New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-15
CONEY ISLAND OPENS Up
Season Starts Auspiciously in
Blaze of Lights and Noise.
100000 THRONG RESORT
All the Old Shows and Many
New Ones in Dreamland, Luna
Park and the Others.

Consy Island opened again yesterday.
If the people on Mars did not know that
there was something doing on the old
earth's pleasure ground ii was because
their astronomers were not working. There
were lights enough to fash welcome from
DreamIand and Luna Park TO the most
casual observer IN any planet Then there
was enough noise TO get q big part Of the
citv's population TO the scores Of shows
which were unveiled with the beginning OF
the 1910 season
I'VE got the kale, believe met shouted
Ike Brown, veteran ballyhoo man, train
er of wild animals, scenic artist. show
builder and ticket agent, as ne counted I'D
the receipts of the first three hours busi-
ness of the big show in Dreamland. Then
Ike called an assistant and started out
70 see what they were doing in the "big
shows" in Luna Park. SteepIechase and the
Bowery.
They are all getting the gravy" was
'Tke's' comment when he had finished his
tour OF inspection and had tried every new
show on the island. He found no one to
contradict him, as the opening Of the
amusement parks and their side shows
placed the day on the record list Every
thing vas ready for the crowds, and there
was not hitch in the plans Of the man
ayers to get their side shows ready for
the final call 10 the big crowds which filed
Coney before the time set Tor the opening
Of Dreanland and Luna Park.
In DreamIand there were enough big
fronts TO dazzle the eyes OF the Oldest
showmen. Bamboole, the wild man IN
front OF Bostock's, meditated as he OBJ
served the changes which had been made
since he gave I'D his profession as wild
man last September and did some extra
work in z New York restaurant
Inside OF Dreamland the crowds were first
caught by big farng signs which an
nounced the next performance OF 'Cres-
ton. the FAN OF Man" Harry Tudor. TAX
ing 10 chances, had everything explained
in eight different languages, and even Chi
nsse visitors had no trouble in reading what
it was ali about
Alligator Joe" and Nike Hogan shared
the big fronts" on the west promene De
with the North Pole Railway Line Il was
I'D 10 the public 10 decide who had me
best front" but Hogan had more red ana
yellow paint and enough pictures Of the
weird and supernatural 10 convince any one
that his show, The Devils Thumb" was
The biggest thing on the island
The Devils Thumb and the Polar Rail
rav nav bs wonders, but have alligators
that eat on Of your hand. won't Voucn
for their appetite ending there, but eSch
and every one IS more than TWO hundred
wears old explained alligator Joe" as he
made his pets go through their stunts. Inc
dav vas too cool for the saurtans 10 DIS
palv any energy, but joe assured Ike
Brown that they would be active in few
days
.sT-'s Hailey's comet that makes the croc-
odfles stall" said Ike" Brown, and then
he slipped over 70 the infant incuostors
where Dr.. Fischel had an assortment OF
babies that he guaranteed we're the small
est ever born.
Over at Luna Park there were enough
peopie TO I'LL every show when Fred
THOMPSON and Fred Mcclellan tore down
the gates TO reveal the inside wonders.
That's frane-up. and you can go some
70 beat it, remarked Ike as he ooushI
the first admission ticket 10 keep Tor
souvenir. He elboWed out two girls who
had been waiting since early morning 70
get that ticket Ike always has eought
the first ticket since the park opened-
Gyp and Judy, the TWO trusty elephants,
marched serenely through the Court o.
Luna. The shows, including the free CIR
Gus. the scenic railways, the Dragon
Gorge and the "Trip 10 Mars on an All
ship" were ready for the big biow-oH
While everything was big At Coney Isl
and in the afternoon, the blaze OF lights a.
night was bigger than anything which mas
ever been attempted in The line CT Dig
things The island had more than one hun
dred thousand visitors, according 10 Cap
tain Calvin, who looked into every nook
and corner and sent away many OF the Old
time "grafters' and easy money gentry ="