It has absolutely nothing in common with South Beach, Miami, except for the name. The Staten Island version was developed as a seaside resort in the 1880s. A two-and-a-half mile boardwalk went up in the 1930s, and the beach now has amazing views of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.
This postcard looks like it dates to the 1920s. Love the water slide.
Ephemeral New York 