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Coney Island in the 1920s Unveiled Through Spectacular Photos

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The 1920s were a transformative decade in American history, marked by cultural shifts, economic prosperity, and a widespread sense of optimism—and nowhere were these trends more vividly showcased than in Coney Island. Known as the “People’s Playground,” this iconic area in southern Brooklyn had its momentous heyday in the 1920s. From boardwalks and bathhouses to the jazz-infused atmosphere of its amusement parks, Coney Island embodied the zeitgeist of the Roaring Twenties.

Boardwalk Empire: The Rialto and Beyond

In 1923, the Coney Island Boardwalk was officially opened, offering visitors a 2.7-mile stretch to enjoy scenic ocean views. Known as the Rialto of the People, the boardwalk became a stage for the display of the latest fashions, casual strolls, and impromptu performances. The elegance of the wooden walkway, adorned with lampposts and railings, added a touch of sophistication, elevating Coney Island from a mere amusement park to an elegant seaside resort. Any New Yorker worth their salt knows that the boardwalk isn’t just a pathway; it’s the beating heart of Coney Island.

The Wonder Wheel and Other Mechanical Marvels

The 1920s was a decade of technological marvels, and Coney Island was no exception. In 1920, the iconic Wonder Wheel made its grand debut. Standing at 150 feet, this monumental Ferris wheel not only offered breathtaking views but also featured unique sliding cars, adding an element of thrill. Designed and created by Charles Hermann and the Eccentric Ferris Wheel Company, the Wonder Wheel has since become a beloved symbol of Coney Island’s innovative spirit.

The Coney Island Polar Bear Club: A Tradition Begins

Founded in 1903, the Coney Island Polar Bear Club gained significant popularity during the 1920s. What started as a daring winter swim soon became a New Year’s Day tradition. Members, known as “Polar Bears,” would brave the freezing waters, claiming health benefits and a robust constitution as rewards. To this day, this frosty dip continues to be a highlight in the Coney Island social calendar, testifying to the enduring quirks that make this area so distinctly New York.

Jazz Age Jamboree: Music and Dance in the Air

The 1920s, known as the Jazz Age, had its impact felt even in the amusements and cabarets of Coney Island. Jazz bands and dance marathons became a common sight, infusing a sense of rhythm and vitality into the atmosphere. Parks like Luna Park featured dance floors where young couples jitterbugged and Lindy Hopped, encapsulating the youthful exuberance that characterized the Roaring Twenties.

#7 Opening of Washington’s Municipal Bathing Beach, 1920

Opening of Washington's Municipal Bathing Beach, 1920

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#9 Ballyhoo Men Entertain at Coney Island, circa 1922

Ballyhoo Men Entertain at Coney Island, circa 1922

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#13 Beauty Contest Winner Receives Diamond Ring, 1922

Beauty Contest Winner Receives Diamond Ring, 1922

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#40 Boardwalk View East from W. 18 Street in Coney Island, 1923

Boardwalk View East from W. 18 Street in Coney Island, 1923

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#41 Former Coney Island House on 2866 W. 6 Street, 1923

Former Coney Island House on 2866 W. 6 Street, 1923

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#42 View of Coney Island Boardwalk Looking East near Steeple Chase Park, 1923

View of Coney Island Boardwalk Looking East near Steeple Chase Park, 1923

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#43 Stillwell Avenue in Coney Island, View Looking North, 1923

Stillwell Avenue in Coney Island, View Looking North, 1923

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#45 View Northwest from Boardwalk near W. 2 Street in Coney Island, 1923

View Northwest from Boardwalk near W. 2 Street in Coney Island, 1923

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#46 Henderson’s Music Hall on Henderson’s Walk, 1923

Henderson's Music Hall on Henderson's Walk, 1923

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#47 W. 5 Street in Coney Island with Municipal Bathhouse, 1923

W. 5 Street in Coney Island with Municipal Bathhouse, 1923

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#48 Former Coney Island House on 2866 W. 6 Street, Second Site, 1923

Former Coney Island House on 2866 W. 6 Street, Second Site, 1923

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#49 Former Coney Island House on 2866 W. 6 Street, Second Site, 1923

Former Coney Island House on 2866 W. 6 Street, Second Site, 1923

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#50 Coney Island Boardwalk Looking West near Steeple Chase Park, 1923

Coney Island Boardwalk Looking West near Steeple Chase Park, 1923

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#51 Boardwalk View East from W. 18 Street in Coney Island, 1923

Boardwalk View East from W. 18 Street in Coney Island, 1923

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#52 Vanderveer Residence at 2845 Cortland Street in Coney Island, 1923

Vanderveer Residence at 2845 Cortland Street in Coney Island, 1923

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#53 Former Roadhouse at Coney Island Avenue and Neck Road, 1923

Former Roadhouse at Coney Island Avenue and Neck Road, 1923

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#54 Police Station on East Side of W. 8th Street in Coney Island, 1923

Police Station on East Side of W. 8th Street in Coney Island, 1923

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#55 Former Coney Island House on 2866 W. 6 Street, Second Site, 1923

Former Coney Island House on 2866 W. 6 Street, Second Site, 1923

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#56 Old Country Store on North Side of Roadway in Coney Island, 1923

Old Country Store on North Side of Roadway in Coney Island, 1923

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#57 Eastern Entrance to Luna Park in Coney Island, 1923

Eastern Entrance to Luna Park in Coney Island, 1923

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#58 Protestant Episcopal Church on West Side of Ocean Parkway, 1923

Protestant Episcopal Church on West Side of Ocean Parkway, 1923

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#59 Surf Avenue at W. 15 Street in Coney Island, 1923

Surf Avenue at W. 15 Street in Coney Island, 1923

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#60 Van Sicklen House on Shell Road near Neptune Avenue, 1923

Van Sicklen House on Shell Road near Neptune Avenue, 1923

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#61 Jones Walk as Seen from the Boardwalk in Coney Island, 1923

Jones Walk as Seen from the Boardwalk in Coney Island, 1923

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#62 Coney Island Boardwalk near Ravenhall’s on Surf Avenue, 1923

Coney Island Boardwalk near Ravenhall's on Surf Avenue, 1923

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#67 Ball Games at Coney Island Beach in Mid-Winter, 1923

Ball Games at Coney Island Beach in Mid-Winter, 1923

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#68 Enjoying the Coney Island Beach in Mid-Winter, 1923

Enjoying the Coney Island Beach in Mid-Winter, 1923

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#69 Ball Game at Coney Island Beach in Mid-Winter, 1923

Ball Game at Coney Island Beach in Mid-Winter, 1923

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#72 Sicklen House on Shell Road near Neptune Avenue, 1924

Sicklen House on Shell Road near Neptune Avenue, 1924

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#73 Coney Island Boardwalk Looking West from W. 18 Street, 1924

Coney Island Boardwalk Looking West from W. 18 Street, 1924

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#74 Coney Island Boardwalk View from Pier at W. 18 Street, 1924

Coney Island Boardwalk View from Pier at W. 18 Street, 1924

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#75 Ravenhall’s Viewed from Boardwalk at W. 19 Street, 1924

Ravenhall's Viewed from Boardwalk at W. 19 Street, 1924

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#77 Surf Avenue, North Side, Looking East from Luna Park, 1924

Surf Avenue, North Side, Looking East from Luna Park, 1924

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#78 Luna Park between W. 10 Street and W. 12 Street, 1924

Luna Park between W. 10 Street and W. 12 Street, 1924

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#79 Child’s Building Under Construction on Boardwalk at W. 21 Street, 1924

Child's Building Under Construction on Boardwalk at W. 21 Street, 1924

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#80 Coney Island Boardwalk Stretching from W. 31 Street to W. 32 Street, 1924.

Coney Island Boardwalk Stretching from W. 31 Street to W. 32 Street, 1924.

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#82 Child’s Building Under Construction on Boardwalk at W. 21 Street, 1924.

Child's Building Under Construction on Boardwalk at W. 21 Street, 1924.

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#83 Giant Coaster Between Surf Avenue and the Boardwalk, W. 8 Street, 1924.

Giant Coaster Between Surf Avenue and the Boardwalk, W. 8 Street, 1924.

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#84 Surf Avenue View, East from Thompson’s Walk to W. 12 Street, 1924.

Surf Avenue View, East from Thompson's Walk to W. 12 Street, 1924.

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#85 View of Boardwalk from the Pier at W. 18 Street, 1924.

View of Boardwalk from the Pier at W. 18 Street, 1924.

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#86 Surf Avenue, North Side, East from W. 10 Street, 1924.

Surf Avenue, North Side, East from W. 10 Street, 1924.

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#88 Surf Avenue, North Side, Looking West to W. 20 Street, 1924.

Surf Avenue, North Side, Looking West to W. 20 Street, 1924.

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#89 Walk West of Stillwell Avenue from Boardwalk to Bowery, 1924.

Walk West of Stillwell Avenue from Boardwalk to Bowery, 1924.

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#90 Feltman’s Maple Garden and Shore Dinner Area, 1924.

Feltman's Maple Garden and Shore Dinner Area, 1924.

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#91 Surf Avenue View, East from Thompson’s Walk to W. 12 Street, 1924.

Surf Avenue View, East from Thompson's Walk to W. 12 Street, 1924.

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#92 View North from W. 8 Street L Station, Sagamore Hotel in Foreground, 1924.

View North from W. 8 Street L Station, Sagamore Hotel in Foreground, 1924.

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#93 Stratton Walk and Stillwell Avenue from South of Bowery, 1924.

Stratton Walk and Stillwell Avenue from South of Bowery, 1924.

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#95 Boardwalk View from the Pier at W. 18 Street, 1924.

Boardwalk View from the Pier at W. 18 Street, 1924.

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#96 View of Stillwell Avenue from Boardwalk, Stauch’s Baths and Henderson’s Music Hall, 1924.

View of Stillwell Avenue from Boardwalk, Stauch's Baths and Henderson's Music Hall, 1924.

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#97 Double Exposure of Surf Avenue from W. 8 Street to Prospect Hotel, 1924.

Double Exposure of Surf Avenue from W. 8 Street to Prospect Hotel, 1924.

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#98 Surf Avenue, North Side, From W. 33 Street to W. 35 Street, 1924.

Surf Avenue, North Side, From W. 33 Street to W. 35 Street, 1924.

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#99 Boardwalk View from the Pier at W. 18 Street, 1924.

Boardwalk View from the Pier at W. 18 Street, 1924.

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#101 Child’s Building Under Construction on Boardwalk at W. 21 Street, 1924.

Child's Building Under Construction on Boardwalk at W. 21 Street, 1924.

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#102 Boardwalk View from the Pier at W. 18 Street, 1924.

Boardwalk View from the Pier at W. 18 Street, 1924.

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#103 Boardwalk and Breakers Baths, W. 30 Street to W. 31 Street, 1924.

Boardwalk and Breakers Baths, W. 30 Street to W. 31 Street, 1924.

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#104 Surf Avenue, North Side, Between W. 20 Street and W. 21 Street, 1924.

Surf Avenue, North Side, Between W. 20 Street and W. 21 Street, 1924.

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#105 J. McDonald’s Sea View Hotel, Corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenue, 1924.

J. McDonald's Sea View Hotel, Corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenue, 1924.

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#106 Ravenhall’s, Viewed from W. 19 Street, Established 1874, 1924.

Ravenhall's, Viewed from W. 19 Street, Established 1874, 1924.

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#107 Luna Park, North Side of Surf Avenue, W. 10 to W. 12 Street, 1924.

Luna Park, North Side of Surf Avenue, W. 10 to W. 12 Street, 1924.

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#108 Agallagher’s Restaurant, Corner of Surf Avenue and W. 25 Street, 1924.

Agallagher's Restaurant, Corner of Surf Avenue and W. 25 Street, 1924.

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#109 Boardwalk with Child’s Building Under Construction at W. 21 Street, 1924.

Boardwalk with Child's Building Under Construction at W. 21 Street, 1924.

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#110 Weber’s West End Baths on Boardwalk, W. 25 Street to W. 27 Street, 1924.

Weber's West End Baths on Boardwalk, W. 25 Street to W. 27 Street, 1924.

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#111 Boardwalk and Whitney Baths, W. 29 Street to W. 30 Street, 1924.

Boardwalk and Whitney Baths, W. 29 Street to W. 30 Street, 1924.

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#112 Boardwalk and McMahon’s Baths, W. 36 Street to W. 37 Street, 1924.

Boardwalk and McMahon's Baths, W. 36 Street to W. 37 Street, 1924.

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#113 Surf Avenue, North Side, From W. 32 Street to W. 33 Street, 1924.

Surf Avenue, North Side, From W. 32 Street to W. 33 Street, 1924.

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#115 Boardwalk and the Breakers Baths at W. 31 Street, 1924.

Boardwalk and the Breakers Baths at W. 31 Street, 1924.

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#116 Sea Breeze Mansion View from Boardwalk, W. 27 Street to W. 28 Street, 1924.

Sea Breeze Mansion View from Boardwalk, W. 27 Street to W. 28 Street, 1924.

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#117 Ravenhall’s Viewed from W. 19 Street, Established 1874, 1924.

Ravenhall's Viewed from W. 19 Street, Established 1874, 1924.

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#118 Surf Avenue, South Side, East from W. 10 Street, 1924.

Surf Avenue, South Side, East from W. 10 Street, 1924.

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#119 Winning Trio in Olympic 1,500 Meter Swim Trials, 1925

Winning Trio in Olympic 1,500 Meter Swim Trials, 1925

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#120 Zip Uses World’s Largest Woman as Human Tee, 1924

Zip Uses World's Largest Woman as Human Tee, 1924

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#121 Edward Tilyou Awards “Miss Coney Island” Trophy to Agnes Leonard

Edward Tilyou Awards "Miss Coney Island" Trophy to Agnes Leonard

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#122 Contestants Line Up for Atlantic City Beauty Pageant, 1925

Contestants Line Up for Atlantic City Beauty Pageant, 1925

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#125 Pittsburgh’s Luna Park Features Japanese Theatre, Circa 1925

Pittsburgh's Luna Park Features Japanese Theatre, Circa 1925

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#126 Four Young Women on a Coney Island Roof, Circa 1925

Four Young Women on a Coney Island Roof, Circa 1925

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#127 Cowboys Play Wild West Polo at Coney Island, 20th Century

Cowboys Play Wild West Polo at Coney Island, 20th Century

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#128 Crowded Boardwalk on a Warm Summer Day, Circa 1925

Crowded Boardwalk on a Warm Summer Day, Circa 1925

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#131 Kathryn Ray and Agnes Leonard as “Miss Coney Island,” 1925

Kathryn Ray and Agnes Leonard as "Miss Coney Island," 1925

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#133 Four Young Women on a Coney Island Roof, Circa 1925

Four Young Women on a Coney Island Roof, Circa 1925

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#143 Beauty Contest for “Miss Coney Island,” 1925

Beauty Contest for "Miss Coney Island," 1925

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#146 Bonomo, World’s Strongest Man, Poses with Women

Bonomo, World's Strongest Man, Poses with Women

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#159 Beaches Thronged with People Seeking Heat Relief, 1927

Beaches Thronged with People Seeking Heat Relief, 1927

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#160 Aerial View of Lincoln and Washington Baths at Lincoln Park, Saratoga Springs, 1928

Aerial View of Lincoln and Washington Baths at Lincoln Park, Saratoga Springs, 1928

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#161 Crowded Beach with Amusement Park in Background, 1928

Crowded Beach with Amusement Park in Background, 1928

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#164 James Murray and Eleanor Boardman on ‘The Crowd’ Set

James Murray and Eleanor Boardman on 'The Crowd' Set

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#165 Contestants Line Up for Coney Island Beauty Contest, 1928

Contestants Line Up for Coney Island Beauty Contest, 1928

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#173 Couples Participate in Coney Island Dance Marathon, 1928

Couples Participate in Coney Island Dance Marathon, 1928

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#175 Sunkist Lemonade and Tally-Ho Beer Billboards on Boardwalk, 1929

Sunkist Lemonade and Tally-Ho Beer Billboards on Boardwalk, 1929

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#178 Berliners Dance to Phonograph Music on Wannsee Beach, 1920s

Berliners Dance to Phonograph Music on Wannsee Beach, 1920s

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Written by Dennis Saul

Content creator and Professional photographer who still uses Vintage film roll cameras. Not that I loved London less But that i Love New York City More.

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