Main content

Life Under Glass

The premature babies in incubators on display in amusement park on Coney Island from 1903 to 1943

At Coney Island amusement park between 1903 and 1943 there was an extraordinary exhibit: tiny, premature babies. 'Dr Martin Couney's infant incubator’ facility was staffed by nurses in starched white uniforms and if you paid a quarter, you could see the babies in their incubators.

Journalist Claire Prentice has been following the story and tracked down some of those babies, now in their 70s, 80s and 90s, who were put in the show. She discovers how Dr Couney brought the incubator to prominence in the USA through World's Fairs and amusement parks, and explores how a man who was shunned by the medical establishment changed attitudes to premature babies and saved countless lives.

Image: Coney Island amusement park in 1904, Credit: Getty Images

Available now

27 minutes

Last on

Mon 22 Aug 2016 06:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Wed 17 Aug 2016 02:32GMT
  • Wed 17 Aug 2016 04:32GMT
  • Wed 17 Aug 2016 06:32GMT
  • Wed 17 Aug 2016 12:32GMT
  • Wed 17 Aug 2016 18:32GMT
  • Sat 20 Aug 2016 14:32GMT
  • Mon 22 Aug 2016 06:32GMT