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Post by hulk007 on Jul 28, 2006 0:04:01 GMT -5
I'm also shocked that there was development in diamond beach that far back. As a kid growing up in the 1980's the only thing I remember on diamond beach was the water slide!
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Post by Al Alven on Jul 28, 2006 3:10:28 GMT -5
I have to say, I love threads like this. Sometimes, you can learn so much by just sitting back and taking in all of the discussion here.
writhinganacondo and Kathi (fuzzyscorpio) are two of the most knowledgable people on the history of the Wildwoods I have encountered, and it's great that they (and so many others) are here and willing to share their memories with us.
(Though, to be fair, we do know that writhing gets a good portion of his info from the infamous Rio burro. But, whatever works, right?)
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Post by Al Alven on Jul 28, 2006 3:21:57 GMT -5
That is the first time in my many ebay searches I have seen such an early photo of the Tangiers. I would love to see an orignal Casa Bahama postcard show up on ebay I'm sure this link has been posted before, but it was probably a looooong time ago. But, hulk, I'm sure you'll enjoy these pics: www.thedukeofmusic.com/gallery-5.htmSome of these really show how "undeveloped" some areas of the Wildwoods were during the time when the motels really started popping up on the island. The Casa Bahama picture is striking, as there is literally nothing between it and the beach/ocean to the east. I believe that's the DiLido (or, at least the forerunner to that motel) right behind it, and the Sea Chest in the background. Check out the pic of the Aztec also, with the sandy, unpathed lot for parking in front of the rooms. And the Shalimar pic, with the cool "Arabian"-looking canopy design. Also very interesting to look at the pic of the North Wind Motel. Look at all that prime North Wildwood real estate, just waiting to be snatched up!
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Post by FlyinGN on Jul 28, 2006 10:16:00 GMT -5
love this old postcards Al. Look at the family sitting on the porch at the aztec.. No pool, not even any grass. LOL Wonder what they were looking at lol
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Post by Rob Ascough on Jul 28, 2006 10:42:09 GMT -5
Wow, those pictures are amazing. Stunning to see how the Shalimar has evolved throughout the years. Glad to see they're pretty dedicated to the Crest's "motel scene".
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Post by fuzzyscorpio on Jul 28, 2006 16:05:28 GMT -5
That is a great Web site Al, thanks for posting. Frank, you're right, the Aztec shot is a scream... and that big ol' dirt parking lot with the little tufts of grass, boy, does that take me back. That is how things looked and felt back in the 50s, when (it seems to me) summer days were more often dry and dusty than in recent years. I am so in awe of whoever owns that site that he had the sense and the initiative to save or collect those pictures. Then and now... in case anyone missed the "Duke of Music" link: Are there any other doo-wop places in the Duke's collection that are still with us, besides the Aztec and the Shalimar? He has the Casa Bahama, the Aqua Motel, the Coral Sands, Northwind, Sans Souci, Sundeck, and Tahiti--all in doo-wop heaven now I believe? The older pix on his site are cool, too. His narrative says the grand Victorian hotels are all gone but I thought there were a couple still standing? Is the Adelphi-Witte at Atlantic and Pine still there?
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Post by fuzzyscorpio on Jul 28, 2006 16:38:33 GMT -5
writhinganacondo and Kathi (fuzzyscorpio) are two of the most knowledgable people on the history of the Wildwoods I have encountered, and it's great that they (and so many others) are here and willing to share their memories with us. That's kind of you, Al, thanks. I have indeed found writhing's posts interesting, informative and on-the-money so far. I just wish that my memory were better and that I had done more to support it--saved more scraps, taken more photos. I would love to be able to help out the person looking for the old square Hunt's Pier tickets, which I do recall. When you lose your grip on those precious details, memory starts to crumble. But the thing about the Wildwoods was... you just thought it was going to stay that way forever. Besides all of its obvious attractions, that was one of the things I most loved about it. In an always-turbulent world I knew I could go back and see a familiar, wonderful old friend every summer. Inevitable as change is, one does need an anchor here and there.
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Post by hulk007 on Jul 28, 2006 17:15:17 GMT -5
Once again Al, you da man!! I agree the Aztec is the most intersting as how it has evolved. Its probably safe to say the early motels of the crest were all 2 stories.
One question in regards to the Casa. How could you walk around on the top deck if the roof was in the way. It looks like the a frames prevent you from walking around on the top. Did each room have its own private"space" in regards to the balcony?
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Post by hulk007 on Jul 28, 2006 17:17:17 GMT -5
Looks like the CB did not have a pool either at first but its hard to tell from the photo.
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Post by writhinganacondo on Jul 28, 2006 17:48:00 GMT -5
That is a great Web site Al, thanks for posting. Frank, you're right, the Aztec shot is a scream... and that big ol' dirt parking lot with the little tufts of grass, boy, does that take me back. That is how things looked and felt back in the 50s, when (it seems to me) summer days were more often dry and dusty than in recent years. I am so in awe of whoever owns that site that he had the sense and the initiative to save or collect those pictures. Then and now... in case anyone missed the "Duke of Music" link: Are there any other doo-wop places in the Duke's collection that are still with us, besides the Aztec and the Shalimar? He has the Casa Bahama, the Aqua Motel, the Coral Sands, Northwind, Sans Souci, Sundeck, and Tahiti--all in doo-wop heaven now I believe? The older pix on his site are cool, too. His narrative says the grand Victorian hotels are all gone but I thought there were a couple still standing? Is the Adelphi-Witte at Atlantic and Pine still there? Great original unstaged shots. The Coral Sands & Northwind are still there, as is the Jade East peeking out behind the Northwind. The Adelphi-Witte became Uncle Lou's downstairs, then lost the upper floors to fire. Demolished Sept. 2002. The Aqua has morphed into a larger structure (?) Hard to tell.
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Post by Robert on Jul 28, 2006 20:21:01 GMT -5
Wouldn't it be possible for someone to build a new motel to 1950's architecture? Even down to a new neon sign? Would such a thing be viable amid all the condo construction?
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Post by MMM on Jul 28, 2006 21:10:39 GMT -5
The Aqua has morphed into a larger structure (?) Hard to tell. Wasn't the Aqua and the All-Star demolished to make way for the Aqua Beach Motel? I think the Aqua Beach is from around 1991.
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Post by hulk007 on Jul 28, 2006 21:18:11 GMT -5
The Aqua has morphed into a larger structure (?) Hard to tell. Wasn't the Aqua and the All-Star demolished to make way for the Aqua Beach Motel? I think the Aqua Beach is from around 1991. The chamber of commerce guide from 1993 lists the aqua beach as brand new hotel for that year.
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Post by FlyinGN on Jul 29, 2006 6:46:50 GMT -5
Martin, I recall the All star as being layed out in an odd U shape just the way the Aqua beach is now. Saying that, Id say that no the All Star was never demoed and just renovated to become the aqua beach quote author=mmm board=motels thread=1149181200 post=1154139039] The Aqua has morphed into a larger structure (?) Hard to tell. Wasn't the Aqua and the All-Star demolished to make way for the Aqua Beach Motel? I think the Aqua Beach is from around 1991.[/quote]
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Post by MMM on Jul 30, 2006 20:55:08 GMT -5
I guess they may have expanded it then, Frank? Thanks.
So then what happened to the Aqua?
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