johnny pumps are!!!! :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

anthony umbria

HI LORETTA
NEXT YEAR MOST OF OR ALL OF THOOSE WILL NOT BE THERE
THATS A SHAME

SHAME ON NEW YORK SHAME ON BLOOMBURG SHAME ON THE YUPPIES RUNING THIS CITY AND MOST OF ALL SHAME ON US FOR NOT SAYING A WORD TO STOP IT

BRING BACK THE HIPPIES DOWN WITH THE YUPPIES

ANTHONY U.

anthony umbria

FUNNYER YET LOTS OF THE YOUNG TODAY DONT KNOW EITHER

anthony umbria

PRETZEL RODS AND ORANGE SODA GREAT STUFF

nilda ace

namaste:

WARREN: (OLD GOAT) All this talk about C.I., was it C.I. that had stores under the board walk, they sold food and had juke boxes and lots of dancing the crowd was great and so was the music. The music was mixed some latin and some rock n roll. But i do remember it was a whole lot of fun. I remember going with my older cousins, i am 62 now and they were about 10 years older then me, i think it was C.I, i know it was a beach in NY.

SUNSET PARK: I too remember the Knish place and the strawberry cookies, and the long walk home. My mother worked a few summers in Sunset Park, she used to collect the baskets. Remember the baskets, where we stored the clothes. She worked their a few summers but preferred Red Hook. During the winter they have computer classes during the day for adults and programs for children after school. They even have a small gym for adults and other programs. if you are a senior citizen you only pay $10, it's very interesting how they occupy the space.

Well I'm going to read my book, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz.

anonymous

HELLO EVERONE , TALKING ABOUT ALL THAT GREAT CONEY ISLAND FOOD HOT DOGS CHOW MEIN SANDWICHES CORN ON THE COB SOFT ICECREAM AND KINISHES,AFTER YOU HAD ALL THAT TO EAT. THERES WAS ONE MORE THING TO HAVE, BEFORE YOU GOT ON THE SEABEACH EXPRESS HOT PEANUTS FOR THE TRAIN RIDE HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DO YOU REMEMBER BEFORE THE TRAIN GOT TO STILLWELL AVE ,THERE WAS THAT SMELL OF ROTTEN EGGS. WHEN IT PASSED THAT SWAMPY WATER WITH THAT ROTTEN TUG BOAT IN THE WATER??????,
I ALSO REMEMBER, AT THE CLOSING OF SUMMER THEY HAD A BIG PARADE WITH BEAUTYFULL FLOATES, BANDS COSTUMS, SOMETHING LIKE MARDI GRAS. THE BEST MEMORIES EVER, NOW IM HUNGRY

GOODNIGHT ALL JEANETTE LAGRECA

t-bone51

NILDA,
OMG You brought back another memory the wired baskets RIGHT and u got a stretchy thing u would put on your wrist or ankle.It had the number for your basket. OH the locker rooms where u changed no doors. This is what I love about this blog always another memory coming through love Terry Angelo

PS. THAT IS WHERE I MET MY FIRST REAL BOYFRIEND CHARLIE SICIARGO AT SUNSET POOL HE THREW ME IN THE POOL. I THINK I WAS 13 YRS OLD. NOW HE IS MARRIED TO MY DEAREST FRIEND DEBBIE WHO WANTS TO KNOW IF I WANT HIM BACK. LOL