What did we do before Xbox?

[0Drake]

It's hard to believe that people actually had fun without video games and iPods and all this sweet stuff we have now and can't live without. Now think back to that summer vacation you took to Adventureland or Worlds of Fun or some other amusement park. Back in the late 1800's Coney Island was a great attraction for people from all walks of life. This place had everything. In 1882 the first theater on Coney Island was built. 13 years later, Captain Paul Boyton opened Sea Lion Park, which was the world's first enclosed amusement park. A water slide, an Old Mill ride, and a Sea Lion show were the attractions that this park offered. In '97, Steeplechase Park opened. It took up 15 acres along the beach. The main attraction in this park was a horse racing ride. Luna Park opened on May 16th, 1903 and was a fantastic success. It was where the Sea Lion Park was and offered many, many attractions that everyone loved. In this same year, that first theater burned down.

Bicycles is the next thing that the book talks about, so that's what I shall discuss to you as well. The first bikes were kind of awkward with solid rubber tires that were really big. A small bump could cause the rider to tumble over the handlebars. This was deemed unsafe for some crazy reason so women weren't allowed to participate in the fun awesomeness of the sport. In 1885 a new kind of bicycle was manufactured. It had smaller tires that were filled with air, which made it safer, and in my opinion, less fun because of the reduced risk. A bicycle with a no crossbar and a lower frame was more appealing to women. Women wore more comfortable clothing while cycling, and this clothing ended up causing a fashion trend of wearing it all the time. Cycling gave women a sense of freedom.

Tennis was welcomed quite enthusiastically in America. In 1881, the USLTA, or United States Lawn Tennis Association, was formed. Newport, Rhode Island was the home of the first championship, with the winner being R.D. Sears. He held his title for six consecutive years, and even teamed up with the USLTA founder to win the national doubles championship five times. William Larned won the title seven times, and earned a spot in the top ten for 19 years.

Picture of Coney Island at Night

Picture of an Early Bicycle

Sources: the textbook, www.westland.net/coneyisland/time.html and www.all-about-tennis.com/history-of-tennis.html

[Mr. Bruns]

Great first paragraph! Well done!