Coney Island's Cyclone celebrates 85th birthday – in pictures

People ride the Cyclone roller coaster at Coney Island. In celebration of its 85th year of operation, the wooden coaster cost 25 cents for the first 85 minutes it was open on Saturday Photograph: Eric Thayer/Reuters

Circa 1945: A huge crowd of people in swimsuits on the beach at Coney Island, with the ferris wheel and Cyclone rides visible in the background Photograph: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Thrillseekers get a hair-raising ride on the roller coaster in August 1944 Photograph: Marie Hansen/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image

A girl raises her arms in the air at the first drop on the Cyclone at the 80th anniversary celebration of the rollercoaster in 2007 Photograph: New York Daily News Archive/Getty Images

1977: Woody Allen holds a viewfinder in front of the Cyclone on the set of his film Annie Hall Photograph: Brian Hamill/Getty Images

Borough president Marty Markowitz celebrates the reopening of the Cyclone Photograph: New York Daily News Archive/Getty Images

The famous rollercoaster sits idle on the snow covered ground in January 2005 Photograph: Stephen Chernin/Getty Images

People ride the Cyclone on the first day of its reopening in March 2005 Photograph: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Passengers enjoy the Cyclone's descent Photograph: Mary Altaffer/AP

A float marking the Cyclone's 85th anniversary Photograph: Mary Altaffer/AP

A maintenance worker applies a decal commemorating the Cyclone's 85th anniversary while people wait in line to buy tickets Photograph: Mary Altaffer/AP

It's old and rickety, but people head to Coney Island every year for its most popular attraction Photograph: Mary Altaffer/AP

A miniature Cyclone featured in the Coney Island Mermaid Parade Photograph: Mary Altaffer/AP