Steeplechase Face

The image conveys simple fun,[4] but was also observed by cultural critics to have an undercurrent of Victorian-era repressed sexuality.

[3][6][5] Though the park was a "family-friendly" area, it was nearby the "freer sexual expression of the dance halls, beaches, and boardwalk.

[8] The face's most prominent appearance in Coney Island was in glass on the exterior of Steeplechase's Pavilion of Fun,[9] created when the park was rebuilt in 1909.

The face also appeared at other Tilyou amusement properties, such as Steeplechase Pier in Atlantic City, and was also copied regionally, as with the Tillie of Asbury Park.

The face remains a popular symbol of Coney Island, embraced by many neighborhood institutions and businesses.