Jim Morrison’s Visit to Coney Island

by Howard Eldard

I was born in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn back in 1944. I spent many summers enjoying the beaches of Brighton and Coney Island. I moved to Seattle over 40 years ago and haven’t been back to Brooklyn since. I have many memories of Coney Island, especially as a kid; however, my most memorable trip to Coney Island was when I brought singer Jim Morrison of the Doors there back in the summer of 1968.

I was somewhat of a hippie back in the 60’s. I used to hang out at places like The Scene which was located in an area today referred to as Hell’s Kitchen. It was at The Scene where I first met Jim Morrison in 1967. He went to college with two of my friends. After a night of bar hopping in the East Village we exchanged numbers and we would meet up whenever he was in town.

One morning sometime near the end of the summer of 68′ I received a phone call. It was Jim Morrison. He told me that he was currently reading Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s A Coney Island of the Mind and although the book wasn’t necessarily about Coney Island he wanted to visit the area. He also knew this was the home of Woody Guthrie.

He only had a few hours free in the afternoon so he asked if I would take a trip with him to Coney Island. I remember already having plans that afternoon that I had to cancel.

I met him downtown and we took the F train all the way to that famous Coney Island/ Stillwell ave. stop. I was surprised that nobody recognized him until we reached that alleyway with all the games. I do recall a teenager working at a concession said something to him like “hey I have all your records.” Jim replied “Thanks, my friend.”

As we toured the area with all the rides Jim commented that Coney Island reminded him of Venice. We were hungry so we stopped at Shatzkin’s for a couple of knishes. I remember going there often with my father when I was a kid.

Next we went to the wax museum before having a few drinks at the Hebrew National Deli and Bar. It was this old rickety run down spot on the boardwalk. We sat at the corner of the bar. Jim was chatting with a group of fishermen. Some guy walked in wearing a cowboy hat and strumming an acoustic guitar. Jim requested that he play a few old folk songs. It was a great time. We drank pretty much the entire afternoon.

It started to get really cloudy and cold. Jim called someone to pick him up from a pay phone on Surf ave. I ended up walking home. That was the last time I had any contact with Jim Morrison. He died three years later at the age of 27.

I want to thank The Coney Island Blog for letting me share my story of  Jim Morrison.

Sincerely,

Howard Eldard

 

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