Coney Island and the Merry Widow Waltz - August 4th, 1928

In an August 4th, 1928 letter to my grandmother, my grandfather wrote about how he joined tens of thousands of New Yorkers who spend the night on the beaches of Coney Island during a heat wave. At one point in the night, he heard an orchestra playing "The Merry Widow Waltz" from a building on the boardwalk. I put this video together from a still shot of Coney Island in the 1920's and a recording of the "Merry Widow Waltz" from archive.org, and used it on my Papa's Diary Project blog at papasdiary.blogspot.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• coney
• island
• 1928
• Merry
• Widow
• Waltz
• Papa's
• Diary
• Project
• Matt
• Unger

[BreezesofConey]

I know there were multiple dance halls on the boardwalk then, I just can't help but wonder if the music was coming from the Child's building.

[BreezesofConey]

My two worlds meet at last, Coney Island and a luscious turn-of-the-century waltz. For some reason this video nearly brings me to tears, perhaps all the emotion of thinking about how much has changed over time. Where did the music come from?

[ileacok66]

Thankyou for sharing this and the lovely story of your grandfather's letter. Wonderful.