Brooklyn Timeline: Coney Island
1920: A New Era Arrives
Following a decade marred by tragedy—including the fire that destroyed Dreamland and the deaths of many people on amusement park rides—Coney Island had something of a rebirth in 1920. For one thing, the subway was extended to Coney Island and, for only a nickel, all New Yorkers had easy access to the beach. For another, the Wonder Wheel opened. The Wonder Wheel is still an amazing engineering marvel that apparently people have sex in all the time, which makes perfect sense in its way, because sex and mortality go hand in hand and how can you NOT be thinking about dying when you’re in one of those swinging cars on the Wonder Wheel? They’re terrifying.
Also, in this decade, the Coney Island boardwalk opened, the Cyclone roller coaster opened, and the Coney Island beauty pageant, which attracted women from all 48 states started. No, this was not the beginning of the Miss America pageant, but it’s still interesting, I think.