Description

Available previously as a 5-part VHS set, New York now boasts two all-new episodes.The series offers fourteen spectacular hours of programming that chronicle the history of New York - from its beginning in 1609 as a Dutch trading post, through the turbulent years of change in the decades following World War II, to its present day status as one of the most important and influential cities in the world.

SYNOPSES
Episode 1: The Country and the City(1609 - 1825) chronicles the arrival of the Dutch, the impact of the English, the horrors of colonial slavery and New York's critical role in the American Revolution.
Episode 2: Order and Disorder(1825 - 1865) looks at New York's rise as a burgeoning cultural center and multi-ethnic port, concluding with the Civil War Riots - America's bloodiest civil disturbance. Episode 3: Sunshine and Shadow(1865 - 1898) turns the spotlight on a period of greed and wealth that fueled the expanding metropolis - even as politics and poverty defined it.
Episode 4: The Power and the People(1898 - 1918) follows New York into a new century, examining the interplay of capitalism, democracy and transformation in the wake of an extraordinary wave of immigration and the birth of the skyscraper.
Episode 5: Cosmopolis(1919 - 1931) details the African-American experience, the birth of new media industries and the incredible array of human and cultural energies that converged, ending with the construction of the world's tallest building.
Episode 6: City of Tomorrow(1929 - 1941) traces the spectacular but often troubling changes that overtook New York due to the crash of 1929 and the beginning of World War II.
Episode 7: The City and the World(1945 - Present) chronicles the history of New York from the end of World War II through today, exploring the complexities of the post-modern city and the turbulent years of physical, social and cultural change in the decades following the war. ... Read more

Reviews (42)

Extraordinary and compelling documentary!
I have just finished viewing the 6th Disc of the incredible journey of the greatest city in the world, and just had to share my excitement and disbelief at what I have been watching. Ric Burns does an extraordinary job of showing the history of New York from it's discovery by Henry Hudson to modern times. Each episode is addictive and compelling. Once the use of film and motion picture is employed in this collection at the turn of the 20th Century, each episode becomes even more amazing. I was amazed at the footage of the Empire State Building and the Chrylser Building as they were being built. The pictures of the Brooklyn Bridge being built were astounding. The time of La Guardia and seeing him in action, while Robert Moses built bridges and highways all around the city and beyond to Long Island was stunning. The history of Central Park, the Erie Canal, the plan for the streets of the city, the building of the subways and tunnels, the railroads, the coming of the immigrants, and many more were incredible to see. Being a native New Yorker born in the early 70's, I was exhilarated, but saddened at the same time while watching this, that I was not around to experience the great growth of the city. This film does justice though, as it brought me deep inside the history, and allowed me to see so vividly how New York came to be what it is today. I highly recommend all to view this, for not only is it a history of New York, but a history of why American is what it is today. It all started in New York City.

More justice. Better as the DVD version
The Burns family has come up with some fine work, from Baseball, to the Civil War; and now the latest, New York. A fine successor.
Ric Burns explores the early history of New York, starting with the God-created attributes of the region and one of the world's finest natural seaports. But the treasure is found in what man has added to the Apple, starting with the Erie Canal, Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Subway system. The Bridge's history has itself been the subject of much scholarship, and Burns does it well also. The creation of the skyline, including the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building are some of the series best moments, filled with some of the fascinating type of information that fans of Burns' documentaries have come to expect and enjoy.

The history of New York is the history of immigrants, and the interaction of Irish, Italians, Africans and other groups is splendidly examined. The politics of the City, such as the rise and demise of Al Smith and Jimmy Walker are well explored also.

My few complaints are minor, and don't detract from the work. F. Scott Fitzgerald seems to have become a demi-god to Burns, and after awhile, I found the continued references to him and his
work tiring. More than a few minutes on the early history of Harlem would have been a welcome replacement.

I purchased the DVD version, although I had the videocassettes. Am I glad I did! It has two additional discs, which try to bring the series up to date. Fiorello LaGuardia and Robert Moses, the two most pivotal figures in the history of the City, are splendidly explored. More examination of the development and contribution of Harlem (which I lamented in the review of the VHS version) is also welcomed. New York's post W.W. II predominance as the true center of the Earth is made plain. As the series progresses, we see the value of the City (any city), the destruction of the great and old in the name of urban renewal, and the slow cancer of suburban sprawl.

Even those not from New York will find it to be a rich, interesting history, worth of the length of time one must devote to its viewing. The rest of the world will understand some of why New Yorkers love their home as they do. Those expatriate New Yorkers will be tugged to head back home. All in all, brilliant, brilliant work.

AMAZING!
If you are from New York this DVD set is a must have. Absolutley riviting and informative.The old film footage and other epherma that was collected for this compilation is remarkable. I literally sat through all 7 DVDs in one sitting without a moment of boredom. If you love history this will be a valued addition to any collection, even if you are not from NY.

Learn history painlessly
I have told several friends that they need to watch this wonderful series. Almost everyone seems to think that history is boring. It isn't - you just had boring history teachers in high school, that taught history in a boring manner. If history was taught as the clash of great personalities and the range of choices they had, and it was explained why the person choose the path they did based on the limited resources they had to divide between all their goals and aspirations - people would recognize that alot of history is facinating. As you learn the history of the city of New York you will also learn a great deal about American history - because they are so intertwined.

A Great Series for a Great City
Though there are many older cities than New York, in the (relatively) short time of its existence, no city has captured the imagination, desire, love, and even hatred, that New York City has. Ric Burns has captured all of these emotions and more in this, one of the finest documentaries ever put on film.

The series traces the history of NYC from its earliest days as a Dutch trading post through 2000 (an additional volume was produced after the September 11th terrorist attack). Using interviews, stories, & archival material (prints, paintings, photographs, and old silent films), Burns pulls the viewer in to the life of all types of New Yorkers through the last 300+ years. ... Read more

Reviews (37)

POWERFUL
I preordered my dvd in early january, i was not fortunate enough to see this event live. Why buy this? You could cop out and only say: Mc Cartney, jagger,keif, elton john, james taylor etc. etc.. You could buy this to feel the emotions of the firefighters and police who lost so many. Listen to politicians who represent the emotion that we felt at the time. Not fighting for a partisan but for the people. Toss in a few entertainers who can make us laugh and cry. Still you have not gotten to the point of why to buy. This may be the most powerful dvd you can ever buy. You cannot watch washington cross the delaware or see lincoln give the gettysburg address. We have watched the towers be struck and tumble again and again. This concert is the beginning of the healing. We cry with our great servicemen and women We sing along to the songs that we have grown up with. We cannot, will not forget sept. 11th and if only one penny from each item purchased goes to help someone who lost a loved one. Then it is a penny well spent. GOD BLESS AMERICA and may god bless new york city. Thank you for a great piece of history and an even better night of entertainment

Heart and Soul of New York
This concert exemplified the magic of music as the background for Americans coming together to grieve collectively. Watching this concert will show you raw emotional energy rarely seen on television. It is a sad concert and there are many times where you can see individual instances of personal grief among the music of many different superstars. It is a long concert and well worth a viewing. Among other things, I thought Paul McCartney was cheesy and his song "Freedom" was a situation where you had an amazing song writer reacting to bad circumstances but with poor results. The Who in my opinion, stole the show and then some, they were amazing as always. I don't think Jay-Z was placed at the right time when he came out. Billy Joel was everything New York as he always has been.
The ultimate point for you, is that you should own this DVD as it is a recorded reminder of music's response to an American tragedy with an audience showing us the rawest and most powerful of human emotions out for the world to see. Some may say it was convenient for superstars to show up and act really concerned and to use their fame as a pulpit to try and relate to everyday people; however, those people are uptight, why else do you go to concerts?, to be taken away from everyday routines and tragedies of life, so a concert of this magnitude after 9/11 was exactly what the country needed.

The Best Concert Ever...With a Few Exceptions
Overall, 99% of this concert is very good. David Bowie, the Who, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Paul McCartney and Elton John all played fantastic sets here. But I have a problem with some of the other music. Eric Clapton plays "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man," totally unreated to 9/11. Jay-Z also had no business appearing at this show, especially if the only piece he can come up with is "H to the Izzo." My other complaint is that this DVD is incomplete. Two Paul McCartney songs, one Eric Clapton song, one Goo Goo Dolls' first song, and a good cover of "With a Little Help From My Friends" are all missing. The entire 6-hour concert could've easily been released. But what's here, for the most part, is very good. So on the whole, this is a good buy.

The Concert That Proved New York Is Still Number One
It was a night of healing. It was a night of reconcilliation. It was a night for firefighters, policeman, paramedics, musicians, actors and "Saturday Night Live" alumni alike to join together and prove New york did not grow weak after 9/11. It grew stronger and this 5 - hour concert showed those shems in the Middle East right.

Disc 1 is chock full of memorable moments. For me, the highlights were Billy Joel doing "New York State Of Mind", Eric Clapton and Buddy Guy doing a scorching rendition of the blues standard "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man" and Adam Sandler reviving Operaman. But as just about every reviewer pointed out, The Who blew everyone away. I think it was "Won't Get Fooled Again" that stood out. It was also a spectacular swan song for the band's bassist, John Enthwistle. This was his last live appearance ever. He died suddenly in June 2002.

Disc 2 is even better. My favorite performer here is Elton John, who delivers a powerful version of "Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters". Mick Jagger and Keith Richards do great versions of "Salt Of The Earth" and "Miss You", though I would have liked it if all of The Rolling Stones were onstage. Jimmy Falon does an interesting medley of 1980s' hits that includes "Who's Johnny", "Der Komisar", and "I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight". Paul McCartney brings down the house at the end. I really enjoyed it when Richard Gere got booed. He was asking for it.

Overall, a great concert.

Support a Good Cause
Just a reminder that proceeds from the sale of this video still go to the Robin Hood Relief Fund. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Ric Burns got the tone exactly right
The first seven episodes of Ric Burns's spectacular documentary on the history of New York seemed to be complete-until September 11, 2001. The story of the World Trade Center, from its grandiose conception to its heartbreaking destruction, needed to be told and Ric Burns was the person to do it. Not only did he have a vast trove of footage of the buildings, at all stages of their development and in every kind of light and weather that he had accumulated during the making of the earlier New York episodes, he also had the unique perspective that only a great film-maker who has also immersed himself in the history of the city for ten years can attain. The visuals are stunning and almost poetically matched to the narrative. There is even foreshadowing and humor. But The Center of the World is not only about the buildings; it is mainly about human ambition, artistry, unbearable sadness, bravery, kindness and hope. It keeps you riveted for the full three hours and for about half an hour afterwards!

Brilliant Documentary Film!
This 8th installment of the Ric Burns' documentary series, "New York", is a fascinatingly-absorbing tale of the rise and fall of the iconic World Trade Center.

Spanning a full three hours in length, "New York Episode Eight: The Center Of The World", provides the viewer an intense, in-depth look into the planning, development, construction, and sad demise of the famous Twin Towers in Manhattan, complete with breathtaking aerial views of the behemoths during construction and after completion.

The story of the complex and almost Herculean task of creating the massive World Trade Center is skillfully and entertainingly weaved on this program utilizing new interview footage, intercut with archival video footage of the day.

I like the fact that Director Ric Burns doesn't rush to tell the story at a mile-a-minute pace. The saga of these great buildings evolves at a more leisurely, relaxed pace during the program.

The sheer scope of what we lost in just a few short seconds as the Towers crumbled into dust on September 11, 2001, might not be fully realized until viewing a program like this one, which provides many of the statistics and specifications for the Trade Center's combined 220 stories.

Also included on the program is a detailed account of the fascinating tale of high-wire artist Philippe Petit, who, on August 7, 1974, walked from the top of one tower to the other, 1,360 feet above the streets of New York. In all, Petit spent 45 minutes walking (and dancing) from one tower to the other, making a total of eight passes between the immense structures. This program shows many spectacular pictures of Petit carrying out his death-defying and one-of-a-kind performance. A performance which, for many people, "humanized" the bulky steel Towers.

The final 52 minutes of the documentary focuses on the destruction of the Trade Center on 9/11/2001. During the majority of those final fifty-plus minutes of the program, you might very well find yourself with one hand clasped over your open mouth, still in near-disbelief that this awful tragedy could have possibly taken place on that sunny Tuesday morning.

No matter how many times you've seen those planes hit those two beautiful pieces of architecture, and no matter how many replays you've seen of the Towers pancaking down into the street, the events of 9/11, even years later, are still powerful enough to produce the inevitable "Oh My God...How Could This Happen?!" type of emotion within us all when we see it again, such as in this PBS documentary film. It's a tragic event of such proportions that it seemingly will never grow old, and will never cease to resonate in our minds.

A more complete, detailed, and heartfelt examination of the fallen status symbols known as the Twin Towers you're not likely to find anywhere. This DVD program is a keepsake and a timeless reminder of not only the sadness of what America lost in September 2001, but also serves as an uplifting reminder of what the Trade Center stood for in its nearly 30 years of existence. The pride and sense of accomplishment in rejuvenating a decaying New York City that was felt by the many, many people who were involved, in any small way, in helping those Towers rise to become (at the time) the tallest buildings in the world, is something that no terrorist actions can ever destroy. And that sense of pride can be felt in this documentary program. This is a DVD that you'll be proud to own, and is one to be treasured for many, many years to come.

From Rise to Fall
Although I was only a few miles away from the WTC on that dreadful day, I was spared watching the disaster unfold. Like many New Yorkers, it took me a couple of years to even begin to look at the videos surrounding the event. The first thing I watched was Ric Burns' final episode to his NEW YORK documentary. Because I had seen the previous seven parts, and had loved them, I knew this subject would be in good hands, and it was.

What makes this documentary unique is the amount of time it spends on the political, economic, and architectural wrangling that went on before the towers went up. The story of its construction is an amazing tale all its own. Burns uses aerialist Philippe Petit's stunt back in the 70s as a kind of humanizing effect to the buildings' superhuman size. Of course, this makes the inevitable outcome even more devestating.

Mr. Burns has adroitly used an extraordinary amount of photos and footage, and the interviews bridging them are all expertly selected. Some of them were astonishingly moving. I never before thought that former Mayor Koch could be so feeling. In any event, this is a documentary that will probably make all other documentaries superfluous, with the exception of WORLD TRADE CENTER-ANATOMY OF A COLLAPSE which handles the more technical details. This is a terrific and befitting conclusion to Ric Burns' astounding documentary.

There Is None Other
There is none other than Ric Burns to tell this tale. This documentary is devestating. The footage, combined with Mr. Burns' use of silence to let the pictures tell the tale, make for a staggering monument. Mr Burns also realized that as the towers came down that morning, a new story sprung up. It is not the story of death and destruction, but of people coming together to heal a scar on the face of Mother Nature, a scar in the heart of a city, a state, a country, and its people. As enormous the event of the Twin Towers collapsing is, the story of the clean-up is an even greater story.

I think that now, years after the event, and the nation "healing" by falling back in to the old ways of bitter bipartisanship and political bickering, we need this film to remember what happned on that terrible morning.

The forces of evil pricked a sleeping giant, but boy was that a miscalculation their part!

An extraordinary film
I was there. Half a mile away. Saw the whole damn thing.

I was on the street within 2 or 3 minutes of the first plane hitting. I saw the second plane hit tower 2.

No matter what you saw on TV, you can't imagine.

It was a day of extraordinary power and emotion, fear, sorrow and loss, surreal - the knowledge that you'd seen something as profound as the JFK assination, the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Epic in scale, gobal in impact, yet inherently intimate. Your own personal disaster movie.

Even still,

This Ric Burns film is an amazing thing. It's just great. I've watched it a dozen times and I don't get tired of it - the writing, the music, the history, the wisdom - the personal feelings of a diverse and meaningful group of New Yorkers. It's historic, epic, emotional - up to the task of documenting the impact of 9/11 on New York.

It represents all the things that make New York great: ambition, literacy, reflection, humanity, wonder, perspective. The use of Philippe Petit - the French high wire man - as a linking device...was inspired.

A stunning thing. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Much more moving than The West
After seeing this documentary in 1995, I found 1996's The West lacking the emotional impact this story should have. Perhaps that's because The Way West focuses almost entirely on the tragedy of the American Indian, while The West (yes, the titles get confusing) covered ealier history (the Spanish in Mexico), the Mormans, the Chinese and much more on the settlers.

This documentary covers primarily the conflict between whites and the Native Americans in excruciating detail. The sad truth is that, no matter what the government's policy toward the Indians, these wars and their tragic outcomes were probably inevitable because of the difference in cultures. The white man's obsession with owning and farming land and his obsession with gold would never have allowed the Indians to keep their land. The blatant racism against Indians and their culture is never-ending, as quoted in numerous newspaper editorials from the period and comments from the generals who tried to annihilate both.

So, buy The West for more information. But buy The Way West for one of the most emotionally moving documentaries ever made.

One of the Best Documentaries on Westward Expansion.
In the documentary world, Ken Burns is the number one name. But his brother, Ric Burns, has made a 4 part documentary called "The Way West", that was released in 1995, that is one of the best documentaries that I have ever seen! The topic is the westward expansion of the USA, including the Oregon and Mormon Trails, the enounters between whites and Indians, the Gold Rush, and the building of the Transcontinental Railroad.
In his brother's tradition in the "Civil War", Ric Burns does a standup job in using the still photos, and make them come to life with music and sound effects, utilizing various excellent historians, such as Momaday, and Stephen Ambrose, and Utley, in the commentary of each and every historical aspect in the docmentary, and the use of various actors portraying the major historical characters, from Custer to Sitting Bull.

This documentary is simply one of the best in portraying these pivitol events in our history. As much as the Civil War has been influential in forming what this nation is now, the binding of the east and west, to the west, the history of the movement of Americans to the west, and the binding of the east to the west with the technological marvel of the 19th century, the Transcontinental Railroad, is one of the greatest periods of our history, and is even more defining that the Civil War, in my opinion.

I think the most chilling portrayal is that of the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Of all the dramatization of this event that I have ever seen, from movies to all other documentaries on the subject, this one is the most accurate, breathtaking, and chillingly real portrayal I have ever seen. "It took as long to kill Custer and his men as it took a hungry man to eat his dinner"..."NOT A LAST STAND"! "It was like hunting scared buffalo". These comments are from the film, and Burns does a fine job in using the Indian accounts of the battle, after all, they were the ones who survived it!

If you like this, check out for sure the other documentaries by Ric Burns' brother Ken Burns, particularly "The Civil War", "The West", and "Lewis and Clarke".

Of two minds...
Whenever I try to compare "The Way West" with the Ken Burns series "The West", I'm always of two minds. On the one hand, I consider TWW to be superior in terms of entertainment; the soundtrack remains one of my favorite CDs, and stands well on its own separate from the film. I also find myself somewhat more engrossed in "The Way West" than "The West". However, from a historical perspective, I consider "The West" to be the better production. TW gives a broader and more balanced historical view, with more variety of speakers, than TWW. In its attempt to portray the genocide of the western Indian tribes, "The Way West" glosses over some important points: for example, that the Lakota were recent inhabitants of the Black Hills, having wrested it from other tribes by warfare during the 1700s...while one would get the impression from the Lakota representatives in TWW that the land was always theirs, and that they were a peaceable tribe until the Whites came. It is omissions like this which make one wonder what else wasn't being covered. On the other hand, TWW does go into more detail of the fight for the Black Hills than "The West" could, because of time constraints. Both are strong in their own ways, and well worth owning.

The Other Burns
Ric Burns does a magnificent job of delivering a picture of Native American life and resistance from 1845-1893. It is superior to Ken Burns' The West as far as the Indian wars are concerned. Stephen Ambrose, Ian Frazer, Robert Utley and others give this Russell Baker narrated Documentary life and insight. Highly recommended!

The Rape of the West
This 4 volume series is a clear reflection of a nation turned against itself in a politically correct age. Nevertheless, I sympathize with the emphasis of the series on the sufferings and injustices inflicted on the American Indians by the U.S government throughout the centuries. The first episode is rather slow, but the remaining 3 episodes are well worth watching. The series focuses primarily on the Sioux people of the Dakotas, only mentions the Nez Perce tribe in passing, and does not mention Gerononimo at all. Much of the photography is beautiful and tastefully done. The series starts in the year of 1845--the opening of the West, and ends with the tragic closing of the West in 1890 with the final slaughter of Indian men, women, and children. The arrogance of Custer is juxtaposed with the nobility of Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, and Red Cloud. As the series progresses one feels true heart-felt sorrow over the genocidal destruction of the American Indians, and it arouses anyone to righteous indignation. On the other hand, however, one gets the impression that the excessive focus of the videos on the view point of the Native Americans tends to undermine any pride and awe that one may feel for the truly great achievements of this country. As we look at our past and face the grim realities of the injustices committed, we should never lose sight of the great gifts that the United States has also bequeathed to humanity. ... Read more

Amazon.com

What had been a wasteland of sand dunes on the Brooklyn oceanfront became the nation's playground for decades, and as historian David McCullough notes while introducing this documentary, "There had been other amusement parks, but there was only one Coney Island." At its peak in the early decades of the 20th century, Coney Island actually boasted three enormous amusement parks, and their stories, and the stories of some of the millions of revelers who flocked to them, are beautifully told in this film by Ric Burns. Combining well-chosen archival photographs with poignant excerpts from letters and diaries, Burns explores the nation's fascination for Coney Island in some depth. Vintage films of rides that appear too treacherous to exist in our own litigious society are amusing, but as befits an episode of PBS's American Experience, there is also some serious discussion of how reformers felt a playground for crowded city dwellers was a necessary component of a healthy society. Coney Island was a zany place, and glimpses of the rides at Steeplechase Park, the amazing lighted rooftops at Luna Park, and the bizarre entertainments at Dreamland (such as a staged tenement fire, which blazed twice daily) provide a wistful look at a vanished American past. --Robert J. McNamara ... Read more

Reviews (6)

All New York went to Coney
Within a few years of this film, Ric Burns would begin creating his monumental NEW YORK documentary. Released in 1991, CONEY ISLAND: THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE shows us an example of a great documentary-maker cutting his teeth and that Burns was well on his way to being one of the greats.

There is a marvellous range of photographs and moving pictures in this documentary. But the film is more than just a treat for the eyes. What holds this all together is the history. How did the history and development of Manhattan affect Coney? How did immigration prompt its growth? What effect did the emergence of mass transportation have on Coney?

And of course, the converse is true: What effect did Coney Island have on New York and the world? It is here where the documentary really succeeds! Coney Island would redefine leisure, entertainment, and, above all else, imagination for the modern era. Luna Park, Dream Land, Steeplechase were all designed to inspire hearts and minds, and not just provide thrilling rides. (Of course, thrilling rides were a big part of it, too. The roller coaster was invented in Coney Island, after all. And where else would the WONDER WHEEL and CYCLONE thrive?) With its preoccupation with the new and the unusual, the inventor of incubators for human infants was finally given a forum to display his life-saving machine in Coney Island! And what other place would make such an exciting subject for the new film-making business? All these considerations are painstakingly examined by Ric Burns' eye and ear. This is not to say that CONEY ISLAND is a dull, research-like documentary. Burns' great gift for entertaining while educating is undeniable, and his greatest asset as a documentary film-maker.

Rocco Dormarunno
author of The Five Points

Required Viewing
I am endlessly amazed by this film - the perfect Coney Island documentary. I have long loved, and studied, the history of this great resort, and could never imagine a better documentary celebrating its past glory, and future prospects.

I hardly know where to begin...from the priceless archival footage, the sounds incorporated, the utterly accurate representation of history - it all deserves to be held in high praise. The commentary, and voice-overs, from great intellectual figures of our time certainly doesn't hurt, either - their readings from such as Maxim Gorky, George Tilyou, etc. are perfectly chosen, and beautifully phrased. Fantastic.

The footage deserves a paragraph all its own - this alone is cause for viewing, and purchase. Long-lost rides such as the Leapfrog Railway, Witching Waves, Virginia Reel, Steeplechase and Chute the Chutes are shown in all their glory, at correct film speed (an unfortunate rarity). Such a pleasure to view these images! I can't put it into words! The skylines of Luna Park and Dreamland sparkle as those who remember dreamily describe, and the interior of Steeplechase spins and buzzes with ineffable gaiety. Why, oh why can't we have such glories again?! Alas - such innocent times are gone forever. All the more reason that such archival films are so important.

The history of the parks is right on target, and depicted with interest and enthusiasm. Even those who couldn't care less about amusement parks will surely find themselves rather riveted - it's a fascinating story. The tales of sheer will and determination of the businessmen of early Coney Island is incredibly impressive, and their sense of survival in the face of disaster serves as a real inspiration.

Overall, need I even say it, I would recommend this film to anyone - it's fascinating viewing, and a marvelous look at a sorely underappreciated part of American history.

Fire Ball in the Night
I think this is the best written entry in the "American Experience" series.

Eli Wallach, Philip Bosco and others narrate a way of life for the residents of Brooklyn Ny. at the beginning of the 20th century. Its important to know how folks played in an era that was distant but seemingly close to the vest.

Steeple Chase Park, Luna Park and Dreamland are the places that wonders and amazement exist in a surreal fashion. " When you mix sand with water..it becomes a beach.." ( Al Lewis). But even more so we see a window for youthfull intoxications on display here. Could it be possible that one of those people could have been YOU?

Fire finally destroys Dreamland and all that is left is the little waltz " Meet me tonight in ..." The question is was it all a dream or does it just seem like it was? It just looks like an old movie set now....but for those golden moments it was fun and a release ..for our troubles ...that was a time

A Symbol of America
...and in many ways, Coney Island was. It was a place of youth, fun, irreverance, lightheartedness and as this exquisite documentary points out, a place where people of all social classes got together and mingled. Coney Island was also a place of inventions whether they were incubators for premie babies or plain ol' electric lights. It was a place of magic and wonderment where the waves of the natural seas met the waves of man-made roller coasters; where there were artificial recreations of real life history. It was a world of fantasy and magic, the precursor to all theme parks to come.This documentary is rivetting because it places Coney Island within the context of the early 20th century when there was still much faith in scienctific inventions and progress. And, yes, there was much money.But as we see here, there were some leftover notions of the Victorian age. There was animal cruelty and though the "freak shows" aren't mentioned, it was also a place where human beings with serious genetic disorders and illnesses were caged and gawked at. None of the early footage shows African Americans at Coney Island and one wonders if they weren't allowed to go or if they weren't filmed. It's not mentioned in the doc. And as time passes on, the arrogance of some of its triumphalistic, historical spectacles begin to look somewhat disturbing in light of World War I; the faith in the technology of its splender-filled parks began to wane as fires begin to destroy many of them. Some of the smug notions of the early century are called into question as Coney Island's parks begins to fade. One by one the lights go out.Today, it stands a humbler, more weathered park, as if the horrors of the 20th century took their toll on sand, seas and the Wonder Wheel - which isn't much of a wonder anymore. Post 9/11 New York makes the park look even sadder. But if those grains of sand could talk -- what stories would they tell? Ric Burns creates a delightful documentary as fantastical as was the park in its glory days. This is a slice of New York history that fascinates - it is a reflection of America at the time and as America changes so does the park. The film literally brings you back to these early, naive days - I think I feel the water splashing and smell hot dogs.

Paradise Lost
I sat riveted to the TV watching this brilliant documentary and ended up buying a copy, and have sat through it many times since in awe each time I view it. I had always heard about Coney Island but never realized what it was all about until I saw this film. The entire culture of the 20th century was born at Coney and all the technological advances over that wonderful century never came close to creating another place like it. This was an unsantatized Disneyland. This was a Paradise on Earth. The City of Fire. If time travel were available to me, the first place that I would go would be Coney Island, circa 1907, when all 3 of the great amusement parks were in operation there. Watch this film and you will agree. It is like nothing you have ever seen. ... Read more