Coney Island After The Great Depression

After World War I, the United States and other industrial countries were introduced into the age of modern technology. Advances in transportation, communication, and manufacturing allowed middle-class consumers to buy cars, radios, and home appliances which they saw advertised in magazines and newspapers. In their leisure time, people crowded into movie theaters to see films featuring their favorite stars. As time went on, many people were given the opportunity to go try other things in their free time and at a reasonable cost that included going to the beach, sporting events, and Coney Island. At the end of the decade, the Great Depression would cause consumer spending to drop precipitously. It would not return to its 1920s levels until …show more content…
Coney Island has welcomed many people from all ethnic groups, races, different genders and social classes. All Americans and Immigrants came here for the hot summer days via trains and cars. Not only did it have rides and food shops, but it had a beach to go swimming in. When Coney Island first opened, swimming was not allowed. It was originally only for the richest people that came to Coney Island and the ones that owned part of the beach. These owners would barbwire there share so no one could come in and swim. “The second thing that dramatically changed Coney Island was the opening up the beach to the public in 1923” (Westland). Anyone that came to Coney Island after 1923, for the day, had the privilege to swim. With accidents occurring at the beach, Coney Island was able to open more jobs by hiring and training life …show more content…
“The first roller coaster built in the United States, LaMarcus Thompson’s Switchback Gravity Railway, was opened at Coney Island in 1884” (Ultimate History). Independent operators brought their own rides to the boardwalk when Coney Island’s rides where outdated. With private operators, Coney Island had more rides and they did not have to worry about fixing the rides when they broke down. These private operators had many more rides which gave thrill to many families. There were more than 12 rides on the boardwalk. These rides were for people of all ages. The rides on the boardwalk consisted of planes, boomerangs, octopus, lindy loop, and a few mini wooden roller coasters. After the day ended at the beach, families would go to the boardwalk for night adventures. If they did not want to go on rides, there were many other things that they could do. There were places for dinner, entertainment such as singers, and on certain days, there were animals for people to play with, kind of like a petting