Late spring crowds strolled along the boardwalk near Midway Steaks at Webster Avenue here in May 2012. Erik Weber / (c) Ocean Signal Media Group

by Phil Stilton

SEASIDE HEIGHTS–This week the Asbury Park Sun reported that the HBO original series “Boardwalk Empire” was considering Asbury Park as a future filming location. Today officials here reported that they, too, were trying to urge producers from the popular cable series to consider their boardwalk exclusively or possibly in conjunction with that Monmouth County shore city.

Through three seasons of the show, which depicts Roaring Twenties-era Atlantic City during Prohibition, Leverage, its production company, relied on special effects and several locations in New York City to recreate the essence of those times, including a 300-foot, $5 million replica boardwalk built in Steiner Studios at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

Now, according the the Sun, the show is in talks with the City of Asbury Park to film the fourth season there. While Asbury Park may be a fitting choice with several buildings of the style and period, including the Convention Center, which opened in 1930, Seaside Heights officials today told the Ocean Signal that they are now lobbying HBO and the show’s producers to consider their boardwalk also.

Seaside Heights Community Improvement Director Michael Grachien asked, ‘Why not Seaside Heights?’

He credited the borough’s 100 filming permits in 2012 alone to the town’s film friendly policies and nominal filming permit fee of just $25.

“We understand the publicity and promotion filming in our town brings, so we’re very supportive of these kinds of things – in some other towns, the filming permit is astronomical,” the community improvement director said. “We understand what we get out of it here and the permit and fee is there just so we can know who’s filming, when and how many people they’ll be bringing.”

The town most notably and recently was home to MTV”s controversial hit series “Jersey Shore” and past seasons of “MTV’s Spring Break.”

“We read some articles saying Boardwalk Empire is coming, so we contacted the producers of the show through our contacts at HBO so we can pitch Seaside Heights,” he continued. “If nothing else, we’d like to even partner up with Asbury Park and make it something that can benefit both towns.”

Seaside Heights is currently engaged in an approximately $6 million boardwalk rebuilding project following severe damage as a result of Hurricane Sandy on October 29th. Borough officials anticipate a Memorial Day reopening.

“Most of the major networks have filmed here over the years and they appreciate what’s here and what we do” Mr. Grachien added. “And we appreciate them.”

By Phil Stilton

SEASIDE HEIGHTS–After being snowed out on their first planned Friday night dance party a week earlier, the Bamboo Bar in Seaside Heights hosted Fireball Friday on February 15^th.

Brian Huntenburg, manager at the club said they’re back and ready to continue the party that was interrupted when Hurricane Sandy shut them and the rest of the barrier island down last fall.

The Bamboo Bar hosted their grand reopening on Saturday, February 2^nd.  “Opening weekend was unbelievable,” Huntenburg said. “The response has been great here.  We had a set back with the weather the second weekend, but this is our third weekend open.  People could not wait to get back to Seaside.”

The Bamboo Bar will be open Friday and Saturday nights going forward, weather permitting and are planning a large St. Patrick’s Day party on March 9^th.

Huntenburg says it is one of the biggest days of the year for the club and they will have entertainment and food all day long, including live bands, Irish food and live dj’s both upstairs and downstairs.  The party runs from 10 am to 10 pm.   “The whole place is open, including the new addition we put on last summer and it’s going to be a great view of the parade.”

“People in Seaside, whether you’re on the boardwalk or not, the people here are resilient and excited for it to come back,” Huntenburg said.  “The nostalgia is coming back, the people are coming back and it’s a great thing for the town.”

The club, which is two blocks away from the beach and boardwalk sustained only minor damage during the hurricane.

By Phil Stilton

JACKSON—While the cast of the television show Amish Mafia have recently made a big splash in the entertainment blogosphere with their hit Discovery Channel program this year, another band of Amish have been rocking the east coast for over ten years.

“Straight Outta Lancaster”, the Amish Outlaws, a band that features real ex-Amish community members, have gone from the fields to the stage, even earning themselves the “Top Entertainment Pick” award by New York Magazine in their annual Winter Weddings issue in 2012.

Unlike Lebanon Levi and his small gang of Amish tough guys who claim in the television show to run Lancaster County with an iron fist, the Amish Outlaws rule the stage and the audience at each of their performances.     While the Amish Mafia are out tossing buggies, running hut parties and making sure there’s no adultery in their community, the Amish Outlaws made sure the “English” patrons, that’s what they call non-Amish Americans, at 21 South had one of the wildest nights out in Jackson in 2013.

Three members of the five man band are ex-Amish, including lead singer Brother Hezekiah, bass player Brother Ezekiel and keyboardist Brother Amos.

According to Hezekiah, the three had left the Amish community years ago in search of a new life and were brought together ten years ago through the love of “English” rock music, a taboo in Amish society.

As an Amish kid growing up, he said he had very limited access to rock music, but would sneak out with his friends to the local clubs and found a new calling in life.  It was one far from the hard life in the Amish community, a hard life on the road as a musician.

As far as the Amish Outlaws ever bringing their road show back home to Lancaster, Hezekiah said, it’s doubtful.  “Probably not,”  he said.  “It depends on the situation, but I’d say that’s not going to happen.  We actually have a big Amish following in Maryland and they come out for us.  They’re a different type of Amish down there.  Like, the guy I met once at a gas station, he had a Back Street Boys kind of beard, so clearly he’s able to use the good razors, plus all the Amish girls he was with were smoking hot…I mean way too hot.  They even had tans and not the tan you would get outdoors.  They went to the tanning salon…just they’re wearing an Amish outfit.  Maybe they got some different rules, even the fact that they were at a gas station.”

While fans of bands sometimes come to shows in costume, the band says that quite often people come out to their shows with Amish style clothes, especially in Maryland.  “There’s a possibility I might move to Maryland one day and run for Congress.  It’s ridiculous how much of a following we have there,” he added.  He added, many come out with an Amish outfit and bald cap.

What should you expect at an Amish Outlaws performance?   “We get people motivated and really moving, really shaking on the dance floor,” Hezekiah said in an interview with the Ocean Signal.  “I think because of that, generally, we had success everywhere we have played.”  The Outlaws play a wide range of covers from Dropkick Murphy’s to  Elvis to Toby Keith to Dr. Dre to Marvin Gaye, but you won’t hear them play any of the Amish classics.

In case you’re wondering whether the television show, Amish Mafia is actually real, Hezekiah says he doubts it, but if it is, it’s not sanctioned by the community like it’s portrayed on television.  “I never saw anything like that when I lived there, so I’m going to say it’s probably not true.  I left 20 years ago, so anything can happen, but I ‘d say no,” he said.

Photos by Phil Stilton

JACKSON—One of the original landmarks of Six Flags Great Adventure is no more.   On January 22^nd, crews at the Jackson theme park demolished the Conestoga Wagon to make room for the new Safari Off Road Adventure loading and unloading area.

Built in 1974, the Conestoga Wagon was designed to be a larger than life snack stand serving Mexican-style refreshments in the Rootin’ Tootin’ Rip Roarin’ section of the park. Its location outside the main gates to the Great Arena made it a popular stop for guests on their way to and from the shows and spectacles presented daily in the early years. It still serves the same function with the Northern Star Arena now serving as the park’s concert venue.

One of the earliest planned elements of Great Adventure, the Conestoga Wagon was originally planned as the “Chuck Wagon” in the Enchanted Forest, the idea was incorporated into the Rootin’ Tootin’ Rip Roarin’ section of the theme park, and opened in July of 1974.

From the very start, the Conestoga Wagon was one of the park’s signature larger than life structures, and its original elaborate and colorful paint scheme made it one of the most eye catching structures in a park filled with over the top architecture.

The details of the Conestoga Wagon were quite amazing and authentically detailed. Large details like the hitch in the front, and the axels underneath, and small details like the hardware of the boxes made the structure something special.

The Conestoga Wagon served as one of the park’s main snack stands in the early years, serving the thousands of guests seeing shows every day in the Great Arena. The patio areas were filled with rustic tables and chairs and umbrellas in coordinating red and yellow to match the bright colors of the Wagon and the Super Teepee next to it. Over time, the unique paint scheme was replaced with more subdued colors, and for a while a wood grain finish in an attempt to make it look more realistic.

As time went on and the park expanded in other directions, the Great Arena was relegated to use primarily for concerts, and foot traffic past the Conestoga Wagon decreased. Increasingly it would be closed for parts of the day or even for days or weeks, and the building showed signs of neglect, with more theme elements being removed and generally looking like a shadow of its original glory. Since then, the building has been repaired and repainted, and with the increased traffic through the area since the addition of Medusa in 1999, has become one of the more important food stands in the park again.

Still larger than life after more than 30 years, the Conestoga Wagon stood as a reminder of how big Warner LeRoy’s dreams for Great Adventure were. The Wagon still is one of the most photographed structures in the park, with many groups posing in or on the over sized wheels. The menu served hasn’t changed much over the years with an emphasis on “portable” foods that can be carried into the Arena or enjoyed at the surrounding tables.

About: Harry is the co-creator of GreatAdventureHistory.com along with Tom Benton.   For years, the two have chronicled the details and history of the theme park in amazing detail and accuracy.  You can learn more about the history of Great Adventure at www.greatadventurehistory.com.

Information provided by Harry Applegate, GreatAdventureHistory.com

Postcard Caption: These early park postcards show the original paint scheme of the Conestoga Wagon and the adjacent Super Teepee.    Photo of wagon courtesy Six Flags Great Adventure.

Jenkinson’s Boardwalk, Point Pleasant Beach. File Photo by Phil Stilton / Ocean Signal Media Group.

POINT PLEASANT BEACH–Three months after Hurricane Sandy struck the Jersey Shore, life is slowly returning back to normal for businesses.   This weekend, Jenkinson’s Boardwalk in Point Pleasant has announced they will be open for business..

The Jenkinson’s Aquarium, Aquarium Gift Shop and Sweet shop will opened on Friday.

The Pavilion Arcade, Frank’s Fun Center, Jenkinson’s South Arcade and Pavilion Fast Food will open on Saturday, February 2^nd.

“It’s been quite a lot of work but we have a great crew here. We can’t wait to greet our customers when we reopen,” said Toby Wolf, spokeswoman for Jenkinson’s.  “We have cheered for every reopening we have seen on the Shore in the last few months and we are proud to finally make our own announcement.”

Wolf says work will continue in some areas of the property to ensure everything will be fully operational for the Summer of 2013.

“The Amusement Park is already preparing by bringing back the rides that were removed from the boardwalk prior to the storm,” she added. “The 2 for 1 Ride Ticket sale will be held as usual Easter Weekend, March 29^th thru 31^st both online and in person.”

Aerial view of Jenkinson’s Boardwalk after Hurricane Sandy. File Photo by Phil Stilton / Ocean Signal Media Group.

ASBURY PARK–The Sensational Soul Cruisers, based out of Jackson Township, have been rocking the Jersey Shore for 20 years.   On Saturday, the band celebrated their 20th year with a performance at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park, where last year, Bruce Springsteen got up on stage and performed with the band.     The Sopranos star Vincent “Big Pussy” Pastore was the master of ceremony for the night.  On Sunday, the band donned their “Restore the Shore” sweatshirts and headed to Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford for their final game of the season against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Photos by Sensational Soul Cruisers.

Have news to share about yourself?  Email your story and photo to news@ocsignal.com.

Thirty Halloween-themed shows and attractions await guests during Fright Fest’s twenty-first season. By day, families can enjoy favorites like the Trick-or-Treat Trail, Monster Mash Bash musical, Professor Slithers’ Creepy Critters animal show, Haunted Wagon Tales ride, Spooky, Kooky Magic Show and more. Guests can also enjoy the park’s famous line-up of thrill rides, including Adventure Alley featuring four new rides for 2012—SkyScreamer extreme swing ride, Fender Benders bumper cars, Air Jumbo flying elephants and Deja Vu scrambler.

After 6 pm, the park transitions to “fright by night” and is not recommended for children under 12 and those who scare easily. Scream-seekers can expect new shows including The Awakening, Dead Man’s Party—The Guest List, Circus of Thrills, Doc Swan’s Sideshow of Oddities and after a multi-year hiatus, the return of popular shows like Bad Bob the Bone Butcher and Professor Zombini’s Freak Show starring Coney Island sideshow icon Todd Robbins.

See some Dead Man’s Party Behind the Scenes.

Zombie Zones including The Bloody Fountain, Circus Psycho, Bone Butcher Terror-Tory and the all-new Shipwreck Cove feature midway-roaming zombies hunting for their next meal. By popular demand, ghoul-repellent whistles will not be offered this season which makes all guests equally delectable to resident zombies.

Four outdoor Terror Trails provide the most intense Fright Fest scares. Voodoo Island, Fright Fest’s new Terror Trail, takes guests on a tour of a reality show set cursed by cannibals. Two Terror Trails feature new themes – the steampunk-inspired Insanity: Gears of the Mind and the toxic Wasteland. The Manor and its zombie-infested halls return for a second season. All four areas remove guests from familiar park surroundings and transport them into a gauntlet of terror in terrifyingly remote areas of the property.

Guests can also enjoy the return of show favorites like the multimedia spectacular Ghoulmaster’s Ghosts featuring new music and surprises, and the Dead and Local music showcase.

Spooktacular Charitable Events

Six Flags hosts the tenth-annual American Red Cross Blood Drive Sept. 29. Guests can donate a pint of blood to earn a free ticket to Fright Fest. Reservations must be made by calling 732/928-2000, ext. 2834. Up to 200 donors are needed and will be taken on a first call, first serve basis. Must be 16 or older, at least 110 lbs. and in good health to donate.

Six Flags Great Adventure hosts the 6th annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Sept. 30 – New Jersey’s largest 5k run/walk. The day honors breast cancer survivors, those lost, and unites a community in the fight against breast cancer. In 2011, more than 15,000 participants and spectators turned out to support the Race for the Cure. For more information, log onto sixflags.com/greatadventure and go to the events tab.   Get your tickets now, Buy online and save!

Seaside Heights–Damian Octhere, a New Jersey resident and 16-year-old pop and R&B singer, dancer and actor from East Orange lit up the stage Sunday night with an impressive performance on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights for a crowd of approximately five hundred people.

It’s all part of the Radio Disney “Next Big Thing”, NBT-On Tour.   Now in it’s fifth season, the competition which allows ordinary teens to transform themselves into…the next big thing.

Radio Disney first introduced its season five “N.B.T.” artists at a three-night showcase at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort this past June.    The new cast was joined by season four “N.B.T.” winner Shealeigh and runner-up Zack Montana.

For Octhere, a Jersey boy, it felt good to perform in front of the local crowd, in which many of his family, friends and even former school teachers came out to show their support for the young artist.

“I feel so great to play for all the people I grew up around, it’s like a hometown.  When I grew up I used to come here all the time,” he said.  Some of those hometown fans included a handful of Damian’s grade school teachers.     He said, ”It feels so great, because my teachers are here all the way back from second grade.  They’re the ones who led me down the right path and help show me how to become a good person.   It just feels great to have everybody around.”

Pansy LeBlanc, Damian’s third grade public school teacher at Jackson Academy, in East Orange, New Jersey came all the way to Seaside Heights to cheer on and support her former student, along with several other staff members from the school.

“I’m so proud of him! He’s always had a personality as a little kid of the class clown, but he’s so grown and matured and we’re all so proud of his accomplishments.  I think he’s going to be the one to make it,” she said. “I think when he performs, it’s all from his heart, you can see it in his performance.  We wish him all the best and we love him.”

Octhere was joined on stage by fellow NBT Season 5 finalist, Jack Skuller of New York City.

Both had the crowds cheering, but it was hometown star, Octhere that stole the show with his powerful vocals and throwing in some classics for moms and dads kept everyone in the mood and dancing the night away. After the show about a hundred young girls and boys  lined up and were treated to a meet and greet by the pair, receiving personalized autographed photos.

The event was the fourth and final installment of a summer long Radio Disney series hosted on the boardwalk.

“It’s been a great summer.  It’s been a great place to perform and everyone has welcomed us here,” said Radio Disney host Mickey Gordon, of Robbinsville, who goes by the name DJ Mickey G.

 

Perhaps it was for her own safety.  In 2009, Alexis Cohen, a popular contestant on American Idol was struck and killed by a car while crossing a road in Seaside Heights.