CONEY ISLAND: THE VANISHED WORLD OF LILLIPUTIA

by Joanna Lipper

Producer Fred Zollo came on board and with his expertise and experience, he was instrumental in helping me develop my vision. It was during conversations with Fred that I began to clearly see how the treasure trove of archival footage shot at Coney Island could be used as a window into the history of the amusement park’s ups and downs at the mercy of fires, various urban policies and aggressive developers. Snippets of archival footage layered under Lenny’s voiceover showed Coney Island at the height of its magic, before 1911, and juxtaposed the amusement park then with the park of the 1950’s depicted in the original, and the very different Coney Island of today.

Joey, the young boy in the film, dreams of rebuilding Lilliputia, the miniature village that once housed three hundred Little People. This dream is indicative of his father’s wish to recapture the lost innocence, magic and nostalgia of the beloved amusement park in all its former glory. This wish is communicated to Joey through the stories his father tells him during visiting hours at jail. Joey imagines Lilliputia as a safe haven where he and his father might have fit in and been accepted, unlike in the real world where he feels they are seen as misfits who don’t belong.

While making the film I consulted with Brooklyn Borough historian Ron Schweiger, and also with Coney Island’s expert historian, Charles Denson, author of “Coney Island: Lost and Found.” Both men remembered the original “Little Fugitive” and were supportive of my efforts to breathe new life and a new vision into one of their favorite stories. Their perspectives on Coney Island were invaluable.

< Previous 1 2 3 Next >