My run-ins with the kings of swing
They were both swing-era titans who led two of the most famous bands in the history of jazz. They both played clarinet and they both disliked each other. They were each master instrumentalists and are still revered today. Both were somewhat odd and peculiar, and both...
Dunes Till Dawn: A Shore nightlife landmark
When the music stopped at Somers Point’s nightclubs, the night continued at The Dunes. Bay Shores and Tony Mart’s helped make Somers Point’s Bay Avenue a destination for live music. But the entertainment had a deadline: Music ended at 2 a.m., and patrons had to leave...
Gone but not forgotten: 10 Ocean City Boardwalk businesses we still miss
Walk the Ocean City Boardwalk today and you will find plenty of institutions that have survived generations of changing tastes, storms and summer crowds. But for locals and vacationers, part of the fun of strolling the boards is remembering what used to be there. A...
When being an architect was Micky Dolenz’s career blueprint
The Casino File Micky Dolenz is currently touring in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the debut of “The Monkees,” the groundbreaking sitcom that made him and his three cast/bandmates pop-culture titans. But he could also be celebrating the 60th anniversary of...
When the Steel Pier made jazz history
As reported in these pages and just about everywhere else, Atlantic City’s venerable Steel Pier, a part of the town’s entertainment landscape since 1898, is for sale. The Cantanoso family, owners of the Pier since 2011, bought it for $4.25 million and is selling it...
