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Post by JerseyDigger29 on Feb 1, 2006 23:50:50 GMT -5
I have a unique memory problem. I can remember stuff from 40 years ago right down to the smells, but I have problems remembering things from 10 minutes ago. Yesterday, someone told me - and for the life of me, I can't remember who or where it was - that they had heard a really wierd rumor that the Moreys might be thinking of rebuilding Hunts Pier exactly as it was when it was the Ocean Pier. Has anybody heard anything on this or was it just someone's pipe dream? (For the youngsters out there, Ocean Pier was like the old Steel Pier in A.C. It was basically a big, beautiful, barn or arcade type building with a dancehall, (the original Starlight Ballroom), movie theater, bowling alley, live musical acts, etc. It was even before my time. My mother told me it was where EVERYONE went back around WWII. She said it burned down on Christmas in the late 40's). If true, this could be one of the greatest things to ever happen around here. Anyone hear anything? Thom  TheWildwoodsReporter.com |
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Post by writhinganacondo on Feb 2, 2006 0:46:54 GMT -5
I have a unique memory problem. I can remember stuff from 40 years ago right down to the smells, but I have problems remembering things from 10 minutes ago. Yesterday, someone told me - and for the life of me, I can't remember who or where it was - that they had heard a really wierd rumor that the Moreys might be thinking of rebuilding Hunts Pier exactly as it was when it was the Ocean Pier. Has anybody heard anything on this or was it just someone's pipe dream? (For the youngsters out there, Ocean Pier was like the old Steel Pier in A.C. It was basically a big, beautiful, barn or arcade type building with a dancehall, (the original Starlight Ballroom), movie theater, bowling alley, live musical acts, etc. It was even before my time. My mother told me it was where EVERYONE went back around WWII. She said it burned down on Christmas in the late 40's). If true, this could be one of the greatest things to ever happen around here. Anyone hear anything? Thom TheWildwoodsReporter.com Some ideas for this pier were to concentrate on attractions such as restaurants, activities and better retail. This would be in line with more emphasis on the structures besides the rides, like the old Ocean Pier. They have at least one liquor license (from the old sign museum, that actually was still a bar), could be a future variance in the works like they did in North Wildwood. Sand Jamm is relocating to the front. Now you have Bill Morey's building coming to the west. At some point everything could be one big enterprise from Ocean Ave. to ocean. Yes this may be all a big pipe dream....... like those runoff pipes behind that bizarre closed mini water park on the far east end of the pier. Kennywood Park did a whole section themed around early 20th century amusement park type rides and attractions |
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Post by Al Alven on Feb 2, 2006 15:31:10 GMT -5
A few years back, the plan seemed to be to develop the pier (or at least part of the pier) into something of a picnic area, where the Moreys would host parties (birthdays, weddings, etc.) and barbeques, and things like that.
This idea would seem to be in line with that, though on a much grander scale.
In talking to Mr. Bright at the Boyer Museum about this last year, he told me that the Moreys once considered hallowing out the Golden Nugget and turning it into some sort of restuarant, leaving the "shell" in tact.
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Post by wildwanderer on Feb 2, 2006 19:33:27 GMT -5
I have a unique memory problem. I can remember stuff from 40 years ago right down to the smells, but I have problems remembering things from 10 minutes ago. Yesterday, someone told me - and for the life of me, I can't remember who or where it was - that they had heard a really wierd rumor that the Moreys might be thinking of rebuilding Hunts Pier exactly as it was when it was the Ocean Pier. Has anybody heard anything on this or was it just someone's pipe dream? (For the youngsters out there, Ocean Pier was like the old Steel Pier in A.C. It was basically a big, beautiful, barn or arcade type building with a dancehall, (the original Starlight Ballroom), movie theater, bowling alley, live musical acts, etc. It was even before my time. My mother told me it was where EVERYONE went back around WWII. She said it burned down on Christmas in the late 40's). If true, this could be one of the greatest things to ever happen around here. Anyone hear anything? Thom TheWildwoodsReporter.com Just a couple of quick questions... I thought Hunt's Auditorium was the first building of Hunts so when was Ocean Pier existing? Where was Funchase Pier? That one held a bath house and a Roller Skating Rink. |
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Post by JerseyDigger29 on Feb 2, 2006 19:36:02 GMT -5
Hey, guys. Just for kicks, I took a couple of pictures of Hunts Pier today as it stands - Feb. 2, 2006. I hope they prompt some discussion. (Feb. 2 - The groundhog saw his shadow today, but he saw nothing new on Hunts Pier).  P.S. Looking at the Golden Nugget today: I ran this ride a couple of times in the early 80's. At that time they kept it pretty much well maintained given its age. But it must be close to 50 years old at least! Plus it's been sitting for at least 25 years with absolutely no maintenance. The inside must be completely rotted away by now. Especially all the iron tracks and the papier mache characters and walls, etc. The outside wall, I believe is just chicken wire covered in plaster of paris?  ? I really don't think it can ever be used for rides again. If they are going to use it for people, they're going to have to completely rebuild it from the ground up. (Look at the condition of the movies before they tore them down. Amazing the damage age and neglect can do. Thom TheWildwoodsReporter.com  |
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Post by wildwanderer on Feb 2, 2006 19:44:51 GMT -5
What a waste letting things go like this. Go ahead and build condos...but remember the boardwalk is important also. We have memories but the "new" crowd will and I almost guarantee it say,"Gee, I didn't know we were slumming." WW boardwalk needs attention especially this pier. Hunts, Sportland, Playland, ...waste, waste,waste...
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Post by JerseyDigger29 on Feb 2, 2006 19:46:34 GMT -5
I have a unique memory problem. I can remember stuff from 40 years ago right down to the smells, but I have problems remembering things from 10 minutes ago. Yesterday, someone told me - and for the life of me, I can't remember who or where it was - that they had heard a really wierd rumor that the Moreys might be thinking of rebuilding Hunts Pier exactly as it was when it was the Ocean Pier. Has anybody heard anything on this or was it just someone's pipe dream? (For the youngsters out there, Ocean Pier was like the old Steel Pier in A.C. It was basically a big, beautiful, barn or arcade type building with a dancehall, (the original Starlight Ballroom), movie theater, bowling alley, live musical acts, etc. It was even before my time. My mother told me it was where EVERYONE went back around WWII. She said it burned down on Christmas in the late 40's). If true, this could be one of the greatest things to ever happen around here. Anyone hear anything? Thom TheWildwoodsReporter.com Just a couple of quick questions... I thought Hunt's Auditorium was the first building of Hunts so when was Ocean Pier existing? Where was Funchase Pier? That one held a bath house and a Roller Skating Rink. Wildwanderer - The Ocean Pier was on that site up through WWII. It burned down on Christmas Day in the late 40s and was replaced by Hunts (BTW -I think the reason the hunts made the pier concrete was because of the Ocean Pier fire - The entire pier burned to the ground). The Hunts Blaker Theater dated to around 1900 when it was owned by Gilbert Blaker. Hunts bought it in 1925 for movies. Also, I think the first thing the hunts had in wildwood was called the Hunt's Hippodrome on Schellenger Ave (Where that club stands today to the east of Niels Steak House) The Hippodrome was there during burlesque - 5 cent nicolodeons - silent movies, etc.)?? For answers on Funchase Pier, check www.funchase.comThom |
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Post by MMM on Feb 2, 2006 20:06:11 GMT -5
A "New Ocean Pier" sounds interesting. I think that's a very good idea.
Thom, I heard that the inside of the Golden Nugget is actually in much better condition than one would suspect by just seeing the outside. I think at least most of the "tricks" inside still work. Of course it needs restoration to be a running attraction again, inside and out (and the outside is "weathered" more than I'd like), but I understood it wasn't a lost cause at all. IIRC, it opened around 1960/61. My favorite ride of all, ever. I'd almost always ride it at least twice in a night on the Boardwalk, sometimes more!
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Post by Crippled_Visions on Feb 2, 2006 22:34:16 GMT -5
The inside must be completely rotted away by now. Especially all the iron tracks and the papier mache characters and walls, etc. The outside wall, I believe is just chicken wire covered in plaster of paris? ? I doubt that the Golden Nugget is made from Plaster of Paris. If it were, it would no longer be standing....and the Morey's would not be considering moving the ride. |
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Post by Robert on Feb 3, 2006 3:34:49 GMT -5
Uhh, Thom, the Golden Nugget was not sitting for 25 years with no maintenance. It last ran for the public in 1998. The previous owners took care of it and restored it in 1996. Ok, after Bud Hunt sold the pier in late 1985 the new owners continued to run it for the next several years, it even survived the mass destruction in 1989, the rides that were destroyed were all on the left side of the pier. It closed for the first time in it's history in 1992, according to an article at the museum I saw, then it reopened in 93, 94, then closed again in 95 when the pier was bought by the Catanoso brothers, and it only had kiddie rides on the front with the back end closed off with the Whacky Shack (Hunt's Horror at the time), it was torn down in early 96, Nugget, Flume, and Rapids in the closed off area. It reopened as Dinosaur Beach in 1996 along with the refurbished Nugget. The pier was last called Hunt's Pier officially in 1990. Dino Beach closed after 1998 due to bankrupcy and stiff competition from the Morey's. I rode the Golden Nugget several times between 1980-1983 and 1996-1998 excluding 1997.
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Post by JerseyDigger29 on Feb 3, 2006 9:44:02 GMT -5
Uhh, Thom, the Golden Nugget was not sitting for 25 years with no maintenance. It last ran for the public in 1998. The previous owners took care of it and restored it in 1996. Ok, after Bud Hunt sold the pier in late 1985 the new owners continued to run it for the next several years, it even survived the mass destruction in 1989, the rides that were destroyed were all on the left side of the pier. It closed for the first time in it's history in 1992, according to an article at the museum I saw, then it reopened in 93, 94, then closed again in 95 when the pier was bought by the Catanoso brothers, and it only had kiddie rides on the front with the back end closed off with the Whacky Shack (Hunt's Horror at the time), it was torn down in early 96, Nugget, Flume, and Rapids in the closed off area. It reopened as Dinosaur Beach in 1996 along with the refurbished Nugget. The pier was last called Hunt's Pier officially in 1990. Dino Beach closed after 1998 due to bankrupcy and stiff competition from the Morey's. I rode the Golden Nugget several times between 1980-1983 and 1996-1998 excluding 1997. Ok - Thanks, Robert |
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Post by wildwanderer on Feb 3, 2006 19:28:44 GMT -5
Just a couple of quick questions... I thought Hunt's Auditorium was the first building of Hunts so when was Ocean Pier existing? Where was Funchase Pier? That one held a bath house and a Roller Skating Rink. Wildwanderer - The Ocean Pier was on that site up through WWII. It burned down on Christmas Day in the late 40s and was replaced by Hunts (BTW -I think the reason the hunts made the pier concrete was because of the Ocean Pier fire - The entire pier burned to the ground). The Hunts Blaker Theater dated to around 1900 when it was owned by Gilbert Blaker. Hunts bought it in 1925 for movies. Also, I think the first thing the hunts had in wildwood was called the Hunt's Hippodrome on Schellenger Ave (Where that club stands today to the east of Niels Steak House) The Hippodrome was there during burlesque - 5 cent nicolodeons - silent movies, etc.)?? For answers on Funchase Pier, check www.funchase.comThom Thanks for the info Thom. |
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? I really don't think it can ever be used for rides again. If they are going to use it for people, they're going to have to completely rebuild it from the ground up. (Look at the condition of the movies before they tore them down. Amazing the damage age and neglect can do.