The Famous People Of

Coney Island

Frederic Thompson and Skip Dundy
     The men who built Luna Park, were Frederic Thompson and Skip Dundy.  Buffalo Bill Cody inspired Skip Dundy to go into show business.  He was a comedian who stuttered and wore a toupee.   However Thompson and Dundy were not able to get along and were unable to work together

George Tilyou
     The man who claimed to be behind the real success of Coney Island Park was George Cornelius Tilyou.  He was born and raised in New York City, but  he actually lived in Coney Island with his parents.  His father Peter opened the Surf House. George sold cigars and even sand.  George and his father went into business together.  A politian named, John McKane, was mean and abused people as well as the law.  When John McKane went to trial George testified against him.  George and his family had to get out of town fast. He finally returned to Coney Island and built the famous Steeplechase Park. 

 Martin Couney
      Martin Couney was one of the famous people, who invented in the incubator for premature babies.  Premature babies are babies that are born before their due date of being delivered. The incubator was made in the 20th century for premature babies.  These incubators were placed at amusement parks, expositions and fairs. Martin Couney set up an exhibit at an exposition in Berlin for incubators.  He then set them up in Coney Island. When the premature babies were born, poor families would take their babies to Coney Island. Martin Couney would put them in the incubators. There weren’t only rides going on in Coney Island, there was serious work too.