During the 1960s, Atlantic City was at the height of its popularity as a tourist destination. The city’s famous boardwalk was lined with shops, restaurants, and arcades and was a popular spot for strolling and people-watching. The beach was also a major draw, with miles of sandy shoreline and a bustling beach scene.
In terms of entertainment, Atlantic City had various options for visitors. There were many casinos, such as the famous Tropicana and the Steel Pier amusement park, which featured rides, attractions, live music and comedy venues. The city also hosted several major events, including the Miss America pageant, which was held in Atlantic City from 1921 to 2005.
Atlantic City’s economy during the 1960s depended heavily on tourism and gambling. Many of the casinos and hotels were owned by organized crime figures, who controlled much of the city’s vice activities, such as illegal gambling, prostitution, and drug trafficking. This led to a reputation for corruption and lawlessness, which persisted even as efforts were made to clean up the city’s image.
Despite the problems with organized crime and vice, many people flocked to Atlantic City in the 1960s to take advantage of the city’s many attractions and to gamble. The city’s population was around 65,000 during this time, and it was a popular spot for conventions and significant events. However, over the following decades, the city’s popularity waned as newer, more glamorous destinations like Las Vegas and the Caribbean emerged, and Atlantic City struggled to compete.
This article seems like flakey AI. Casino gambling didn’t start until 1978 and the Tropicana wasn’t built until the 1980s.
Look, there were a lot of factors that lead AC to shit the bed, but I will never understand how Atlantic and Cape May County voters forgot how much Trump contributed to fucking that city up before they voted for him in three separate elections. Just wild.
I am almost certain that the demographics of Atlantic City compared to the rest of the South Jersey coastal counties is why they assign no blame to Trump or any other slumlord businessmen. Minorities get blamed for ruining areas all the time, just go ask white boomers in and around any major city.
If you look at who voted dem. Pleasantville and Atlantic City were very blue. Surrounding towns were light red, and the rest were bright red. A combination of farmer/fishermen and “fuck you, I got mine.” types.
The older boomers were the ones fucked by Trump. I would put more weight on the younger 25% of that generation and really more responsibility on Gen X as a whole. They were in school when Trump began suffocating the working class and blissfully ignorant.
A shame what it is today. I’m in Atlantic City today working and it’s just a disgusting town. I also work in Philly frequently and I’d take Philly any day of the week. It’s the only ghetto that is a beach front town, it’s crazy. Undeveloped lots right at the boardwalk that have been there for over a decade. The local crime and population is a big problem here. You travel one town away to Ventnor, Brigantine and it’s a night and day difference. In Philly you see tons of people walking to work, exercising, enjoying the shops. In AC all you see is very few people anywhere on the streets and they’re homeless or look like they’re on drugs. Nobody dressed for work just slumming it at 6:30am in front of the corner store.
I’ve been working in the AC area for over 20 years and lived here my entire life and always heard “AC is on the up and coming”. I can tell you it’s not. In the booming economy we’ve had the last 10 years and nothing is happening there, that should be pretty obvious sign. They do have more dispensaries than any other city in NJ though for very little population, like that’s what the city needed.
There have been countless plans to tax those vacant spots to promote development but the politicians always chicken out.
the problem with AC is CRDA. They own all those empty lots. They bought and bulldozed them to combat urban blight with no plans on what to do with them beyond that.
The other issue with AC is that is the dumping ground for all the surrounding towns. Homeless in Absecon or Ocean City? you get a ride to the homeless Shelter in AC. Cant afford to live in Northfield? There is tons of section8 in AC.
And even when AC has nice things the locals might want, like the Sand Castle stadium or the Skate Zone nearby, people from nearby towns won’t go there. The locals want nothing to do with it. The waterpark is beautiful, priced high enough to keep the locals out, but the people from Brigantine don’t go there either.
There are two movies from the 70s that really provide a unique historic snapshot of AC at two significant points. “The King of Marvin Gardens” from the early 70s, starring Jack Nicholson and Bruce Dern, among others, shows AC as a quiet rotting old resort complete with these older hotels of the bygone era. And “Atlantic City” from the later 70s, starring Burt Lancaster and Susan Sarandon, shows AC undergoing a transformation in the later 70s as gambling is legalized and the old hotels make way for the new casinos.
The Long Kiss Goodnight offers some perspective in the late 80’s, early 90’s.
Thanks, didn’t know that one.
everyone just vibing, not a phone in sight