The Prince of Mermaid Avenue
Tonight and tomorrow night, the Coney Island History Project will be showing The Prince of Mermaid Avenue, a 2009 documentary feature by Charles Denson starring Jimmy Prince and a cast of Coney Island Community Members.
The film tells the story of Jimmy Prince, owner of Major Meats on Mermaid Avenue, who retired after 60 years as an anchor of the community. In over a half-century of operation, Prince’s business evoked the soul of an earlier era, a cordial oasis of tradition and hope, a throwback to what Coney Island was and what many dreamed it could be again one day.
“The Prince of Mermaid Avenue” documents Prince’s decision to retire and the painful process of leaving the Coney Island community that he loved and supported for so many years.
The film project began with historian Charles Denson’s daily visits to Major Market and his audio recordings for the Coney Island History Project’s Oral History Archive. The film premiered and was awarded Best Documentary Feature at the 9th Annual Coney Island Film Festival in 2009.
They will also be screening some vintage film clips of the original Luna Park, Steeplechase Park, and Astroland, which we show at the Coney Island History Project’s free public exhibition center at 3059 W. 12 Street at the entrance to Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park.
The screenings will be:
Wednesday, June 29th, 7pm, at South Brooklyn Youth Consortium,
2811 Mermaid Avenue (at W 28 St), Coney Island. Phone 718-449-1356
D, F, N or Q to Stillwell Avenue
Thursday, June 30th, 2pm, at the Coney Island Library,
1901 Mermaid Avenue (at W 18 St.), Coney Island. Phone 718-265-3220
D, F, N or Q to Stillwell AvenueFor additional info contact the Coney Island History Project. Email: events@coneyislandhistory.org Phone: (347) 702-8553
