I am currently co-authoring a brief history of Asbury Park, and am looking for any old pictures or postcards you might have tucked away in your drawer. We have a lot of pictures of the place in the early 1900s, but are particularly interested in the 1940s through the 1960s. There was a Frankie Lymon concert down there in 1957, in Convention Hall, that turned into a riot, and a picture of that would be the pot of gold. :-)
If anyone has anything they wish to share, drop me a line at JGBilby44@aol.com Credit will be given on publication.
Joe,
Back in the 60's and early 70's, I used to take the bus with Neil Melillo from downtown to Asbury Park a few times a summer. We would stay at a "Hotel" (sleeping room with a tilted floor; an old dresser with a mirror and a bathroom down the hall). If I recall, the name of the hotel was The Polonaise. It was on 5th Avenue across from Sunset Lake, about 2 blocks from the Paramount, the Convention Hall, that circular Howard Johnson's and, my first legal drinking spot, The Wonder Bar. That being said, I believe the Polonaise was owned by the Marions who lived on 9th street. They lived across the street from the O'Reilly's and the Kesslers (Katie and Linda from my SRL class of '64). While the Polonaise is now gone (replaced by a 3 story "garden" apartment complex), perhaps the Marions, if they're around, would have some pictures, and I'm certain, fantastic tales. I believe one of the sons was Paul, another son whose name I can't recall, and a daughter in a class a year or two later (65-66?)... I currently live in Yardley, PA (a town just over the river from Trenton) and when the stars are in alignment and the urge hits, I'll jump on my bike and ride the 55 minutes across the skinny part of Jersey and have a drink on the deck of convention center. You might be able to take the boy out of Jersey, but... well, you know.
And, an unrelated note to the great webmaster of this site, John, please post more pictures from the First Fridays (tonight). They really help keep the audience here engaged. And give your brother my best.
Hello Steve Dowdell! Great to see you here on the Canteen. There are a few of us from 64 on here. Jay Dalbo, Liz O'Connor, Debbie Cordasco. How has life been treating you?
Bob,
If I am not mistaken, Dennis Marion is an only child, and his Dad was a Newark Cop, as you probably know. Maybe there were other Marions (possibly related to Dennis) that the above writers speak of. Dennis, if you are out there, since I recollect the last time I saw you you said you read this message board from time to time, maybe you can shed some light.
Dennis Marion has a brother, Paul, 4 or 5 years older. Dennis and I hung out for awhile, when were around 15 or so. We did volunteer work at a radio station, WFMU 91.1, when it was in East Orange at Fairleigh Dickinson University. They were remodeling the house they were quartered in; we handled more brooms than anything else.
used to go to Long Branch when child in the bording houses, then teen years Wildwood with friends, Asbury park took day trips throughout teen and then 20's after returning from army tour South East Asia also Sea Side park met lots of great young ladies at those places
I remembered the name Marion from my brother Joe.He graduated in 62 with a Donnie Marion also I believe from 9th street.I also remembered that arund this time"early sixties" there was a movie or series on the original Disney Show,Sundays at 7 o'clock,about a Francis Marion known as the "Swamp Fox" in the revolutionary war. I also read the book.I might be a little looney but it seems to me that there was similarities betwee the swamp fox and Mel Gibsons' The Patriot. I'm going to have to get the book and read it again.
Up until we moved away from 134 N.4th Street, when I was five, Paul Marion was my next door neighbor. I believe he graduated from SRL in 1960 and went to St. James. His dad Francis Marion was a big guy about 6-6 and was one of Newark's Finest. He and his family were one of the first tenants of the new Academy Spires on First Street. It was advertised as another Colonade, but it failed to live up to expectations. In the early 1980's I'd see Mr. Marion at the 7 Hills in bloomfield. He and his wife were living nearby. Great family.
I am not sure if Kenny was his brother or cousin.
