The Diaries of James Onorato

The diaries of James Onorato are among the Coney Island Museum’s most significant holdings.This collection of hand-written volumes and supporting materials chronicle the tenure of James “Jimmy” Onorato, the longtime General Manager of Steeplechase Park.

The Diaries of James “Jimmy” Onorato

Onorato was only 20 years old when appointed manager of Steeplechase by Edward Tilyou, following the death of the park’s first manager, Thomas F. McGowan. From 1928 until the park’s closure in 1964, Onorato kept meticulous journals of the day-to-day tasks required by his position.

Although “diaries” suggest inside stories and  lurid gossip, Onorato restricted his writing to the job at hand. However, the books do reveal much about the nature of the author — a man of faith, deeply devoted to his own family and the family whose business would shape his life for more than 50 years; hard working and committed to the success and stability of the park, as well as the safety of its staff and visitors.

The diaries shed light on the scope of Onorato’s responsibilities, from ordering tickets at the beginning of the year to scheduling routine repair and maintenance on all the rides throughout the season. He marks the milestones of life — birthdays, anniversaries, and deaths — for his own family as well as for the Tilyous. Over time, his duties expanded to include managing the Tilyou’s many real estate holdings, as indicated by the consistently noted due dates for tax payments, rents, utility bills, etc. Note: Onorato often used initials, such as “F.S.T.” or “E.F.T.”, when referring to members of the Tilyou family.

The deaths of Louis Stauch and Edward Tilyou in 1929; Jimmy’s 22nd birthday in 1930; the “to-do” list at the closing of the 1931 season.

Onorato also included newspaper clippings with many of his entries; these provide a fascinating window into local, national, and international events of the day. Some were of personal interest (aviation seemed to be a particular favorite); others (like weather) reflected the impact on the Park’s operations. And by the 1930’s, the looming threat of war in Europe was an obvious and ongoing concern.

Above: Amelia Earhart, January 11,1935

Left:

Small plane crash in Coney Island,1938

September 14, 1939. Fire ripped through the Boardwalk, damaging Steeplechase property, destroying the popular “Flying Turns’ ride.

January, 1935

The Venus Contest winners, August 9, 1932, and the Grandma’s Contest in 1934.

Jimmy’s notes recommending changing the date for the 1940 Venus Contest.

Shining the spotlight on his own accomplishments. Left to right: 1934, and two from1936 .

A memo at the end of 1933’s volume. The tone is grim; the weather had been poor, and the collapse of the Steeplechase pool balcony deeply affected Onorato. Yet he still managed to retain his optimism.

This blog post is not meant to recount the history of Steeplechase Park; that story has been told many times by writers far more adept than I. By sharing a selection of page images that I find particularly interesting or meaningful, I hope to pull back the curtain on one of Coney Island’s most iconic histories. This selection of images was taken from diaries dating from1928 to1964.

The photos were taken while conducting a routine assessment of this particular collection; you will observe that the condition of the books, pages, and clippings are in keeping with their age. All the volumes are currently stored in the CIM’s archives, according to best conservation practices; they are not available to visiting researchers. However, transcripts of the books and all supporting materials were made by Jimmy’s son, Michael Paul Onorato, prior to donating the originals to the CIM; a copy of those are also held in the Museum’s archives. I’d be remiss if I didn’t express my own gratitude to Mr. Onorato for gifting his father’s extraordinary collection to the Coney Island Museum back in 2008.   

The importance of these materials, and the need to preserve them, cannot be overstated. As the Museum celebrates its 40th anniversary, we aspire to one day be able to digitize this and other CIM collections, allowing them to be available for the public to view online. Your donation to the Coney Island Museum will help move us closer to that goal, and help provide the critical support needed to preserve and maintain the unique history of the People’s Playground. I hope you find these images as compelling as I do.

A Park Manager’s work is never done! Checklists and scheduled maintenance for all the attractions at the beginning and end of each season. Left to right: 1930, 1938, and 1941. Below, 1949’s end-of-season checklist. Coming from a family of ride manufacturers, I’m thoroughly impressed by Onorato’s attention to all the Park’s amusement devices.

The News of the Day.

May 7,1907.

Below Left :June 23, 1937 Right: December 11, 1941

Hot times in Coney Island!

Below, Left to Right: July 4th, 1949: July 27, 1952; August 3, 1952. Tirza’s infamous “Wine Bath” show, as well as the Cavalcade Variety Show — both located on Surf Avenue — shut down for being “indecent”.

Opening plans for the Park’s 1949 season . It’s mind-boggling to note that rides were operating on the Boardwalk as early as January, February, or the beginning of March. As a point of family pride, I have to mention that at least 3 of those 4 rides were built by the W.F. Mangels Company.

Onorato’s diaries are filled with obituaries for local elected politicians and clergymen. However, the deaths of these Coney Island legends— his longtime friends— must have been particularly sorrowful.

1944. It was Edward Tilyou who elevated Onorato to his position as General Manager.

Top to bottom, left to right: Samuel Gumpertz, 1952; Mary E. Tilyou, 1954; George C. Tilyou, 1958: Frank S. Tilyou, 1964.

By 1955, the Coney Island landscape had already been greatly altered , but this would usher in irrevocable changes.

Sunday, September 20, 1964. This would be the final day of operations for Steeplechase Park, and as was customary, the owners, staff, and friends gathered to sing together and toll the bells. Previous end-of-season entries provide more details of the annual closing ceremony; on this day, however, Onorato keeps it short. The diaries of James Onorato don’t end here, but it seems only fitting that this post does.

-LMS