Joe Maloney Asbury Park, New Jersey Palace Amusements. 1980. From the cover of “photograph” magazine. (PG) 2013.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.net. 2013.
Photographs below courtesy of Rick Wester Fine Art, New York. Asbury and Jersey Shore photos by Joe Maloney, exhibited by Wester in 2013.
White shoes, Asbury Park. By Joe Maloney. 1979.
Joe Maloney was a pioneer in color photography when he took his 8×10 camera and documented life in Asbury Park and the Jersey Shore, c. 1979-80.
His work was nearly lost to history because his color prints suffered from a common problem back then—archival impermanence. But later his negatives were scanned and digitized, and his Asbury Park work has been receiving recognition.
We learned about his New York City exhibit (2013) when the magazine “photograph” ran an image of the Palace Amusements (1980) on the cover of their July/August, 2013 edition. Of course it caught my eye, and I contacted Mr. Wester who gave Blogfinger permission to show a few of the images.
Asbury Balloons. by Joe Maloney
Lyle Rexer, who reviewed the show for “photograph,” said that Maloney grew up in New Jersey in the 1970’s—a time when some photographers were “taking color to the street.” He referred to Asbury Park as “the working man’s ocean front paradise.”
Regarding Maloney’s images, Rexer says, “You can almost feel the summer heat and smell the zinc oxide.”**
According to Rick Wester, “Maloney documented his sense of a particular time—what the colors were like and how they interacted with the place and people to produce something indelible. I like to think of these as rock and roll pictures.” Maloney liked to photograph teenagers.
Asbury Rockers. by Joe Maloney
Joe Maloney. Seaside Heights, NJ. New Yorker
A New Yorker blogger, Hannah Choi (see link below,) related a quote by Joe Maloney regarding his photography efforts in Asbury Park, “It felt like you were inside a Bruce Springsteen song.”
The Asbury Pulp. (now defunct). has an excellent piece about Maloney dated June, 2013, including an interview with the artist.
Asbury miniature golf, 1979. By Joe Maloney.
The link below gives more information about Maloney’s work and show some great images as well. Rick Wester Fine Art at 526 West 26th Street, suite 417, in Chelsea, will be showing “Asbury Park and the Jersey Shore, c. 1979” until August 16. 2013.
*Re: Zinc oxide. By Paul Goldfinger. Blogfinger.net: When I worked in a Catskill Mountain resort in the 1960’s I was outdoors all day on the athletic staff and needed UV sunglasses and protection for my nose. I used zinc oxide, which I don’t recall having a smell, but my nose was a bright white. The guests called me, “Chief White Nose.”
I loved my nickname because my Mom always said that we were descended from American Indians. Mom had a vivid imagination and she loved cowboy and Indian movies, rooting for the Indians.
RACHEL PLATTEN. “Lone Ranger.”
Reblogged this on Blogfinger and commented:
This 2013 article about a New Jersey photographer in Asbury Park over 30 years ago. His street images are special including the color renditions. It is worth looking at again if you have already seen our post from 2013. Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
We bought in 1985 when things were looking up (and prices too!). By 1990, deterioration in Asbury and the Grove had so driven down real estate prices that I could not refinance my adjustable mortgage (and rates were zooming up.) No thought of selling though.
Daughter and grandson came for the summer which was the plan. Investors in Asbury started building big on the ocean front until things turned down again. Many claim the influx of so many NYC gays to Asbury buying great homes on the cheap that had new buyers seek out houses in Ocean Grove. These were “house proud” two income couples with no children and money to spend.
The Grove has steadily benefitted from AP’s renaissance while AP goes through its ups and downs. Over time, it turns out our house has been the best investment ever,financially and emotionally.
Up until ten or so years ago, I said Asbury won’t come back in my lifetime; glad I was wrong.
I, too, am hopeful for AP. Its recovery has stalled due primarily to the developers walking away because of the recession and the corruption. It’s hard to believe that if they built nice condos on the beach block that there would not be folks who would want to buy them.
As it is, the AP beach area looks war-torn or like the old South Bronx — empty lots, shells of buildings, empty storefronts on the boardwalk. Too bad they blew the place up back in 1970 — they’ve been paying the price for 40 years.
Devo, don’t despair. I have been in OG since 2005, and AP now compared to then is much improved. Slow growth since 08 may be more a result of the historic recession than an indicator of the overall improvement effort, empty boardwalk stores on a recent walk, a result of Sandy.
AP is coming back nicely, I think, given all the recent challenges. The traffic on the boards last summer compared to 05/06 is one indicator. More restaurants and stores as you mentioned; new or expanded attractions like the swan boats; pinball; the show room recently expanded; DJs recently expanded; water park for kids; and Days ice cream, to name a few.
The growth is there and has a good chance to continue (I feel). The biggest threats are a possible slip in the national economy again and of course the continued history of corrupt politicians (not all but enough over the years to make one worry). Even still, I am excited for AP.
“Slow” is incorrect, in my perception. I have lived in OG since late 2008 and I have seen almost zero (meaning essentially none) progress in the recovery of AP. While I am willing to concede that there are 2-3 more resturants and a theater on Cookman, the rate of progress is best chacraterized as “glacial”. On a recent walk down their boardwalk, I saw multiple empty storefronts where businesses used to be last year. The old HoJos is struggling. At this rate, it will take 20+ years for the beach block to be restored and another 40+ years for the rest of the town (if ever). Not trying to be snarky, but its hard to see where anyone is really doing anything.
I’d love to hear evidence to the contrary, as a stronger AP would be good for everyone.
Historical context: On July 4, 1970, race riots occurred on the west side of Asbury Park. For weeks there were destruction, firebombs and looting. The black community had many grievances.
The entire commercial area of Springwood Avenue was destroyed. Reporters from that era said that things were never the same after that. The middle class moved out, and Asbury Park went into a downward tailspin.
By 1979, when these photos were obtained, Asbury Park was in a state of decline. By the 1980’s, the whole town had deteriorated, as did much of the Jersey Shore, including Ocean Grove. There were many contributing factors.
Palace Amusements opened in 1888 and closed its doors in 1988. It was demolished in 2004.
Now, of course, we can witness the slow climb back and we can see hope for the future in the new Asbury Park. PG