50 Atlantic City 3-D 1930 1080p

Anyone who remembers the HBO series “Boardwalk Empire”–starring Steve Buscemi as Prohibition-era crime boss Enoch "Nucky" Thompson–will already know there’s a seamy side to the story of this seaside mecca for the masses, long before the era of failed and bankrupt casinos like the Trump Taj Mahal, The Trump Plaza, the Trump Marina, the Trump World’s Fair, the Sands and the Showboat.

Of the over 25 casinos once there, only 9 remain in operation today.

But it wasn’t gambling that first drew crowds to this Jersey beach. “The World’s Playground” which was originally promoted as a health resort on Absecon Island, the former summer home of the Leni Lenapi tribe.

The United States Hotel was built by the railroad in 1855 and could house 2,000 guests. The first boardwalk went up in 1870. The reason? To keep sand out of the lobbies of the local hotels.

13 years later salt water taffy was born after a storm flooded David Bradley’s candy shop. The board game Monopoly was given locations named after Atlantic City after its creator moved from Indianapolis to the Jersey Shore.

And the Miss America beauty contest was originally created in 1921 just to extend the traditional summer season beyond Labor Day Weekend.

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With Special Thanks to Paul Hutchence!