mermaids

MERMAID (homo fishiensis)

Harpooned to extinction in the 18th Century; revived once a year in Brooklyn in June

Once a year, Surf Avenue, Coney Island is the mecca for a day-long bacchanal that celebrates the beginning of summer ... the end of the hockey season ... and the release of "The Ben Hogan Story" on DVD. Yes, folks, it's the Mermaid Parade...

The Mermaid Parade began in 1982 as a trickle of costumed revelers along Surf Avenue. Since then, it's grown into a multimillion-dollar, corporate sponsored spectacle...NOT! The parade still maintains its small town, DIY aura and attracts a fraction of the publicity associated with more infamous gatherings like the St. Patricks and Puerto Rican Day Parades. With that in mind, we thought we'd make a space for it at Forgotten NY, though its fans and participants would hardly call it Forgotten.

Mermaid Parades consist of two distinct parts...first they roll out the antique cars, and then out come the costumed hordes! It's a Felliniesque pageant of merrymaking so let's not delay any longer...here was Mermaid Parade 2000. Top this, Op Sail...

A pickup truck, a sunny day and five mermaids ... what more do you need...

Bribing and influence of the judges is recommeded SOP in order to win best float or best outfit.

Mermaids were eager to wave for the camera of Your Webmaster.

Let's play Name That Car...though they were announced as they passed the judges, I don't remember what any of these classics were...can any Forgotten Fans help me out here?

A lot of these cars are lovingly cared for in garages all over the east coast and get out once a year, specifically for the Mermaid Parade.

The classic cars are just a warmup, as first floats and then the strangest assortment this side of the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade comes down the avenue...

Above, yo ho ho and a bottle of Evian.

Right, a mermaid spreads her wings.

There were a lot of blue guys this year. Blue Man Group's influence is becoming a worldwide phenomenon.

Homer and Virgil don't say one way or another if Neptune was blue. But today he was.

Those girls are gonna fry their tails up there. And other parts too.

The sign read, "Mermaids of Burlesque". Maybe that's what Coney Island needs to revive.

Sadat, Ramses II and Yul Brynner would be proud

And a good afternoon to you too! Hot out here, ain't it.

Hula hooping hipsters and parasol twirling sea denizens hope to sway the judges

Hey, can I show this stuff on a G rated website?

Sea nymphs and jitterbuggers

Above: Another nymph of the deep waves for Your Webmaster
Right: Doctor Octopus makes the scene

These mermaids did a line dance, which is technically against the rules when you're not supposed to have legs

The 2000 Mermaid Parade was the biggest ever; it took four hours for all the revelers to pass the reviewing stand!

Above: more revelers and blue guys

Right: There would be no repeat of the untoward behavior that has marked other NYC parades, because Ludmila and her Sword of Justice are here

Comments...threats...admonitions...Jerry Falwell e me at erpietri@earthlink.net

For more on Coney Island and the Mermaid Parade...check these out:

Coney Island USA
Mermaid Parade
Coney Island Sideshows

And my own Forgotten Coney pages:

Forgottoners Tour #3
Coney In Winter