Last days of the Steel Pier

[1971Missmarilyn]

Spent my summers at the shore in Ac, for years . Loved the Pier!!! Miss it so much!

[musicmagicdj1]

That was about the sadest comment ever, "Even that will be gone, ANOTHER VICTIM OF CASINO Redevolopment". Wow, talk about a bummer, one of the Great Heratage places of American Entertainment and Family, down the tubes for "Gambling" instead of FAMILY FUN, where are the great men to bring it all back? The Downgrading of American Society once again by greed, money, and the destruction of the American Family and American Values! Really Sad!

[taylortiger100]

i hate this stupid people making horses dive rrrrrrrrrrrrrrr it makes me so mad and sad!!!!!!!!

[1971Missmarilyn]

@taylortiger100 I do agree with you now, but as a child I thought it was wonderful and amazing! My opinions have changed and now I am a vegetarian commited to The rights of animals! We are their caretakers! Now go head people and tell me what an idiot I am. I am ready

[dod1961]

I HATE ALL THE CASINOS,THEY DESTROYED A GREAT AREA TO LIVE IN!!!

[gjc82071]

@dod1961 The casinos are fine, but they should keep at least SOME of the "old" AC/history. Now the casinos are having trouble. IF they go, what will be left? You can't have "all your eggs in 1 basket". Gambling alone is no longer enough. They are going to need more. They should do something "retro"/promote the former glory of AC. Also, more family friendly entertainment.  So is the little amusement park on the pier gone now??? I remember it when I lived there as a kid in the early 80's.

[shatieaholt]

@gjc82071 No , its not gone , its still the same , i went there in july ,

[gjc82071]

@shatieaholt Dude, that Freak'n sucks! It was so cool/fun! I see it on the Google Maps, but must be an older pic. Such a shame. I have so many childhood memories of the boardwalk/AC. Do you have much history/experience with AC? We could swap stories. As a 10yo kid in 1981-83, my dad worked at Resorts and we lived next door in the Seaside Inn. The fun I had there! Just wondering if you are familiar with AC at all, or was just a 1 time visit for you? Let me know & thx for the reply.

[babylover0990]

@dod1961 I agree with you 10000% casinos destroyed the world, in my opinion, the world would be a much better place without them.

[shadowcaster12]

My favorite ride was the crazy mouse

[horsesaremylife31899]

1:05 REDLIPS

[eclair97]

Isnt that curel to the horse?

[horsesaremylife31899]

@eclair97 No the horse jumps off on it's own they do not force them too the horses are trained to swim first and then they jump them without a person then with one after it was shut down it was reported that not one horse was injured at all ever

[AndresMelendezpr]

the peir is still ther.

[Anas8120]

q idiotas,los caballos pueden morir asi!

[dertrix37]

Horse diving never NEVER injured a horse and they always wanted to do it. If they didn't they would not let the horse go on. However, many riding sports today cause tons of injuries to the horses. Let's see which was better. Horses are great swimmers and indeed swim for fun. Come to my stable and see 4 yourself.

[Kingpinz0r]

@dertrix37 well your stable is fucking gay

[dertrix37]

@Kingpinz0r mmm, like you.

[Kingpinz0r]

@dertrix37 that was a sexy come back, i say we do it while the horses watch

[killemall22]

@dertrix37 some imitators used prods and electric shock though... not everyone is good to their animals

[horsesaremylife31899]

@killemall22 But they never used a electric thing or prods they use those in rodeos

[crazy4cresteds]

Very happy to see this footage. Sonora Carver, the diver wrote a book...she continued to dive for 11 years after she became blind due to the love she had for the horses and diving.

[jaemel1]

@I0h I agree 100%! I have been there many times before, and a few times after Casino gambling. Just not the same.

And the economy there, if anything, seems to be worse.

[11rodeochick]

A lot of you are very wrong, don't go making judgements until you have all the facts, with the proper training, and the correct equipment, the horses learned not to be afraid. This act became just as natural to them as eating, horses were afraid of people at first, and well, just go out and try to ride a horse thats never seen a human in its life and you'll see, a horse won't do something it doesn't want to. The only injuries substained when the jumps were properly executed were to the riders.

[claireannejames]

Vile. The ramp is not wide enough for the horse to chose to turn round, and the horse would have been as unwilling to back down a steep slope as dive into the water. It is obviously cruel, anyone who can't see that is blind themselves. I'm surprised at Disney making it into a kid's movie.

[jaemel1]

@claireannejames I am wondering if you have ever experienced the diving horse in person? It may not be "PC" so to speak these days to do something like that, but I had seen it on many occasions and The horse always seemed healthy and well taken care of, the rider was always a small woman,and the looks on the childrens faces were priceless when that horse dove in.

[crazy4cresteds]

Those horses enjoyed jumping. Read A GIRL AND FIVE BRAVE HORSES by Sonora Carver, who was the rider and see for yourself. As for the Disney movie, she wasn't happy with it at all. The only truth was she was a horse diver, the rest lies. Mrs. Carver lived to be 99 years old!

[lala5732]

Horse did love jumping into that pool! Never were they forced and it wasn't a CLIFF IDIOT!! I worked there one summer those horses were treated great and never were there any forced jumps.. the horse did not jump if he didn't want too they just backed him up and led him down. It was totally up to him.

[SV4Kids]

I do not agree with this video. Every society changes / evolves / progresses, and the current use of the pier fits the needs of families. In fact, people have to go to Ocean City or on to Wildwood to get any decent family entertainment. So good riddance to the old, and let's bring in more of the new.

[starfishmag]

i can't see how a horse would LOVE that - horses dont LOVE jumping off cliffs idiots

[ladymissgd]

Not one steel pier horse was "dropped" through a plank. They jumped on their own, and not one horse was ever injured from a dive. After retirement they were brought back to the jump and some even ran up the ramp and jumped on their own with no encouragement. They loved to jump.

[sh3r1ly]

some of you are saying that the horses were scared to do this, people assuming this without reading facts is why horse diving is illegal now. the horses were treated quite well. if they didnt want to jump the horses just went back to the stable for the day

[indiexmusicable]

I reported this for animal abuse

[sidethan]

Then, the youtube admins will go back 40 years ago and call the police ;)

[ktscarlett66]

They dropped the platform beneath the horses' feet to get them to 'jump'. They weren't jumping, they were falling. They were often shocked to get them to continue up the ramp. They were kept in horrible, damp stalls under the pier and forced to perform 7 days a week. Then they were sold for slaughter. Shiloh and Gamal, the last 2 horses were saved from slaughter. Look it up.

[broodmare25]

Not all of them were dropped (personally I havnt seen one yet where they were dropped). Like in this video, the horse went forward itself and slid.

[ScreamCrush2]

I love the picture at 1:04

[KecksiiSV]

Tierquälerei

[ffej980]

i had a lot of fun at the steel pier...i got to meet Louis Armstrong there...and see him play...he was a great man...the Allman Brothers played there in 1971...also

[ztpony]

omg that is a bit dangerous the diving horse thing! x

i hope that horse never got hurt x

is it still alive? x

[bazilisginger]

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[paula5silvia]

OMG dat arme paard ben je gek ofzo!!!

echt rijp voor het gesticht!!!!!!

[computerlife22]

If you look on the steel peir website, it says they are open for 2009! I don't think they are closing!

[Breyerpeep]

WOAH! Thrs a book on this place I read it! lol They had the pics of the diving horse, I thought it was fake... obviously not,poor horse

[kalipfs]

Steeple Chase, Million Dollar, Garden, and Steel Pier. I miss them all, AC is a real piece of shit now SAD.........

[MajiksGurl224]

was that Sonora Webster jumping?

[xotqeyes]

yes thats her.

[MajiksGurl224]

kool. she was really good.

[MajiksGurl224]

what happened to that place?

[renfest]

The Boardwalk was the best I spent my summers in Margate and went to Atlantic City all the time I also remember the Million Dollar Pier

[MajiksGurl224]

was the diving horse gurl that Sanora Webster.

[Waterskisweetie85]

what a shame that this place is no longer there....it should be an historical attraction, not just some area to put a stupid casino in

[spungoo]

I'm a vegetarian and loves horses more than humans ^^

and I don't think that the horse diving thing was all bad.. I mean, maybe from THAT high up.. but not diving from lower things. I imagine they think it's quite fun. I mean wild horses jump into deep water and stuff..

But who are we to say that they get hurt, or they think it's fun.. we don't know a shit about horses, we're just unamazing humans..

[twomblypublishing]

trust me...they wouldn't do something like that by choice

[MeOhMy50]

twomblyublishing: yea, actually horses are more likely to not do something they don't want to do then do it. Most are not stupid- they know they are stronger than we are.

[MeOhMy50]

spungoo;

I might not agree with all your saying, but i don't think it is horrible either. For all we know those horses loved life, or were well taken care of because they preformed. and events like this (just like equine sports) is a great way to educate and expose the public to an animal they have only seen in movies.

by the way, bravo for a vegetarian on yutube who is willing to look at the big picture realisticly (not to offend, but it seldom seems to happen here.)

[l3atlel2ifle]

I know that casinos and gambling is one of the main aspects of Atlantic city, but its such a shame to know that the steel pier that we all love will be gone due to the main attractions of atlantic city.... CASINOS!

[bingome]

i remember steel pier, and that crazy contraption, the diving bell...i was horrified to get in it..i remember staying all day on the steel pier..even had a movie theatre..that was early 70's..wish i could do it all over again.

[3piper]

Cleveland Armory wrote in one of his books about the diving horses He bought the last three diving horses for his ranch in Texas for rescue animals

[xfadeawayyx]

why exactly was the pier closed?

[kingfieni292]

Yeah, they were treated well. They lived in dark stalls under the pier that were constantly wet from sea spray and when they reached the end of their usefulness to humans, they were sold to the glue factories. The last two diving horses, Shiloh and another one (forget the name) were the only ones saved.

[jp4lm]

shilo & Gamal. Gamal ~27 Shilo ~9

[whatbehappening]

Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken.

Have you any of you guys seen the movie? =]

It is about diving horse, a girl and what and other interesting stuff. =] I think you guys will like it. But, I do agree with you some of you guys.

It did seem like abuse back then. Even Wikipedia kind of talks about it. "Diving horses" if you Google it. =D

Any rate, sorry that I typed a lot here. I just wanted to see some clips if it was true or not about diving horses.

Take care.

[aowrya]

yeah! i have seen Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken several times through the years. it's one of those movies that sticks in my mind. i have always thought horse diving was really scary and dangerous and kind of mean that they actually made horses do that back then. but at the same time, the horses that would do it were obviously brave and willing, or they would have struggled and put up a huge fight. anyway, i'm glad someone else has seen that movie too :)

[hellybelly6]

OMG did they really do that to horses? Thats barbaric not entertainment. Its abuse

[hollisterluv1204]

if you would notice, the horse's obviously liked it. You can't really force a horse to do something like that without them getting badly injured. The horse had it's ears pricked and the woman didn't even have to kick or whip it and it did it on its own accord. the people there knew what they were doing and those horses got treated really good.

[twomblypublishing]

???????

[ztpony]

but those horses were probably scared into doing it, by being shocked or something, and knew thats what might happen again!

(or something along those lines)

[chels25]

i relii didnt like the horse part i feel relii sorry 4 them :( x

[Guitarz1970]

Don't feel sorry for them...they were treated VERY WELL.

[tangeni]

i remember the old guy by the million dollar pier hawkin belgian waffles, back in the seventies

[Guitarz1970]

The Belgium Waffles were actually sold at the Boardwalk and Pennsylvania Ave....across from The Steeplchase Pier.

[harporocks]

My very first concert was there , it was Tommy James and The Shondells back in 69 maybe 70? not sure anyone know?

[fleur4198]

there was an american movie about the girl jumping like that with the horse (then after one unlucky jump she got blind and overcame herself and learned to jump again) . Does anybody knows it ??

[Naughtynell]

Yeah I have it, it's called wild hearts can't be broken

[johndeerefarmgirl]

I know the movie but not the name of it it was a good movie

[Guitarz1970]

I grew up in the inlet section of Atlantic City and worked on the Steel Pier for years as a teenager. It really was a great place! Saw ALL of the great acts of that time (including some really bad ones!). Worked in the game room for Barney Marion back in the day. Met many 'stars' including Duane and Gregg Allman, Terry Kath (Chicago),

just to name a few. And yes the Diving horse(s) were treated very well. The original ballroom was something to see...there will never be anything like it!

[loganferserr]

that is horible [[the horse part]] kinda break your backish?

[tahlzx0x0]

thats is the most horioble thing EVER its disgusting, that poor horse it could of broken its neck

[jerseydb1]

Great video...Anyone remember Tony Grant's Stars of Tomorrow Show? I was in the cast in the 70's(Tom Jones impersonation). I also was a barker at Belgin Waffles & worked at the Clarendon Hotel. Anyone who remembers, feel free to contact me...

[dod1961]

i was one the last group of local to see the diving horse. all they do is drop the platform, but the shoebees loved it.

[Jayee123]

Looks like the land of Oz. Sorry to hear it may be a thing of the past.

[milliesos]

poor horse

[doowopbm]

the pier was not closed this summer...future plans are up in the air

[ffej980]

i saw gary lewis and the playboys on the steel pier...as well as louis armstrong...and al martino...that place was a menagerie in its heyday...they had a tv station...radio station...vaudeville...countle­ss bands and comedians played there...abbot and costello performed ...whos on first there...milton berle...you name the act...even had a wacky guy who sat on top of a telephone pole for days...you could talk to him on a telephone...what a place...

[rollercoastersrock]

im glad that steel pier is safe for the 08 season. i love this place (and the other boardwalk things)

[sparkelgurl]

um... so? im just happy those poor poor horses are safe :)

[AmericanScamp]

I worked on the Steel Pier long before the casino era. It was an amazing place....nothing can compare to those days!

[barrekzavac]

Trump is such a greedy bastard!

[rollercoastersrock]

i agree.

[bill8750]

excellent video

[Guitarz1970]

Really NICE video! What was your connection to the Steel Pier?  I worked on the Steel Pier for many years, danced on "Summertime at the Pier", etc. There will NEVER be anything like the old Steel Pier! Thanks for posting!

[isabellacinderella]

diving horses were amazing!

[ItalianLoco]

Cool video! I love A.C. ... I wish they would build better entertainment attractions on Steel Pier rather than condos.