Keep an eye out for this party!
The vintage Spook-A-Rama Cyclops statue from Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park is leaving on an extended vacation. So to say goodbye, the Coney Island History Project is throwing it a bon voyage party on Sept. 7.
This will be the last time locals can see the eye-conic piece until 2016. After the bash, the Cyclops — affectionately known as Cy — will head off on a tour of museums around the country as part of the exhibit “Coney Island: Visions of an American Dreamland,” which shows off kooky Coney culture pieces from the past 150 years.
“The sculpture is unique, one-of-a-kind — a throwback to the hand-made craftsmanship and creativity that made Coney the center of the amusement universe,” said Charles Denson, the director of the Coney Island History Project.
The statue was originally a feature of the still-operating Spook-A-Rama ride, but was inducted into the Coney Island Hall of Fame in 2011, and has been on display at the History Project ever since.
Denson said the Cyclops — whose eerie eye glows red and moves back and forth — was built to imitate popular 1950s monster movies. It is a throwback to an era when people didn’t need fancy college degrees to become artists, he said.
“The Cyclops represents the creativity of Coney Island’s artisans and visionaries,” said Denson. “In the past, anyone with a vision could create a fantasy, and you didn’t need formal artistic training to create a work of art.”
Those who come to bid Cy farewell can get a free souvenir photo taken with the wide-eyed idol, and the first 500 guests will also be able to toast his departure with “ghoulade” and eyeball cookies.
But don’t get teary-eyed — Denson says he foresees a big bash when it returns.
“We’ll have a big welcome back,” said Denson.
Bon Voyage Party for Spook-A-Rama Cyclops at the Coney Island History Project [3059 W. 12th St. near the Boardwalk in Coney Island, (718) 372–2592 www.coneyislandhistory.org]. Sept. 7 at noon–6 pm. Free.
