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Archive for the ‘Ocean Grove history by Rich Amole’ Category

Going to the movies on the boardwalk in Ocean Grove: July, 1966.

Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove history, Ocean Grove history by Rich Amole, tagged on August 24, 2021| 3 Comments »

 

The Strand was built in 1911 at the North End. Originally it was called Scenario. From Wayne T. Bell's Images of America: Ocean Grove. (with permission)

The Strand was built in 1911 at the North End. Originally it was called Scenario. It was closed on Sundays.   From Wayne T. Bell’s Images of America: Ocean Grove. (with permission)

 

 

July 1966

July 1966. Submitted by Rich Amole

 

July 1966

July 1966. Submitted by Rich Amole, Blogfinger historian and reporter.

 

Paul:

In the 1960’s, at the North End of Ocean Grove, the Strand Theatre was the place to go to the movies.  The ads may have been simple hand outs that were distributed at the North End complex of entertainment and shops.

The depiction of the folks in line show that all are very well dressed— the ladies in high heels and skirts and the men in suits and hats.  I’m guessing that seats could be had for under a dollar.

Now can someone bring me a nice buttered popcorn and cold Coca Cola.  Forget that Tab stuff!

Rich                               Source: Ebay

ELVIS PRESLEY

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Postcards from Ocean Grove: Tall Sail Schooner off our shores in 1906.

Posted in Music: Jazz on Blogfinger, Ocean Grove history, Ocean Grove history by Rich Amole, Postcards From Ocean Grove, tagged , on August 7, 2021|

 

Schooner

By Rich Amole, Blogfinger staff historian/researcher.

 

This  is a postcard image of a tall sail schooner with a bit of a breeze hitting its sails off the Grove’s beach—- 108 years ago in 1906.

Not much on text back then— just a simple “Greetings from Ocean Grove” which still holds up today, not so much for that schooner………..

 

COLEMAN HAWKINS    (tenor sax)   From a jazz planet far, far away–contemplates the passage of time with “What a Difference a Day Makes”

What a difference a day makes
There’s a rainbow before me
Skies above can’t be stormy
Since that moment of bliss, that thrilling kiss
It’s heaven when you find romance on your menu
What a difference a day makes
And the difference is you

 

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Looking back through the rear view mirror of history: Ocean Grove boardwalk, 1940.

Posted in Ocean Grove boardwalk, Ocean Grove history by Rich Amole, tagged on July 31, 2016|

Ebay photo. Submitted by Rich Amole, Blogfinger staff.

Ebay photo. Ocean Grove North End, 1940.    Submitted by Rich Amole, Blogfinger staff.

From Rich:    “Going through Ebay to see if anything new was there to send.  Found one photograph that shows the north end of the boards with some folks strolling along and dated 1940.  Anyone who has walked or driven up that end knows that strange cut out in Ocean Avenue to turnaround or park can relate to this place.

“This scene also includes possibly part of a porch or entrance way of the North End Hotel with one of the columns next to the boardwalk.”

THE ANDREWS SISTERS (1944)  had a hit with this calypso tune:

 

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Minute Men in the Grove—a World War II Memory

Posted in Ocean Grove history, Ocean Grove history by Rich Amole, tagged on October 12, 2014|

Submitted by Rich Amole, Blogfinger historian and reporter.

Submitted by Rich Amole, Blogfinger historian and reporter.  Source: eBay

 

Paul:

An interesting bit of history once again came to light on the World Wide Web.   A simple item but important one that a group of Ocean Grove Civil Defense folks wore during World War II is a badge to identify all involved.  These “Minute Men” were simply to patrol the ocean front and guard against every infiltrator that might come ashore.  There were real concerns offshore, especially with enemy submarines.

This upcoming year 2015 will mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II,  and you still have to wonder:  war, what is it good for?   I do not want an answer!

Rich

 

VERA LYNN  from her album  Memories of WWII

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Boardwalk Yellow Cabs

Posted in Ocean Grove history by Rich Amole, tagged on August 9, 2014| 3 Comments »

Ocean Grove boardwalk, c. 1920's-1930's. Submitted by Rich Amole, Blogfinger reporter and historian.  Click to enlarge

Ocean Grove boardwalk, c. 1920’s-1930’s. Submitted by Rich Amole, Blogfinger reporter and historian.  Click to enlarge

 

Paul:

What we are focusing on in this wonderful scene,  perhaps from the 1920’s or 1930’s,  are those vehicles parked on Ocean Ave., that yellow push cart with some riders enjoying the salt air, and some folks sitting on not so wide wooden benches. We see a lady with an orange dress and gold colored heels, lamp posts on the boards and in the those grass strips,  and the North End Hotel in the distance.  And there is that white building where the current Pavilion sits. It says “Auditorium” See postcard below for more details on that structure.

A post card reflecting the time. Imagine that  someone in 2114 is counting on us to take a picture or two of our times on and off the boards. So let’s have a great big smile for them to see!

 

Rich

 

It may not be Atlantic City, but so what…..here is MARQUIS  with some acapella vocalizing “down on the ol’  New Jersey shore.”

 

 

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100 Years Ago in the Great Auditorium

Posted in Ocean Grove history, Ocean Grove history by Rich Amole, Ocean Grove Musical Event, tagged , on July 20, 2014| 1 Comment »

Submitted by Rich Amole. Blogfinger reporter and historian.

Submitted by Rich Amole. Blogfinger reporter and historian.

Editor’s Note:  Felix Mendelssohn was born into a famous Jewish-German family.  His father converted to become a Lutheran, so Felix, the composer, was raised as a Christian.  This oratorio, composed in 1846, was  performed in Ocean Grove’s Great Auditorium in August, on a Saturday night in 1914,  just a few weeks after the start of World War I and nearly 100 years ago today.  “Elijah,” which is in two parts and takes about two hours to perform, is based on the story of the prophet Elijah as told in the Old Testament.

But this was not the first time that “Elijah” had been performed in the GA.   Ted Aanensen sent us a page from a Philadelphia music newspaper which speaks of a performance  in the GA dated 1905.

The program above does not mention the Hope-Jones organ which had been built and installed in 1907, but it probably  was used in this 1914 concert.  Since it was only 7 years old, perhaps programs back then did not highlight “the famous Hope-Jones organ” as they do today.

I can’t tell who was conducting this performance, but it was probably  Tali Esen Morgan, the renowned music director in OG, who had that post from 1901-1918.

—-Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger

 

Here is a small portion of Mendelssohn’s Elijah by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra recorded in Temple Square:  “He, watching over Israel, slumbers not.”

 

 

 

 

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Another Victorian Pier—-in Great Britain

Posted in Blogfinger TidBits, Ocean Grove history by Rich Amole, tagged on July 10, 2014| 5 Comments »

Herne Bay. Postcard submitted by Rich Amole, Blogfinger staff historian.

Herne Bay. Postcard submitted by Rich Amole, Blogfinger staff historian.

Paul:

Since the Fishing Pier is more or less in limbo hopefully OG can get on and repair what is really important in that town and I’m sure those who really desire to fish will find the closest shoreline or marina to do so. This ATTACHMENT is a post card from those Victorian Days of Great Britain with this location about 60 miles southeast of London.   Not much on the description other that what we see.  There appears to be a pair of rails going down the center perhaps for a service vehicle or touring carriage of the time.   Do you think Ralph would like a new home like that?

Rich

ANNETTE HANSHAW

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Fun for a nickel at the old North End Pavilion in Ocean Grove, New Jersey

Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Music from the stage, Ocean Grove history, Ocean Grove history by Rich Amole, tagged , on June 30, 2014| 4 Comments »

 

Ocean Grove North End. c.1908. Postcard.

Ocean Grove North End. c.1908. Postcard.

 

 

xxxx

Submitted by Rich Amole, Blogfinger staff reporter/historian

Paul:

From those Ocean Grove boardwalk days at the North End Pavilion entertainment center, the Skee-Ball game is where you roll a baseball size wooden ball  up a fourteen foot lane and try to drop it into the high scoring holes.  Scoring well would deliver tickets from the machine that could be traded in for small toys, stuffed animals, free games and various souvenirs of a visit to the shore.

The attachment is a token that you dropped into the machine’s slot which would start the game by delivering the player a number of balls to roll.  Skee-ball was invented in 1909 and continues to be a great source of amusement 105 years later.

Rich

 

DANNY KAYE     “Roller bowl a ball a penny a pitch”

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An OG beach scene from 1909.

Posted in Ocean Grove history by Rich Amole, Ocean Grove Postcards from the Past, tagged on May 31, 2014|

Submitted by Rich Amole,Blogfinger staff reporter and historian.

 

By Rich Amole, Blogfinger reporter and historian.

“Paul:

 

“Here’s a post card I have never run across before.

“It is an Ocean Grove beach scene from 1909.   It appears that there may have been enough striped canvas left over from the tenters’ awnings to add a sun guard to their folding wooden beach chairs.

“This summer scene shows a manned life guard stand,  a man doing his imitation of a sea gull on a piling, swimmers taking a dip, a passing sail boat, and a whole lot of people with a whole lot of clothing on.

“Must of been a Victorian sea breeze that day—-no Coppertone necessary.

“Rich”

 

FATS DOMINO:

 

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What’s With the H20 at the Old North End? Rich Wants to Know.

Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove history by Rich Amole, Postcards From Ocean Grove, tagged on April 17, 2014| 10 Comments »

Postcard submitted by Rich Amole, Blogfinger historian

Postcard of the North End Hotel in Ocean Grove, 1951,  submitted by Rich Amole, Blogfinger historian

Paul:

It seems that the North End Hotel Pool photo has awakened almost 10 responses. Let me throw a postcard   (being sold on ebay) made from a painting  done in 1951 of the Hotel showing a bit of water bordering the lower rooms of the hotel.  Anyone want to jump in on this and tell us   where or what that water is doing there?

Rich

 

ANDY WILLIAMS:

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Centennial Belle shows up after 45 years with her bell still dangling.

Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove history, Ocean Grove history by Rich Amole, tagged , on April 6, 2014|

 

Centennial Belle 1969 submitted by Rich Amole

Centennial Belle 1969 submitted by Rich Amole

 

Paul:

A small item to help celebrate the founding of Ocean Grove on its Centennial Celebration in 1969. The item is a called a Centennial Belle pinback button with a bell dangler, with the button measuring 1 1/2 inches.

Hopefully more bells will be ringing in the Grove for the Sesquicentennial in less than five short years.

Rich

THE DELL VIKINGS  “Whispering Bells.”

 

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CMA Stationery from 1894. Does anyone write letters any more?

Posted in Music from the movies, Ocean Grove history, Ocean Grove history by Rich Amole, tagged on March 27, 2014|

1894. Photo by Rich Amole

1894. Photo by Rich Amole

 

Paul:

In the early 1890’s the Camp Meeting Association had their own United States Post Office Department embossed stamped envelopes.

They were manufactured under a Government contract for the Camp Meeting Association for use as official stationery.  In those early days the post office occupied a part of the Camp Meeting Association building.

Today the Ocean Grove Post Office lobby maintains that early twentieth century mystique while providing your twenty first century first class postage fee at forty nine cents.

Rich Amole, Blogfinger staff reporter specializing in Ocean Grove history.

 

Editor’s Note:  Here is a link to a Blogfinger article in January about whether our post office branch will remain open.  There also is a photo of the interior of our very quaint  branch which has become a minor station for mailing letters and packages.  The mail carriers for OG now operate out of the Neptune P.O.

BF link about our post office

 

PEGGY LEE AND BENNY:  Many letters were written during that WWII era when so many were far from home.  Take a look at the memorials at the top of Broadway.  Here is the Benny Goodman Orchestra with Peggy Lee singing “We’ll Meet Again.”    This is from the soundtrack of the Ken Burns’ film “The War.”

 

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