Beyond The Palace-Greetings from Asbury Park, New Jersey

"The fireworks are hailing over little Eden tonight"

Asbury Park, New Jersey, USA

Building in downtown Asbury Park-1986
This side faced Wesley Lake

Asbury Park was founded by James Bradley in the 1870s, and was named after Francis Asbury, the founder of Methodism in America. (Ocean Grove, a Methodist community, lies just south of Asbury Park, separated by Wesley Lake.) In its glory days, it became one of the most popular destinations on the Jersey Shore.

The business district lies on the southside of the community, mostly along Cookman Avenue.
In the late 1960s, riots destroyed much of the city's property and its vitality. Tourists began to go elsewhere. Long-time residents moved away. Throughout the 70s and 80s, the town took a steady path downhill. Although there were plans and hopes that a huge comeback was in the near future, things went from terrible to appalling.
The bottom was reached in the 90s as political corruption and real estate scandals turned Asbury Park into a ghost town.

As it enters a new century, Asbury Park's fate is still up in the air. However, there are new signs of life pointing to a faint heartbeat left in the old town.

Bruce Springsteen held the rehearsals for his reunion tour with the E Street band at the Convention Hall in the Spring of 1999. Fans could spend their days on the beach, listening to the songs drifting out of the hall. He has also done several benefit shows at the Convention Hall. Money was raised for local charities (including Save Tillie).

In December of 1999, "The Sopranos" filmed their season finale in and around Asbury Park.

The Robert DeNiro movie "City By The Sea" was partly filmed in Asbury Park.

The infamous Stone Pony re-opened its doors in May of 2000, just a month after the re-opening of The Fast Lane club.

Groups such as Save Tillie have formed to preserve The Palace and other landmarks.

Members of the gay community have also come in, re-opening clubs and bringing more people into the city.

There is great hope that Asbury Park will rise from the ashes of the corruption and scandals to one day be a destination of choice for vacationers and a place of pride for residents.

2000 Postmark

The Palace's "Tillie" received a special US postmark on May 27, 2000.

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1984

Sandy's Arcade

No one seems sure if this arcade was here before or after Bruce's song "Fourth of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)".

"And me I just got tired of hangin' in them dusty arcades, banging them pleasure machines..."

1986

The Student Prince
911 Kingsley Avenue

In the photo, the former home of The Student Prince can be seen near the small white marquee by the door at the far left of the building.
The Xanadu club was also the site of the first public performance of "Dancing in The Dark" when Bruce joined the band Bystander onstage and performed it.
The Student Prince was a small bar where a young Bruce Springsteen was playing when he and Clarence Clemons met for the first time. Clarence was playing at the nearby Zone One, which in the 80s was known as The Wonder Bar. (Bruce shot his "One Step Up" video at the Wonder Bar location.)

1986

THE BOARDWALK

The boardwalk stretches from the Convention Hall on the north, to the Casino on the south end.

1986

Bird's eye view from atop the Howard Johnsons

THE CIRCUIT

The Circuit was the combination of Ocean Avenue and Kingsley Street. On sweet Summer nights, it was packed with hot cars full of young men and women.

"The Circuit's lined and jammed with chrome invaders..."

1986

View down
Ocean Avenue

"Down in the town the Circuit's full of switchblade lovers..."

2000

View down
Kingsley St.
The Flamingo Motel is seen to the right.

Some local fans believe this may possibly be the inspiration for the Flamingo Lane of "Jungleland".

2000

Kingsley St.

"I'm riding down Kingsley..."

2000

The creature that ate Ocean Avenue

This unfinished apartment building is a standing tribute to the scandals that have turned Asbury Park into a ghost town. Construction started a decade ago, and now its future, as well a that of a lot of the area, is tied up in bankruptcy courts.
Currently, only one lane of Ocean Avenue is opened beside this building.

2000

The Fastlane

Located at 206 Fourth Avenue, this club reopened in the Spring of 2000.
An early incarnation of Bon Jovi could be found playing here in the early 80s, where it wasn't unusual to see them joined onstage by Bruce Springsteen.

Check out their website: The Fastlane

2000

Berkeley Carteret

Reopening in 1986, the Berkeley Carteret is a luxury hotel that sits across Ocean Avenue from the Convention Hall.

1984

ASBURY PARK

View of the city from The Empress Hotel
Due to the unfinished building on Ocean, this view is no longer possible.

If you are interested in more on Asbury Park, please be sure to check out the following websites:

Cleopatra Steps Out
721 Cookman Avenue

A great place for gifts
The nice folks at Cleopatra's also have some wonderful Asbury Park related items!

Save Tillie

Organization from the preservation of local Asbury Park landmarks

The Palace's History

Read about the past and the future of Asbury Park's amusement history

asburypark.net

Keep up to date on the latest news in and around Asbury Park

The Asbury Park Press

Also features:
Your Hometown
Bruce Springsteen Site

Brucebase

Great site documenting Bruce and his performances, including his early shows in Asbury Park

Stone Pony

The shore's most legendary club!

Weird NJ

Not necessarily an Asbury Park link, but definitely weird

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