It's History

The Rise and Fall of Asbury Park New Jersey (8x61)

: 24, 2022

The city was founded in 1871 and quickly became a posh destination for Philadelphia and New York society. Its layout echoed European cities, with large inland lakes, broad avenues leading to the sea, and over 200 hotels. It had saltwater pools and carnival rides, and the Marx Brothers headlined at the Paramount. In the 1950s, the town continued to grow and prosper, but it was still a struggling town with its share of challenges. During the 1960s, Asbury Park's music scene began to thrive, with doo-wop, rock and roll, and rhythm and blues playing at the boardwalk and in local bars. Although the beachfront was deserted during the summers, the lack of tourists made it the perfect stomping ground for the misfit musicians who would go on to shape iconic blues rock. The town's boardwalk was also home to numerous clubs, including the famous Paramount Theatre, and the Parlor Gallery, which holds 11 exhibitions annually. By the 1960s, it was a hot spot for the counterculture, with musicians li