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America's Boardwalks: From Coney Island to California
Gaudy, intoxicating, bright, loud, lucrative, and altogether they are our nation's boardwalks. The boardwalk was first invented for utilitarian reasons-so that beach-goers could stroll along the shore in their evening wear without tracking sand into train cars or hotel lobbies. But it wasn't long before the imagination of a country just becoming acquainted with the concept of leisure time transformed the boardwalk into something much more.
In America's Boardwalks, James Lilliefors takes us on a journey along the edges of the country to twelve of its most famous beach towns. Starting in the Northeast with Coney Island, Asbury Park, Atlantic City, Wildwood, and Cape May, we continue south to Rehoboth Beach; Ocean City, Maryland; Virginia Beach; Myrtle Beach; and Daytona Beach. In California, we explore the exotic scenes at Venice Beach and Santa Cruz. Lilliefors traces each town's history from the building of a boardwalk to what are frequently ambitious plans to revitalize and redevelop today. In every case, he shows how the boardwalk has been integral to the area's economic growth, status, and appeal.
This richly documented and illustrated tale, however, tells more than the story of the birth and development of boardwalks. Weaving together observations and conversations with business owners, planners, and strollers themselves, Lilliefors reveals the vitality of the boardwalk as an idea, rather than just as a place. Boardwalks, he argues, are living monuments to American enterprise, a young country's founding dreams, and its unwavering optimism.
Born at a time when the country was busy rebuilding and reinventing itself as an industrial and economic power, these lively seaside destinations seemed to herald a new life of relaxation, recreation, and middle-class prosperity. On the nation's first boardwalk in Atlantic City, you could find everything from a "home of the future," to diving horses, kangaroo boxing, and the world's largest typewriter. With no admission gate, boardwalks were also a thoroughly democratic idea, inviting visitors from all social and economic groups to join the same parade.
Even today, these glittering coastal hubs, with their always unique blends of people, sea spray, shops, inventions, and oddities remain a last frontier-a testament to the power of individuality in an increasingly homogenized world. From Thrasher's French fries in Ocean City to Mack's Pizza in Wildwood and Nathan's hot dogs in Coney Island, people still visit these resorts for products and pleasures that break the otherwise mundane stream of chain restaurants and retailers. Evoking the spirit, tastes, smells, and sounds that have become a beloved part of our nostalgia and that continue to lure new generations, this book is a deserved tribute to America's iconic seaside wonders.
In America's Boardwalks, James Lilliefors takes us on a journey along the edges of the country to twelve of its most famous beach towns. Starting in the Northeast with Coney Island, Asbury Park, Atlantic City, Wildwood, and Cape May, we continue south to Rehoboth Beach; Ocean City, Maryland; Virginia Beach; Myrtle Beach; and Daytona Beach. In California, we explore the exotic scenes at Venice Beach and Santa Cruz. Lilliefors traces each town's history from the building of a boardwalk to what are frequently ambitious plans to revitalize and redevelop today. In every case, he shows how the boardwalk has been integral to the area's economic growth, status, and appeal.
This richly documented and illustrated tale, however, tells more than the story of the birth and development of boardwalks. Weaving together observations and conversations with business owners, planners, and strollers themselves, Lilliefors reveals the vitality of the boardwalk as an idea, rather than just as a place. Boardwalks, he argues, are living monuments to American enterprise, a young country's founding dreams, and its unwavering optimism.
Born at a time when the country was busy rebuilding and reinventing itself as an industrial and economic power, these lively seaside destinations seemed to herald a new life of relaxation, recreation, and middle-class prosperity. On the nation's first boardwalk in Atlantic City, you could find everything from a "home of the future," to diving horses, kangaroo boxing, and the world's largest typewriter. With no admission gate, boardwalks were also a thoroughly democratic idea, inviting visitors from all social and economic groups to join the same parade.
Even today, these glittering coastal hubs, with their always unique blends of people, sea spray, shops, inventions, and oddities remain a last frontier-a testament to the power of individuality in an increasingly homogenized world. From Thrasher's French fries in Ocean City to Mack's Pizza in Wildwood and Nathan's hot dogs in Coney Island, people still visit these resorts for products and pleasures that break the otherwise mundane stream of chain restaurants and retailers. Evoking the spirit, tastes, smells, and sounds that have become a beloved part of our nostalgia and that continue to lure new generations, this book is a deserved tribute to America's iconic seaside wonders.
207 pages, Hardcover
First published June 21, 2006
8 people want to read
About the author
James Lilliefors
20 books45 followersJAMES LILLIEFORS is a journalist and novelist who grew up in the Washington, D.C. area. His novels include THE PSALMIST and THE TEMPEST and the geopolitical thrillers THE CHILDREN'S GAME (as Max Karpov) THE LEVIATHAN EFFECT and VIRAL.
For Max Karpov, see https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
For Max Karpov, see https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 19, 2020
A beautifully produced history of an American tradition...The Boardwalk. From The East Coast to the West Coast, the stories of the people who envisioned a gathering place for everyone, not just the rich, evokes the spirit of America...land of the free and home of the brave, and they were courageous people, believing in their own dream when others told them they were foolish. It is comforting to know that not every investor wants to tear down the old to make way for newer, more sterilized vacation places. That there still are people who care about tradition and history.
A wonderful read that I would recommend to those who like history, amusement parks and fun!
A wonderful read that I would recommend to those who like history, amusement parks and fun!
March 31, 2020
I started reading this because it was a fun 'different subject', something I didn't even know existed. At first it was interesting but after a while, it started to get more and more (and more) of the same. But maybe I'm just not the right audience for this one.
November 8, 2020
I’ve been to most of these boardwalks. I loved reliving my experiences.
January 29, 2015
America's Boardwalks is an exploration of Boardwalk towns all across America. Each chapter is devoted to a well-known boardwalk, beginning with a history built around his discussions with local characters or historians interested in the same topic. It is basically a walking tour through time and the actual boardwalks and a chance for readers to explore alongside Lillefors, peppered with a few photographs. What I was surprised to learn was that there was an eastern-like boardwalk in California (I never knew about the boardwalk in Santa Cruz) and would love to someday explore it. T cringes when I discover such subjects as it sparks within in me the idea for a new adventure (a road trip to Santa Cruz, what a fun drive that would be).
January 23, 2015
This reads as an extended love letter to a number of seaside cities and their boardwalks. Lilliefors does an excellent job of conveying the individuality, character, and unique charms of each city he describes. The prose is often beautiful, especially at the ends of chapters, and expresses some of the beauty and mysterious pull of these quintessentially American structures.
I would argue that concrete promenades don't really qualify as boardwalks per se -- there is something magical in the old, sun-warmed boards beneath one's feet that concrete can't even begin to approach -- but I enjoyed reading about all the different places nevertheless.
I would argue that concrete promenades don't really qualify as boardwalks per se -- there is something magical in the old, sun-warmed boards beneath one's feet that concrete can't even begin to approach -- but I enjoyed reading about all the different places nevertheless.
September 24, 2014
More than just the Jersey shore...a historic account of the growth (and sometimes death) of a cross-section of seaside playgrounds.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews