Our life revolved around the beach and the boardwalk We never seemed to go further than the Half Moon Hotel on one end and Seagate on the other.
http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2013/06/past-and-present-the-half-moon-hotel-coney-island/
and filled in between with amusements and food.
https://www.google.com/search?q=steeplechase+coney+island&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=HvqyVMDiE4ymNquMg5gO&ved=0CC4QsAQ&biw=1024&bih=657
Steeplechase was a fun place but nothing compared to what we have today. The most exciting part was the horses which rode on a rail (similar to a monorail roller coaster). Inside the building were a a few amusements: a large slide and not much else.
http://www.store.gabilas.com/
Shatzkins on the Boardwalk for knishes. I remember that they were rectangular and open ended, filled with potatoes, kasha and cheese filling which were topped with blueberry, pineapple and other sundry delicacies. Not for the weight conscious or faint of heart.
The Merry go round at Coney Island on the Boardwalk. We loved to ride on the outside horses and attempt to obtain a ring (the gold ring good for another free ride, but it took 5 iron rings to do the same.) from a little device which was situated near the Merry go round. You had to lean out to reach it.
Our Aunt Rose and Uncle Max Singer owned a supermarket in Seagate where we often shopped. Their 3 sons: Jerry, Murray and Paul also worked there as well. I remember them cutting out coupons from the Sunday papers which they then used for the profit of their business.
On the beach, young men came around with insulated containers some selling hot knishes ( potato or kasha,) or frozen ice cream and ices.
