My Ocean City NJ Memories of the Boardwalk 1970's and Before

On the 14th photo, I have penciled in the section of the original boardwalk north of 4th street which was destroyed in the March storm of 1962. This section is visible most clearly in the 9th photo. It ran in front of the old Delaware and Breakers Hotels. The section of boardwalk just to the south of this remained until it was moved inland in 1980. The boardwalk south of 12th street was also either severely damaged or destroyed, and had to be rebuilt.

The Surf Theater opened just north of 12th & the Boardwalk in 1929 after the great fire, and was originally called the Showboat and presented vaudeville acts. By the early 40's it was taken over by the Strand Theater Company. It was converted to an shopping mall in the early 80's.

Copper Kettle Fudge was located at 11th & the Boardwalk, on the corner just south of the Flanders Hotel. It was established in 1947 and was still there 40 years later. Today this is the site of Fralinger's Salt Water Taffy.

Morrow's Nut House was located between 9th & 10th and the Boardwalk. It was opened in the mid-1930's and closed after the 2004 season. The location is now a Curly Fries.

The entrance to the old Seaside Baths just south of Mac & Mancos's 920 Boardwalk location is now the Islander Shop. The huge bath structure in the rear was torn down and is now a parking lot.

Shriver's at 9th & the Boardwalk is the oldest business on the boardwalk, being established in 1898. I worked for Hank Glaser and his father at Shriver's for a number of years during the mid-80's cooking, pulling and wrapping the salt water taffy. The best part was all the cute girls that sat at tables and boxed the taffy in back of you. Hank was a really cool guy and a pleasure to work for. I remember his dad was pretty old at that time and wasn't supposed to drive after dark. I also worked at Irene's Gift Shop and the Smuggler's Shop in the early 80's.

Simms Restaurant and Take Out located between 8th & 9th Street and the Boardwalk was just south of the Mooryln Theater. It was said to have had the best cinnamon buns in South Jersey. It was established in 1912 and closed in 1980. A video arcade occupied the corner until 1996. when a fast food establishment took over. The space is now occupied by Curly Fries second location; with Haunted Golf next door.

The Village Theater was located at 8th & the Boardwalk and burned down June 12, 1990 after being newly renovated and split into two screens. Gremlins 2 and Disney's Dick Tracy were to be the first features presented. The Frank Theater Company had purchased the Village, Moorlyn and Strand Theaters in early 1989. The Village Theater was originally on the ocean side of the boardwalk, but after the great fire of 1927 the boardwalk was moved 200 feet closer to the ocean, leaving the theater behind. The billboard for the old Village Theater is still in use above the "South Seas Shop".

I took a date to see "Back to the Future" at the Strand Theater in July 1985. I remember it still had just the one huge screen at that time; and was not yet a multiplex.

The last picture is of Zaberer's Restaurant in Wildwood. It was a family tradition to eat there once every year. I always got the Prime Rib and loved the arcade room they had at the back. I would go there and play while the adults talked away, waiting for the food to arrive. Zaberer's was sold in 1988 and was foreclosed on two years later; 35 years after being opened. My other video entitled "Wilkin Homes in Ocean City, NJ (1973 to 1993) includes a trip to Zaberer's.

There are some good home movies of the Ocean City Boardwalk in my videos entitled "Ocean City, NJ Vacations (1958 to 1970) and "Wonderland Amusement Park, Ocean City, NJ (1969).