OH THOSE WILDWOOD DAYS
During the glory days of the 1950’s and early 60’s the entertainment choices in Wildwood was amazing. Which shows do you want to see? Bill Haley, Johnny Mathis, Della Reese at the Diamond Beach Club? Maybe Tony Bennett at the Bolero or Cozy Morley and Joey Bishop at Cozy Morley’s? Mickey Shaughnessy at Club Avalon? The Playboys were at the Elmira Club. Julius La Rosa, the Supremes, Fats Domino, Wayne Newton and the Platters all performed at the Riptide. Jackie Lee was at the Fun Spot, and our man Chubby Checker twisted at the Surf Club.
All of the above and many more appeared at the local Clubs during the summers of the 50’s and 60s’. Late in the 60’s the glory days started to fade. Entertainers who once played in Wildwood were now on TV where they earned mega salaries. The Clubs went to Disco then to deejays. In 1969 thousands of young people gathered in a field in New York. Many musical acts performed for huge crowds outdoors. They called it WOODSTOCK. It changed the world of popular music. I believe “that is the day the Music died in Wildwood”.These are just a few of the entertainers who appeared right here in the Wildwoods.
Come to the Wildwood Historical Museum and read the rest of the story. You will be surprised and glad you did.
News & Events
June 13, 2015
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Who was George F. Boyer?
George F. Boyer was born in Philadelphia in 1904. He came to Wildwood around 1932 and earned his living as a butcher, a merchant, and a fireman. His real local fame, however, came from his role as the City of Wildwood’s first and only official historian. While serving with Wildwood fire department in 1959, he came across the stump of a tree (now known as the “W” tree) in the old city hall.
