Wildwood, New Jersey - 1955
For many years, I've had a small batch of slides, one of which bears the hand-written notation, "Wildwood, 1955". Wildwood, New Jersey, presumably. They are kind of fun! In this first one, we see crowds of people walking from a parking lot, ready to cross the tracks. They are drawn to the ocean like moths (moths who love the sea)! Howsabout that red taxi cab?
... and found this scan of a C.C. Murphy Co. (or "Murphy's" if you are cool) postcard. It's a match!
The Boardwalk. Where visitors can find everything they need! Sunglasses? No problem! Saltwater taffy? Puh-leeze! Hot showers, hot dogs, and other hot things are also available. One fellow is carrying his inflatable water... thingy, with another partly visible next to him.
This tram gizmo is the type of thing that you might find at many tourist destinations, so that guests will pockets full of cash can save their energy for spending. Only chumps walk! Look at those chumps, point at them and laugh! Boy the ocean sure looks far away here.
It wouldn't be a boardwalk without some classic seaside amusements. The Ferris Wheel is OK even if you've had too much to eat. Nice and gentle! That windmill hints at a miniature golf course. And I don't know what that ride to the extreme left is called, though I've seen them at carnivals. Don't go on that one! Overhead, three airplanes tow advertisements. The first banner reads: FEELING FINE? HAVING FUN? The second one is partly obscured: REMEMBER THOSE (*something*). And finally: SEND OR TAKE HOME DOUGLASS CANDIES.
Whaddaya know, Douglass Candies can still be found for sale at Wildwood By The Sea! I could only find this teensy jpeg, sorry. You've got an assortment of fudge, with or without nuts, vanilla fudge, peanut butter fudge, and whatever that mysterious orange stuff is.
And finally, a view of the beach itself, it looks like some of that early morning fog has burned off and it's going to be a swell day! Sorry about the weird color on these, they all had a grayish-cyan cast that was hard to eliminate.
I hope you have enjoyed your visit to Wildwood By The Sea!
9 comments:
That windmill isn't the only hint at a miniature golf course. We can see the miniature golf course in the foreground.
That ride that you said not to go on is a Roll-O-Plane. I used to love that ride and would get to ride it every year at a local church carnival. I would pass on it today, however.
These are nice pics of Wildwood, Major. Especially the fudge pic. I wish I had some right now.
Major-
Yes, Howsabout that red taxi cab?"-! It's a 1950 Plymouth Special De Luxe. Although my eyes were immediately drawn two cars over to the left and that beige 1948-49 Packard.
I have very fond memories of visiting Wildwood.
Thanks, Major.
1) White t-shirt guy, a rebel, is walking backwards to the sea! ;-) I suppose he could be walking away from the sea, but that would be highly unlikely. I'm no 'car guy' but some of those cars are definitely older than 1955. That black beauty, near us, looks like she's from the late '30s.
2) That's an interesting stroller the little boy is in. And the dad with his tow-headed son looks like he's wearing a cropped t-shirt, popular in the late 1970s, early '80s. Or maybe he's wearing one of his son's shirts. Or maybe it's just a salmon-colored band on his shirt... Nah, that can't be it! ;-)
In the Boardwalk pic: Wow, the people sure are colorful in Wildwood! Especially that guy's stripy shirt (in the center). I think the inflatable thingy is a whale. The other inflatable appears to be an octopus? Today's Fashion Award goes to the two gals (twins?) on the right in their stylish black ensembles.
The tram pic: OK, I'm gonna ask a silly question (I was gonna say "stupid" question, but I have my pride); Why is the Boardwalk made of boards? Wouldn't asphalt or cement work better? It looks like there is paving on both sides of the boards.
The Ferris Wheel pic: I think the ride on the left is a Roll-O-Plane. [TM! beat me to it!] And yes, the windmill has a sign on it that says "Golf", and It looks like all those people in the foreground are playing mini golf. [TM! beat me to it. Again!] And I think that might be a (red) Tilt-A-Whirl over on the right edge of the pic.
Douglass Candies: Maybe the mysterious orange stuff is indeed orange flavored. Coupled with the vanilla fudge it would be like a "Creamsicle".
By the sea: Are those wading pools scattered about, on the right? I like the blue and gold umbrellas. I gotta say, the beach itself looks kinda grungy. It looks like it's covered with... something. Seaweed? Shells? Dead fish?
This was a fun set of pics, Major. A slice of life in the mid-fifties. Thanks.
What a fun trip to the Shore. Thanks, Major
Zach
Love these pictures. That Ferris wheel was originally at Carsonia Park in Reading, PA and relocated to Marine Pier (then called Playland) around 1930. It lasted until the 70s when the Morey family, the current owners, purchased the pier. The Wildwood trams originally came from the 39-40 New York World's Fair, and a few of them are still in operation today. Here's a good video that explains the challenges of keeping them going.
Wildwood looks like a fun place to spend a day, Major. Love those cars.
Surprised to see that postcard of a dime store. Doesn’t seem like postcard material, like finding one of a Walgreen’s today.
I like the view down the boardwalk, with the striped-shirt guy. Coke signs still look the same today.
Thanks for the trip to the shore!
JG
Andrew, I was going to comment about the Ferris Wheel and Marine Pier, but see you've taken care of it. You definitely know your amusement park history.
Wildwood by the Sea has such a rich history when it comes to their multiple amusement piers and seems to still be going strong.
Love these pics. Thanks, Major.
What does this have anything to do with Disneyland?
TokyoMagic!, I guess what I meant is that I (and probably not you) would not have necessarily noticed the mini golf course if there hadn’t been a big windmill. Thanks for the ID on the Roll-O-Plane, I guess I thought that the “RollO-Plane” was something else, maybe the Herschell Looper.
Nanook, that red Plymouth (thank you) is pretty sweet, and the color is va-va-voom! I wish we could see the Packard more clearly, though I know that Packards were deluxe cars.
JB, I always walk backwards to the ocean, this confuses vampires. That stroller is just like the kind I bring to Disneyland when I show up with my 11 kids! And yeah, that guy with the bare midriff is a real trend-setter. I’m guessing that treated (creosote?) wood probably withstood the salt and moisture better than other materials, and was probably pretty cheap back then. And easily replaceable. SURE you knew the Roll-O-Plane! I believe you! Creamsicle fudge… hmmmm. The sand on that beach does not look like the “white sugar” of some Hawaiian beaches (C&H sugar, of course). In fact it looks kind of rocky. I don’t think those things are wading pools, but on the other hand I don’t really know what they really are.
zach, you’re welcome!
Andrew, I’m glad you liked these! Thank you for the information about the Ferris Wheel. Sounds like it provided fun for decades. And SO COOL that those trams are the same ones I’ve seen in photos from the 1939-40 New York World’s Fair! I thought that they looked familiar, but figured that this was just the style of the times. It’s sad that those old trams are on borrowed time, but it’s a miracle that they lasted this long!
I’m sure that anybody living within driving (or train) distance welcomed a chance to see the sand and surf, hopefully with some cool breezes, and maybe have a little fun with those boardwalk attractions while they were there.
K. Martinez, you and Andrew are our amusement park scholars!
Anonymous, nothing at all.
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