Atlantic City Memory Lane

Submitted by Larry L. Letzer ACHS 56 Moderator from Copperas Cove, Texas. Entered on June 19, 2013
"Folks, I have deleted the scam that has been plaguing our site as well as some of your complaints about the spam. I also deleted comments about the NBA finals. This is a site for Atlantic City memories. Please keep it as such. " Edit Entry

Submitted by Bill Amadeo from Daytona Beach Fl. Entered on June 17, 2013
"We have lost another Atlantic City Icon in Harry Grabel who passed away yesterday. I first met Harry many years ago when he ran the Tropical Bar on Atlantic Ave near Conn next to Wagenheims Meat Market and across from the original Tonys Baltimore Grill. He went on to purchase the Tropics on Atlantic Ave in Chelsea and turned it into Grabels where it became a mainstay of AC night life. Harry would hold court nightly, provide a great atmosphere and entertainment. Loved his sense of humor and accent. Rest in Peace my friend." Edit Entry

Submitted by Larry Letzer ACHS 56 Moderator from lletzer3@hot.rr.com. Entered on June 14, 2013
"I just realized why so many people thought Taylor' Pork Roll was on Central Pier (it was not). It was located 1497 Boardwalk between St. James Place. And New York Ave. Cases was located on Central Pier. " Edit Entry

Submitted by Julie Tyler from Florida. Entered on June 12, 2013
"Does anyone have access to any publications regarding the grocery store in Ventnor, NJ, New Jersey Grocery, back in the 50's - 60's?? The owner's name was Julius Aaron Frank, he retired before 1963. Thanks in advance for any information regarding this, JT." Edit Entry

Submitted by Jim Hook from Atlanta. Entered on June 11, 2013
"I sent some friends to Dock's, WhiteHouse, Knife and Fork and to the Mancuso's. I was told that the Dover and Ventnor Ave area looked like a 'border crossing.' They liked the food and the boards but complained the street people made it look like Detroit by the Sea. Allentown, Pa has begun to imitate AC's bad city management. M-13 gangs and beaucoup No. Jersey move overs for better neighborhoods to wreck. Nobody learned that public housing in the heart of a business area is a certain death." Edit Entry

Submitted by Hans Greenberg from Phila.pa. Entered on June 10, 2013
"Ostend Hotel , Sid Hartfields , 500 club Harlem club Alfred Villa Sonnys ., Emma's cozy corner in the milestone hotel, Sammy s deli Hackneys on the boardwalk" Edit Entry

Submitted by Dock from Near Boston Mas. Entered on June 10, 2013
"Some of my fondest memories of childhood from AC are hanging out in the Ocean One Shops. I used to love reading books at Atlantic Booksellers, smelling the fresh fudge at The Fudgery and hearing the carnival games while having a soda in the foodcourt. My mom would buy some swag Chanel at Donna Marie's boutique and I'd buy a new Eagles at at the sports store or a hologram picture from the old hippy that ran the store. Then there was the modern furniture store, IM Wambooz and Changes t-shirt store that sold the discount heat transfer t's on the round rack out front. During the cigar craze there was a kiosk at the foot of the central stairs and during the country music craze there was "Give Em'The Boot" a western store. Now that Caesars is in charge the shops in the mall have no character at all. Yes. It's bigger and more prestigious but it lacks the charm that it used to. Ocean One. Gone but not forgotten..." Edit Entry

Submitted by mark steelman from watsonville calif.. Entered on June 9, 2013
"Made my annual trip back east a few weeks ago. Always visit AC Historical in Somers point first day. While researching old data, could over hear a man , obviously a volunteer, Describing the old inlet...When I asked him where he lived as a kid , He said Strausberg ave. Same as me. It was Ben Brenner. We verbaly walked the inlet's streets and remembered long gone places. He advised me of Tommy Holvicks retirement from state police, moving to Tucson ARiz. And his death there. His cousin , Tom Burns is there. Bummer news. On the up side, Tommy Lamain is a honcho on the returning miss America board. His condo is very near where he grew up. I stay in Somers Point. Found a house my great,great grandfather built in 1902 on Annie ave. (named for his daughter Annie) Saw a lot of new lumber On local piers, and docks... Thanks to Sandy. A lot of beach removed by storm. Ocean city had three, or four D-8 Cats Spreading sand from a huge pipe spewing slurry. I last saw this after the 44' caine. On AC beach's. Wound up getting my sub from Sugar hill (near mays landing) Huge , Good...But no Delaware ave.. Still great to return home each year. See the old familiar family names in all the mainland schools listings. Still strange seeing Holy spirit in Absecon. They are doing great in sports as well as academics. Never even made it over to AC this year. Rather remember it as it was. Still enjoy reading post's from the regulars. Thanks Larry... We do appreciate all you have done. best to all Mark " Edit Entry

Submitted by seeyoujimmie from Northfield. Entered on June 9, 2013
"Does anyone remember the Costello sisters, Bunny and Sharon, from Pitney village? Tom and Ray Cohen from Brigantine?" Edit Entry

Submitted by Larry Letzer ACHS 56 Moderator from Copperas Cove, TX. Entered on June 7, 2013
"Italian immigrants heavily settled Ducktown in the early 20th century and named it for the duck houses they built along the bayfront, where they raised poultry and waterfowl. As with many American ethnic neighborhoods, after World War II, residents began leaving the neighborhood for automobile suburbs, sending Ducktown into a decline. Pitney Village, a housing project built in the neighborhood, was widely seen as contributing to the decline. From Wikipedia. " Edit Entry

Submitted by Ed Lischin from Santa Cruz. Entered on June 7, 2013
"How did "Ducktown" get its name?" Edit Entry

Submitted by John Pop Hudson from Atlantic City. Entered on June 6, 2013
"Grabels reunion at the new deck bar at Greenhouse in Margate Wednesday June 26 9:00 p.m. til ? With DJ STEVIE-O!" Edit Entry

Submitted by Nancy from Pittsburgh. Entered on June 3, 2013
"My grandparents had a house in Ventnor on Baton Rouge, and I went every summer in the 50s and 60s. Once I was old enough, I took a bus with friends, and we spent most of the time trying to meet boys--mostly at the sub shop on Ventnor Ave (White House?) and on the boardwalk around Chelsea Ave. I loved going to eat at Lou's in Ventnor and Luigi's, I think on Atlantic. I always had a special feeling about AC, and a few months ago, I was able to buy a condo on the boardwalk so I can go whenever I'm free. Unfortunately, transportation has been a problem so I haven't been able to go as often as I'd like. But it will always be magical to me." Edit Entry

Submitted by raymond sanford from long beach ca 90807. Entered on June 3, 2013
"I worked at the 500 club parking lot for bobby schiff the summer of 1966. I would see Skinny D arrive in his black caddy and the shoe shine kid (african american) would would appear out of nowhere and shine Skinny's shoes and always got a huge tip. i was only 18 at the time so wasn't allowed in the club. Later in the evening, politicians, ACPD, hoods and just regular people would go in. There was a white tower across the street on the corner of Missouri and Atlantic. ....so didn't have to go far to grab a bite. Harry the Hats was next door and on the corner of Missouri and pacific was the bistro cafe and night club. bobby schiff would come by alot and collect the money and so would Abie. they also had lots at Missouri and the boards, and beach block on Pennsylvania Ave. There was also a hotel at Pacific near South Carolina and the historic Albemarle Hotel at Virgina and pacfic. " Edit Entry

Submitted by Woody from Mays Landing, N.J.. Entered on June 2, 2013
"The next Steel Pier Reunion will be held on July 20,2013 at the Diving Bell Beer Garden on the ocean end of Steel Pier. From 8:pm-10:pm come join the Tony Grant Stars of Tommorrow alumni ,Ed Hurst and those who danced on Summertime on the Pier.Hear Jim Craine and his Big Band. Check out Jim Craine's facebook page for more details." Edit Entry

Submitted by kurt from pittsburgh. Entered on May 28, 2013
"I was born in Pittsburgh jan 1968 and my parents had me in the stroller,under the central pier in the shade in june 1968 and every summer thereafter til 1980. My memories: H. Longo bike and beach chair rental,longo and son,longo and sonS then Longo and sons and daughter etc. I loved mr Longo! Riding the 70's Stingray bikes on the boards! Ed the ice cream man,lookin like Tarzan walking barefoot across the beach with the box of ice cream slung on his shoulder,his longish hair blowin in the breeze. Eating Tastykake Krimpets,going to Geno's,breakfast at Abe's next to the Planter's store (one year I reported an old man in one of the stalls, turned out he passed away in the stall)scary for a young kid. White House/Tower subs, Captain Starns, sitting in the huge whale rib eating clam chowder, watching guys shuck clams. Steel Pier with the diving horse,the big names on the marquee, sinatra etc., the big snakes in the front windows, the store that sold the huge life like stuffed animals,a marimba stell drum band playing on a rooftop above the boardwalk,the central pier observation tower slowly turning up the tower then around at the top and back down,the haunted mine dark ride on the very end of the pier, The Golden Nugget with the cow skull with glowing red eyes,the central pier had little aquariums with fish n snakes you had to pay like 25 cents to see them. Games where you play tic tac toe with a chicken(i'm sure PETA wouldn't put up with them now!)The Million Dollar Pier and eating the chocolate vanilla swirl cake/icecream rolls, Steeplechase Pier, Garden Pier,used to ride bikes from one end of boards down to capt starns,motels like the Princess and even Jr Princess,Geary Kelton with the airy porch n rocking chairs,The Trinidad,watching the man make fudge in the morningin the store on the boardwalk,going to church and the big clam shell with Holy water in it. My dad taking hours to shop in town trying on what seemed like racks of pants,shirts. The ol Kazoo man at Woolworths,every day he was out there on the corner peddling the kazoos! Might still have one laying around! Vendors selling knives that were guaranteed to last a lifetime to be sharp....got ours in 1972 and it still does its job,my dad used it to cut ceiling panels and washed it and sliced bread,one GOOOOD KNIFE!!! still in my kitchen drawer! whew,i can tell I don't have Alzheimers! Just came back from AC may 2013,miss the old AC,spent more time down at the sea wall in the Gardener's Basin and walking Garwood Mills area. Oh and can't forget the old Diving Belfrom Steel Pier!!! on display at gardner's basin!" Edit Entry

Submitted by Bill Amadeo from Daytona Beach Fl. Entered on May 26, 2013
"To Roseanne Reynolds, The Irish place near the Roma Hotel was the Killarney Hotel and Bar. " Edit Entry

Submitted by Woody from Mays Landing, N.J.. Entered on May 23, 2013
"Warren, You mentioned The Steel Piers "Marine Ballroom". After working all day into the last stage show in the Music Hall Theatre, I would walk out to the Ballroom. Rich Hamid & I would go backstage and just sit there for an hour or two and listen to the Big Band of the week. You name the band and we were there listening to them. Benny Goodman, Woody Herman etc. Not many people knew that Bandleaders, Les & Larry Elgart recorded one of the most famous TV Theme Songs of all, "American Bandstand." Edit Entry

Submitted by Warren De Young from California. Entered on May 23, 2013
"As a "40's big band enthusiest, I listen to SIRIUS 40's station. This morning they played an Artie Shaw song, "FROM THE MARINE BALLROOM,ON THE STEEL PIER IN ATLANTIC CITY". That brought back fond memories. Anyone else?" Edit Entry

Submitted by steve dunn from ACNJ. Entered on May 22, 2013
"Billy Amadeo and I played in the 2 "haunted houses". One on Conn and Atl and one on Congress and Oriental. Those were the days. venturing upstairs, we heard voices that never were. Billy house is still standing on S. Congress is Albert Antonelli's house. " Edit Entry