They could have used the parachute jump in Coney island Brooklyn to train people who work in the top floors of the twin towers and so many lives could have been saved on that tragic day. So sad
Do you have any footage of the first C-5A in the hangar as they were assembling it? My father turned a wrench on this aircraft! Would be stellar to possibly see him working on it...!
Hello doogie1136 I am working on an independent documentary about the inventor of Smell-O-Vision! who met with Michael Todd snr (and Jnr) at the World Fair. Is it possible to license a short sequence from this wonderful footage?
The non working tower is still standing in Coney Island. It is beautifully lit with computerized lighting. It's regarded as a sort of Eiffel Tower of Brooklyn. I remember it from the early 60's.
No, this was the real deal. Today's version uses a controlled descent, like an elevator. This tower used REAL chutes and were the only things that keep you from free falling at full speed back to earth. And you actually were free falling for about a second as the limp chute finally filled with air on the way down. Quite the sensation.
If they're going to leave the structure up anyway, why can't they make it working again? I understand the original had safety flaws, but they could update the system to be more like modern day chute rides.
thank you for sharing this fabulous video! I can't recall if I ever went on it but it was the most famous of the rides besides the cyclone, which I definitely went on! Ahhhh, the days when we didn't have all the aches and pains we have today. Hmmm, maybe a zip around the cyclone would straighten out my back problems, or put me in traction!!!!! :) Thanks for the memories!!!!
This is almost laughable when compared to the insane high velocity thrill rides of the 21st century, and even some of those of the late 20th century. But back in 1939 this was a state of the art "crap your pants" thrill ride.
I rode that tram ride in the late sixties with my parents and 2 brothers. It simulated a helicopter ride, with blinking lights down below, flying planes, and day into night. It is one of my favorite memories growing up. I also went to the world's fair a little before my 2nd birthday in '65 and I vaguely remember fireworks while my dad held my hand. I went back today (october 2nd 2016) to see the Makers Faire. Absolutely thrilled to find this video. That ride was absolute magic.
I was 12 in 1963 and weighed less than my 15 year old brother. He didn't want to ride with me because he thought the imbalanced seat would catapult him out! They made us take off our shoes. It was so exciting I remember it like yesterday and I'm 64 now. Afterwards we went over to the steeplechase and slid down the huge wooden slides. Lots of fun.
That's awesome that you personally experienced this! At 64, you are about as young as one can be and legitimately say they rode the Coney Island Parachute Jump.
Thanks for sharing Mike! I grew up in NY/NJ and always wondered about this ride and exactly how it worked. As someone who is a bit frightened of heights and rides this looks scary!
Did you ever ride on the roller coaster that was on top of the house. It was called the cyclone i believe but they made a new one named after it in modern day.
Rate of decent about 25 feet per second, with a big bounce at the end. It was great fun. I was on this ride with my wife back in 1960. I remember telling her to be calm while I was just on the edge of panic. She was cool.
@@supersarah5673 Heights never bothered me. Even when I was 2-3 years old I loved being up so high. But if there is a Electrical storm, I freak out! I have always been scared of Lightening and Thunder. Never like loud noises. 🙂
What songs were played? There is no sound. I think out of anger/revenge Fannie Brice showed up once in her Mrs. Cohen bathing costume and tried to break in the show and caused some havoc
The ones at Six Flags have a controlled descent, fake. These however were REAL chutes and were all that kept you from plummeting down to earth in a free fall. And you actually did free fall for split second at the top as the chutes fully opened. The ride was originally designed as a training tower for the military, later modified for use at amusement parks.
Ah, they don't do shows like this any more! Billy Rose was a show-promoting genius in his way, and I thoroughly recommend his 1948 book, WINE, WOMEN AND WORDS - well worth reading, full of great laughs, and quite a lot on this show.
It is a great book. I wish those 7 Dali paintings didn't get burnt up at Billy Rose's house fire in Mt. Kisco. I'm Billy Rose's long lost grandson btw. There's a lot more to the story of Billy Rose left to be told. Stay tuned... ;)
My Dad (Gordon Novel) was Billy Rose's love child from an affair he had with my Grandmother. You can Google my Dad's name as he was quite the character much like Billy Rose. My Grandmother worked for Billy Rose as a dancer at his Casa Manana cabaret in 1937. Billy Rose threatened, bribed and conspired with my Grandmother to conceal his son's identity by putting a fake name on his birth certificate (William Gordon Novel). Having a child out of wedlock was very shameful back in those days (ie illegitimate bastards) and Billy was a very public figure. He was also in the process of divorcing Fanny Brice and had just started dating Eleanor Holm. We just discovered in 2023 that my DNA tests match with Billy Rose's parents' extended family. We are now going to try to recover his estate that was valued at $390,000,000 back in 1966 when adjusted for inflation. Its all buried treasure at the moment so keeping my expectations low and my hopes how. :)
@@johnharpdalton4092 My Dad (Gordon Novel) was Billy Rose's love child from an affair he had with my Grandmother. You can Google my Dad's name as he was quite the character much like Billy Rose. My Grandmother worked for Billy Rose as a dancer at his Casa Manana cabaret in 1937. Billy Rose threatened, bribed and conspired with my Grandmother to conceal his son's identity by putting a fake name on his birth certificate (William Gordon Novel). Having a child out of wedlock was very shameful back in those days (ie illegitimate bastards) and Billy was a very public figure. He was also in the process of divorcing Fanny Brice and had just started dating Eleanor Holm. We just discovered in 2023 that my DNA tests match with Billy Rose's parents' extended family. We are now going to try to recover his estate that was valued at $390,000,000 back in 1966 when adjusted for inflation. Its all buried treasure at the moment so keeping my expectations low and my hopes high. :)
@@johnharpdalton4092 my Dad (Gordon Novel) was Billy Rose's love child from an affair he had with my Grandmother. My Grandmother worked for Billy Rose as a dancer at his Casa Manana cabaret in 1937. Billy Rose threatened, bribed and conspired with my Grandmother to conceal his son's identity by putting a fake name on his birth certificate. Having a child out of wedlock was very shameful back in those days and Billy was a very public figure. He was also in the process of divorcing Fanny Brice and had just started dating Eleanor Holm. We just discovered in 2023 that my DNA tests match with Billy Rose's parents' extended family. We are now going to try to recover his estate that was valued at $390,000,000 back in 1966 when adjusted for inflation. Its all buried treasure at the moment so keeping my expectations low and my hopes how. :)
I remember going on the tram ride when I first visited the panorama with my sister and dad in the late 60's when I was around five or six. Thought it was the coolest thing in the world (still do). Went back in '95 with a friend and was sad to see that the tram cars had been replaced by a walkway. It was nice to see one of the old cars on exhibit.
Wow. i remember first seeing it when I was 2 years old in 1964. I remember we rode in cars through it and the planes were going in and out of both airports. My mother doesn't believe I can remember it but I also remember the fountains around the Globe working and wading in the water. I then remember visiting it in the 1980s. Nothing worked but we could walk through. I am surprised they got the airplanes working again. I love models like that. Thanks for sharing!
