Coney Island once staged one of the most shocking spectacles in American history: the public execution of Topsy the elephant in 1903. After years of brutal circus abuse, Topsy was killed with cyanide and 6,600 volts of electricity as a crowd—and Edison’s film crew—watched. The story isn’t just about cruelty; it’s a reminder of how far we’ve come (or not) in treating animals and what people once called entertainment. If you visit Coney Island today, you’ll find memorials that challenge us to reflect on the real cost of spectacle. What does this say about our culture then—and now? #Entertainment #ConeyIsland #AnimalRights