| Luna Park | |
|---|---|
| Luna Park logo | |
| Location | Coney Island, New York, United States |
| Website | Official website |
| Owner | Zamperla |
| General Manager | Fernando Velasquez |
| Operated By | Fernando Velasquez |
| Opened | 1903, 2010 |
| Closed | 1944 |
| Area | 3.16-acre (12,800 m2) |
| Rides | 19 total
|
Luna Park was an amusement park at Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City from 1903 to 1944. A second Luna Park was opened on the former site of the nearby Astroland amusement park. The second incarnation of Luna Park opened on May 29, 2010.
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The park's creators, Frederic Thompson and Elmer "Skip" Dundy, created a wildly successful ride called "A Trip To The Moon", a part of the Pan-American Exposition in 1901 at Buffalo, New York. The name of the winged spacecraft (which was not a rocket, but flapped its wings) was Luna, the Latin word for the moon. During a discussion of the name of the park, "Dundy suggested the name of his sister in Des Moines, Luna Dundy <Newman>." (Pilat & Ranson, p. 146).[1]
At the invitation of Steeplechase owner Harry George Tilyou, Thompson and Dundy moved their show to Steeplechase Park, a Coney Island amusement park, for the 1902 season. At the end of that season, the partners obtained a long-term lease for the site of an older amusement park, Sea Lion Park, and rebuilt it as Luna Park, the second major amusement park in Coney Island. Although they claimed the park was named after one of their female relatives, it was probably named for the ship. The architecture was quite fanciful, with thousands of electric lamps on the outside of the buildings at a time when electrification was still a novelty.
Among the amusements were domesticated elephants. The rogue Topsy the Elephant was killed when she was electrocuted with alternating current by Thomas Edison. The execution film was used by Edison to trumpet his campaign against alternating current.
Witching Waves was one of the most popular rides at Luna Park, invented by Theophilus Van Kannel, who also invented the revolving door.[2] The ride consisted of a large oval course with a flexible metal floor. There were hidden reciprocating levers that produced a wave-like motion.[3] The floor itself did not move but the moving wave propelled two seated small scooter-style cars with two seats, which could be steered by the riders. In 1910, it was moved and installed on the Bowery in Manhattan.
The song "Meet Me Down At Luna Lena" was recorded by Billy Murray in 1905 to promote the park, among others:[1]
A pair of fires in 1944 damaged Luna Park, destroying much of it.[4] It was not rebuilt and did not open for the 1945 season. After a legal battle and a third fire in 1946, the land was used for other purposes.
In 2005, the Coney Island Development Corporation released the "Coney Island Revitalization Plan", which laid out its plan to preserve and grow the historic amusement area; create a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood with new retail options and nearly 5,000 new units of housing, including 900 income-targeted units; and generate more than 25,000 construction jobs and 6,000 permanent jobs. In July 2009, the City passed the Coney Island Rezoning Plan, setting the stage for development in Coney Island's amusement district.
The new Luna Park opened May 29, 2010. Its entrance is patterned after the entrance to the original 1903 Luna Park and was built on the ground of the former Astroland amusement park which closed after the 2008 season. The new park is the home of nineteen new attractions and games. It is the only area in Coney Island in which the use of cash to pay for amusements and rides is not allowed; visitors must buy Luna Cards and spend Luna Credits.[5]
Luna Park includes 19 attractions[6] designed and manufactured by Antonio Zamperla, SpA (Zamperla), a company based in Vicenza, Italy.[7][8]
For the 2011 season, an addition called Scream Zone opened that features four new rides. While part of Luna Park, it is marketed as a separate destination.[9] The Scream Zone logo bears a resemblance to "Tillie", the grinning face that adorned the outside of the Palace Amusements in Asbury Park, New Jersey, which is a nod to legendary Steeplechase Park owner Harry George Tilyou.
Several other Luna Parks were developed after the one in Coney Island. Frederick Ingersoll opened a Luna Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1905, and another in Cleveland, Ohio that same year. By 1915 there were Ingersoll Luna Parks all over the world.[10]
Two amusement parks named Luna Park which are still operating are located in Australia, at Melbourne (1912) and Sydney (1935). These parks copied some of the features as well as the name of the original.
The term Luna Park in Italy is used as a generic name for amusement parks, both traveling or stable. The amusement park at the Esposizione Universale Roma neighborhood in Rome is named Luna Park Permanente di Roma (LunEur).
Regardless of their official names, every amusement park in Turkey is called lunapark.
In Israel, Luna Park is used as a generic term for amusement parks.
Lunapark is the title of a 1992 album by the musical group 'Luna'.
One of the most renowned sporting, concert and show business venues in Buenos Aires, Argentina is called "Luna Park", right next to the Puerto Madero neighborhood.