Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times And Corruption of Atlantic City (39 page)

Young’s Million Dollar Pier

It was a gingerbread castle that offered everything from popcorn and tutti-frutti to dancing girls and sea monsters. Photo circa 1905.

No. 1 Atlantic Ocean

John Young’s home at the seaward end of the Million Dollar Pier. Young and his pal Thomas Edison spent many afternoons fishing out the window. Photo circa 1910.

John Young Entertaining President Taft

Young loved to entertain at No. 1 Atlantic Ocean. This dinner honored President Taft and members of his cabinet. Photo taken 1910.

Hotel Windsor

This was the site of the first walkout/protest by African-American workers. It failed miserably. Photo circa 1890.

Ready to Serve

This group photo is typical of Atlantic City’s hotel work force, which was comprised of more than 95 percent African-American workers. Photo by Fred Hess; donated by Robert Gross, circa 1920.

The Cakewalk

This was a contest for Black participants only. The best dancing couple received a cake. Photo circa 1910.

Colored Excursion Days

At the end of each summer, African-Americans from throughout the Northeast region frequented Atlantic City visiting relatives and friends working in the hotel industry. Photo taken 1886.

Castles by the Sea

The hotels along the Boardwalk were grand, but their rooms were rarely sold out, running a fairly high vacancy rate. Photo circa 1930.

Boardinghouses

Built side-by-side, beginning the first block inland from the Boardwalk, these cottages/guest houses/hotels, i.e.,
boardinghouses
, were the backbone of the town. During the summer season there were few, if any, vacancies in the resort’s boardinghouses. Photo taken 1900.

Louis “the Commodore” Kuehnle

The first “Boss” of the Boardwalk. Despite his hunger for power and money, the Commodore had a vision for his town and led in the creation of the infrastructure needed to make the resort a modern city. Photo circa 1910.

Kuehnle’s Hotel

The Commodore’s hotel was the birthplace of the partnership between the local Republican party and Atlantic City racketeers. Photo circa 1910.