Nostalgia, History and Memories
An original Diane Hutchinson painting
"Early Birds."
Sandy 2012
The beginnings of whatever this section of the site will become has now been started.
Seaside Heights 1960's Promotional Film
Let's start with a film from 1960 that was rediscovered in 2008. I should mention it is almost 17 minutes long. You may want to go get a cup of coffee before you start watching the film.The town of Seaside Heights released this statement about the film: "This promotional film of Seaside Heights from 1960 was discovered by Peter J. Smith, Director of the Seaside Heights Office of Public Relations in May 2008, and was converted to modern video format by Joe Verderosa of Greenrose Media and is now posted on youtube.com to be enjoyed worldwide. Peter had seen this film once before in his life as a child, when it was shown by Mr. Hugh J. Boyd, Principal of the namesake school in Seaside Heights. Working for Seaside Heights as an adult, and feeling the film reel must be somewhere, Peter spent five years looking for it inside the Borough Hall. Several other films were found from the past over the years, but none had been “it”. One day, Peter had to reach high on a shelf to retrieve a box of 8 radios. However, the box only had 7 radios inside. This made him grab a stepladder and look for the missing eighth radio. The radio was found in the far back of the highest shelf, on top of a reel of film, which turned out to be the long-lost Sun and Fun promo footage in pristine condition. We like to think that the spirit of 12-term Seaside Heights Mayor J. Stanley Tunney, who appears in this film, and is believed to occasionally make a paranormal visit to the Borough Hall, led us to this valuable piece of history.”
Seaside Heights 1970's Promotional Film
The response to posting this film on YouTube resulted in so many views, the town decided to release a second vintage Seaside Heights tourism film. Here is the second film to be released. Check out those styling fashions!Seaside Heights 1980's Promotional Film
Here is the 80's blast from the past....Please feel free to leave a comment below.
Nice movies
It is really interesting to watch both of these films. It brought back a lot of childhood memories I have of Seaside. My family used to go there for a week every summer when I was growing up.
Reply
Where did you stay for that week each Summer.My parents were managers of an apartment complex on Sampson Avenue. Summers were so great during that time.
Carousel in Carousel House
Is the Carousel in the Carousel House at the south side of the boardwalk still there? It was still running there about 5 years ago when I was there. There is never anything written about it. I always thought it was more beautiful than the one in the Casino. I loved it as a child and still loved it when I grew up and took my children and grandchildren there. If it's still there, do you know anything about it? Who built it, when and how did it get to Seaside Heights. Thanks for any information you can give me.
The "Other" Seaside Heights Carousel
The story of the carousel you are asking about is told here...
http://www.discoverseasideheights.com/history/boardwalk-history
I have heard there were three carousel in Seaside Heights at one point in the past. That third one is something I would like to hear more about!
carousels
On our vacations, we preferred the Casino carousel as in the late 40s and 50s they had rings which added to the fun of riding. Now although it is beautiful to see, people miss out on the true fun of the Carousel
Carousels
There were a few years in the 1960s when the rings were part of the Carousel ride at Casino! If you were able to grab a gold ring, you would get a free ride!
Memories of Seaside Heights
In the 30's and 40's my family of Washingtonians whould travel by train to Seaside to spend our annual monthly vacation. We rented cottages on Franklin Avenue and Webster Avenue. Steamer trunks were sent by Railway Express and awaited our arrival. As a child the train ride from Camden to Seaside was a tremendous thrill! I became hooked as a rail enthusiast from that experience. Every day I would go to the station to see the daily train arrive and return in the late afternoon to see the train depart even at the expense of lost beach time. I can recall the iceman making his daily rounds and lugging a huge block of ice on his shoulder and placing it in our ice box. What a thrill it was to go up to the boardwalk in the evening and ride the carousel. The boardwalk aromas are with me yet today. A bakery wagon also made daily rounds and a purchase of a Duncan's pastry was a specail treat. The coming of the war resulted in curtains being strung along the boardwalk to block out the lights of the town. A recent return after over sixty years saw dramatic change but the cottage on Webster Avenue still beckons.
Memories
I so remember the blackout curtains on the boardwalk, especially the gift stand in front of the Chatterbox bar that sold luminous flowers and statues etc. Mom bought me a gardenia which I held up to the light and wore in the darkened theater, so cool, I thought. Seaside Heights will always be my favorite vacation place.
I really enjoyed reading your
I really enjoyed reading your comment. It's cool to hear what Seaside was like in the 30's and 40's. I knew Seaside alot different than that. I was born there in '82 and lived there while I was a child in the 80's. I lived on Franklin Avenue, the house is not there anymore. It's been torn down and made into a parking lot. I still go there alot as an adult. I live in PA now, but the drive is only an hour. I was actually there last night, me and my boyfriend went for a drive. Thats how I came across your comment and these old films. They really cool to watch.
Giant Web Wheel Between Funtown Pier & Casino Pier
Does anyone remember the giant ferris wheel between the 2 piers? I'm looking for photos of this wheel, I have a few postcards but they're not taken from a great angle. The wheel had a unique lighting scheme, so I would love to see any pix that show this. Thank...
Giant Ferris Wheel
The ferris wheel existed for I think 5 years. It was by Webster ave. There was great lighting on it.
I remember that the last 2 years of its existence it was non-operational so it was rather eerie to see it at night but nothing happening.
I think it was erected in the late 60s and probably stayed up till about 1975.
There are a few pictures of
There are a few pictures of the ferris wheel here:
http://www.oceancountygov.com/history/seaside/page4.htm
Christmas time in Seaside Heights
I grew up in Seaside Heights in the 50's and early 60's on the corner of Barnagat & Hancock. One of my earliest memories is at Christmas time Santa Claus would come around town on the back of a fire truck and give to each child an orange, box of hard candy, and a dollar bill from Mayor Tunney. I attended the local public school across the street from Casino pool - Mr. Boyd was the principal and my 6th grade teacher. Lots of good memories from a great place to grow up.
Remembrances
Does anyone remember the monorail and the train at the funtown rides and the train at the casino pier?
The funtown train covered the entire section of the rdies there and did a unique loop at its end while the casino train went thorugh some tunnels with funny face characters.
The pool and the laughing lady
I think Seaside Heights was the first beach my family brought me to. Back in the mid late 40's.. I have pictures of us on the beach. We would travel from Paterson, sometimes just for Sunday at the pool. My grandma and aunt would bring food since we are italian, It was meatball heros and the like, no bologna sandwiches for us....
Then I brought my children there and last year I brought my grandsons to seaside....they loved it we are planning another trip this summer...
I have to find the laughing lady she was part of a scary ride, I think....help me remember. Xo