The Parachute Jump

The Parachute Jump is a defunct amusement ride in Coney Island.

Its iconic open-frame steel structure remains a Brooklyn landmark.

It was built for the 1939 New York World’s Fair in Flushing Meadows Park, Queens,

and moved to its current site in 1941, which was then part of the Steeplechase Park amusement park.

It is the only remnant of Steeplechase Park still standing today. The ride ceased operations in 1968.

[A] Once triggered, this mechanism was used to release the parachute

into a near free fall. My Father made and repaired many of these.

With no identifiable markings, the photo (left) was the best way to confirm its authenticity.

(Metal, approx. 9”h.)

The Parachute Jump: the Eiffel Tower of Brooklyn

262 Feet tall  Weighing 170 tons

There has been serious discussion of making the ride operable.

This would require significant redesign to meet modern safety standards,

however, expert amusement ride consultants wonder whether this would be

possible in a modern litigious environment.

Shooting Gallery

The image of a shooting gallery is typical of post-World War II Coney Island. Parachute troops and soldiers replaced conventional ducks and swinging targets.

This shooting gallery target depicts the Italian dictator, Benito Mussolini, falling with a parachute. The illustration style comically depicts the facial expression for which he was famous during his reign.

(Metal, 5.75” h.)

 

Above is a framed, glass silkscreen panel used in one of the coin-slot rifle gallery games found in arcades throughout Coney Island.

This sort of takes the whole shooting gallery game to an absurd level. One could only imagine what the person who designed this sign was thinking. Kind of says it all.(Metal, 23”w. x 6”h.)

Spook-A-Rama Clown Head

[A] 
(Paint on Wood, 41” in diameter.)

Perhaps the most unique and fascinating piece in the collection is this clown face painted on wood. It was originally displayed in front of a spook house in Steeplechase Park, then was later used in front of the Spook-A-Rama under the Wonder Wheel. It depicts an unusual clown face inside a space helmet. It is believed to be inspired by the Sci Fi fascination of the 1950’s, including the Amazing Stories Comic Books and the Flash Gordon TV show. This Clown head was given to me by the then owner of the Wonder Wheel – Fred Garms, in exchange for scenic and sign painting services on his Kiddie Park Amusements. In 1971, he handed my Father his business card (below) to be used for free rides on the Wonder Wheel.

Originally, there were two clown heads. 

[B] 
 The photo on the right shows the other paired clown head as it looked while it was used to decorate the spook house in Steeplechase Park.
(Photo by Charles Denson)