Tag: Fairground

Podcast

16th June 1884: The Switchback Railway, America’s first purpose-built roller coaster, opened at Coney Island in New York City

16th June 2024
Tagged as: America, Coney Island, Culture, Fairground, New York City, Roller Coaster, United States, USA

Having opened on 16 June 1884, passengers paid 5 cents to ride the Switchback Railways and achieved speeds of up to 6 miles per hour.

Podcast

4th January 1903: Topsy the elephant electrocuted at Luna Park in Coney Island, New York

4th January 2024
Tagged as: Animal, Circus, Coney Island, Edison, Electricity, Electrocution, Elephant, Execution, Fairground, New York

After being fed carrots laced with potassium cyanide, she was subjected to 6,600 volts of AC electricity that brought her to the ground. At this point, steam winches pulled nooses tight around her neck.

Tag: Fairground

16th June 1884: The Switchback Railway, America’s first purpose-built roller coaster, opened at Coney Island in New York City

4th January 1903: Topsy the elephant electrocuted at Luna Park in Coney Island, New York

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21st June 1919: The German High Seas naval fleet is scuttled at Scapa Flow

HistoryPod Extra: The Myth of Gavrilo Princip’s Sandwich

11th November 1918: WW1 Armistice of Compiègne is signed

2nd August 1934: Hitler becomes Führer after President Hindenburg dies

6th October 1927: The Jazz Singer starring Al Jolson, the first major “talkie” movie, premieres in New York City

5th October 1962: James Bond and The Beatles each make their debut with Dr. No and Love Me Do

4th October 1582: Pope Gregory XIII implements the Gregorian calendar

3rd October 1952: Britain conducts Operation Hurricane, its first test of an atomic bomb

28th June 1914 & 1919: Trigger and end of the First World War

11th November 1918: WW1 Armistice of Compiègne is signed

1st September 1939: Nazi Germany invades Poland

9th November 1989: East Germany opens the Berlin Wall

Tag: Fairground

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