Gerry Menditto speaks here about the job of maintaining the Cyclone which just happens to be my all-time favorite rollercoaster ever. This short video is part of Thirteen’s NY On The Clock video series that profiles important people in and around NYC.
Gerry Menditto has been the operator of the Cyclone since the 70’s and has helped keep the 82-year-old rollercoaster from fading away. He’s done a good job too because the Cyclone is still one of the most thrilling rides you can get in the NYC area.
I love this video that The Retroist posted of Coney Island in 1952. It was a very different place back then with much more energy, activity, and vacationers. Nowadays, Coney Island seems like a local beach slum (even more so now that Astroland is pretty much gone).
Coney Island’s Cyclone rollercoaster opens today despite the fact that the adjacent Astroland amusement park is now all packed up.
I can’t say there’s much else to do in Coney Island except maybe eat at Nathan’s and visit the Aquarium nearby. But hey, Cyclone is worth the visit I suppose.
