Escort Notes and Atlantic City Firsts
Atlantic City has been a giant in the resort field for more than a century. Boardwalk, lifeguards, rolling chairs, salt water taffy, picture postcards, bathing beauty contests, ocean piers, seashore hotels and motels, the word "airport" , and attempts at trans-Atlantic flight are but a few of Atlantic City's "firsts".
Area physician Dr. Jonathan Pitney, envisioned a "bathing village and health resort" on Absecon Island. He joined with a group of businessmen anxious to develop South Jersey and, in 1852, received a railroad charter from Camden to Atlantic City. Engineer Richard Osborne designed and named Atlantic City.
The first train carrying officials, guests and newspapermen arrived on July 1, 1854. The newspapermen spread the word and Atlantic City was "made".
The early Boardwalk created the impact that, practically overnight, vaulted the city into the position of the world's leading summer resort.
Unlike many other resorts, the eight-mile long beach is a public park, riparian rights owned by Atlantic City and the three suburban communities. Also unlike many other resorts, there is no charge for bathing.
Fun Facts
Salt Water Taffy
According to legend, a candy vendor had his stock of taffy ruined in August 1883 when a storm tide splashed it with sea water. The next day he sold his wares as "salt water taffy" and the name caught on. There is no real salt water in the taffy, although both salt and water are used in the mix.
Ocean Piers
Atlantic City has had many ocean piers, the first having made its appearance in 1880. Perhaps the best known is the Steel Pier which opened in 1898. Once demanding full evening dress, it offered sixteen hours of continuous entertainment for one admission. Attractions ranged from the nation's foremost name bands, vaudeville and television stars to the famous diving horse. The High-Diving Horse, which performed in the ocean stadium a half-mile at sea, was, for four decades, the best-known stunt of all.
Monopoly
One of the great parlor manias of all time, has made Atlantic City real estate intimately familiar to millions. The game was invented in 1930 during the depression by Charles B. Darrow. Darrow stated, "Monopoly was a child of necessity." As to the use of Atlantic City for a plan, it seemed the one city that was best known for pleasure and opulence.
Miss America Pageant
Came into being in 1921 as a way to extend the summer business season for a week after Labor Day. Preliminary contests are now held in all of the fifty states. $29,000,000 in National Scholarships are available and "Miss America" earns approximately $300,000 during her year-long reign through personal appearances and endorsements.
Broadway Played the Boardwalk
The resort was a famous theatrical try-out town for many years...from the first Ziegfeld Follies in 1906 to Nixon's Apollo Theater in the thirties. Eddie Cantor, Al Jolson, Irving Berlin, Tallulah Bankhead, Fanny Brice, Barbara Stanwyck and George Raft are just a few of the stars who frequently "played" Atlantic City.
The Club Harlem
Which presented black entertainers, became an institution on North Kentucky Avenue. Ray Charles, Sammy Davis, Jr., Pearl Bailey and James Brown are but a few of the electrifying acts to rock the Harlem's stage.
Convention Hall
When the Atlantic City Convention Hall was completed in 1929, it was the world's largest and first full-service convention facility. The majestic structure between the ocean and Pacific Avenue was the largest in the world to be built without roof posts and pillars, and houses a pipe organ with 33,112 pipes, still the largest in the world.
Physical Data
Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island in Atlantic County. It is approximately 60 miles southeast of Philadelphia and about 100 miles south, southwest of New York.
Length of Atlantic City: 3.9 miles
Total Population: 40,500
Square Miles: 11.94
Acres: 7,640
Altitude: 6 to 8 feet above sea level
Form of government: Mayor/Council (Members serve a 4 year term)