Coney Island-America's Playgroung

In the late 1800's Coney was divided in two areas. At the eastern end was Brighton Beach, where large hotels for New York's upper class went up. At the western end of the island prostitution and three card monty players were abundant. Men and women wore swim suits that covered much of their bodies, weighed several pounds when wet and pulled themselves along ropes through the water.
The corrupt Tammany Hall member John McKane, ran the island. He had an iron grip on Coney and nothing was erected without his approval and  the appropriate kickback. McKane made a small fortune by ignoring illeagal going ons. He claimed that houses of prostitution were necessary on Coney Island.  In 1894 McKane was imprisoned and the island exploded economically. The visiting working-class families spread out between the two ends of the island in the area that became the amusement capitol of the world. There were over thirty wooden roller coasters and attractions at Coney from 1884 through the 1930's. Today all that remains of the great wooden rollers is the Cyclone which is the yardstick by which many other roller coasters are measured. The experts all agree that the Cyclone is arguably the most successful roller coaster to be erected at Coney Island. The area which becam to decline in the 1960's is once again on the upturn and looking towards a bright future.