A new HBO series, Boardwalk Empire, premiered this weekend. Worlds away from what we see on Jersey Shore, it has reignited interest in New Jersey history and culture. Bryant Simon (author of Boardwalk of Dreams: Atlantic City and the Fate of Urban America and Professor of History at Temple University) has been interviewed for the accompanying HBO documentary, and here we ask him some questions about the “dreamlike” place that is AC.
You’ve described yourself as a native of South New Jersey. What drew you to writing the history of Atlantic City?
When I was growing up in the 1960s and 1970s in Vineland, Philly was not the place that drew us; it was more Atlantic City. That was where we went for splurge meals, special occasions, amusement parks, parades, and shopping. In fact, that’s where I got my bar mitzvah suit! Years later, my family moved just outside of Atlantic City and I watched, while riding my bike in the morning on the Boardwalk, as gambling woke the place up and irrevocably transformed it. I was transfixed by the city, by people’s nostalgia for it, by its nervous energy, and its aching sadness and painful poverty in the midst of plenty. Really, it had everything I wanted to write about it – it was like a Springsteen song, a place that could be mean and cruel, but a place of romance and possible redemption. How could I resist?
Compared to places like Las Vegas or Coney Island in its heyday, how did/does Atlantic City epitomize the urban playground?
All of these places share something in common – they are each the tale of two cities. They are places built in the interests of visitors, not necessarily residents; they sell (or sold) fantasies – fantasies that put tourists as the center of the narrative and allowed them to slip their daily skin and imagine themselves not as they were, but as they wanted to be. That is what people paid for when they went these places – they paid for fantasies.
As you researched the book, what memorable anecdotes did you come across that really captured the heart and history of Atlantic City?
One of the first things I learned about Atlantic City stayed with me throughout the project. I remember looking at a postcard from the 1920s or so. In it, the benches on the Boardwalk were pointed away from the beach. I asked if this was a mistake. “No” an expert on the city told me, “That’s how it was.” That was my first lesson that Atlantic City was essentially a stage and the visitors were both actors and audience.
You’ve been interviewed for a documentary that’s set to run in conjunction with the HBO series, Boardwalk Empire. What do you make of the series’ take on Atlantic City, and what to your mind does it say about public perception of the city?
If the show is a success, it will no doubt draw tourists to town, looking for the romantic, if still violent, past the program surely mythologizes. Yet the real Atlantic City Boardwalk of today has little relationship to the past except its common geography. Most of the dreamlike hotels – buildings that looked like French chateaux and Moorish palaces – have been torn down. The amusement piers are long gone or covered up and turned into air-conditioned malls. The crowds of people dressed in their Sunday – really their sleek and elegant Saturday night best – have been replaced by people in t-shirts and flip flops. Except for the ocean and
This is really sad to hear. I thought Larry had a great idea going. I do think that indie bookstores are kind of getting the shaft in the internet age. Small presses and libraries used to be more reliant on indie bookstores to move the free press along--bookstores were integral in the support system. But it seems that people don't appreciate bookstores as "curators" as much, since they've got Amazon or Library Thing readers to tell them what they think. I'd like to hope there's room for both.//
In some good news, my local university--University of Pittsburgh--is picking up on Larry's idea. A class (within U. Pitt) at the Osher Institute for Lifelong Learning will be taking seniors around to area independent bookstores, about 2 per class.// A big thank you to Larry for his efforts.
Thanks for picking up on this story. Larry really poured his heart into this and I think the tour could have brought so much attention to indie bookstores in a way no other marketing effort could.
Alas. Perhaps someone will pick up on the tour idea and do something with it... I hope more universities do things like the Pittsburgh initiative.
I've been reading and hearing about Larry's Bookstore tourism for a couple of years now,and it's a great idea but,in my opinion,he ran into a brick wall here because some independent book folks are rather conservative when it comes to shelling out the bucks to advance a bold new idea.
Perhaps Larry will find another way or someone else will take up the gauntlet he has thrown down. Ten to one,if that happens,the best bet for funding may be in the private sector.
Glad you went public with this. I have known for a few days and was not exactly sure how to raise awareness about this sad news. Larry's vision is wonderful, and it's a shame that it has come to this. Maybe your post can start a discussion that would bring about a change in direction.
Kelly Amabile
Here's an adventure opening for an independently wealthy, retired couple. I'd take it on myself if I weren't a struggling bookseller!
Such a shame.. humm, also too bad Larry shut down all of his websites.. He should've said something on the whole matter.. he shouldn't give up
Oh, GACK!!! I'm really shocked by this, and saddened. I was looking forward to taking the trip vicariously with Larry. Total bummer, dude.
Bluestalking Reader
That is sad but I think of it as more of an example of people not wanting to part with money in general. I think everyone has had a moment where they were like, "Yeah it's a great idea. I hope they get enough funding," when we ourselves could have contributed. I don't know why that is.
Booksellers whine about low sales, publicists whine about not being able to market books, editors whine that no one reads anymore - and every single one ignores the bright idea right in front of them.
I am so disappointed with the ABA and publishing as a whole. And I just got the bill for my dues yesterday. I don't really feel like paying it anymore.
I'm disappointed with Larry's decision but I can understand the frustration with the lack of support. We did donate to his bookstore bus trip, but most small businesses, like the bookstore we own, don't have a lot of advertising bucks to spread around. We organized a small bookstore bus trip this autumn which was met with enthusiasm not only by the participants but by our local tourism office which saw this as an opportunity to attract visitors to our small town. I suspect that Larry might have had more success in getting donations by appealing to the tourist bureaus and the Main Street programs for support. Those organizations are looking for any ideas they can use to promote their small businesses.
Very disappointing. Why can't one rich person--just one--forego a bazillion-dollar tchtochke & invest in independent bookstores instead? It'd be so easy. Ah, gee.