1951: REMEMBER "TV GUIDE?"

I was one of the early fans of television back when there was very limited programming. In 1946 or perhaps 1947, "Mac" McEwan from the "corner store" about which I have written numerous columns, set up a television room in the back of his store and opened it to us kids. It was a perfect combination: We would sit and watch what was the first or nearly first TV set in the area, and Mac sold a lot of Kern's soda, Coke, Pepsi, potato chips, etc. I remember watching "Frontier Playhouse" on channel 3, WPTZ. Every afternoon at 5 we would watch Ken or Kermit Maynard, Bob Steel, the "Three Mesquiteers" and other class "B" westerns followed by "Burn 'em up Barnes, a 12 chapter serial. It was here that we watched the news casts of John Cameron Swayze or Douglas Edwards. The scan above shows a very young Ed McMahon who got his start with WCAU, channel 10, Philadelphia. In the very early years of commercial television, the programming started around 2 in the afternoon, and shut down around 10 or 11 PM, the rest of the hours we watched what was known as a "test pattern" which was transmitted for station identification, and so that television installers and service people could adjust sets and antennas.

Ralph Lucarella said...

I RECALL TOM, THE TEST PATTERNS WERE USED FOR QUITE A LONG PERIOD SO THAT PEOPLE COULD, AS YOU SAY, ADJUST THE PICTURE. THEY WOULD SAY A PERFECT CIRCLE WOULD MEAN YOUR PICTURE IS OKAY. I WAS ONE OF THE EARLY PURCHASERS AND IT WASN'T EASY TO GET A PERFECT CIRCLE. SO, THAT WAS IT, TRYING TO GET A PERFECT CIRCLE AND WATCHING ED McMAHON. SOME OF THE PATTERNS WERE GREAT.

1922: INTERIOR VIEW FIRST M.E. CHURCH SOUTH BROAD STREET, TRENTON

What a fabulous photo! This is from the 1922 Sesqui-Centennial of the church. It is a dramatic view of the interior of one of Trenton's historic religious treasures. The image has been scanned at a high definition resolution so the viewer can get a realistic closeup of how the church interior looked 88 years ago.

===============

Judy said...

Thanks, Tom. What a wonderful picture of this old church. My grandparents Lizelle Ronan and Lester Bingley met there in the balconey. They were subsequently married there in 1912. I have never seen the inside before. What a magnificent structure it was at the time. Thanks again. Judy Bingley Staed

1848: SAND HILLS (YARDVILLE) A PORK SHIPPING CENTER

In going into my early newspapers, I have found an interesting and little known bit of history. We all know that Hamilton was a very rural farming part of central New Jersey. The "little known bit of history" lies in the stories of the numerous Burlington, Monmouth and Mercer County farmers who opted raised pigs and shipped pork to the big cities from the Camden and Amboy depot at Sand Hills. Fascinating!

1847: YARDVILLE'S ALBION MILLS FOR SALE

There is a strange fascination surrounding the incredibly interesting history of the old mills that once reposed in old Sand Hills. The mill was a very popular place for the farmers from the surrounding area. Back in this era, Sand Hills was noted for the mill and as a very important shipping center on the old Camden and Amboy rail line which ran through the village. It is interesting to note that Sand Hills was a major shipping source for pork to the markets in New York and Philadelphia. Many of the local farmers found that raising pigs was more profitable than corn and specialized in the processing of pork.

1939: THE STACY THEATER

It certainly wasn't a "first run" theater, but they always seemed to book some of the best movies that appealed to the masses. I think I attended the Stacy maybe 2 or 3 times. When I was a boy, the nearby Gaiety and Greenwood were the theaters of our neighborhood, with an occasional walk to the RKO Broad or the Bijou (By the way, when that latter theater was named, it was supposed to have been referred to as the "BEE-ZHOO," but all my contemporaries called it the "BY-JOE;" remember?

rayfromvillapark said... Hi Tom, Love this photo. The two parked cars in the photo are a 1939 Plymouth on the left and a 1940 Chevrolet on the right. The movies played at the Stacy are what I think was referred to as B movies. Anybody agree with terminology? Did the Stacy have a balcony?

I CAN'T HONESTLY RECALL WHETHER THERE WAS A BALCONY OR NOT, RAY. I'M SURE THERE WILL BE A RESPONSE AT SOME POINT.
TOM

1911: FROM THE BROAD STREET THEATER TO THE PALACE THEATER

One of the more popular subjects referred to on this blog is recalling those great theaters we had in Trenton all during the first half of the 20th century. The Mayfair, Orpheum, Stacy, Trent, Lincoln, Garden, Gaiety, Greenwood, Rialto, Victory, Princess, Centre, Strand, and the late, great, RKO Palace Theater which was located on South Broad Street in the Mill Hill section of Trenton. This post contains three separate graphics, illustrating the transition of the "BROAD STREET THEATER" from the first decade of the 20th century up to the "RKO PALACE" theater which will be familiar to most of my generation as being a viable and well-attended theater. It was a custom back in the 30's and 40's for two theaters to feature the same movies. The Gaiety and Centre always had the same movies on the same date. Likewise, the RKO Lincoln and RKO Palace shared the same movies at the same time. The golden age of the Trenton movie theaters is long past. Unlike many towns across America, not one of those old movie houses survive today; most having been demolished.

GREAT MEMORIES FROM RAY PASZKIEWICZ:
RAY: I TYPED THAT LAST NAME HOPING I GOT THE SPELLING CORRECT. DID I?

rayfromvillapark said...

Hi Tom, I want to add a couple of theaters to your list. The State, just east of the Stacy on the opposite side of State St. They played mostly double feature Western movies.
The Park Theater on Anderson and Washington. Correct me on the name, if I am wrong, but the location is correct, across from the Casino Restaurant.
The Orpheum became the Mayfair, and the Gaiety became the Olden in my day.
As young kids me and my friends spent Saturday afternoons at the Bijou. Two features, news, cartoons, a serial (two I remember distinctly; Batman and Robin and The Vigilante). I almost forgot, hang on to your ticket stub, because at intermission, they gave away a set of Depression Glass dinnerware, all for a quarter. While in Junior School (Junior 2) Friday nights were spent at the Olden with our girlfriends. Then it was Tomato Pies at Marucas, just up the street. The Victory and Princess were before my time. I believe the Princess was on Princeton Ave. just up from the Battle Monument. The Victory was on Hudson and Broad. The last movie I saw in downtown Trenton, was the "Hindenburg". at the RKO Lincoln. Can't remember the year.

BROAD STREET PARK QUESTION

Peg Mills wrote the following regarding her request for info on Broad Street Park's Spring Lake, A copy of this email is being sent to Jim Collelo, Broad Street Park historian:
I grew up using that area as my play ground in the 1950s. I can remember two brothers who lived in the swamp area beyond spring lake. they had a junky old red pick-up truck and i can still see them rumbling down the big hill at the end of Sewell Avenue. They would go down the hill, make a right turn, go all the way down to the wooden bridge and across. From there they turned right and their property was some distance on. They made a living trapping and hunting I was told. They were like hermits. If you got too close to their property, they would shoot over your head or turn their dogs loose. I have been trying to remember their surname. I used to know it, as did anyone who lived in that area. I was wondering if you, or someone belonging to your blog would remember their name.

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Peg Henderson-Mills

THIS FROM MY HHS 1951 CLASSMATE, BOB WALTER:

Hi Tom:
The brothers in question were Russ and Bill Abrams, who lived near the White City Lake with their many dogs. they were responsible for patrolling all the land and swamp around the high tension wires, and the cat walks for Public Service. it was all private property. Me and some of my friends used to trap muskrats and duck hunt, illegally i guess, on the property. Russ, more than Bill used to find your traps and keep them, and if he could see or catch you he would put the dogs on you or shoot (rock salt loaded) shot gun at you. Russ was almost like a legend and feared by all the trappers and hunters,(mostly teenagers) like me. I do not know what ever happened to them, and Peg's question brought back memories,good and bad. On a good day you could go from bare ------ beach (white city lake), across the cable bridge on to the cat-walk all the way to the railroad tracks below Deutzville and the Sturgeon Pond near the old " brick yards". thanks,

Bob Walter

THIS FROM PEGGY REGARDING
BOB'S ANSWER TO HER QUERY:

TOM AND BOB THANKS FOR FINDING THE ANSWER TO MY MYSTERY HERMITS. AS SOON AS I READ THE NAME, A LIGHT WENT OFF. AS KIDS WE WERE FULL OF STORIES, HALF TRUE AND HALF FABLE OF THOSE TWO BROTHERS. OUR PARENTS KNEW ABOUT THEM AND DID ALWAYS WARN US TO STEER CLEAR. AGAIN THANKS SO MUCH.

PEGGY HENDERSON-MILLS

MANY THANKS BOB!

THE TRENTON ACADEMY

Today's Academy Street in Trenton is named for that historic old school which once sat on the site of today's Trenton Free Public Library. The original of this graphic was in black and white. It has been hand colored. Taking "artistic license, I have taken an educated guess as to the colors of the main building, which would appear to be plain ordinary concrete smoothed over.

1989 HAMILTON IN 1959

Taking a look back at the Hamilton Township of 61 years ago gives a very lucid look at the township before the impending population explosion of the 60's to the present took place. We were a smaller community bounded by the huge farms of the Simpkins, Stelle, Bertothy, Quigley, Allinson, and other extensive agricultural open land.

1989: MAURICE PERILLI: THE MAYORS' MAYOR

This gentleman was responsible for many of the improvements which have been made in Hamilton Township over the past 50 years. "Hamilton Park," (Today's Veterans' Park,) the Police Station on Whitehorse-Mercerville Road, the very earliest contact with Edna Kuser which led to the ultimate sale of Kuser Farm to the Hamilton Township, the original "Master Plan" which included the removal of the township Municipal Building to the Morton Tract, Hamilton Hospital, and countless other taken-for-granted Hamilton Township entities can be attributed to the efforts of this exceptional man.

1966: MAYOR PERILLI GROUND BREAKING FOR THE NEW HAMILTON POLICE STATION

1943: THE EARLY YEARS OF WWII

Any visitors to this blog who were around during the very early years of World War II will attest to the fact that America was experiencing fear that the war raging all around us would reach American shores. There were numerous reports of Nazi submarines operating off the coast of New Jersey and other coastal states. Stories of Nazi subs coming in close proximity to the coast and unloading saboteurs an spies were in the news. Over on the Pacific coast, the Japanese subs were firing on refineries and other coastal targets. A story in the press told of the Japanese sending large balloons over the pacific with incendiary bombs targeted at our Pacific coast cities and towns. It was the era of blackouts and air raid wardens, whose job it was to police the area looking for careless citizens who left lights on in neighborhood homes. As a boy of 10 during the early years of the war, I found it a bit frightening to sit in our living room during a blackout. All the lights out except for an ultra violet light allowing us to maneuver about the first floor.
THE LETTER FROM ARMIT HARRISON IS AN ORIGINAL. THE NAZI BOMBER WAS ADDED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LETTER FOR EFFECT.

2010: HERE COMES WEEK 3 OF "MUSIC FOR A SUMMER NIGHT"

Two down, seven to go! Join me on Sunday, July 18 from 6 to 8 PM as we travel through the years with the music and nostalgic memories we grew up with. Yesterday, a very lively crowd joined in singing the songs we all loved, but seldom hear in today's noisy musical enviornment. Weather permitting, this coming Sunday, we'll be singing and dancing to the great songs from World War II, the Gay 90's, and the 40's through the 70's. We'll be singing the songs of Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Andy Williams, Patti Page, Neil Diamond, the Everly Brothers, the Monkees, the Beach Boys, Billy Joel, and many of our favorite easy listening and easy to dance to music. Admission is free, convenient parking a few steps behind the gazebo. Bring a folding chair or blanket and spend a wonderful nostalgic evening.

1937: THIS ONE'S FOR YOU, RALPH LUCARELLA

As regular followers and visitors to this blog are well aware, "Local History With A Personal Touch" is proudly printed on the regular home page graphic when one clicks on www.glover320.blogspot.com. Even though it isn't on my current Kuser Park summer program, it will return when I change back to my regular home page graphics. The late Ralph Lucarella was a card-carrying member of "The Greatest Generation" who all of us love and respect. Ralph added immeasurably to the history listed on this blog with his retrospective looks back to his younger years as a local boy growing up in what was and still can be the greatest city in New Jersey.

"Lucarella Snares City Twilight 1st Half Batting Title With .500!"

1884: BEFORE THERE WAS A TRINITY CATHEDRAL

I would loved to have seen that beautiful old English style church that was once located on Academy Street in Trenton. As I have indicated in former posts, Trinity P.E. Church as seen above ultimately became Trenton's legendary Trinity Cathedral over on West State St. and Overlook Avenue.

1939: TRENTON CATHOLIC 1939 FOOTBALL SQUAD

Even though this is a few years before my time, I would bet that "Catholic" was the same formidable opponents against Hamilton High as they were in my years at Hamilton in the1940's and 1950's. Whether it was basketball, football, soccer, or baseball, it was always a classic rivalry.

**************
Note: there is a bit of vertical blur in the very center of the above graphic, due to a very damaging scotch taped center fold which required a bit of tweaking to remove from the final tweaking. However, you will see a few pixels which were completely lost in restoring the graphic.

1943: REMEMBERING WHEN "PENNY CANDY" WAS REALLY A PENNY

http://www.nj.com/columns/times/index.ssf?tomglover

Go ahead, be a kid again and visit the penny candy counter at a typical 1940's "corner store!" The above link takes you to the TIMES web page, and directly to my "Sentimental Journey" columns. The TIMES, along with other newspapers all over the world have gone digital with all the latest news and features. If you are old enough to remember "penny candy," clicking on the link above will take you back to those wonderful innocent years of your youth. If you were fortunate enough to grow up in the "boondocks," or as it is less sarcastically known, "the country," you will once again take off your shoes and walk barefoot to the "corner store." The link leading to today's column will only be available for about 2 weeks when it becomes part of the TIMES' paid archives, so click now and gorge yourself on "Mary Janes," bolsters, "Kits," and other childhood delights from the 1940's!

1941: John A. Roebling Galvanizing Plant,,Hamilton Township

The above graphic shows an aerial view of the area described in the 1941 article from the Library's "ROEBLING" file regarding a fire at the Roebling Galvanizing plant. This post is in response to Mr. Dave Briegel, who was looking for information on the Roebling-Hamilton connection. I would guess that this is the "Lalor Street Plant" that you referred to, Dave.

From Dave Briegel:

I live off of Lalor. A debate has been going round. Can anyone help! There was for a time, a John Roebling "Lalor Street Plant". I believe it to have been on the Hamilton side of Lalor across from the current Lalor Plaza Shopping Center along the railroad siding. Another local believes it to have been on the site of the shopping center. My recollection tells me that the shopping center site was a pottery, not Roebling.
We are aware of the Buckthorne Plant of Roebling which now is the Metro Center of Nexus Properties off Jersey Street on the Trenton side.
Can anyone help! And if so, does any kind of map,.... exist that could provide a visual.

AGAIN, WITH THANKS TO DAVE BRIEGEL:

Tom,

Thanks for the lead regarding Lalor Street Plant of Roebling and Sons. With your info, an aerial photo from a Roebling catalogue, and a drive down Hewitt Street, I believe the issue to have been settled. In fact if you drive down Hewitt Street you will still find the concrete foundation wall, a few red brick courses, and a stairway identified as a "North Side Warehouse". And from the aerial photo, a railroad siding appears to have entered the plant at Lalor between two buildings which are now enhabited by a moving company.

Thanks in advance!

2010: WEEK TWO OF "MUSIC FOR A SUMMER NIGHT"

One down, eight to go! Join me this Sunday afternoon July 11 from 6 to 8 PM as we travel through the years with the music and nostalgic memories we grew up with. You'll be singing an dancing to the great songs from World War II, the 40's through the 70's. We'll be singing the songs of Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Andy Williams, Patti Page, Neil Diamond, the Everly Brothers, the Monkees, the Beach Boys, Billy Joel, and many of our favorite easy listening and easy to dance to music. Admission is free, convenient parking a few steps behind the gazebo. Bring a folding chair or blanket and spend a wonderful nostalgic evening.

1888: BROAD STREET NATIONAL BANK CELEBRATES 1st ANNIVERSARY

I have already posted a number of graphics relating to this legendary center city Trenton Bank that was a very important part of the city skyline of Trenton during the latter part of the 19th and into the 20th century. The building has since been converted into offices and apartments.

=====================

This from RALPH LUCARELLA:

MY DEAR FRIEND, SAM PAGLIARO, WAS THE ELEVATOR OPERATOR FOR MANY YEARS AND I ALSO DELIVERED MAIL THERE ON OCCASIONS. IT MUST BE CONFUSING TO OUT OF TOWNERS WHY A BANK ON STATE STREET WOULD BE CALLED BROAD ST BANK. THAT CORNER, WITH THE OLD POST OFFICE ACROSS THE STREET YEARS AGO WAS A BUSY PART OF DOWN TOWN. REGARDS.

1997: JANE ELDRIDGE TITUS REMEMBERS KEEFER'S BAND

Thanks to Ms. Eleanor Guear for this photo which was given to her by Ms. Meyer who thinks her father was part of this popular Hamilton Square band. Stewart Keefer started this band back in 1929, at which time it was known only as the Hamilton Square YMCA Boys' Band. As the group became more popular, it became "Keefer's Band." They played in local churches, at the Hamilton Square Volunteer Fire Company dedication, and at the 1942 dedication of the Hamilton Township Municipal building.

2010 HAMILTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SPEAKER

From the "OUTREACH" folder in the Hamilton Library Local History Collection, a photo of yours truly with the folks from the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. I always like to share information on our local history with the various citizen groups in the area. In presenting this program back in May, I discovered one of Hamilton's best kept secrets: "THE ROSE GARDEN!" I passed by that place when it was a veterans' building but had never been inside. I was completely overwhelmed with the facility! What a perfect place for a high school reunion. In speaking with the proprietor, I learned that HHS class of '54 had their reunion there, and it was a complete success. Check it out.

1999: MONSIGNOR JOSEPH FERRANTE, RIP

He was everybody's friend. He loved the people and the people loved him. Father Joe was one of those priests who was never too busy to sit down and share a lively dialogue. When he arrived at the very conservative St. Anthony parish, many of us thought there would be monumental changes. Unlike many of his contemporaries, when he took the pulpit on that first day of his new assignment at St. Anthony, he assured us that things would continue and not to look for any drastic changes. He was true to his word.

1942: SONNY SAXTON AND TOMMY GLOVER

I colored the above formerrly gray scale photo using PhotoShop.

Over these many years, I have often recalled my years as a boy growing up during the "Great Depression." I was born in 1933, right in the cusp of that horrible economic disaster. The Glover family was hit very hard by that national economic disaster. The Glover family was on the "relief" rolls in Hamilton Township for a number of years, making weekly visits to Colonial Fire House on Liberty Street for our weekly "dole" of dried prunes, dried apples, flour, and other staples. By 1942, things were beginning to look up. Even though I was still wearing my older brother Bud's knickers as seen in the photo above, we were slowly moving into a more prosperous era. Re-telling these stories in my numerous public speaking programs, I have almost always had one or more of the attendees make the observation that we were poor, but didn't know it. How very true. When I think of how my mom had to eke out nutritious food for us with WWII rationing and the financial constraints we endured, a tear comes to my eyes.

=========================

COMMENT FROM Ralph Lucarella:

WELL TOM, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND ONLY GOD KNOWS HOW MANY OTHERS WENT THROUGH THAT SAME PERIOD. MY FATHER HELPED BUILD JUNIOR 2 WHILE WORKING FOR ONLY A FOOD ORDER. YOU CAN ONLY USE THAT PAYMENT FOR FOOD. SO THE ONLY OTHER MONEY CAME FROM RELIEF. NOT UNTIL MY DAD WENT BACK TO HIS REGULAR JOB WERE WE ABLE TO GET THINGS WE NEEDED. THAT LASTED FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS WHILE I WAS A TEENAGER. I NEVER HAD A BICYCLE OR A CHANCE TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENT, LIKE MY BROTHER. SO ALL I DID WAS PLAY BALL AT WETZEL FIELD. THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS HOW I WON THAT BATTING TITLE IN THE TWILIGHT LEAGUE IN 1937. BUT WE ENDURED, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE AND EVERYTHING WORKED OUT FINE IN THE LATTER YEARS.

BEST REGARDS.

1931: TRENTON ARENA BOXING PROGRAM

The graphic above has been re-formatted, placing the actual program events adjacent to each other as opposed to the original which placed them on opposite pages. Many locals recall the old Trenton Arena as a shining example of Trenton's boxing and wrestling matches, auto shows, and other community events. The arena burned down, as I recall in the 1960's. Should I be incorrect as to the date of the fire, please correct me so that the record can be set straight.

JoeZ said...

Tom: That's what one can call a complete program. We have boxing, wrestling, political ads, restaurants,cleaner, furniture and liquor. I enjoy reading all those ads. Thanks.

Wednesday, July 07, 2010

Ralph Lucarella said...

...I RECALL A WRESTLER, I BELIEVE HIS NAME WAS LEWANDOWSKI FROM TRENTON, WHO WAS PRETTY GOOD. WE HAD MANY GOOD BOXERS BUT NOT MANY WRESLTERS. THAT AD FROM JAHOS BROS, MY FATHER HAD SUITS TAILORED THERE. WE ALL WONDERED HOW HE COULD AFFORD TAILOR MADE SUITS ON HIS SALARY. HIS THEORY WAS BUY THE BEST, IN THE LONG RUN IT WOULD LAST LONGER AND BE THE CHEAPEST. HE FELT THAT WAY IN MOST OF THE THINGS HE BOUGHT. MY FATHER HAD A LOT OF CLASS BUT COULDN'T DO THE RIGHT THING AT WORK. HE DIDN'T WEAR A MASK WHILE WORKING WITH CLAY AND THAT KILLED HIM AT THE EARLY AGE OF 52, MAY GOD BLESS HIM.

MACK SAID:

Love seeing that Salamandra Ad in the 1930s. I walked past Salamandra at that location many quiet mornings on the way to deliver the Trentonian in the 1970s:)

1981: KUSER FARM: A JOY FOREVER

Back in 1981, I wrote a "mini-book" recalling the years my buddy Don Slabicki and I spent at Kuser Farm, working for Fritz and Edna Kuser. My retrospectives came at a time in their lives when they were both saddened as they left their beloved home of many years. My writing apparently touched them deeply as can be seen in the letter I received a few days after I gave the booklet to them. The years I spent (and still spend) at Kuser Farm are one of the most important part of my life.

1947: Circa 1947 Carlin's Cafe

If you go to the "SEARCH BLOG" area on the upper left of this blog and key in FOY, you will find a former post on this legendary family and their Drug Store and old fashioned soda fountain as it was back in the golden era of the 40's and 50's. I and my buddies made many stops at that great old place on South Broad Street. Eleanor Foy was a lady whom I am proud to say was a friend of mine from her many years as a local civic minded citizen. When she lost her beloved Donald, she told me she wanted to be sure he was remembered in Hamilton, and he has been. Thanks to Eleanor and her family, many of Don's memorable history items are being preserved and digitized in the Local History Collection.

1905: HAMILTON SQUARE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HARVEST HOME

It's times like these when we miss those old timers who have left us and gone on to their heavenly reward. I would like to know about "Wildwood Grove." Was it that little area behind the Baptist Church that I remember from th 1960's? Is there a Hamilton Square history person who can fill us in? If not, we'll keep looking! The article contains the names of MANY locally prominent pioneer residents of Hamilton Square.

1940: Ca. 1940-The Diving Horse at Atlantic City Steel Pier

"On the boardwalk in Atlantic City,

We will walk in a dream.
On the boardwalk in Atlantic City,
Life will be peaches and cream.
There where the salt water air,
Brings out a lady's charms,
There on a rolling chain,
She'll roll right into your arms.
Cinderella, you will find your fella,
Someone who you've waited for,
In romantic, enchantic, Atlantic City,
Down on the old New Jersey shore.."

That great old song is one that I sing regularly during my numerous "When Music Was Music" programs. The linen post card graphics above hearkens back to the Atlantic City of yesterday, long before the advent of the casinos. It was an era of those great old boardwalk "rolling chairs," and simple summer pleasures in an era that will never return. The Steel Pier was a national historic treasure.

THANKS RALPH AND OMAD FOR THE FOLLOWING CAPTIONS AND COMMENTS:

Ralph Lucarella said...

Hi Tom.....One of the greatest attractions for the money of all time. For 75 cents you got to spend the entire day watching shows plus evening dancing and music to the best known orchestras in the country. That was in the 1930s and continued in the 40s. I recall Alex Bartha as the band that played regularly along with Glenn Miller and the other popular bands. And along with the Steel Pier you had the most famous boardwalk and hotels in the land. The white sand beach was also very popular for bathing. It was one more reason we call it The Greatest Generation. Best regards.

Omad said...

And out on the pier, the diving bell. Seemed so exciting to a kid of 7 or 8 to be sealed in and "dive" down into the murky waters. AC sure has changed these days

And out on the pier, the diving bell. Seemed so exciting to a kid of 7 or 8 to be sealed in and "dive" down into the murky waters. AC sure has changed these days.

Tuesday, July 06, 2010

Mack said...

There was a s

Saturday afternoon music show on local TV from the
Steel Pier when I was a kid in the 1970s:)

Tuesday, July 06, 2010

Gary Lippincott said...

I saw the "Diving Horse" as a kid, it should have be renamed the "Pushed Horse", the poor thing had no choice, it stood on a platform, the platform then was tilted down and gravity took over. Poor Horse, I don't think he was having fun at the pier.

Wednesday, July 07, 2010

SJBill said...

Was the music show by Grady and Hurst?

Wednesday, July 07, 2010

Tom Glover said...

YES JOE AND MACK. IT WAS CALLED "SUMMERTIME ON THE PIER" AND I NEVER MISSED A WEEK WATCHING IT.

TOM GLOVER