If you invest a couple of minutes of your time today looking at some amazing photos, take a look at the photos in the slideshow below that Jack Szwergold shot from inside Astroland yesterday. There are amazing angles and photos of the iconic rocket that was senselessly removed from the roof of Gregory & Paul’s on Tuesday. It’s almost like looking a photos of a crime scene. These pictures are gripping in the disgusting and premature destruction of a Brooklyn landmark that they show. We told Mr. Szwergold that we envied him for getting inside Astroland, but are glad that we haven’t seen this with our own eyes. We’ve seen enough crap with our own eyes during our lifetime, including towns destroyed by war, in this case, the pictures will do. Mr. Szwergold writes: “The Astroland rocket—a former ride and longtime icon on the boardwalk—was taken down from the top of Gregory & Paul’s on January 6th. I came down the next day and took some pictures of the rocket on the ground in what remains of Astroland Park. I lucked out since the gate was open, and the attendants there let me roam around and score some excellent shots.” Thank you, sir, for adding to the visual record of what happened on January 6, 2009, so that our children and grandchildren will know the travesty that Joe Sitt, Micheal Bloomberg, Amanda Burden and Lynn Kelly allowed, years before it needed to happen. The flickr set can be found here.
5 responses so far ↓
1 james // Jan 8, 2009 at 9:59 am
Ok, can we put this Coney Island thing to bed already? Talk about boring.
2 electricia // Jan 8, 2009 at 11:54 am
james, do us a favor and just skip over the Coney posts if they bore you to death, no one’s forcing you to read every single post on GL . There’s no subscription charge so you have no right to complain about what’s being served up here. This is a free blog and its owner can write whatever the hell he pleases
now do us all a favor and go jump off the Steeplechase pier
3 Jack // Jan 8, 2009 at 12:27 pm
@james: I’ve said it before and I will say it again. What is your problem? Do you think Gowanus Lounge or anyone else would ignore positive development in Coney Island or elsewhere? Heck, I’d love to take my camera out and photograph great new rides and growth in the area.
But the reality is a part of NYC history and a part of American amusement park history is dying because of greed and incompetence.
The place is rundown, but it doesn’t deserve to be plowed over to make way for weed filled lots. The more people know about this the more hope that someone or something positive will happen before it’s really too late.
4 james // Jan 8, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Jack, I’ll say it again- You’re boring.
5 Jack // Jan 8, 2009 at 2:02 pm
James, you know anyone can contribute ideas to Gowanus Lounge. Even if you don’t have a Flickr account you can send them in as a tip.
So you think this is all so boring, please suggest other items.
And if you’re somehow a shill for Thor, please let us know as well.