Thunderbolt (Coney Island)

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Thunderbolt

Thunderbolt, 1995
Coney Island
Coordinates 40°34′26″N 73°58′57″W / 40.57389°N 73.98250°W / 40.57389; -73.98250Coordinates: 40°34′26″N 73°58′57″W / 40.57389°N 73.98250°W / 40.57389; -73.98250
Status Closed
Opening date 1925
Closing date 1982
General statistics
Type Wood
Designer John A. Miller
Height 86 ft (26 m)
Duration 1:20
Thunderbolt at RCDB
Pictures of Thunderbolt at RCDB

The Thunderbolt was a wooden roller coaster located at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. It operated from 1925 until 1982 and was finally demolished in autumn 2000.[1] It was designed by John Miller.[2] In June 2013, it was announced that a new steel roller coaster would be constructed on Coney Island named the Thunderbolt.[3] Although they share the same name, the new coaster will have no resemblance to the old one, as the new version is being made of all steel.

In popular culture

It was featured briefly in Woody Allen's 1977 film Annie Hall[1] as the boyhood home of Alvy Singer (Allen's character). The house was a real residence, built in 1895 as the Kensington Hotel; the coaster was constructed atop this building.[4][5]

The indie rock/slowcore band Red House Painters 1993 album, Red House Painters (Rollercoaster) features a sepia toned photograph of the Thunderbolt as its cover art.

The last film to photograph the Thunderbolt was Requiem for a Dream.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Marden, Duane. "Thunderbolt  (Coney Island - George Moran)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved November 16, 2013. 
  2. Rutherford, Scott (2000) The American Roller Coaster, MBI Publishing Company, Wisconsin. ISBN #0760306893.
  3. Marden, Duane. "Thunderbolt  (Luna Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved November 16, 2013. 
  4. Tim Donnelly (July 28, 2013). "Life Under the Thunderbolt". New York Post. Retrieved October 15, 2013. 
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