Atlantic City: The World's Original Beach Town

[@geographicstravel]

Check out Squarespace: squarespace.com/GEOGRAPHICS for 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

[@josephharrison5639]

Y’all did a video on mt st Helen’s and the dangers of the cascadia fault zone, what about a video on mt rainier

[@ashleelarsen5002]

17:00 we should get to trash that place, like therapy

[@caseyleichter2309]

I just about cried watching this. From 1962 through 1977 (age 6 to 21), I spent every summer in Atlantic City, and have mostly magical memories of the beach, the boardwalk, and the piers. My grandparents had a house one block off the beach, with attached apartments they could rent out. We watched July 4 fireworks from the beach; we got up early to bicycle the length of the Boardwalk; we would spend entire days at the beach and swimming in the ocean. I'd go to Million Dollar Pier for the rides, and to Steel Pier for the shows, movies, and even music concerts. "Taking a Rolling Chair" was a special treat: there were wheeled, open topped scrolled wicker sedan chairs you could hire to ride down the Boardwalk (originally pushed by hand; later each Chair was fitted out with a motor and a seat on the back so the operator could also ride). And the hoagies! No story about AC can leave out the Best Hoagie Place Ever: The White House - which was still around, and serving hoagies, well after the rest of the city had gone completely to hell. People would come from miles around for them, lining up for blocks outside the restaurant. When gambling passed, we knew things would be bad, because AC's politics were already known to be thoroughly corrupt. I remember watching in horror as the gorgeous old hotels were demolished (goodbye, Traymore!). The gambling effect turned out even worse than feared, because the casino hotels were all-inclusive: you didn't need to leave, not to dine, or shop, or even to sunbathe. All the small businesses that had previously been around vanished. The last time I was in AC (at least 20-odd years ago) about the only neighborhood businesses in existence were liquor stores and pawn shops. It was ghastly, and tragic, and heartbreaking. I live on the West Coast now, but would love to see the place come back yet again.

[@freetolook3727]

People don't understand that casinos replace existing local economies and not "in addition to" existing local economies.

[@LususxNaturae]

Wow. That makes so much sense. I noticed how everybody stuck to the hotels, but the Ave was always populated by the locals. I didn’t truly realize until this comment. The only time they come out to travel and see the city would be by Jitney, but now Uber done took that over, too. There need to be a balance between the hotels and the local businesses. That’s the only way to save the entire city. They’re focused on profits instead of community.

[@QueenetBowie]

Nice video. You should consider doing Ocean City, Maryland. It’s a summer resort town that goes from a population of 9,000 residents 9 months of the year to over 300,000 for 3 months out of the year. Just the logistics alone of how to manage a city like that would be fascinating.

[@CatoTheElder-]

The weekly migration to and from OC each summer Saturday is a feat. If this script is made, the Bay Bridge would have to feature prominently (which might qualify it as a semi- Mega or Side projects video, to boot)

[@thomashafner2224]

I live near OC Maryland, I would like to see that also. Although I think the answer to your question on how they manage it is mostly that they don’t. Because the infrastructure can barely sustain the major weeks during the season. All they seem to really do is hire a bunch of seasonal cops and bus drivers and hope for the best.

[@jhrusa8125]

There's a lot of beach towns now all over the country, this episode was about atlantic city because it was the first.

[@Dovietail]

YES!

[@charlesnolan7602]

One of the biggest indoor/ outdoor water park opens on Memorial day 2023. Ballys, Hard Rock, Ceasars all doing well. Sports gaming, partly.

[@scottobrien3071]

NJ native and former resident/worker in AC during my college years. Ac has for sure fallen from grace but it’s still a cool place to see. I worked at the Claridge, built in 1928 and one of the last original skyscrapers on the island (where boardwalk and park place meet) and that hotel had plenty of secrets. Marylyn Monroe’s rooftop Suite, restaurant where the rat pack would go privately after shows, and a converted speakeasy that used to only be accessible by a service elevator. Cool place to explore when work was slow in the winters.

[@victoriaeads6126]

My Uncle Rudy (family by choice, not blood) has worked on the restoration of the Boardwalk Hall organ! Rudy Lucente is a court organist for the Wanamaker organ and has travelled extensively both installing and restoring organs. He's an amazing musician!

[@markp.2014]

Pretty cool you did one of my hometown I’ve been a fan of all your channels. It gets a bad wrap today and rightfully so for many reason but here are some highlights for any visitors: 1. The Borgota & Ocean Casinos are both top tier casinos for both entertainment and gambling. The new Hard Rock has drawn various major performers since opening. 2. Boardwalk Hall is still a top venue in the country to see a concert and still periodically holds fights though it’s died off significantly since the 90’s. 3. My totally biased opinion it has some of the best options for food in the country. Chef Vola is difficult to get into and not much to look at but has the best veal parm you’ll ever have. Angelo’s Fairmount tavern for Italian. White House Subs an Italian hoagie or cheesesteak. 4. For families head south 20 minutes to Ocean City a beautiful family oriented community with plenty of entertainment options

[@RunsWithScissorsSenior]

That boardwalk was made of ipe wood. Super hard and stable tropical hardwood. It lasted over 100 years. When replaced, the wood was sold to collectors and artists. Woodwrights. I’ve played several flutes made from that wood. Amazing sound. The “soles” of countless visitors resides in that wood.

[@gryphonvert]

Aww, that's amazing to know! I love the idea that it lives on in such a lovely way.

[@jacksonkuster3805]

The unique thing about AC is that it still has a direct train service to Philadelphia that doesn’t take too much longer than driving. This could be used to attract people to visit AC who don’t own a car or want to sit on a bumpy bus.

[@IOERROR622]

We called it the "Shoebox Expess". Often poor people from Philly would pack a lunch in a shoebox and take the train to AC to spend the day on the beach. After the AC Expressway opened up train died. It reopenned in the 2000s but at that point AC was already dying.

[@JimTheFly]

However, that's the only train line. If someone from New York wants to go to AC, they have a few options: - Drive - Take a Greyhound bus (about $55-60 round trip) - Take an NJ Transit bus ($39 ONE WAY) - Get a bus from another independent company (what we used to call a "Chinatown Bus" since they normally originated from there) - Take a train from NYC to around Trenton, switch to a SEPTA service to go from there into Philly, then take the Philly-AC train. This would cost around $45 each way and take a MINIMUM of 4 hours, if you're lucky. The sad thing is that Academy and Megabus used to run a bus service from NYC to AC which was AMAZING. $25, round trip, return ticket could be used on ANY bus in the next 4 days, and you got a $25 voucher for the slot machines that you had to use in the next 24 hours. My first two trips down there I paid a total of $2 because I made my money back from the vouchers. However, they don't run this line anymore, sadly.

[@tinaroberts5858]

The east coast of the USA is beautiful. I'm Canadian and I truly love that coastal area.

[@mustbemeech]

One of a kind

[@drskatent]

Most people commenting haven't. Even been to AC in years, 10 years ago it was bad. Now the casinos are making money again...I go twice a month and the boardwalk and beach have been completely revitalized and it's a really great place to visit.

[@drnoir33]

Long-time watcher, first-time commenter. We always enjoy Simon's videos, which we watch on our big screen TV. :) This video hit me very personally. In Chapter 8 of my Interrogating Memory book, I spend 10 pages describing spending the summers of 1974 and 1975 in AC with my mother and our dog; my father drove down weekends from the Philly suburbs. To a 7, 8 year old boy, AC was a magical place, despite clear signs of decline. But our connection goes back decades. My paternal grandfather Morris Berger stayed at The Breakers in July 1923, according to the Phila Inquirer. His mother later remarried and moved to AC, returning to Philly just before her death in 1950. This was basically Florida before Florida. During WWII, my mother's parents operated a boarding house at 15 Boston Avenue - precisely because the US military had commandeered the hotels. After divorcing, my mother's father - a former Philly cop - retired to AC. There, he drove a jitney, a kind of minibus that only operated along Atlantic and Pacific avenues. He lived across the street from aunts and uncles on my father's side, because...Florida before Florida. I was shattered when the Golden Nugget replaced the Strand Motel, even though it was not nearly the paradise I recall it being. I have seen up close how divided AC now is between glitz and despair. Oh, and I even have an AC connection to Abscam (it's all in there...). Basically, my family and I lived all of the history you report. Not all of the names are lost. :)

[@IOERROR622]

I was born and raised in AC, I lived through the fall of the beach time to the rise of the casino's and to the fall of those. And to be honest I don't see how this town can recover. Turning it into a beach town again will cost a lot of money but then you are compating with OC, Wildwood, Cape May and every town in between. You walk the boardwalk now and it stinks like weed and piss. Homeless people sleeping in front of closed hotels/casinos and God forbid you leave the boardwalk because then you put your life at risk. It's not as bad as Camden but for someone raised there I'm afraid in some areas. The simple truth is in the 70's and 80's they had the prefect setup. A beach resort families could visit and casinos for the adults. Every casino have a huge arcade for the kids, big pools for the kids to play at while the parents gambled. But soon the family part went bye bye. The only reason to go to AC was to gamble and once that reason disapreared no one came. At one point there were talks with Disney to open a park just outside of AC. That could have saved the town but that didn't happen. Everyone know whats going to happen. The city will turn into camden 2.0 and everything will close down. Then some rich people will see beach front property for cheap and start buying it up. They will build it up and drive all the poor people out either using the cops to do it or just make it unaffordable. It will then turn into the richy rich resort town like Stone Harbor or Avalon. But that will take so long I doubt I'll be around to see it.

[@cd5sircoupe]

My family used to have a timeshare in Cape May in the 90s, that place is beautiful. I think during one of our vacations we did a day trip to Atlantic City, I don't remember much about it. The gambling/casino scene isn't my thing, but I'm in CT so I've been to Mohegan & Foxwoods a couple times since they tend to hold events & concerts. Now Vegas is a totally different beast, I had the opportunity to go for the SEMA show a few years ago and I was just like what is this place? One of the coolest things that stuck with me was walking the strip on Halloween (the trade show is always the first week of November). So much crazy shit.

[@xXSubieSnacksXx]

Sure it’s not what it used to be but there’s still plenty of fun to be had there! Just gotta be safe and smart about it. Went there for a bachelor party last Halloween weekend and the city felt very much alive!

[@29blazehead]

Never really went to AC but spent alot of time in Ocean City, which is right next door. A beautiful little town with a boardwalk as well. Always had fun there at the amusement parks. The library is also quite big.

[@shadowmane55]

Boardwalk Empire was a brilliant show. Glad to hear it mentioned in this. Steve Buscemi's portrayal of Nucky Thompson was superb

[@MrDan708]

One thing that hurt AC was when casinos started opening in PA. Many of AC's gamblers had previously come from the Keystone State.

[@oldmanexo1721]

Always a sad story to me. My mom would tell me stories going to AC on summer family trips, seeing the diving horse. Then, she used to take day trips with my yaiyai and aunts at the slots. When I turned 21, we stopped by on our way back from another trip, and I got my first taste of winning (used it to buy a Gamecube, just to properly date myself), and I always loved going. Last time I was there was a decade ago my bachelor party, and it likely will end up being the last time I was there. AC will always be a nostalgic monument to my youth, both through my own stories and my families.

[@victoriaeads6126]

There are still restaurants that exist both in Philly and on the South New Jersey coast. My family always went to Ocean City, a bit south from Atlantic City, and Cape May. It's still a wonderful area to visit the ocean, but it's MUCH more expensive now all up and down the coast

[@melasnexperience]

South Jersey-in-view-of-Philly native here, and my parents used to do overnights to Atlantic City all the time in the 90s. It wasn't just for gambling - the casinos used to practically give away tickets to touring companies of Broadway shows or concerts, along with meal/hotel room comps that made it super affordable for them to enjoy a nice stay. Shame they stopped doing all of that & also trimmed down the variety of shopping/dining once I was old enough to go (it's either quick service/buffets & gift shops or high-end designers & expensive places with no in-betweens, and no real shows/events of any kind that aren't conferences). You'd think they'd offer more to bring people in especially after the Philly area casinos with better offerings besides gambling gave them competition, but that didn't happen.

[@Machtyn]

The diving horse bit inspired the movie Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken. I thought it was a really decent movie.

[@StandingCow2]

Lived around this area all my life, even worked at showboat casino at one point. The casinos opening in PA really put the nail in the coffin for AC.

[@tethyl]

The Midmer-Losh pipe organ at Boardwalk Hall is truly an international treasure. As a volunteer of the restoration effort, I highly recommend to anyone who will listen the opportunity to tour and listen to the largest musical instrument in the world! I've never met a disappointed listener. That pipe organ will reach your soul.

[@zachaliles]

My first tattoo was at a place called hot rod tattoos in Atlantic City. I was mobilized for a deployment at Ft. Dix and we were supposed to be restricted to post, so I rented a car from the PX Hertz rentals and drove to Atlantic City to get a tattoo. Made it back to post, dropped the car off and ran back to the barracks in time to get dressed for PT. I don't know how I had all that energy back then.

[@tompilkington7379]

Tattoos are stupid. Let me guess. A tribal tat to represent your Hawaiian heritage and a tramp stamp. So cool. O thing looks better than a saggy faded elephant that was once a butterfly on an 80 year old woman. Classy! Tard.

[@scanman690]

great video! I have many friends and family members who have lived and worked in Atlantic City. When I was younger we would often go to Atlantic City Surf (minor league baseball) games. We'd watch the planes and blimps land at Bader Field. The annual air show brings so many people to the city too! Can't forget the world's most famous elephant, Lucy! She was an Atlantic City icon before being moved to Margate. Absecon Island has many happy (and some sad) memories for all of us locals!

[@clownworldtimes6434]

Great video. I-95 opened in the 1950’s. This made car and bus travel to beaches in the southeast states much more accessible than previously.

[@kingjames3949]

Went once in 2018 with my best friend and our ole ladies. Had a good time, both of us had a son about 9 months after

[@danfsteeple]

As a Philadelphian we don’t really see AC as a beach vacation spot at all. If I’m going to the beach, I’m going to OC, Sea Isle, or Avalon. AC has clubs

[@victoriaeads6126]

And the AC Mack & Manco's locations have the best pizza.

[@canis2020]

That's the point of the video

[@joshvega3329]

Long Branch, belmar are my spots for the shore

[@eurodoc6343]

I'm a life-time member of the cult that is an Ocean City repeat visitor. As a kid, the skyline of AC that you can clearly see from the northend of OC always had an almost mystical quality to it. As a child, I couldn't help what wonders lay off in the distance amongst those high rises. Then, I visited when I was older. Yeah, now I'm sticking with OC, thank you very much.

[@dcregister86]

Exactly, you only go to AC for comedy shows or to take an elderly relative to see the surviving members of The Drifters. The casinos aren’t even worth it anymore

[@rogerpenske2411]

For coastlines, Simon. During the summer the Great Lakes are absolutely fabulous. The south and east Shores of Lake Michigan at Summerville best beaches on earth

[@adrianbartley8173]

Idk about “on earth” but having spent a lot of time visiting fam in Michigan, the Lake Michigan shoreline is pretty majestic

[@gregorybarilla2370]

I grew up in PA and remember Atlantic City to still be a place go, especially after turning 21. They had an occasional good show or group to see. I saw the Go-gos there in like 2000. Hurrican Sandy in 2012 didn't help them any.

[@kellin12]

"Ab see con" Interesting to watch a video about where you come from. I was born in Atlantic City and I am a public school teacher there now. Your video was respectful and surprisingly optimistic.

[@gryphonvert]

Ha ha, I was scanning down the comments to see if anyone else mentioned this. (Emphasis on the second syllable, too.)

[@limabravo6065]

I joined the Air Force to see the world on uncle sams dime and got stationed in New Jersey 🤬, & every once in a while my friends and I would go to AC on our days off. We were bar hopping in the Tropicana up in the quarter, when my horribly drunk ass got propositioned by a very attractive blonde woman, problem was I was filtering my reality through an alcoholic haze so while we were in the elevator she starts talking prices like a damn menu when all the sudden I have a moment of clarity where my subconscious hauled itself up out of the pool of booze to mention that all was not as it seemed, and I said “Oh I’m sorry I didn’t know you were one of them” The young lady was taken aback replying with “ the fuck do you mean one of them” I ever so eloquently retorted with “A hooker?” She indignantly shrieked “I’m not a hooker you asshole, I’m an escort!!” Me not wanting to offend said “ Potato Pototo” and got the hell off the elevator

[@Noah_E]

I went to AC in 2004 for a friend's bachelor party. One word describes the city. Dirty.

[@stacyrussell460]

You're not wrong 🤣

[@ladyagnes7781]

My family's from Philly and I remember going to Atlantic City for a day when we were staying at Ocean City. It was very early 1970s before the casinos and after the fall ...&..... mice were running across the boardwalk and it was half desert it and I remember we just left and City at used to be nice back in the day. They realized it but not the right way

[@Kol2388]

To quote the legend called Barney Stinson - Atlantic City always in decline never hitting rock bottom.

[@axelvazquez9385]

Hey, thanks for talking about that bit in the first few minutes of your video. It's rarely if ever discussed ACs depleting economy and shaky future and I can see from the comments most people's takeaway being that it just generally sucks. But people still live and work there and I feel as if people need to hear out there story a bit more. Amazing vid and thanks for everything.

[@BardovBacchus]

Boom and Bust. Things get too expensive during the Boom, which inevitability causes the Bust. When things get cheap enough after the Bust, the potential for another Boom returns

[@robynmayharris2730]

Another Philly native here. I spent my early 20s going to AC all the time for my vacations because it was so cheap and I didn't even gamble much. You could basically get paid to go. There were already shows (comedy and music) like Vegas although no residencies. They hosted professional conferences too. All the casinos had buffets and there were other tourist attractions. They introduced outlets and a new mall on the boardwalk in the early 2000s. If you want to go to the beach AC is not the place. If you had children Wildwood was better for rides. But nightlife in AC was good, clubs and bars on the beach. Fun times! Also no mention of Chicken Bone Beach? Especially during Black History Month?

[@colleenmahony8803]

I've only been there once, for a music festival on the beach, and it was a blast. I kind of like the kitsch. But agree it needs some sprucing up.

[@harrowgateguy]

Revere Beach in Massachusetts claims to be America’s first public beach inviting the public to come to the town’s 3 mile sandy waterfront in 1896. Boston’s blue line subway was extended to Revere beach in the early 1950’s and it’s popularity and amusements took off.

[@gryphonvert]

I'm *pretty sure* that isn't accurate, but I'd have to research it! Between Atlantic City and Beach Haven in NJ, those are just two off the top of my head that were already resorts in the 1860s or so. But, I think the interesting question would be, were the beaches considered "public" at that time in NJ. I really will have to look it up, because I grew up on the Jersey Shore (Long Beach Island, not AC), but have lived in the Boston area for the last 30 years... and yet I've still never been to Revere Beach!

[@harrowgateguy]

@@gryphonvert it was the Coney Island of Massachusetts but the winter storm of 78’ put the nail in the coffin as a place with amusement rides

[@ameanasaur]

Wooow. I never understood why boardwalks had the wooden beams purposefully separated and the edges curved on the top surface. Its to allow sand to fall through the gaps when people walk over it. The more you know...

[@victoriaeads6126]

I think the Boardwalk is perfectly situated for high end shopping and restaurants. They would need to heavily invest in solutions for the perennial parking issues and for restoring some of the historic but crumbling, infrastructure. It's a huge opportunity, though, for the right investors. Other coastal towns in NJ, DE, MD, and VA, as well as further south, have weathered some or all of the same issues. Several of those have done very well at retaining and expanding tourism over the decades. The states mentioned also have the advantage of being north of the influence of most hurricanes but south of the effects of most Nor'Easters. Even considering climate change, that area of the North American Atlantic coast is predicted to be less affected than, say, the Florida and Carolina coasts.

[@dillonbuckingham3867]

The trashy people that live there would ruin any type of high end shopping on the boardwalk, nobody's with high end money wants a crackhead asking them for money when they step out of a Gucci store.

[@shifty1927]

Wow I never knew boardwalks were used to stop people from tracking in sand. Never thought about it but what a good idea.

[@littlemy1773]

I don’t know why we don’t have more of them in the uk. If you go to seaside resorts with piers they’re all boardwalks, so why that wasn’t expanded On Im not sure 🤔

[@shifty1927]

@@littlemy1773 yea I'm shocked I'm just learning about it. I've been surrounded by water and beaches my whole life lol.. Where I grew up in a place called North Beach and chesapeake Beach MD. Main attraction was their boardwalk lol but just like Atlantic city the arcade and other spots on the boardwalk closed. The surrounding area has a decent amount of crime and low lifes. Probably why they filmed Live PD down here🤣🤣

[@littlemy1773]

@@shifty1927 I live on an island so I’m wondering why we don’t have them either lol

[@shifty1927]

@@littlemy1773 like a little island or are you talking about the whole UK as an island? Just wondering cause I've always thought living on a smallish island would be cool. We have a place at the southern end of the county called Solomons Island that has a few businesses (mostly restaurants and bars) and some houses. Also a nice sized boardwalk.

[@littlemy1773]

@@shifty1927 a little island . I’m in/on(?) the Isle of Man 🇮🇲

[@MrK-gb7zy]

Your information is old. Atlantic City is currently on the upswing recovering nicely post-covid. Hotels continue to renovate, new businesses are coming to town, a race track and production studio are all in the works. All this means that companies believe in Atlantic City and are investing in it's future.

[@animallover6645]

When talking about this place it reminds me of my fav episode of Its sunny in Philadelphia episode.

[@redknightsr69]

Revitalizing the boardwalk PLUS making the entire region more walkable PLUS bringing in new housing, knocking down the blite is the only way forward. +Affordable housing

[@IamSnowbird]

I spent many summer vacations in Atlantic City in the late 50s early 60s. Never go anymore. The casinos ruined it for a family vacation.

[@daveo1002]

I've lived in Jersey all my life, and when we go down the shore, it's usually to Ocean City, NJ. We can see the lights and casinos in the distance, but OC is much quieter, laid back, and family friendly- it's considered America's first family resort, by many, and has a great history. I still go to AC for a convention every year though, and we stay at one of the casinos. The worst thing about the casinos, is that they still allow smoking- it stinks up the whole place. Other than that, you can see the dead city when you get a block away from any casino- it's sad really. Every other Jersey Shore town does great without casinos, many just have a very active boardwalk. Transforming the city back to a boardwalk resort without casinos would be very easy.

[@andrewryanwasright]

As someone who once worked at an AC casino smoking is the only thing bring people in. I’ve heard from the smokers that this is the last place they can smoke and openly be social. The Revel Casino tried being a smoke free casino and it folded in a little over a year. The people who think they will get lucky at the tables also think their lungs are lucky too

[@12799MaDeuce]

4:50 that's not the Boardwalk Hall organ console...the Midmer-Losh has 7 manuals

[@upintheairstudio]

Finally Simon does a video set in my glorious home state!

[@69coxswain]

Its tough to revitalize the beach when you have people sacrificing roosters on the beach at night and leaving the corpses in the sand

[@mayer14474]

What?

[@69coxswain]

@@mayer14474correct. Believe it is people practicing Santeria

[@mayer14474]

@@69coxswain wow lol

[@jacobb6621]

It's still quite early but once enough information has come out you should do a video on the derailment in East Palestine, OH. I think it was something like 17 tanker cars of vinyl chloride they ended up doing a controlled burn on. I and many others would love to hear any and all information as it becomes available. Even if you don't do a video look into it, at least the handful I've talked to and I imagine many more are very concerned by the lack of coverage both locally and at any greater scale. More people need to hear and talk about this!

[@gryphonvert]

They really do. I have friends in Ohio paying close attention, and the news about it really is not getting out to the rest of the country. Like, the fish and animals dead are into the tens of thousands. The controlled burn put all that particulate into the air, and an awful lot eastern and southeastern Ohio gets its water from the Ohio River. We really do not know the full extent of the disaster, but it's huge. (I can't speak to the advisability of the controlled burn. I do understand the concerns about the tanker cars exploding, so there was a serious time component pressuring the making of decisions. But, again, nobody's really talking about it.)

[@pamelamays4186]

Suggestion: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Steel City. King Of The Rust Belt. City of Champions. Three River City. 🖤💛 Feel free to use any of these titles.😉

[@Mr.Drewski]

“If you wanted to pay for pleasures of the flesh” 😂 this guys got a great way with words 😭

[@wonky_shoebox7514]

Maybe an idea for script would be the Ring of Kerry in Ireland? Beautiful scenery, irish countryside combined with plants that shouldn't exist in our country but happily do thanks to the warm current brought down from the gulf of Mexico. We have weird stuff like Venus flytraps and stick insects, along with tropical flowers living in marshes and bogs. There's some weird random festivals with pagan origins too.

[@aaronswink8554]

When other states in my region opened up casinos, I stopped going to Atlantic City. The casinos were getting very shabby looking, they weren't as modern on the Boardwalk, and it was just becoming a hassle. Plus the Boardwalk was morphing into nothing but a bunch of tacky tee-shirt stalls and cheap trinkets instead of places to have some fun. How do they reinvent themselves? The newest development is in the Marina area, but those casinos are struggling also. Being on a barrier island, they don't have the flat open space like Vegas has to build massive mega-resorts. And all of the huge shows, attractions, and fights to go Vegas now, not the old Boardwalk Hall - there is no T-Mobile Arena or MGM Events Center (or whatever it's named now) or Mandalay Bay Center to attract the VIP crowds for the top events. With Pennsylvania having casinos in Philadelphia and the NYC area having gaming in CT, I think Atlantic City is all but done for good. Redevelop the Boardwalk into something smaller and more people friendly with nicer beaches and less kitsch and trash, and leave a good casino or two for the daytrippers that make up most of the crowd. But it'll never, ever beat Las Vegas with casinos and resorts, let alone even compete.

[@darkchocolate1083]

I started rewatching Boardwalk Empire right when this video came up lmao

[@brandonbeck3672]

It is funny I was there this weekend. I went there all the time as a young adult who moved from the south to the north. It was a place where I could fit in because no one was from there. But outside of the boardway, you don't want to hang out. It was my wife's first time, and she was not impressed, and it got way too expensive.

[@eileenmaher2101]

My grandfather was stationed in Atlantic City after boot camp for further training. Then he was shipped out to the China Burma Indiana theater.

[@ignitionfrn2223]

1:40 - Chapter 1 - The marketing ploy 3:45 - Chapter 2 - The golden age 6:00 - Mid roll ads 7:15 - Chapter 3 - The seedy underbelly 9:35 - Chapter 4 - The collapse 12:05 - Chapter 5 - The jackpot 14:35 - Chapter 6 - The 2nd collapse 17:30 - Chapter 7 - The way forward - Chapter 8 -

[@michaelkiernan1850]

Cape may, New Jersey is actually. The first beach resort town. In the United States.

[@davidjackson4778]

I really like your videos, I would like to suggest doing a video on the history of the Crimea, but i realise its a bit o tough subjuct in these times. But i have another subject that i think is really interesting, Åland or The Aland Island, between Sweden and Finland. You should look in to that

[@zachaliles]

If you haven't already done so, I think you should do a video on Asbury Park or Camden New Jersey as well.

[@PM08203]

My grandparents moved there and opened a beach block rooming house immediately after WW II. I lived in AC from 1957 to 1983.

[@MrGouldilocks]

I hope this video does well. I would gleefully consume city themed videos. If you're looking for a new channel idea, doing a city spotlight every week or two seems like it could have a lot of potential.

[@brandonmcclellan963]

I’d definitely be interested in videos like that

[@York22]

I second the motion.

[@rainpunchlove]

I WOULD LOVE A CHANNEL ON JUST CITIES!!!

[@Matt-vs4zz]

I think he's always looking for more channel ideas. Call it Urbographics lol

[@charles3633]

You should do a video of Cape May, NJ. America's original seashore resort.

[@JerzeyBoy]

As my username implies, I am from Jersey and was born and grew up in this town till I was 10. I'm surprised it changed lightly over the last 15 years.

[@Henchman1977]

We vacation in Old Orchard Beach, Maine every summer but I'd like to go to AC one day... I'm hoping it's more like old Vegas used to be. (I really just want giant, low-cost buffets)

[@johnknowles6711]

Only 2 buffets, Borgata and I believe Ceasars. They're not cheap. Maybe reasonable. With long lines most of the time too. It's fun in the summer, and pretty much everyone stays inside the casinos in the off-season.

[@TurboGSR96]

1 issue here, in PA, NJ, NY etc the ocean is called the shore for some reason, when you reach Delaware... its called the beach lol

[@ododargo]

hi all same thing happened in the uk to places like blackpool and loads of other holiday spots cheap air travel and the sun beckons like it shines in spain france ad most of europe never mind cyas all

[@richardmorgan1755]

Welcome to my city. It’s amazing 🔥🔥

[@nothanks9503]

I once was walking around as a kid in AC while my parents worked at the casino at one point I ignored their instructions and went down past the Casinos to where the new prostitute ally is and my dad came out of nowhere and grabbed my shoulder like “where you going” lol

[@tbo666]

Hey... I just moved here a few months ago

[@truemoayyed8482]

Hello Simon

[@jeremyjimenez8153]

I live less than an hour from Atlantic City, but I haven’t been there since before the pandemic. Gambling doesn’t interest me, and there’s really not much else there other than the occasional show. The boardwalk is better than it was in the 80s and 90s but I still feel like there are better boardwalks in Ocean City and Wildwood. They tried downtown outlet shopping, which is still there, but I don’t think it provided the boom they were hoping for.

[@ElicBehexan]

I tell people that my father was born in Sin City 1921. Most of them are too ignorant of history to realize I'm talking about Atlantic City. Yes, Vegas took that title away, but in 1921, if anything was there at all, it certainly wasn't big or famous. He also grew up in Atlantic City, I remember him driving us around in A.C. in the 1960s, getting subs at The White House (which is still there.) The family didn't spend time there on the boardwalk, we were visiting his brother and family over on the Intercoastal Waterway. When we went to the shore, it was to Point Pleasant Beach (brief note here that Hurricane Sandy did do landfall around Point Pleasant Beach.) Mom's father had a shore house there for years. The last time I was in Atlantic City was because my first cousin died of cancer in 2007. We stayed at Harrah's, while it was because my sister's partner goes to the Harrah's in Cherokee, it also turned out to be where my cousin worked before his death. I would go back to A.C. if I could, but since I currently have no one, but my sister and her wife to go with, I'd rather go with someone else, someone with my interests maybe...

[@MichaelEilers]

Love the trope of fresh air somehow curing disease, it must have been a brilliant businessman who decided to sell something that is free

[@eugenesirota1443]

It's Ab-see-can, and you forgot to mention our best selling point: Italian Subs and Cheesesteaks that are better than the ones you get in Philly.

[@victoriaeads6126]

They aren't better, they're the same! The OG shops were all started by restaurant owners from Philly who used to close their Philly locations in summer and open up down the Shore, then go back to Philly in fall. Then they started keeping both locations open in summer, etc.

[@victoriaeads6126]

Not to say that the food isn't a huge selling point, it absolutely is, just that there doesn't need to be competition. It's ALL great food.

[@eugenesirota1443]

@@victoriaeads6126 the bread is completely different. Philadelphians also bristle at the thought of lettuce and tomato. Lastly, provolone>cheese wiz.

[@theUglyGypsy]

Where's the money Lucas? It's in Atlantic City Joe.

[@IzzyTheEditor]

What's it DOING in AC Lucas? ....Recirculating??? lol

[@IrwinRamirez-bg9zr]

what about lesotho?

[@jamesgarvey8402]

As a local, I have a little bit different take on a couple points made here. There was a reference to people choosing a less expensive town to visit like Cape May or Ocean City. I can say without any hesitation, those towns are significantly more expensive if you look at rates. Ocean city is chosen over Lennix city by most families because, well, it’s significantly safer and offers many more activities. Same goes for Cait may from a slightly different perspective. Atlantic City is failing because it’s dirty, dangerous, and just not a place people want to be unless you specifically want to go to the casinos or Steve show. But even then, there’s competition all around.

[@bradlevantis913]

A diving horse - Not what I expected to see today It will be interesting to see how things play out. My aunt went in the early 1990’s. And that is the last person I knew who ever visited. If your economy is built around tourism you need to have people interested and thinking about your city

[@joeyr7294]

I was thinking pretty much the same thing lol ( Before you edited ...now my comment doesn't make a lot of sense)

[@eugenesirota1443]

The 2 main roads into the city besides the Expressway are the White Horse Pike and the Black Horse Pike. They both go all the way to the Delaware River.

[@stevenfischer452]

I have a beer tap from the Diving Horse bar in AC. It was very much a thing back in the day but not anymore. Back during the 1950s and 60s, my great aunt and uncle brought their horses down to Steel Pier for people to ride down the beach.

[@FM60260]

4:52 That's not even the main console shown, the main console is even bigger.

[@paulsuprono7225]

Sands was one of the first casinos to pass away, followed by others, along the Boardwalk. 😩

[@Cody-Coyote]

The ending of this video very much felt like Megaprojects

[@tdyerwestfield]

Having never lived or visited USA, the only reason I've ever heard of Atlantic City is that they used to hold lots of big Boxing fights there in the 90s.

[@MrVanWildest]

My parents took me to AC in the mid 90s. Witnessed a bum pooping on the boardwalk. Almost stepped on a condom in the sand. I kept wondering what the big steel pipe going into the ocean was....and prostitutes bothering my dad in the parking lot of our hotel. 0/10 wouldn't recommend.

[@joeysworldsewer]

Check out Cape Coral, Florida next.

[@tomfisher9737]

Down the shore......spot on Simon. Jersey strong

[@gjdjdtht]

I still hear of many people visiting AC from NYC. It’s still a destination

[@mackysplace]

I'd love it if you would do a video on Crater Lake in Oregon, USA

[@zaco-km3su]

Las Vegas might just not last for ever. Considering the water shortages, it might not be such a great place to stay in the near future. Atlantic city could attract some of those tourists.

[@AZTUC_520]

Vegas actually has most access to the water in Lake Mead. Other states like California and Arizona have limited access due to the intake pipes only going down so far. Vegas intake pipe is at the bottom of the lake so it's pretty much impossible for them to run out.

[@jeremyjimenez8153]

One of the biggest hindrances Atlantic City faces today is that it’s seen as dirty. The beach is actually quite nice but most people don’t think it is because the rest of the town away from the boardwalk and Atlantic Avenue is dingy.

[@Timthecommenter]

What part of SNJ is 18:50?

[@RuneChaosMarine]

@16:36 Cherokee Nation! North Carolina! represent!!!

[@LondenAndAutumn]

I was born and raised in Atlantic City!

[@alyssajean43]

I live in Pennsylvania. I've never even been to AC aside from one short stop to get wings at Hooters on the way home. I've been to Wildwood countless times & Seaside Heights too. But why would I stop in AC when I could drive a half hour or so further & get to Jersey's best beach in Wildwood. Just never seemed appealing to me.

[@BulletHole]

whats with those islands to the north of the city proper? i havent really looked at it on a map before, but they look weird...

[@Lrkjdk]

It’s baffling how expensive homes are every other beach town yet AC is a craphole is amazing. Yet with that said I’m going there for dinner tomorrow haha