New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-05-15
LUNA PARK OPENING
To Begin Coney Island Season To-
an0rro1c scith Ne5c attractions.

With min. scenic railways a score OF big spec
tacles and outdoor sideshows, Luna PARK VIII
open the Coney Island season tomorrow Nothiils
has been left undone by Frederic Thompson 10
transform the resort into new park. Wnere iour
thousand minarets and hundred thousand or more
lights are set around the Court OF Luna, whose
silded tower is THE Heart of Coney Island
Everything will be in full swing at O'CLOCK To-
morrow afternoon when pageant OF automooles
representing every theatre in New YORK VIII s"lns
into Luna Park from Surf avenue
The entire park ready for its opening week
ago. but Mr.. Thompson decided 10 give the SHOWS
behind locked doors for few days at least rather
than exhibit unfinished productions OF the ten
big shows which replace attractions of last year
the vote of the masses will alone decide which is
the most popular.
Where 'Hinky Dink'' sat on his throne in the
"Trip to the Moon naval battle will be fought
every half hour From the deck OF a ship can be
seen the sea fight at Hampton Roads as the
Monitor and the Merrimac met In chesapeake
Bay The management seeks to give every detail
of the battle and the portrayal OF the capes
and bays off jamestown Ships are burned and
forts wrecked hundreds of shells are hurled
from every battery.
An equally expensive production is the Burning
Of the Prairie Belle" which includes the race be-
tween the Robert L. Lee and the Natchez down the
Mississippi, past the cotton plantations. where life
in ante-belum days is portrayed One OF the
features of the production is the Jim Bludso IN
cident of the historic race. The Burning of the
the Court Of Luna" On one side is the Dragons
Gorge. where mile of track is wound into thrill
ing dips and slopes. THE Mountain Torrent and
twenty other shows take up every inch of space
on side of the promenade, while hanging tea
gardens and sideshows form the big street. Here
the ''ballyhoo'' parades given at intervals by
the three hundred persons who take part is the
Man Hunt which will be the attraction on the
site Of The Train Robbery
Plunging horses and chase across the plains
Of the incidents in The Man Hunt Its
chief feature will be the burning at the stake of
Mexican who is the victim of the mob To give
this production Mr.. Thompson has engaged one
hundred horses, and every person who takes part
in the performance is said TO have taken part IN
similar hunts in the Southwest.
Boats tubs, automobiles and vehicles OF many
descriptions are mixed in The Witchng Waves"
the production next TO The Man Hunt A con-
tinuous laugh is looked for from the "Witching
Wave Habit which, 1T is thought. will terminate
quickly than any other amusement passion
Across from these shows is the latest whirl which
Mr.. Thompson has named THE Virginia Reel
The slides will entertain those who have not for
gotten their childhood days too long to lay aside
decorum and allow themselves 10 be carried down
them in watts.
Mr. Thompson has not forgotten the demand for
a theatre and adjoining the ballroom he has given
space to the Luna Park Theatre, where mannikins
will enact The Yankee Prince, THE Soul Kiss
and The Merry Widow Mulberry Bend. with Its
long drawn out marionette tragedies, has been
improved upon. and every actor in the Luna Park
Theatre will appear in expensive costumes
The Camera Obscura' holds place with the
larger shows while Night and Morning, The
Ticker and THE Old Ml' have been trans
formed into other features of entertainment The
Lost Girl" The Scalator'' and moving picture
shows are also on the list of Mr.. Thompson's new
Coney Island attractions
While these productions the largest OF the
Luna Park shows the chutes. the outdoor circus
and many different novelties scattered about the
resort are said to represent alone an expenditure
of $4,000
After the official opening ceremonies tomorrow
Miss Mabel Taiaferro win pull the switch to light
the thousands of incandescent lamps IN the resort
She will also receive the delegations from every
theatre which will Be headed by A l.. Granger.