Daily photographs by HANS VON RITTERN, with humorous, artistic and social commentary on life in the big city.

Posts tagged “Coney Island Wonder Ferris Wheel

Photo of the day: WONDER WHEEL GOT TO GO ‘ROUND

WONDER WHEEL

Photo of the day: WONDER WHEEL GOT TO GO ‘ROUND ~

What goes up must come down

Wonder wheel got to go ’round

Talkin’ ’bout your troubles it’s a cryin’ sin

Ride a painted pony let the Wonder wheel spin

You got no money and you got no home

Wonder wheel all alone

Talkin’ ’bout your troubles and you never learn

Ride a painted pony let the Wonder wheel turn

Did you find the directing sign on the

Straight and narrow highway

Would you mind a reflecting sign

Just let it shine within your mind

And show you the colors that are real

Someone is waiting just for you

Wonder wheel, spinnin’ true

lyrics by Blood, Sweat and Tears 1968

* * * * * * * * * * *

The Coney Island Wonder Wheel is a 45.7-metre (150 ft) tall eccentric Ferris wheel located at Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park, in the Coney Island neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City, US.

Eccentric wheels differ from conventional Ferris wheels in that some of the passenger cars are not fixed directly to the rim of the wheel, but instead slide on rails between the hub and the rim as the wheel rotates.

Built in 1918 and opened in 1920 by the Eccentric Ferris Wheel Company, Wonder Wheel has 24 fully enclosed passenger cars, each able to carry 6 people, giving a total capacity of 144 passengers. 16 of the cars slide inward and outward as the wheel rotates, the remainder are fixed to the rim. The whole wheel weighs 200 tons.

The only time the wheel stopped while not under the control of the operator was during the New York City blackout of 1977 on July 13, 1977. Wonder Wheel operates on electricity, however, the passengers were not stuck on the wheel, as the owners cranked the wheel around to get them off.


Photo of the day: AN UNEXPECTED DAY AT CONEY ISLAND FOR CHARLIE

MOTHER CHILD ALONE ON BEACH

Photo of the day: AN UNEXPECTED DAY AT THE BEACH FOR CHARLIE – Weather forecasters predicted rainy downpours for Tuesday, hardly a day to go to the beach. But Charlie insisted mom take him anyway since by 11am it still had not rained the and sun was peering through the clouds. “Can we just go on the boardwalk, they’ll be no wet sand there?!” Mom gave in and they headed off to the Coney Island. By the time they got there by noon the sun was high in the sky with no sign of rain and the warm sand was beckoning Charlie – ‘come play with me…’
Coney Island boardwalk

Coney Island boardwalk

There is a magic to going to Coney on a day when everyone else didn’t think it was the day to go – you have it alllllll to yourself. You can see waaay down the boardwalk with no crowds to obstruct your view of the end.
Nathans

Nathans

Hans Von Rittern (me) taking a bite out of Coney !

Hans Von Rittern (me) taking a bite out of Coney !

No long impatient waiting on line for mom to buy you that hot dog and soft fries at Nathans – just walk right up and smell that griddle!  The amusement park is open just for you alone. All the rides are calling ‘ride me first!’ The thrill of running around the rides trying to decide ‘which one first?’ Then hoping on and having the flying elephants and rockets all to yourself to command. Yippee !
Coney Island flying elephants

Coney Island flying elephants

Coney Island rockets

Coney Island rockets

But the sand, that wonderful stretch of sand, beckoned Charlie, “please can I play in the sand?!”  Reluctant to sit in the hot sand because of Charlie’s fair skin, mom remembered she had brought her blue rain umbrella ‘just in case.’ Mom smiled approvingly. Charlie pulled his mom to that special spot he had picked out. It was just them and no one else! There was that special feeling the beach was his and no one else’s. Charlie had brought his favorite dump truck to play with and settled in. Mom opened the ‘just in case rain umbrella’ and let Charlie conquer the beach.
Alone with dad at Coney Island's Wonder Wheel

Alone with dad at Coney Island’s Wonder Wheel


Photo of the day: MMMM = MACY’S, MT. RUSHMORE AND MARILYN MONROE !

MARILYN MONROE MACY'S

Photo of the day: MMMM = MACY*S, MT. RUSHMORE AND MARILYN MONROE ! –  To celebrate the summer of 2013, Macy*s launched the ‘American Icons’ campaign celebrating everything American and our American fashion designers. The one human being chosen to represent the USA is not Elvis or any of our current celebrities, but none other than the eternal blonde Marilyn Monroe! Marilyn is now a clothing brand, a merlot wine brand and a part of so many other things. She is wealthier in death than she ever was in life. Fifty one years after her death in 1962, her image, innocent sex appeal and allure continue to captivate our imaginations. Come to Herald Square, turn the corner and walk down 34th Street, and there you will see Macy*s ‘American Icon’ huge banner. What images did they choose?: the American flag, the Coney Island Ferris Wonder Wheel,  the Empire State Building, Levis, Mt. Rushmore and Marilyn Monroe!
P.S. Out of all these ‘American’ fashion designers – whose clothes are really made in America??