Odd occurance of events

[doowopdude]

I was listening to 94.3 online and heard about the 50's weekend in Wildwood and about the Beach Boys coming to the convention center and about how Dion is appearing. Wildwood is putting on all these activities that are reminiscent of the 50's and 60's and Doo Wop to draw in people there, while all along they are destroying the structures that scream 'Doo Wop'. These structures provide the ambience that is the draw of Wildwood. The relaxed, carefree summers that are low tech and low stress. High rise hotels and Condos with granite countertops, central air and cable with a million channels is not vacation; it's relocation, and exactly what I was trying to get away from (maybe not the central air). I can go sit on my porch and listen to Oldies or go to the Tower to see Oldies groups if I wanted to. Ambience is what I am looking for when I go to Wildwood on vacation!

[thelastresort]

well, unfortunately, I don't think those who are making the decisions are thinking about anything but money. Take, for example, this style of McDonald's that is now popping up (this pic was posted in a previous post on this site)

www.rickleephoto.com/blog/mcdonalds1.jpg

In the late 80's, they tore an original one down just like this in an area where some of my relatives live. because "it was too small, couldn't handle the traffic, no drive through, etc." and used the excuse that "well, it's not really an original since it was built in 1965." Such nonsense! And they put up a lackluster 80's vintage one in its place. I haven't seen it in a while since I don't get up that way much, but the last time I saw it in the early 90's when it was only 5 years old it looked like crap.

Well guess what, now that some genius figured out that they can actually make money with these original style ones, they are coming back.

Unfortunately, there is no "logic" to it, it's all about the money.

I've said this before, in 20 years, when there is money to be made by it, they will be putting up "doo wop" style motels (with all the modern conveniences, of course).

[nance]

It upsets us to see these older places go because we've been there and experienced that era. But we're in an altogether different generation now. Sure I would rather sit on the porch and relax, too, but these places and business' have to keep up with the times or lose out. It breaks my heart when I see things desroyed and something foreign put there in it's place. SO many things have changed since I was a child and so much has changed since MY kids were little and that's the way it keeps going. If anyone REALLY wants a relaxed and carefree summer; with quiet and an "old-fashioned" atmosphere; well, there's a couple vacant islands around here maybe you could cruise to. That even irritates me here; I want to go for a nice "relaxing" drive around the island, and everywhere you look they're tourists, tourists, and somebody driving up your butt. I don't think there's anyplace REAL relaxing anymore and if there is, could you please tell me where it is?

[doowopdude]

About that McDonald's, BOOOOOOO! Retro is BS. Restoration of the original is the best. All the scars show from the years. That gives it it's character. The style is original versus the bootleg reproduction. I compare buildings to cars. If I had a 1957 Ford Fairlane convertible and someone else had a reproduction that looked exactly the same, which one is the coolest? Mine because it is the genuine artifact. Even if mine was a little faded and dented and the other was pristine, my car would still outshine the other. Any building can be updated with the modern convienences, Internet, A/C. Cable,etc, and still maintain it's originality.

[nance]

Alot of things are coming back from the 50's. Just look all over department stores. Guess they don't know what else to make anymore.

[wildwanderer]

doowopdude said:

I was listening to 94.3 online and heard about the 50's weekend in Wildwood and about the Beach Boys coming to the convention center and about how Dion is appearing. Wildwood is putting on all these activities that are reminiscent of the 50's and 60's and Doo Wop to draw in people there, while all along they are destroying the structures that scream 'Doo Wop'. These structures provide the ambience that is the draw of Wildwood. The relaxed, carefree summers that are low tech and low stress. High rise hotels and Condos with granite countertops, central air and cable with a million channels is not vacation; it's relocation, and exactly what I was trying to get away from (maybe not the central air). I can go sit on my porch and listen to Oldies or go to the Tower to see Oldies groups if I wanted to. Ambience is what I am looking for when I go to Wildwood on vacation!

I don't care who says what I gotta have my cable, and oh yes, do you carry your cell phone with you to WW. It seems everyone has one in their ear on the boardwalk and is that a vacation??

[nance]

Everywhere you go you see cell phones "glued" to people's ears. People can't go anywhere without that little device and it really gets on my nerves. Shut the damn thing off and take a break!! Also, do you go on vacation to watch tv??? I used to have a fit; as soon as we'd get to the motel room, my husband would turn on that tv!!!!!!!!! Me? I'd sit outside and listen to the sounds and watch the sights. You can watch tv anytime.

[cutietnj]

Nance - my husband does the exact same thing. I gave up trying to fight it. I take my book and go outside and he watches tv inside. We are both getting exactly what we want on our vacation. He is a tv freak and I rather sit outside and hear the ocean so we both wind up being happy.

[FlyinGN]

yea who da hell wants to watch tv in wildwood? You have to be kidding me..

[nance]

Well, I don't have to worry about that anymore anyway, because I divorced him. : )