The Casino, Asbury Park: The final decade

Asbury Park's "new" Casino was completed in 1929-30, just in time for the worst of the "Great Depression". It was designed by the architectural firm Warren & Wetmore, who were famous for many other public buildings in North American including New York's Grand Central Terminal, and featured extensive use of cast bronze and sheet copper ornamentation. The Casino complex, which included the Carousel and the heating plant, was part of an overly ambitious architectural renewal in Asbury that included the Paramont Theater and Convention Hall. The Casino remained in relatively good condition through the 1960's but after the roof was stripped of its copper the building quickly began to deteriorate. The photo postcard near the beginning of this clip shows the Casino complex in nearly new condition, with great lamps in place on top of the roof and on the columns flanking the gable ends of the walk-through section. Except for another early photo illlustrating the Casino interior's original stage, balconies, and suspended lighting, the remainder of this clip is comprised of digital color still photos and video taken between 2000 and 2007 by Rick Darke. Most of the video is from 2000, shot with a Sony PC100 mini-DV (digital tape) camera, long before digital video went wide aspect. Visitors in summer 2010 will find new green anodized metal roofs on the remaining buildings, but the main section of the Casino, which once reached out into the surf, suspended on pilings, was removed in 2007. The Schwinn near the end of the clip is a Coppertone 1966 Collegiate 5-speed, which would have been new about the time the Asbury Boardwalk reached its Sixties peak.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Asbury
• Park
• Casino
• Ocean
• Grove
• Warren
• Wetmore
• Jersey
• Shore
• architecture
• Rick
• Darke
• rickdarke.com

[ByGraceIGo]

I was thinking again about Asbury when I heard the DOORS baby won't you light my fire and in August of 1967 I heard this song while I was riding the carousel . I was 6 years old. This is forever etched in my memory. This was put together very well. So many things were different back then. Totally different world.

[scrapplecheesesteak]

Just sad, I remember seeing Asbury Park for the first time in 1986 with my mom and dad, 1st impression was it was a tad rundown but had a great time. Playing at The Palace..that was still open. I know it was next to The Casino that was still open as well. Next time I was there was 2002 just for a drive, and it was more depressing than I imagined. BUT, 2009, last time I was there..looked like they were doing something with this amazing building.

[seljuk1969]

Interesting notes about the Casino. 1) Was booked in the mid 70's for rock bands...Linda Ronstadt, Black Sabbath, Three Dog Nite, King Crimson & more all played there (King Crimson put out a live album called 'USA' which was mostly recorded there) 2) Woody Allen shot exteriors of it for his film 'Stardust Memories' in '79 3) Bruce Springsteen shot video for 'Tunnel Of Love' in the arena in '87 4) Was featured in its last days in the DeNiro film 'City By The Sea' .

[seljuk1969]

Nice video, a bit upsetting to see a landmark go to waste.

Never went into the arena as a kid, just remembered the big chandaliers lit inside at night while on the boardwalk in the 70s. My Dad ice skated in the arena, said it was a great place to go.

You are correct, the decline began with the copper roof removed, along with the city slowly going broke in the 70's & 80's & then a bad storm that damaged it in '86.

Hope to see it rebuilt in some capacity in the future.

[jefhunwpb]

loved Asbury Park, loved with her thru the 80's and 90's former newspaper photog. so know her well. and the ladies on the streets.

[ByGraceIGo]

So sad...I remember walking through here 30 years ago when I was just a teen. :-(