Catching Up With Coney on Coaster Day

Yesterday was National Roller Coaster Day, and as luck would have it I had several Coney Island appointments planned that day, so I thought I would film a little greeting from the foot of the Cyclone — and was greeted with the message above. Bad timing, Cyclone staff! Fortunately, there are numerous other coasters out there, Coney Island being the birthplace of roller coasters, after all. So I was able to record my little greeting. If you’d like to see it, and even if you wouldn’t, please follow me on TikTok, which is where I shared it yesterday.

I didn’t eat at Nathan’s yesterday as I sometimes do (I cheated and got my hot dogs somewhere else) but was amused by this sign, which I’ve been looking at for over 30 years without truly contemplating:

Nathan’s is not REALLY “take home” food. If you are thinking of doing so, I recommend that you reconsider, and eat your hot dogs and French fries right there at the beach. If you try to bring it home you will open your greasy sack and find it full of hot suet. Suet with ketchup on it, perhaps, but still suet.

At any rate, I had SHOWS on my agenda. Three of them! I only managed to stick for two, but I much enjoyed what I saw.

First on my agenda was the Coney Island Circus Sideshow, which I have not partaken of for five years! First came Covid, and then the break-up, making going there feel a little awkward. But I have attended this sideshow about three dozen times, over about as many years, so I was very curious to see how and if it had changed, and what the new generation would bring to it. And it was terrific of course. The patter has changed somewhat, and there are some new stunts. And new faces! Also new: you can now buy tickets in advance and attend at announced show times. Back in the day, it was strictly walk-up.

Ayway I enjoyed myself a good deal, just as Dionysus intended. Here’s what I saw:

I was delighted to see the adorable Kita St. Cyr open the show as host. I’ve had the honor and pleasure of working with her many a time over the years. She straddles both the burlesque and sideshow worlds. She can do anything. This bode well!

Audience member removes nail from Kita’s nostril during the blockhead act. I don’t know if this audience member is ALSO a sideshow performer, but she certainly dressed the part. “One of us, one of us!”

Next, Obsidian Absurd walked up a ladder of sharp swords!

Niki Brisco and Obisdian prepare to deliver the breath-taking bladebox act.

Alaska The Lost Boy swallows swords!

Cyclone Jack Sullivan eats fire!

Coney Cast Curtain Call!

We still have a couple of weeks until Labor Day. Plenty of time to get down there to Coney Island and see the outre sights for yourself! Get your tickets here.

From here it was on to the boardwalk, where I met up with Coney Island “Mayor” Mr. Dick Zigun to check out Theater for the New City’s latest street theatre production, The Socialization of a Social Worker, or Justice in a Time of Need.

Hiya, Dick! I’ve mentioned Theater for the New City over 70 times on Travalanche, most recenly this morning, in my previous post on The Fugs. Their annual free street theatre show is among my favorite things that they do, as it mixes the ancient tradition of theatre with topical realities affecting all New Yorkers. It’s always infused with charm and skill and sweeps you off your feet. I’ve been coming to it annually for over 20 years — and it was around for nearly 30 years before that!

Not the best shot but I like the fact that it gives a sense of place — right in front of one of the buildings of the New York Aquarium, which is right in front of the Cyclone.

The big January 6 production number! Haha, this one made me howl louder than the QAnon Shaman!

A number about immigrants from around the world.

There are eight more free performances of The Socialization of a Social Worker over the next month at outdoor locations throughout the city. Go here for a full schedule.

By this time my phone was dying, and I had a long, long three hour trip back home, so I packed it in a short while afterwards, but not without regrets, for I missed the planned third show, Niki Brisco’sMenagerie of Filth at Coney Island USA. I hope they do it again!