The Diving Horse of Steel Pier is now part of Atlantic City's folklore and a bygone era.
Looking back as kids growing up in Atlantic City we took the Steel Pier and it's magical attractions for granted. But who could blame us? The city had spoiled us rotten.
Beside Steel Pier, there was Million Dollar Pier, Steeplechase Pier, the boardwalk, beach, ocean, bay, Penny Arcades, movies along the boardwalk, horseback riding on the beach, the Miss America Pageant, the Ice Capades, etc. It was like a fantasy land on steroids.
Steel Pier was billed as the "Showplace of the Nation" and as the advertisements heralded, all of its pleasures could be enjoyed for one low admission.
As Steven J. Liebowitz states in his excellent book, Steel Pier: Atlantic City Showplace of the Nation, "Nearly every big-name entertainer from John Philip Sousa and his band to Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Frank Sinatra and The Rolling Stones played there. Steel Pier was a combination of Broadway, Miami, Las Vegas, Hollywood, Barnum and Bailey and a state fair. Crowds came in droves from Philadelphia, Camden, Pittsburgh, New York, Newark, Wilmington, Baltimore, throughout the northeast and beyond by train and by car to Steel Pier. Steel Pier's reputation was so great that A-list performers chose the Pier over other venues."
The first time I went to Steel Pier was in 1940, I was seven years old and admission was twenty five cents. I don't recall much of my boyhood at that age, but going to Steel Pier is something I've never forgotten.
One of the biggest attractions was the Diving Horse at the end of the Pier. It was a huge draw because tourists would come from far and wide to witness this spectacular event. But before you made your way to the end of the pier, you might have spent half the day getting there, in order to view the other attractions there were to enjoy.
The pier boasted two movie theaters, one offering a vaudeville show and featuring "Tony Grants Stars of Tomorrow," a local dance troupe of young girls with visions of future stardom.
After a few enjoyable hours of entertainment, you continued your trek along this 1,600 foot (over 500 yards) wonder. It was S.O.P. to pay a visit to the Diving Bell whether you planned to take the plunge or not. I must confess this did have an admission, I think it was 10 cents. I never went on the diving bell because even though it was promoted as an attraction where you would witness all kinds of deep sea wonders, the suckers I spoke with usually told me all they saw was mucky water.
Continuing on you'd pass food stands offering a variety of tasty treats. There were always exhibits on the pier and one I remember vividly was the celebrity horse exhibit, The movie, My Friend Flicka had recently come out and every horse nut like myself rushed to see it. And then in a short span of time there you were, on the pier, face to nose with the real, bigger than life, Flicka. Now you were able to live vicariously through Roddy McDowell, the movies star, atop the big sorrel mare riding wildly over hill and dale on the larger than life silver screen. Later, when Thunderhead Son of Flicka came out in theaters he was also exhibited at the pier.
Dunya News - Horse diving back in the 1960's by dunyanews
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7401744
Looking back as kids growing up in Atlantic City we took the Steel Pier and it's magical attractions for granted. But who could blame us? The city had spoiled us rotten.
Beside Steel Pier, there was Million Dollar Pier, Steeplechase Pier, the boardwalk, beach, ocean, bay, Penny Arcades, movies along the boardwalk, horseback riding on the beach, the Miss America Pageant, the Ice Capades, etc. It was like a fantasy land on steroids.
Steel Pier was billed as the "Showplace of the Nation" and as the advertisements heralded, all of its pleasures could be enjoyed for one low admission.
As Steven J. Liebowitz states in his excellent book, Steel Pier: Atlantic City Showplace of the Nation, "Nearly every big-name entertainer from John Philip Sousa and his band to Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Frank Sinatra and The Rolling Stones played there. Steel Pier was a combination of Broadway, Miami, Las Vegas, Hollywood, Barnum and Bailey and a state fair. Crowds came in droves from Philadelphia, Camden, Pittsburgh, New York, Newark, Wilmington, Baltimore, throughout the northeast and beyond by train and by car to Steel Pier. Steel Pier's reputation was so great that A-list performers chose the Pier over other venues."
The first time I went to Steel Pier was in 1940, I was seven years old and admission was twenty five cents. I don't recall much of my boyhood at that age, but going to Steel Pier is something I've never forgotten.
One of the biggest attractions was the Diving Horse at the end of the Pier. It was a huge draw because tourists would come from far and wide to witness this spectacular event. But before you made your way to the end of the pier, you might have spent half the day getting there, in order to view the other attractions there were to enjoy.
The pier boasted two movie theaters, one offering a vaudeville show and featuring "Tony Grants Stars of Tomorrow," a local dance troupe of young girls with visions of future stardom.
After a few enjoyable hours of entertainment, you continued your trek along this 1,600 foot (over 500 yards) wonder. It was S.O.P. to pay a visit to the Diving Bell whether you planned to take the plunge or not. I must confess this did have an admission, I think it was 10 cents. I never went on the diving bell because even though it was promoted as an attraction where you would witness all kinds of deep sea wonders, the suckers I spoke with usually told me all they saw was mucky water.
Continuing on you'd pass food stands offering a variety of tasty treats. There were always exhibits on the pier and one I remember vividly was the celebrity horse exhibit, The movie, My Friend Flicka had recently come out and every horse nut like myself rushed to see it. And then in a short span of time there you were, on the pier, face to nose with the real, bigger than life, Flicka. Now you were able to live vicariously through Roddy McDowell, the movies star, atop the big sorrel mare riding wildly over hill and dale on the larger than life silver screen. Later, when Thunderhead Son of Flicka came out in theaters he was also exhibited at the pier.
Dunya News - Horse diving back in the 1960's by dunyanews
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7401744
