My memories of the Steel Pier will always be special because that was officially my first job in 1969 and I needed working papers. I worked at the food stand where Imade and sold hot dogs,popcorn and made pizza which was my specialty. No I didn't throw the dough up in the air and catch it because the pizza shells were ordered. The tourists had to stop at the food stand before they went to the end of the Pier where The Ed Hurst Show was. When the people came out of the Tony Grant's Theater, they would order pizza and the lines were long. I knew I made the best pizza because returning tourist would tell me that they came back to Atlantic City to visit the Steel Pier and get my pizza with extra cheese and believe me I loaded my pizza's with cheese. I was fortunate to meet a lot of celebrities such as Diana Ross,Tiny Tim & O.C.Smith and yes they had my pizza too. I danced off air with Leslie Campbell who was a regular dancer on Ed Hurst Show. I even remember the song (Dragging The Line) by Tommy James & the Shondells. I also sat in and helped with the records.
As a native of AC, I remember seeing the High Diving Horse act many times as a teenager. In today's world there is no way that such an act could ever possibly take place. Thank God for the horse.
Atlantic City for those of us who grew up in the 50’s & 60’s was magical! Hi Hat Joes -Chelsea beach -The Opus -The Ventnor Super Sub shop -Tony Marts - - -
I remember when the fire happened. It was immediately after the Steel Pier turned down the offer by an unnamed big wig to sell for the purpose of the building of first casino in Atlantic City. Whoops, they refused to sell and the next day burned down!
you can thank the spca, animal rights for that... they ended the great show... the horses were never injured, although, I heard, one was, but that was the in the beginning where the horse went the wrong way, and drowned.. they used the ocean, then.... instead of the 20ft deep pool... which was a better choice. and sonora, went blind, because the stupid band member crashed the symbol when the horse left the platform, causing the scare in the horse, to take a very bad dive, and sonora, hit the water, with her eyes open. thinking she was okay, she continued to dive, and she developed detached retinas. both eyes. I think, this made spca, more upset to want to end the show, the nice thing was, she still dived for 11 years after that accident,, the crowd never knew... she was very brave... I love this movie, wild hearts can't be broken., Gabriel Amwar... watch the movie,, you will cry, at the end....for the ending is very happy... she marries Doc Carvers son, Al... who was her trainer, and fell in love with at first sight... a very touching movie. I always watch it to remind me of Atlantic City NJ.... my best times were spent, at the steel pier.
So you see, there was reason to close it down. I watched some when I was a child and the horse was definitely "coaxed," which word I use lightly. Poor horse had no choice.
Great picture of the diving horse with the Captain Starns boat in the background at 02:15
The Steel Pier of yesteryear is gone forever. Im now 66, and I enjoyed the Steel Pier when I was just a teen, nothing was better!
Steel Pier was a fun filled attraction, I spend many summers visiting the pier while on Vacation in AC. Great times, I saw the 4 seasons
My memories of the Steel Pier will always be special because that was officially my first job in 1969 and I needed working papers. I worked at the food stand where Imade and sold hot dogs,popcorn and made pizza which was my specialty. No I didn't throw the dough up in the air and catch it because the pizza shells were ordered. The tourists had to stop at the food stand before they went to the end of the Pier where The Ed Hurst Show was. When the people came out of the Tony Grant's Theater, they would order pizza and the lines were long. I knew I made the best pizza because returning tourist would tell me that they came back to Atlantic City to visit the Steel Pier and get my pizza with extra cheese and believe me I loaded my pizza's with cheese. I was fortunate to meet a lot of celebrities such as Diana Ross,Tiny Tim & O.C.Smith and yes they had my pizza too. I danced off air with Leslie Campbell who was a regular dancer on Ed Hurst Show. I even remember the song (Dragging The Line) by Tommy James & the Shondells. I also sat in and helped with the records.
William K. Fisher Jr are you on every diving horse site on RUclips. I read your story like 5 times
So many wonderful memories of how the pier used to be, not the dump it is now.
As a native of AC, I remember seeing the High Diving Horse act many times as a teenager. In today's world there is no way that such an act could ever possibly take place. Thank God for the horse.
Yes the damned PC police. At it again. Destroying everyone's fun.
best times of my life as a kid loved it there...
I remember going to watch the diving horse as a kid, and had an autographed stuffed horse from one of the performers
Atlantic City for those of us who grew up in the 50’s & 60’s was magical!
Hi Hat Joes -Chelsea beach -The Opus -The Ventnor Super Sub shop -Tony Marts - - -
I remember when the fire happened. It was immediately after the Steel Pier turned down the offer by an unnamed big wig to sell for the purpose of the building of first casino in Atlantic City. Whoops, they refused to sell and the next day burned down!
the high-diving horse would not be acceptable today!
Yes I know. The damned PC police have a lot of nerve.
The current concrete plank is not the steel pier
thats how it looks like
you can thank the spca, animal rights for that... they ended the great show... the horses were never injured, although, I heard, one was, but that was the in the beginning where the horse went the wrong way, and drowned.. they used the ocean, then.... instead of the 20ft deep pool... which was a better choice. and sonora, went blind, because the stupid band member crashed the symbol when the horse left the platform, causing the scare in the horse, to take a very bad dive, and sonora, hit the water, with her eyes open. thinking she was okay, she continued to dive, and she developed detached retinas. both eyes. I think, this made spca, more upset to want to end the show, the nice thing was, she still dived for 11 years after that accident,, the crowd never knew... she was very brave... I love this movie, wild hearts can't be broken., Gabriel Amwar... watch the movie,, you will cry, at the end....for the ending is very happy... she marries Doc Carvers son, Al... who was her trainer, and fell in love with at first sight... a very touching movie. I always watch it to remind me of Atlantic City NJ.... my best times were spent, at the steel pier.
So you see, there was reason to close it down. I watched some when I was a child and the horse was definitely "coaxed," which word I use lightly. Poor horse had no choice.
You are confusing the movie are real life. Sonora went blind because she didn’t close her eyes when she hit the water, not because of a band member.
No horse was ever forced to jump. They were encouraged but never was there any cruelty involved!
BULLSHIT Moron!
You are an idiot.
Having said that, if someone shoved you off a pier, you,d "dive" too.
Horses were not shoved off a pier no matter what people keep (Paul Parroting) .
No it's not too bad they stopped abusing the horses as they did the dolphins.