Atlantic City Memory Lane

Submitted by frankie d from va. Entered on March 12, 2010
"Larry, i remember the ride to brigantine on the bus. my brother and i visited a really best friend off the blvd first block on 26th street north. al woerner. his dad was a master plumber. did you know him? all those weekends we spent there, who can forget the brigantine bay to go swimming with the nets as a boundry. how about the trampoleens. I could only do single full forward flips. Al did a flip with a twist." Edit Entry

Submitted by Marylou Reiff from Ventnor. Entered on March 12, 2010
"John, Was your dad Thomas Sullivan?" Edit Entry

Submitted by frankie d from va. Entered on March 12, 2010
"kate: lived on chelsea ave 110 north about three houses from michael desalle, had an older brother Tony. heard Mike does quality custom work on tile. I think tony was a life guard. their dad owned the small restaurant on the corner of New York and atlantic ave. next to the Embassy theater. I dont think I ever had to pay to see a movie. I remember seeing one of the first 3D films out at the embassy, if my memory serves me right. Youngs was the weekly friday night place to go. my brother and I hopped a bus with our friends to get to dorset ave. those were the days. then we did the holy spirit dances when we could drive. brings me to tears." Edit Entry

Submitted by Kate from Mass.. Entered on March 12, 2010
"Frankie D, Ventnor (and the bay) kid here, late 60's and early 70's. I played CYO basketball in St. Mikes on Sundays in winter. SJS/HSHS. Spent lots of time in the Ventnor Roller Rink. DeSalle's! First date--boat racer. First boyfriend--lifeguard. First job--Cases' Pork Roll. Second job--switchboard at the President Motor Inn. Of Course. " Edit Entry

Submitted by Anubis from Las Vegas. Entered on March 12, 2010
"I found an article in the Dec 23, 1950 New Yorker magazine but could only read the abstract which states "Trench's Neptune Inn, Atlantic City, is distributing to its patrons a color postcard of its dining room bearing the notation: "The Neptune Inn was the first bank building in the United States to be converted into a Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge.." Anyone have any more info?" Edit Entry

Submitted by ernest kuhl from michigan. Entered on March 11, 2010
"I lived in A.C. from 1943 thru 1967. I lived in the inlet then moved to montpelier ave in the chelsea section. In all that time and two areas that I lived in I never saw trouble of any sort. A.C. was a great place to grow up in. My grandparents lived on Congress ave. No problems there. I use to walk along artic ave from montpelier to maryland ave to catch the bus to brigantine. Never had a problem. I never looked for trouble and for some reason it nevr found me. I use to hang out at the YMCA dances on friday nights. Uptown - downtown all was good." Edit Entry

Submitted by Larry Letzer from Copperas Cove, Texas. Entered on March 11, 2010
"Due to the slight tone of machismo that has just sprurng up on the board, I will repeat one of my earlier posts about how little violence there was in and around AC during the 50's. I would take the Jitney from football/baseball practice to either Arkansas Ave if I could catch the Brigantine Bus. If I was too late, I would get off at Tennessee and walk out through the Northside to hitchhike to Brigantine. This occured maybe 60 times over the years 53-56. Only one time did I have a problem and probably brought it on myself. I was carrying a baseball bat that our manager Leo Keating gave me for some play I made during a game we won. Didn't do a lot of thinking during those years and carrying a bat through another groups turf turned out what could have been a really bad idea. I got stopped by several kids at Tennessee and very close to Route 30 by their apartments. They wanted to know what the hell I was doing carrying a bat through their neighborhood. I explained was given the bat by the baseball coach. They did not seem too impressed, but then a girl who was in the group said she knew me and I was not a trouble maker. Whew!!! Growing up in Brigantine, but practically spending all of my time in AC I did not see any violence. A lot of friendly rivalries especially with basketball and baseball. What a wonderful time and place to grow up." Edit Entry

Submitted by Judy Gilmore from Boston. Entered on March 11, 2010
"I remember no feuds between area's of AC. I hung mostly in Duck town and never felt unsafe there or any other part of town. In later years we used to go out at 11 PM and rule in my house home before sunrise. Never had any fear. Leaving work in the summer on the boardwalk we would pick up everyone getting off and would wind up walking with a crowd by the time I got to my street. You can't do that in any city in the world now not just AC. One thing I never was is bored or lonely." Edit Entry

Submitted by John Sullivan from Saint Charles, Missouri. Entered on March 11, 2010
"For frankie distef: That street on the bay at Weymouth Avenue was Winchester Avenue. It was not a straight-through street at that point, but wound back and forth for several blocks through the northern (western, if you will) part of Ventnor. In 1952, my folks purchased a house on Weymouth between Ventnor and Atlantic Avenue. Berger's Delicatessn, McGlynn Opticians, Landsman's Department Store, Saslaff's Mobile, SantaMaria Lunchenette? Ventnor Kids?" Edit Entry

Submitted by Anubis from Las Vegas. Entered on March 11, 2010
"My thoughts - an an adult I can agree/disagree or ignore your comments. Regardless of which I do, I appreciate ALL comments and want to see them. I have learned a lot based on the comments here and want to see that continue (even when I don't agree with them). The important thing is to see what other people think, the good, bad, and ugly. " Edit Entry

Submitted by Anubis from Las Vegas. Entered on March 11, 2010
"Maybe Judy Gilmore is correct that Inlet/Ducktown kids were more "organized" in that they all knew each other and played/worked together. Chelsea was more isolated small groups that didn't really have all that much contact (my opinion). Regardless, one of the main things I remember was being able to go anywhere in AC and not have any problems, and I do mean anywhere. I certainly am not aware of any feuds between various sections of the city. Actually, as anywhere, there were a few kids in Chelsea (could name names but no reason to) that seemed to enjoy harassing the neighborhood kids without a need to go another section of town. Normal kid stuff, nothing really bad. Remember the mythical "Water Rats"?" Edit Entry

Submitted by ernest kuhl from michigan. Entered on March 11, 2010
"Sorry Judy, did not intend any harm. And as for frankie from ducktown, lets not get stupid. Just wondering if there were any kids that chime in on this site I might know. Oh amd I walked through your area of ac many times. If fact I lived in the village back when. Never had any trouble. take care" Edit Entry

Submitted by Judy Gilmore from Boston. Entered on March 11, 2010
"My maiden name is Gilmore. " Edit Entry

Submitted by enrest kuhl from michigan. Entered on March 10, 2010
"Judy Gilmore, did you use to hang with Carol Corkhill etc ant the skateing rink in ventnor? Was your maiden name Law?" Edit Entry

Submitted by Shannon Vincent from Utah. Entered on March 10, 2010
"I was just wondering if anyone had any information on a candy shop that was located on Pennsylvania Ave and Boardwalk in the 1930's? My husbands great grandfather owned a candy store named Southern Sweet Shop. It was at that address and his name was Charles Southern (changed from Tripician) We are looking for any information about Charles, the store or his family. " Edit Entry

Submitted by Anubis from Las Vegas. Entered on March 10, 2010
"Here is an old one but maybe someone that visits here has more info. Up until 1929 what was called "National Currency" was issued. The bank notes (currency) looked quite similar to regular US currency but had the bank charter number and name printed on them. Listed below are the banks in the AC area and charter numbers that issued National Currency. My question is where some of these banks were located, specifically what bank was located in the Embassy Theater building at New York and Atlantic Ave and what bank was located in the building where Trench's Neptune Inn was later located (Chelsea National Bank?)? This is all ancient history but perhaps someone has more info. 2527 / Atlantic City / Atlantic City National Bank, 3621 / Atlantic City / Second National Bank, 4420 / Atlantic City / Union National Bank, 5884 / Atlantic City / Chelsea National Bank, 6508 / Pleasantville / First National Bank, 8800 / Atlantic City / Boardwalk National Bank, 10248 / Ventnor City, Atlantic City / Ventnor City National Bank, 10823 / Absecon / First National Bank, 12510 / Pleasantville / Pleasantville National Bank, 12886 / Atlantic City / Pacific Avenue National Bank, 14289 / Pleasantville / Mainland National Bank. As you can see (and this list may not be complete) there were surely a lot of banks in the AC area circa 1929 and many went under during the depression. " Edit Entry

Submitted by Anubis from Las Vegas. Entered on March 10, 2010
"Hello Frankie Distef. I think they used to set up showers on the fire plugs by each fire house in the summer. There certainly was one at the fire house at Annapolis and Atlantic and pretty sure there was one at California and Atlantic. Wonder if they still do this?" Edit Entry

Submitted by Judy Gilmore from Boston. Entered on March 10, 2010
"Class of 62 from Stenton Place. I think the Inlet and Duck Town kids were more organized as a group then Chelsea. Judy Gilmore" Edit Entry

Submitted by Anubis from Las Vegas. Entered on March 9, 2010
"Mr. Kuhl raises an interesting point: Where are all the Chelsea kids? It seems to me the majority of contributors here are from the Inlet and Ducktown areas for some reason. Where are the people that attended Richmond Ave school? Two names from the past just popped into my head: Helen Rouse was the Richmond principal and Edith Rome the school secretary in the late 40's and early 50's. Sadly, Richmond Ave school has now joined ACHS and Central Jr High as gone." Edit Entry

Submitted by Ernest B. Kuhl from michigan. Entered on March 8, 2010
"Interesting reading others experiences. It would be nice if others put in the time frames they are speaking about. All my previous inputs were from 1943 through 1967. Anybody out there a 62 grad of achs? Where is all the chelsea kids? " Edit Entry