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pageant, and parades were all part of the ing in 1976. A second fire in 1982 destroyed
Boardwalk experience, as was the daily spec- what remained of the original structure.
tacle of fashionably dressed men and women Any consideration of the Boardwalk
promenading down the Boardwalk wanting demands at least a nod to saltwater taffy, a
to be “seen.” Atlantic City was a popular favorite beachside treat. Along the Atlantic
honeymoon spot, and the Boardwalk, with its City Boardwalk folks have purchased the
Steel Pier, a must-experience tourist attraction. product since at least the early 1880s. Many
In 1929, just months before the stock market candy shops along the Boardwalk provided
and U.S. economy crashed, the New York windows for passerby to watch the taffy being
Times toasted the Boardwalk as “a magnifi- stretch. You could buy taffy there to enjoy
cent proof of America's newly found wealth and take some home as a souvenir gift, the
and leisure. It is an iridescent bubble on the most popular being an assortment of taffy
surface of our fabulous prosperity.” flavors packaged inside a barrel-shaped bank.
Wartime in the 1940s also made some Mr. Peanut was another staple on the
Boardwalk memories. Convention Hall, locat- Atlantic City Boardwalk. In 1930, the
ed right on the Boardwalk, was then serving Planters company opened a peanut shop on
as a training facility, preparing thousands of the Boardwalk across from the Steel Pier.
young soldiers for service. Squads of armed There were peanut roasters in the window
forces could be seen marching up and down and the aroma of freshly roasted peanuts
the boards. Mock beachfront invasions and spread out the door and all along the board-
war bond rallies were common as well. As walk. Said local historian Allen “Boo”
1942 rumors began flying that German Pergament, “when you’d smell those roasting
U-boats were on the watch along the coast, nuts coming out of the store, you just had to
Boardwalk lamps were shaded for protection. During WWII Atlantic City became a major training base have a bag.” Outside there was a man dressed
The 1950s and 1960s gave the Boardwalk for the Army Air Force, and its hotels became barracks. This up in a peanut costume, who handed out
its star power. Marilyn Monroe, Jimmy photo, taken on July 9, 1942, shows the arrival of men of samples of the roasted peanuts, waved to
the Army Air Force Replacement Command at the Hotel
Durante, Ed Sullivan, Joe DiMaggio, Frank Ambassador, "where once – the idle rich absorbed their passersby, and greeted visitors to the Planter’s
Sinatra, Milton Berle, Dean Martin, and quota of sunshine." Peanut store. This was Mr. Peanut, who was
Bing Crosby all enjoyed and entertained on a Boardwalk tourist attraction until the store
the Boardwalk. The Beatles were filmed enjoying its closed its doors in 1978. Today, in its stead, stands
world-famous sub sandwiches, Annette Funicello and the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Left behind are
Frankie Avalon opened a bowling alley, and scenes over 45 years of Mr. Peanut collectibles, from fig-
from The Burgler with Jayne Mansfield made it a urines to banks, buttons, peanut-shaped boxes, and
backdrop. The city was such a hot spot that it glass counter jars. Many of these items can be found
inspired the popular board game Monopoly, which is at the Mr. Peanut store on eBay.
based on Atlantic City streets and properties. Soon, the Boardwalk became all about food, from
In the 1960s, international rather than domestic chocolates to ice cream, roasted peanuts, fudge,
travel became popular with the affordability of air confections, cotton candy, pizza, and submarine
travel, and Atlantic City was forsaken in favor of a sandwiches. The Boardwalk introduced Americans
European vacation. The groundbreaking decision to and tourists from abroad to the latest tastes, treats, and
bring casino gaming to the fading beach resort in food sensations; food worth talking about and taking
1978 allowed Atlantic City to revive and reinvent home as a souvenir. Today, the Boardwalk continues
itself and offered new hope for the Boardwalk, which to be all about the food experience – from new sensa-
by this time had seen better days, falling from the tions to traditional favorites, offering fun and afford-
main attraction to a kitchy sideshow. able alternatives to the more formal and fine dining
With the legalization of gambling, hotels, stores, options offered by the casinos and restaurants in town.
property owners, and piers along the Boardwalk start- The other great attraction was the introduction of
ed to change hands rapidly like deeds in a game of the rolling chair to the Boardwalk. The first ones,
MONOPOLY. Billions were invested by out-of- designed by William Hayday in 1887, were modified
town developers to build grand casinos and launch wooden wheelchairs that allowed people with limited
popular restaurants on and off the Boardwalk. Stars mobility to experience the sea breezes. To be sure the
and big-name talent were paid top dollar to perform or Vintage 1970s boardwalk photo of chairs he rented were returned to his shop and not
game at the tables. Yet, for all that was spent and for Mr. Peanut store on the boardwalk abandoned at railroad stations or bathhouses, he
all the publicity that was launched around casino openings, the vision of offered the option of hiring a man to
Atlantic City as the Las Vegas of the east coast never materialized for push the chairs for the day. Its nov-
investors and the many side businesses that banked on Atlantic City's elty was not lost on the able-bodied,
allure and come-back. Several of the casinos and properties developed and soon it became popular for gen-
during this boom have since been demolished. For now, this seaside tlemen and ladies to dress to the
town and its cultural landmark, the Atlantic City Boardwalk, survive on nines for a push up and down the
nostalgia while waiting for what comes next. Boardwalk in a rolling chair. Over
the years, the chairs have evolved in
Boardwalk Favorites look and are now mostly motorized
In June of 1898, the Steel Pier opened as an amusement pier off the or bike-pedaled, but the experience
Boardwalk and quickly became one of the most famously known theme is the same - the rolling chair
parks and attractions in the country. It earned its reputation over the remains the best seat in the house for
decades for hosting an array of concerts, unusual shows, and the great- seeing and being seen on the most
est entertainers of the times. It was called “The Showplace of the iconic of American boardwalks.
Nation!” and featured such attractions as the Diving Horse, High For a vintage look at Atlantic City,
Divers, Human Cannonball, Motor Cycle Cage, and Diving Bell. A visit: www.historydaily.org/atlantic-
fire destroyed a major portion of the Steel Pier in 1969, and Atlantic city-in-the-1900s
City’s waning tourist popularity in the 1970s ultimately led to its clos-
Pennsylvania Railroad Atlantic City
ca. 1935 by Edward M. Eggleston
18 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles