Asburied ...an Asbury Park memoir

[rampagingrog]

I remember going there as a kid right after the last day of school and loved the casino and palace amusements. I went there about 8 years ago with my wife and the memories came flooding back and it is a shame what asbury did or didn't do to try to bring it back to it's hay day. I would of loved to bring my kids and show them that this was rides that I went on when I was you age. Now the town and all those that did nothing to keep asbury a nice place to go during the summer i have no respect for

[sussexcounty]

OMG, i remember the rock-o-plane. thanks for posting!

[starfruit1231]

asbury park broadwalk is wonderfull now! :)

[jerseyspeech]

Thanks for this wonderful video- my mother graduated from APHS in 1959. She worked on the boardwalk approx from 1957-59 at Criterion candies. I believe she said they sold ice cream too? but she mentioned that on rainy days- she would make salt water taffy. My mom lost her battle to breast cancer almost 3 years ago and she is buried at sea directly behind the convention center. She LOVED Asbury Park and I sure do miss her and her fond memories of the town- thanks for sharing.

[a320tech]

Fantastic job sir! If the jigs don't riot again, maybe there is indeed hope for a revitalization and a future for this once proud town. And don't kid yourself fellow viewers. The jigs brought this town to it's knees...and have finally moved on!

[pete5668]

That's what happens when you keep voting for Democrats over and over and over again.

[a320tech]

Yeah...the demise of Asbury Park had a whole lot to do with politics. Freaking idiot...

[NewJerseyMusic1]

Thank you so much for those memories, That was a fitting tribute to a town that meant so much to the youth of so so many.

[NewJerseyMusic1]

Thank you so much for those memories, 

[tylervan]

They are rebuilding it and it looks fine...a lot better shape than it has been in years. Of course its nowheres near finished but id say they're getting there. 

[pac401]

very nice job.

[DowntheJerseyShore]

I can't believe how much AP has changed in the last two years. We are witness to a real renaissance. If Asbury can come back ANYTHING is possible.

[2goirish]

wow, nice. i grew up in freehold. well done!

[jimgreene68]

I grew up in Wanamassa, remember riding my bike down Sunset Ave to the beach. There was a little playground on the north side of town right on the beach. Think it was right next door to the condo's. I havent been back there since 1988. I see they destroyed The Palace, etc. Just so sad, lots of fond memories. thanks for the post.

[rcrb123]

really great documentary. narrated well.. went there as a kid(born in 69). have been back there few years ago things looked they were getting fixed up and gentrified..

i lived in hoboken for 13 years and watched it go from dumpy town  to overpopulated yuppyville..wonder if asbury is on that same path?

[fredgorey]

I am actually thinking about moving there.....

[9203889]

This was lovely to watch .I will be 51 this year and remember Asbury from 1960's , it was starting to go downhill than , but as a child I thought it was just wonderful. I will never understand why Asbury hasn't fully recovered . It's such a wonderful spot , hopefully someone will have the money, the vision, and the heart & soul to bring Asbury back to it's former glory.

[beachbumwest]

The time I spent here was in late 40 as a kid and through the late 50’s. The Merry go Round with the big arm that held a brass ring for a free ride was my favorite. One had to have a outside horse to try & grab it. It is sad that Asbury is not being rebuilt.. Last time I seen it in good shape was in 1957 when I went to the Convention Center to see Bobby Darin, When I got back to Jersey in 1960’s a hurricane tore up the boardwalk bad right after it had already been rebuilt a few years earlier.

[MrMetalloidMan]

I'm glad they're redoing the entire beach area.

[peeceekiller]

I grew up in Ocean Grove and spent every spare summer moment walking the boards to go next door to my favorite place. My heart would start pumping a little faster as the Casino doors got closer. Asbury Park was a great town to be a kid in. The sights, the sounds, the smells were pure Willy Wonka-esque. For people that don't know it, this place was the original resort beach town. Asbury was so deeply ingrained into my childhood. I still miss it.

[sdegroot1]

Thanks for posting this film. My mom used to tell me stories about Asbury park and many of the other 'shore belt' resorts and my grandmother used to go fishing on the old pier at Keansburg. I remember visiting Asbury Park with a friend of mine about 20 years ago and it was in much the same condition as in the film. Very sad. Suburbanization and the building of the interstate system is what destroyed many of the great cities and attractions of the 20th century.

[tc223]

Wonderful perspective. Just emailed this to my 15yr old son who is probably bored to death with "Dad's stories about Asbury".... what I wouldnt give for ONE more day huh?

[sleepingowl1]

there is nothing great about Asbury Well maybe the beach but look what you have to drive tthrough to get there-ONE UGLY TOWN

[atomicsockhop]

You couldn't be more wrong.

AP is a beautiful City that was covered with a Bad Element Years ago, but things are changing now. I will always be Proud of My City

[atomicsockhop]

sleepingow look in your own backyard. Do you really think where you live is great? Learn about History first

[rosemaryrv2]

wow that was the best you tube video ive ever seen but now im depressed

[bogglerful]

The death of Old Asbury Park began with the senseless demolition of the Mayfair and St. James movie theaters in1974, and was completed with the insane demolition of its beautiful train station some years later. Across Wesley Lake, in 1978, the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association did their part by demolishing the beautiful North End Hotel.

All of these structures were strong, and anywhere else (but corrupt New Jersey) would have protected as Historic Buildings.

I

[OneWayStop]

I would vvery much like to see a kind of "rebuttal" to this video. I think it would be great if some Asbury locals got a video cam out and showed some of us what the boardwalk and downtown looks like now ... Nov. 2009.

[FLPman]

amazing how much has changed since this film

[tippytootoo]

Asbury Park is now NEW JERSEY'S BEST KEPT SECRET!! I love it here now. It is the only boardwalk that has class. No tee shirt shops here. Just great restaurants, shops, and music. Very artsy too.

[NightTimeRightTime]

yea, the gays moved in and real estate sky rocketed.

[SchmidChristine]

Asbury Park no longer looks anything like what is portrayed in this touching tribute. The stores are open, the boardwalk is thriving, the beaches are absolutely gorgeous. People everywhere on the beaches and boardwalk. And he restaurants - so so many of them. Downtown is being rebuilt and is almost there. Shops, more shops, and then more shops. We just got back from two days at Asbury. My tears are no longer. My grief is gone. It was a truly truly happy trip. I am so happy for AP.

[kitt75]

Times change, get over it. Stop whining! AP is great now. You can get salt water taffy many places, move on!

[SoRedtheRose]

Asbury Park is the new fire island, Jersey's only gay resort. Come down ona friday night, its the most exciting place around.

[fblumberg]

The NYT wrote in the summer of 78 that Asbury park was the Fire island of the jersey shore! We had 14 gay bars 2 bath houses and 4 gay hotels... ah what short memories...

[anonymous4748]

Come and see AP now - new mini-golf, water park, new restaurants and shops. Convention Hall has great concerts. It still has a way to go but is definitely not like this video anymore.

[cheshirekatus]

Beauty and pain all wrapped up into one! Very nice documentary, but as others have noted, the pain comes from the lack of knowledge about the struggle to close such a beautiful place. I have fond memories of being there when I was young, my brother ran the bumper cars at the Palace for awhile at the end of its dynasty. Still the inequitable truth in the ruins is somewhere in those black and white photographs, and the shore still echoes with the nightmares and dreams of the past.

[awaseniu]

I'm crying at this film. I recall going to Asbury Park as a kid

[flywrite]

It's nice to watch a real movie on YouTube for once...

[musicandlaughter]

Many of these families pay more rent than the average tenant because of greedy landlords who take advantage of their present situation. Then, these slumlords turn around and sell the residential areas to outside companies wanting to make a quick buck by knocking down and constructing new residences for Yuppies who want to have a weekend retreat. There has to be a reasonable solution to this crisis.

[musicandlaughter]

I am Hispanic, middle class with a Masters degree and yes, I live in Asbury Park. I have been living here for the past 5 years. I find it appalling that many hard working families have to move out of their homes because of gentrification.

[hewster1]

Music, I do not find it appalling. I do not want my area looking like shit anymore. It used to be beautiful. Eminent Domain is a beautiful thing.

[musicandlaughter]

They eventually rebelled (right or wrong) and the bigoted white owners of the time moved their homes/ families and businesses out of the area. This is what was left. There is a Renaissance sweeping through the area. But this is nothing else but gentrification: the restoration of run-down urban areas by the middle class. This has now resulted in the displacement of low-income residents to neighboring towns.

[musicandlaughter]

It is nice to reminisce about the past. However, you do not mention the reasons of the decline of Asbury Park. African Americans and other minorities wanted equal rights and they were denied of this. This precious boardwalk was for whites only. Although there were no signs all over like in the south, this was a silent rule. Minorities in this tourist area were relegated to serve or work menial jobs. When they requested a change, violence followed.

[metromonthly]

Being from Youngstown, I understand the loss you feel. You can still sea the beauty of the resort. Great architecture.

[mmtaw]

One of the best videos on Youtube. The black & white. The reverent yet alive narration. Truly appreciated. I'm the same age with the same memories. And still find myself drawn to AP. Travel across the state from Trenton on my motorcycle just to have lunch at The Wonder Bar. AP may not be what we knew, but it is what it is and I've seen some improvement over the past couple of years. Slowed down in the economy, but there's only so much shore down the shore. It will be back. Thanks again.

[liam75]

There starting to rebuild, but I don't think we'll ever recapture the magic and history of the old times. I just home the bennys don't come flocking. We stay in NJ, please stay in NY.

[xevilsuziex]

I have fond memories of Asbury Park. It's sad to see it so run down.

[jadeca1]

yeahhhhh... ignore the loser below... lived here for 20+ years glad to see the reminiscent video! thanks!

[yuniieXyuniie]

oo shut the fuck up absury park is just fine how it is and we aint letting yall crackers come visit no more

[shastasladybear]

Thanks so much, I went there ice skating every saturday when i was a kid. Many happy memories of AP and I appreciate your video and your memories. Come on up for the Rising!

[90265SE14]

Oh, man, oh, man, oh, man! I haven't been there in sooooo long and I am so sad to see this. Please tell me it's going to get better. Oh, and Tillie! I know about "Save Tillie" but your film is shocking and thanks for sharing it. Okay, so people unite to Save Asbury Park!!!

[1972bus]

I visited asbury from upstate new york on several occassions....it was a magical place in the late 60's...whale boats, criterion taffy, and michaels restaurant....great memories ill always have..thanks for the great post!!

[jmmorris101]

Great footage. One of the the biggest blights in New Jersey history. The sheer neglect and destruction of such a beautiful, victorian, historical, national treasure. 1 mile north, 10 million dollar homes. Couple miles south, 10 million dollar homes. Asbury Park, nuclear wasteland. Very, Very Sad.

[netanah]

Thanks, this is awesome. This place is the closest real beach to NY, it should be the jewel of the Jersey Shore. Morons have run the city for the last 30 years. Particularly remember watching the fireworks from the ramp leading up to the Howard Johnson's.

[mrlucky777]

yeah moreb91 the Sunshine Inn was a great place to see bands as was the Fast Lane.I miss everything about Asbury Park, the boards, the amusements , the people , and especially the beach.

[qoooooooooopo]

asbury in those days had bumper cars that really really smashed into each other, i remember hurting my brother real bad i praticaly tore him in half & told him to jump in the salt water pool cause it would make him feel better, man those were the days!!!!!!!!

[moreb91]

wow memories. I remember driving the circuit with my boyfriend and seeing Bruce at the stone Pony before he was a somebody and loved walking on the boardwalk and playing all the games and getting sick on the rides. Do you remember the Sunshine Inn also where there were concerts? It was a great time 33 years ago for me. Will never forget it. And your right if you did not live it you will not get the wonder of it all! Great memories and sad endings. Cant wait to see how they rebuild it.

[mistersurgent]

Great Video, You really capture the sense of loss that some of us feel about this once magical place. I still find myself drawn to this place...even to this day. Thanks for the address of the salt water pool...once it was removed I was never sure of where it actually was or if it had been imagined or in another town...what year did you film most of this? Yeah when Criterion finally closed it seemed to me like the Asbury of my youth was finally, finally gone. Thanks again, Goodboy(sic)

[5364kg]

Wow great Video .I remember seeing the Rolling stones there !!

[mongrelinthemud]

I worked on the carousel and the bumper cars for one summer. My memories of a wonderful childhood there.

Thanks for the video.

[madiroe]

Nice footage...still live in Asbury? It is changing again.

[pukenshette]

yeah things are lookin' better for asbury these days. but there's still a long way to go. this film maybe will turn into a caution to make sure the place doesn't end up like this again. thanks for watching.

[jjobie]

@pukenshette It's changed even more in the past three years...quite remarkable really... I'm so glad, too. I was down there this weekend for Memorial Day and the boardwalk and beach were mobbed!!! Good times, thank God the town is coming back.