University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons Theses (Historic Preservation) Graduate Program in Historic Preservation 1996 From "Beach Front Palaces" to Preservation Dilemmas: The iH story and Historic Preservation of the Two Defining Structures of Asbury Park's Shorefront Landscape Calista K. Clearly University of Pennsylvania Follow this and additional works at: http://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses Part of the Historic Preservation and Conservation Commons Clearly, Calista K., "From "Beach Front Palaces" to Preservation Dilemmas: The iH story and Historic Preservation of the Two Defining Structures of Asbury Park's Shorefront Landscape" (1996). Theses (Historic Preservation). 422. http://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses/422 Copyright note: Penn School of Design permits distribution and display of this student work by University of Pennsylvania Libraries. Suggested Citation: Cleary, Calista K. (1996). From "Beach Front Palaces" to Preservation Dilemmas: The History and Historic Preservation of the Two Defining Structures of Asbury Park's Shorefront Landscape. (Masters Thesis). University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. http://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses/422 For more information, please contact [email protected]. From "Beach Front Palaces" to Preservation Dilemmas: The iH story and Historic Preservation of the Two Defining Structures of Asbury Park's Shorefront Landscape Disciplines Historic Preservation and Conservation Comments Copyright note: Penn School of Design permits distribution and display of this student work by University of Pennsylvania Libraries. Suggested Citation: Cleary, Calista K. (1996). From "Beach Front Palaces" to Preservation Dilemmas: The History and Historic Preservation of the Two Defining Structures of Asbury Park's Shorefront Landscape. (Masters Thesis). University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. This thesis or dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses/422 uNivERsmy PENNSYIVANIA. UBKARIES FROM "BEACH FRONT PALACES" TO PRESERVATION DILEMMAS: THE HISTORY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION OF THE TWO DEFINING STRUCTURES OF ASBURY PARK'S SHOREFRONT LANDSCAPE Calista K. Cleary A THESIS Historic Preservation Presented to the Faculties of the University of Pennsylvania in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE 1996 Supervisor Reader j/ Christa Wilmanns-Wells George Thomas Graduate Group Chair Frank G. Matero WVKi^Jf\|^^/i^%/^^3'5 UNivtHblTY OF PENNSYLVANIA LIBRARIES Table of Contents List of Illustrations iii-vii Acknowledgements viii Introduction 1-4 Chapter 1: Background History of the Shorefront Landscape of Asbury Park, 1871-1926 5-17 Chapter 2: The Newest Asbury Park: Realization of Convention Hall/Paramount Theater and the Casino/Carousel Building in the late 1920s 18-28 Chapter 3: Grand Openings and Thereafter: The Openings and Subsequent Histories of the Casino/Carousel Building and Convention Hall /Paramount Theater, 192 9-1985 29-58 Chapter 4: Historic Preservation Successes and Failures in the 1980s and 1990s: Convention Hall /Paramount Theater and the Casino/Carousel Building, 1985- 1996 59-72 Chapter 5: Future Historic Preservation Prospects and Recommendations for Convention Hall /Paramount Theater and the Casino/Carousel Structure 73-79 Illustrations: 80-122 Appendix A: National Register Nomination Form for Convention Hall/Parcunount Theater 124-140 Appendix B: Historic Sites Inventory Form for Casino/Carousel Building 142-147 Appendix C: Asbury Park Historic Preservation Element to Master Plan 149-174 Appendix D:Public Hearing before Assembly Conservation and Natural Resources Committee on "Asbury Park Casino Building Historic Preservation Project" 176-196 Bibliography 197-200 List of Illustrations Illustration 1 Map of New Jersey showing location of Asbury Park. Illustration 2 View of Boardwalk looking south towards Casino /Carousel Building from Convention Hall, 1995, photograph by author. Illustration 3 View of Boardwalk looking north towards Convention Hall /Paramount Theater from Casino, 1995, photograph by author. Illustration 4 View looking south from Convention Hall /Paramount Theater down Ocean Avenue, 1996, photograph by author. Illustration 5 Postcard view of Boardwalk, 1907, Asbury Park Library Postcard Collection. Illustration 6 Postcard view of Boardwalk, 1908, Asbury Park Library Postcard Collection. Illustration 7 Postcard view of Boardwalk, 1930, privately owned. Illustration 8 Postcard titled " General view of Boardwalk from Casino," 1937, Asbury Park Library Postcard Collection. Illustration 9 Postcard titled "Bird's-Eye view from Convention Hall," undated, privately owned. Illustration 10 Postcard view of Boardwalk looking north towards Convention Hall /Paramount Theater, 1951, Asbury Park Library Postcard Collection. Illustration 11 Map of Asbury Park from 1955-1956 Chamber of Commerce Guide, Monmouth County Historical Society. Illustration 12 Postcard view of Casino/Carousel Building, undated, Asbury Park Library Postcard Collection. Illustration 13 View of Casino/Carousel Complex looking east, 1995, photograph by author. Illustration 14 View of Carousel Pavilion, 1995, photograph by author. Illustration 15 View of a section of the north elevation of the Casino/Carousel Building (notice open doors to arcade), 1996, photograph by author. Illustration 16 Postcard view of south elevation of Convention Hall /Paramount Theater, 1936, Asbury Park Library Postcard Collection. Illustration 17 View of front facade of Convention Hall /Paramount Theater, 1996, photograph by author. Illustration 18 Section of south elevation of Convention Hall /Paramount Theater, 1996, photograph by author. Illustration 19 Map showing Asbury Park and Ocean Grove, 1873, Monmouth County Historic Sites Inventory. Illustration 20 Map showing Asbury Park and Ocean Grove, late nineteenth century, Monmouth County Historic Sites Inventory. Illustration 21 Map of Asbury Park in 1903, taken from Asbury Park Press, 2 May 1903. Illustration 22 Views of bathhouses, Bradley Pavilion, and original Casino, taken from Asbury Park Press, 2 June 1929. Illustration 23 Postcard view of Asbury Avenue Pavilion, 1903, Asbury Park Library Postcard Collection. Illustration 24 Postcard view of Palace Amusements Pavilion with Ferris Wheel (across Lake avenue from Casino), undated, privately owned. Illustration 25 Postcard view of Palace Amusements Pavilion, 1909, Asbury Park Library Postcard Collection. Illustration 26 Current view of Palace Amusements Pavilion, 1995, photograph by author. Illustration 27 Postcard view of original Casino, 1905, Asbury Park Library Postcard Collection. Illustration 28 Postcard view of Hotel Plaza and Casino, undated, Asbury Park Library Postcard Collection. Illustration 29 Postcard view of original Casino, 1906, Asbury Park Library Postcard Collection. Illustration 30 Postcard View of original Casino, undated, Asbury Park Library Postcard Collection. Illustration 31 Postcard view of Fifth Avenue Arcade (present day site of Convention Hall /Paramount Theater), 1917, Asbury Park Library Postcard Collection. Illustration 32 Postcard view of Fifth Avenue Arcade, 1908, Asbury Park Library Postcard Collection. Illustration 33 Postcard titled "The New Bath Houses and Board Walk," undated, Asbury Park Library Postcard Collection. Illustration 34 Postcard titled "Board Walk and 7th Avenue Pavilion," 1913, privately owned. Illustration 35 Postcard titled "New Seventh Avenue Pavilion," 1908, Asbury Park Library Postcard Collection. Illustration 36 Postcard view of east side of Natatorium, 1929, privately owned. Illustration 37 Postcard titled "Interior of Natatorium," 1915, Asbury Park Library Postcard Collection. Illustration 38 Postcard view of Boardwalk showing Steeplechase rollercoaster in background, 1922, Asbury Park Library Postcard Collection. Illustration 39 Photograph of Convention Hall /Paramount Theater, c. 1930, Birdsall Engineering. Illustration 40 Postcard view of front facade of Convention Hall /Paramount Theater, undated, Asbury Park Library Postcard Collection. Illustration 41 Postcard view of south elevation of Convention Hall /Paramount Theater, 1937, Asbury Park Library Postcard Collection. Illustration 42 Postcard view of a section of north elevation of Convention Hall /Paramount Theater, 1931, Asbury Park Library Postcard Collection. Illustration 43 Postcard titled "Arcade Convention Hall," 1934, Asbury Park Library Postcard Collection. Illustration 44 Postcard titled "The New Monterey by Night," 1923, privately owned. Illustration 45 Postcard titled "Berkeley-Carteret Hotel," 1932, Asbury Park Library Postcard Collection. Illustration 46 Postcard view of Asbury-Carlton, 1925, Asbury Park Library Postcard Collection. Illustration 47 Postcard view of Casino/Carousel Building, 1931, Asbury Park Library Postcard Collection. Illustration 4 8 Interior view of Paramount Theater, c.1930, Birdsall Engineering. Illustration 49 Recent Interior view of Paramount Theater, 1996, photograph by author. Illustration 50 Front side of 1944 Hurricane Picture Folder, Rutgers Library Special Collections. Illustration 51 Back side of 1944 Hurricane Picture Folder, Rutgers University Library Special Collections. Illustration 52 Sign remaining from Casino arena's use as an ice skating rink in the 1960s, 1996, photograph by author. Illustration 53 Aerial view of Asbury Park shorefront showing Boardwalk, Casino/Carousel Building, and Convention Hall /Paramount Theater.