music memories of WW

[wildwanderer]

How many remember checking into your hotel/motel and picking up a "Shout" paper, huge sections of clubs, dances, live bands. Especially during the eighties. The Penalty Box, Stardust, Hof Brau, Kelly's Cafe(still surviving). Not only clubs, but just driving down Atlantic Ave., was enough. Everyone blaring their radios, 8 track tapes, and don't forget cassettes. Kiss, Bruce Springstein, Bon Jovi, and of course, Led Zep. The cars; camaros, trans ams, firebirds, anything with a loud rumble. Nowadays, you here the chirping of Hondas, and etc,... Oh well, memory lane is nice to visit once in a while. Sort of reminds us of the old Pottstown with its weekend cruises up and down High Street.

[FlyinGN]

ahh yes.. Great memories.. I forgot all about the Penalty box til you wrote that!! Lets see. I was cruising in a 1977 Gold Edition TA LOL With T tops off! lol

[videoventures65]

Oh yeah the clubs---Stardust watching the band "Magnum". The Playpen going to see the band "Fury". My friends and I used to hang out at the Oceanic Bar for happy hour many nights of our vacation. Their happy hour usually included some food so we could by pass dinner and stay the night.

[Al Alven]

Sometimes, I think I was born 10-15 years too late.

[bono715]

Yes, I sure remember the couple of times I had seen The Fury at the Playpen and singing all those 80's cover songs. Great band! I had heard of Magnum but never had the opportunity to see them.

The clubs were sure a lot of fun, especially Club Cheers. The first time I drove to Wildwood on my own in my 1988 Chevy Cavalier Z24 in 1989 blasting Freestyle dance music on my radio. Prior to leaving for vacation I recorded a cassette of popular songs of that time and listening to it on the way down. When the tape ran out, I would then blast the radio. Great times back then! The club scene sure is not the same anymore though.

[mayfairjim]

My Wife and I along with other family members and friends spent alot of time at the Playpen listening to Witness. They played alot of Billy Joel and Genesis songs along with some original tunes. This was in the early 80's. Where has the time gone?

[Al Alven]

mayfairjim said:

Where has the time gone?

I ask myself that same question every time I think about or visit the Wildwoods.

So many memories -- music or otherwise -- it is hard to rationalize how quickly time passes by.

[FlyinGN]

yea that is the truth huh Mayfair??? *sigh* We try to live every day like its our last..... no regrets..

[legal321]

Hi, I spent my college summers ('79 to early '80s) working on the boardwalk in North Wildwood so I have some great memories of the bars and bands in Wildwood. I don't remember seeing Witness at the Playpen but do remember seeing them at the London Ale House. They rented a house near me summer of 80. Did a great Jethro Tull show. Who I do remember from the Playpen was Backstreets and their Bruce Springsteen show on, I think, Wednesday nights.

[mayfairjim]

Legal321, I completely forgot about the Jethro Tull show that Witness did. As a matter of fact, the lead guitarist,
"Steelman" looked like Ian Anderson. I never saw them at the London Ale House. I always remember them playing at the Playpen, which was a huge, dark place. ;D

[crazyaboutwildwood]

legal321 said:

Hi, I spent my college summers ('79 to early '80s) working on the boardwalk in North Wildwood so I have some great memories of the bars and bands in Wildwood. I don't remember seeing Witness at the Playpen but do remember seeing them at the London Ale House. They rented a house near me summer of 80. Did a great Jethro Tull show. Who I do remember from the Playpen was Backstreets and their Bruce Springsteen show on, I think, Wednesday nights.

Man , where did all this great stuff go? It was a good time in wildwood! There was music on every corner.

[Al Alven]

crazyaboutwildwood said:

legal321 said:

Hi, I spent my college summers ('79 to early '80s) working on the boardwalk in North Wildwood so I have some great memories of the bars and bands in Wildwood. I don't remember seeing Witness at the Playpen but do remember seeing them at the London Ale House. They rented a house near me summer of 80. Did a great Jethro Tull show. Who I do remember from the Playpen was Backstreets and their Bruce Springsteen show on, I think, Wednesday nights.

Man , where did all this great stuff go? It was a good time in wildwood! There was music on every corner.

I wasn't really "around" to experience the music/club scene in the Wildwoods in the 80s, as I was just a kid. But, I am learning more and more about it through this board, and through the stories of two of my uncles who lived through those prime years.

As historians, preservationalists or whatever else we're calling ourselves, I think it's important that we press for the Wildwoods to somehow pay tribute to and remember this era, as much as we do the 50s/60s and the "Doo Wop" years.

The Wildwoods have such a diverse history, and all of the important eras (regardless of how they are viewed by some people and regardless of whether or not the resort was "in decline" at the time) need to be celebrated.

I can imagine a 70s/80s music weekend, with many of the bands that played the Wildwoods in those days, being a very big draw. Or, at least something along those lines.

Thoughts?

[mayfairjim]

Al, I'd imagine a 70's/80's weekend would be a big draw for all of Wildwood. Groups like Burue Revue, Witness, Cookie Jar, etc. would bring crowds of all ages. I think it is an excellent idea.

[legal321]

Al, I concur that there would be a big response for a '70s/'80s weekend. Sure, looking back, Wildwood was a little "seedier" in the 1970s and 1980s in comparison to the more wholesome Doo Wop era, but the Pacific Avenue clubs (and, yes, don't forget the Playpen in Diamond Beach) in the late '70s to the early '80s were pretty memorable. The multicolored neon sign on the Rainbow. The light-up dance floor in the Penalty Box. The more mellow acts like the trio Southwind at the Oceanic. And does anyone remember Jasper at the Quart Room? Didn't they do a Beatles show? Come to think of it, where the heck was the Quart Room? Spencer Ave.? Spicer Ave.? At any rate, I'd attend such a weekend.

[FlyinGN]

OMG!! I forgot a lot of that stuff! I was a teenager and early 20's guy in the late 70's/early 80's.. I remember the Quart room and Jasper! wow talk about jogging my memory! the light up floor in the penalty box! daymmmmmm.. good memories..

legal321 said:

Al, I concur that there would be a big response for a '70s/'80s weekend. Sure, looking back, Wildwood was a little "seedier" in the 1970s and 1980s in comparison to the more wholesome Doo Wop era, but the Pacific Avenue clubs (and, yes, don't forget the Playpen in Diamond Beach) in the late '70s to the early '80s were pretty memorable. The multicolored neon sign on the Rainbow. The light-up dance floor in the Penalty Box. The more mellow acts like the trio Southwind at the Oceanic. And does anyone remember Jasper at the Quart Room? Didn't they do a Beatles show? Come to think of it, where the heck was the Quart Room? Spencer Ave.? Spicer Ave.? At any rate, I'd attend such a weekend.