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Remembering The Circuit: The Message Thread That Started
It All
It all started out innocently enough. Facebook has an
application that lets users create quizes, so I thought
this would be a great way of sharing my recollections
and thoughts about Asbury Park's Circuit, that legendary
Meeting and Greeting place full of muscle cars, horny
post-teens, drunks, nightlife, you-name-it, that thrived
in the 30s and 70s.
Soon enough things went "spiraling out of control..." as
they say!
I sent a message to let some of my friends know about
the quiz, and first one, then two then thirty, forty-
you get the idea.
By the time it ended, at least one of the users, poor
Beth A., was banned from using Facebook's messaging
feature, and a new Facebook group was formed,
'Remembering The Circuit In Asbury Park NJ'.
We are now up to several hundred members and having a
great time sharing those memories, and hopefully not
displeasing the Gods of social networking any longer!
So I am sharing it here and apologizing to those who got
caught up in the fray (sorry Laura!). Hope you enjoy it.
To see the group you must log on with a Facebook
account, then search for Remembering The Circuit.
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The message that started it all
Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 9:44pm | Edit Note | Delete
Hi guys- I have taken the liberty of posting the actual
message and responses that started the Remembering The
Circuit group. I'll make it private for now (so only you
friends can see it), so if anyone wants their FB name
removed, I can do that and then maybe change it to
public.
For those of you who hadn't heard what happened, I had
written a quiz about the Circuit and was simply sending
a message to some of my friends to let them know about
it. Little did I know what was coming!
Thanks again to all of you - and Beth A. I am still
owing you some yard work or something for getting you
banned!
Enjoy-
------------------------------------------------------
Al-Vis Al
March 8 at 4:37pm
Hi guys- I did it again. Sorry to disturb any brain
cells best left unawakened. Once again, message me for
the answers and feel free to correct me about anything.
Have fun...Cruzin' The Circuit Part Dux (as in Quack
Quack!)
Hop inside Ricky H.'s '65 white Caddo convertible with
Al-Vis once again (The Boat), re-live those fun times
(around '77-'82 at the latest, hey I'm not THAT old
yet!) when the greatest music filled our ears, the smell
of popcorn and hot dogs filled the air.
Cruzin' The Circuit Part Dux (as in Quack Quack!)
================
Al-Vis Al
March 8 at 4:41pm
BTW, you might not get in right away- try again in a
little while if Facebook hasn't posted it yet to all of
their servers. I'll keep you updated if there
are any other glitches.
================
Al-Vis Al
March 8 at 7:46pm
OK this will get you in:
http://apps.facebook.com/cruizinthecircuitii/
Not sure how FB screwed this up but I just typed this
into my address window and it worked.
Sorry!apps.facebook.com
Source: apps.facebook.com
================
Ken Wescott
March 8 at 11:37pm
Finally...I got in, but not sure if to party w/Steve
Tyler is good! I think I screwed the pooch on a few
questions... the one about cookman being a part of the
Cicuit was a trick question.. if I remember right it
really was'nt... the other tricky one was... Warehouse
or Hotel cali... man I wish I had more brain cells!!
================
Larry Evans-Billys Fault
March 8 at 11:40pm
The only trick one for me was,,, Motorcycles revving or
Thunder Mountain Bands Stage Show........ Good one Al
================
Beth Amatelli
March 9 at 8:08am
Steve Tyler wants to party with me too - at least I'm
not a tourist this time!!! And I didn't cheat!!!
================
Ken Wescott
March 9 at 12:24pm
Hey Al... thanks for these trips down Memory Lane. I
thought I knew what I thought I knew!! Does anyone
remember the name of the Mexican Rest. around the corner
from The Hotel California, and the name of the bar it
became in the 80's? Keep 'em coming Brother!
And Beth... I am glad to be in good company with you and
Steve!
================
Nancy Coffman
March 9 at 12:51pm
I'm gonna party with Steve Tyler also!!!
So - how many did I get right??????
================
Jay Odell
March 9 at 4:48pm
This ones for Ken ...the name of the restaurant around
the corner from Hotel California was Pancho Villas.i
know this for a fact because I ran the floor.
================
Jay Odell
March 9 at 5:00pm
Steve Tyler wants to party with me...I'll drink him
under the table
================
Al-Vis Al
March 9 at 6:11pm
Pancho Villas became the Rocking Horse, with a real
mechanical bull as in Urban Cowboy. When JP Gotrock
played there the guy who ran it skipped town with our$.
But that was OK- a few weeks before Lance Larson came in
and liked us so much her hired us to warm up for him
over at the Pony on Tuesday nights. As Bobby D. will
tell you, Springsteen was in the audience most of those
Tuesday nights.
I'll send Nanizzle, Beth and Jay the answers with
explanations, unless there's anyone I missed.
================
Heidi Riley
March 9 at 6:22pm
Hey Al, what about me? I'm partying with the rest of the
gang a Steve Tyler...sounds like a good time!
Don't I get the answers...and what about round 1???
================
Bobby Donofrio
March 9 at 8:15pm
Pancho Villa also became two other clubs.....Garp's and
Inn the Saddle Saloon....I remember playing both of
those clubs....Garp's I played with NightWing and it was
Kamikazee night and everyone got sick because of the
sour mix......and when it was Inn the Saddle, I played
there for Gene Bernado and the Breed-The Pagans and Aces
& Eights Biker party.
================
Al-Vis Al
March 9 at 8:21pm
Yes that was it, Inn The Saddle when we played there. It
was Taxco Village, another Mexican Restaurant, when it
closed for good, in the early 80s. Thanks Bobby.
================
Bobby Donofrio
March 9 at 8:24pm
Yes Sir....you are correct...Taxco village....man, are
we old LOL....They had good food also.....
================
Celia Darrigo
March 9 at 8:27pm
Wow! I'm gettin choked up reading all this great
history!!
================
Beth Amatelli
March 9 at 8:37pm
I led such a sheltered life....I never really got to
party like the rest of you....I guess I'll have to make
up for lost time when I hit the Jersey Shore in June!!!!
(Somebody better be playing somewhere!!!)
================
Larry Evans-Billys Fault
March 9 at 10:38pm
I almost got knocked out by that STUPID bull....
================
Ken Wescott
March 10 at 12:15am
You are right about Pancho Villa.. after that it became
a club called "Inn the Saddle" started out as a Go-Go
Bar but later was a regular club at night and a Go-Go by
day... after that I am not sure what became of it!
================
Barbara Muzychka
March 10 at 7:05am
Now I'm sitting here wondering....I know in 1970 that
place was a family restaurant called Jahn's owned by a
old queen from north jersey. Then it was Pancho Villa,
the mexican restaurant that served great marinated
cactus and it was the El Matador and the Super Scene.
The El Matador and the Super Scene were there around
1971 - 1975 or so. The El Matador and the Super Scene
were owned by the same people who owned the El Morocan
on 2nd ave. I'm not sure if the El Matador and the Super
Scene came before or after Pnacho Villa's. The El
Matador was primary a gay club and the Super Scene was a
mixed disco club with some straight people coming down
from the north. All three of these clubs were owned by
the same Italian 'group' of men from the Saverville
area.....Nickie De Martino and the bouncer Tiny~
================
Melinda Brennan
March 10 at 10:37am
Wow, what a trip down memory lane..used to ride the
circuit all the time with my sister in her 69 Camaro,
these were definitely the good ol days..hanging at Mrs
Jays seeing Donnie B play in Black Cracker, Russ Bennett
bartending, eating the best hot dogs in the world, then
walking around the corner to the Quack Quack where
Pickle was the bartender and the Drift Inn to see Bobby
B play in White Cracker..then walking home on Saturday
night into Ocean Grove after midnight..dont know how I
made it sometimes! Remember going to the Chinese
Restaurant on the corner by the Drift Inn to get an
eggroll when the munchies started kicking in..definitely
some of the best times of my life..thanks for the
memories!
================
Ken Wescott
March 10 at 10:42am
Melinda.. the Chineese Rest, was called Gow Shin.. It
had a HUGE Neon sign above it.. I remember cruisin dwon
Kingsley and seeing it as I made the left to head back
to Ocean Ave. I also Remember "The Sunshine Inn" big
yellow building with a purple gorilla on it...
================
Barbara Muzychka
March 10 at 10:50am
Ah, yes...Gow Shin. We used to eat there as far back as
1963 when we came down here from NYC.
The Sunshine Inn had some of the best bands back in the
70's and wasn't it right across on Kingsley from the
Sunshine Inn was the Student Prince?
================
Barbara Muzychka
March 10 at 10:53am
Question: Did the Sunshine Inn open after the Upstage
closed down? I know, the Upstage is not part of the
circuit; but I just got to wondering
================
Melinda Brennan
March 10 at 10:54am
Yes, I definitely remember the Sunshine Inn. I saw Kiss
there before they wore all the make up, many many moons
ago
================
Larry Evans-Billys Fault
March 10 at 11:05am
One of THE BEST shows I ever saw was HUMBLE PIE at the
Sunshine in WITH Peter Frampton and then again after he
left......
================
Ken Wescott
March 10 at 11:06am
Not sure when it opened.. I am pretty sure it was on
1rst ave on the middle between Kingsley and Ocean Ave..
I used to work at the parking lot across from
the Drift Inn as a kid.
================
Jon Holderer
March 10 at 11:49am
I was at that show.
Steve Mariott was awesome.
Jon
================
Ken Wescott
March 10 at 2:13pm
I remember cruising The Circuit, when I was'nt going
round.. I would park on I guess it was 7th Ave, behind
the Berkley-Carteret, pop the hood to cool the engine on
my '70 Mustang cool down. It also gave you a chance to
see what the other guy was running under the hood. While
cruising, having the 8-track with the matchbook wedged
in, with Foghat blaring "Slow Ride". I feel lucky to
have been there, and lived to talk about it! In the late
70's there was a blonde girl who drove a '56 Chevy
Nomad.. Refrigerator White with the words in bright
Blue.. "If you can Beat me.. you can..." well you can
guess the rest.. no need to go there! but that was a
FAST CAR! That's all I'm saying!
================
Celia Darrigo
March 10 at 2:33pm
That wouldnt be Maryanne VanNess would it?
================
Ken Wescott
March 10 at 2:52pm
I don't think so....she lived in The Hills... right?
================
Beth Amatelli
March 10 at 3:18pm
Yes - Maryann lived in the hills - I hung out with her
one summer.....
================
Ken Wescott
March 10 at 3:23pm
This is pretty cool.. I mean here we are 30 years out,
and are able to connect with so many people that we
probably rode next to.. or even with so many
summers ago. We all have a common thread.. THANKS AL! I
have always found that us "Neptunians"! ( for lack of a
better term!) seem to stick together, no matter what!
See now I am missing the east coast! Well I am grateful
for being able to share and read our "stories"
================
Beth Amatelli
March 10 at 3:34pm
Hey Ken - I think the biggest difference is we are older
and appreciate each other more -- I've been in Tennessee
for 2 years and I am actually looking forward to my week
in Jersey in June --- I hope I'm not disappointed -- and
thanks Al - you've helped make alot of this possible!!!
================
Nancy Coffman
March 10 at 4:16pm
AW --- I remember a guy in a black GTO.
================
Celia Darrigo
March 10 at 4:20pm
I had a friend Vinnie ride the circuit..had a 69 or 70
Chevelle..marroon with a fuschia strip down middle of
hood..also had a similar 56 llike that too!
================
Ken Wescott
March 10 at 4:36pm
Celia, Vinnie worked at the Inspection station, right? I
remember him, I worked at Asbury Auto Supply.
================
Celia Darrigo
March 10 at 5:01pm
Yes Ken he did..I'm still in touch with him although it
has been a couple months since I've heard from him. I
remember he let me use his orange 70 monte..oh man was
that nice!!!! I loved that car!
================
Debra Kondrup
March 10 at 5:11pm
Ok guys. I don't know any of this stuff. I was too miuch
a geek stuck in the ivory tower and Mom wouldn't let me
out. There is a hole in the "life" education area. I
missed all the partying and wild stuff.
================
Beth Amatelli
March 10 at 5:28pm
Amen Debra - I'm with you!!!
================
Bobby Donofrio
March 10 at 5:32pm
Hey Ken...I remember that girl...with the bumper
sticker...If you can beat me, you can eat me" I kicked
her butt with my Corvette one night and then I cooked
her on the bar-b-que....LOL!! I did whip her though!!
================
Bobby Donofrio
March 10 at 5:33pm
Hey Kenny...remember that blue chevelle called "Leaping
Lurch?" that was one quick car.....
================
Ken Wescott
March 10 at 5:49pm
Yes, I do. Hell I remember going down there with you in
your '56 Buick, and Jeff Hopkins old Box Nova witht eh
roll bar in it.
================
Bobby Donofrio
March 10 at 6:55pm
Shhhhh...I didn't have a driver's license yet...LOL!!! I
got another car for you....."Crystal Blue Persuasion!"
================
Ken Wescott
March 10 at 7:02pm
how about the van.. "VANishing Point"
================
Ken Wescott
March 10 at 7:02pm
holy crap Marie... I am having 70's Flashbacks!!
================
Larry Evans-Billys Fault
March 10 at 7:34pm
Leapin Lurch was Gene Todaros car
================
Larry Evans-Billys Fault
March 10 at 7:35pm
MAN, Al-Vis is gettin some mileage outta this one
================
Al-Vis Al
March 10 at 7:36pm
Geesh am I sorry to put all you guys thru this!!! And
Bobby and Ken, I think you guys need to get a room...
just make sure Bobby clears it with "Princess" first.
Seriously tho, maybe someone should start a "Remembering
The Circuit" group here on FB. There is a Mrs Jays
tribute site on MySpace, BTW.
And as you know there are several books about the Asbury
scene back then around, tho most focus on the earlier,
pre-Born To Run days. I am actually in some of them.
Worst part about all of this is if you go there now what
do you see??? Almost nothing. Just the Pony, the Wonder
Bar and lots of parking lots. Pretty sad, but as my
friend Nancy says, "don't be sad its over, be happy it
happened."
================
Larry Evans-Billys Fault
March 10 at 7:37pm
Louie Tatlors red GTX and Fast Eddie Westlakes Green 67
Chevelle, we sent the motor to Cali to be blueprinted
and bored out to hell
================
Beth Amatelli
March 10 at 7:38pm
Remembering the Circuit - it's on you Al -- I'm
there!!!! (Not that I have much to remember - but it's
great to read other people's memories)......
================
Ken Wescott
March 10 at 7:55pm
Al.. you are PURE Genius! ok Let's start the group.
================
Beth Amatelli
March 10 at 7:56pm
Isn't he, though - I really wish I'd known him 30 years
ago!!! I might have had more pleasant memories!!!
================
Ken Wescott
March 10 at 8:00pm
I did! (know him 30 yrs ago!!)
================
Beth Amatelli
March 10 at 8:01pm
I wish I'd known you 30 years ago too - then I'd have
know Al!!! LOL!!!
================
Celia Darrigo
March 10 at 8:27pm
Beth don't feel bad ~ Al was in the same class as me and
I never even talked to the guy. I wish now that I had
the courage to talk to half the people I am now..maybe
things would of been different. I also wish I had gone
to see Al play at all the places hes played at around
here.Hey I know..(oh boy this may be trouble..lol) why
dont we have a circuit reunion and meet in Asbury or the
Pony? Yea that sounds like trouble to me alright..lol.
================
Ken Wescott
March 10 at 8:29pm
lol...I am surprised we did not know each other... I
used to hangin the Hills alot.. Mark Rogers, Mikey Kost..
Bobby Swallow.. and an assorted cast of characters!!
================
Ken Wescott
March 10 at 8:29pm
OK AL.. I started it... if I start it.. will they come?
================
Beth Amatelli
March 10 at 8:30pm
June 19-27th -- Jersey bound -- Katie's Prom is the 19th
and her graduation is the 27 -- other than that - I'm
free.....
================
Celia Darrigo
March 10 at 8:31pm
Lol Beth..dam I can't wait to meet you all over again!
Jersey is gonna be hot that week! lol
================
Beth Amatelli
March 10 at 8:32pm
LOL - like I said - somebody better be playing somewhere
and there'd better be a few parties to attend......
================
Ken Wescott
March 10 at 8:32pm
I took my first Guitar lessons from Al back in like
1980-81 above the "Hot Dog House" on cookman. Wish I
would have stuck with the guitar!! I could have been
somebody!!LOL!!
================
Celia Darrigo
March 10 at 8:33pm
Oh believe me..we wil be going to see Big Al play
somewhere!
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Beth Amatelli
March 10 at 8:33pm
LOL - I should have kept playing -- my friend is looking
for a new guitarist for her band (country and she's
moving up the charts quick) -- "I could have
been a contender!!!" LOL!!!!
================
Ken Wescott
March 10 at 8:34pm
OK when this partying is going on.. someone has to call
me and let me listen...it is too long to drive from
here!!
================
Beth Amatelli
March 10 at 8:35pm
so fly!!! Don't ya miss the old town????
================
Ken Wescott
March 10 at 8:35pm
that's where I was going with my comment... good catch!
================
Beth Amatelli
March 10 at 8:36pm
I'm not as dumb as I look (or as people think I
am)!!!!!! Hey - up until about 2 months ago - I was
dreading this trip....now I'm actually looking forward
to it!!!
================
Ken Wescott
March 10 at 8:36pm
I have my daughter flying out here in April and I have a
friend coming out in June.. but maybe...
================
Ken Wescott
March 10 at 8:37pm
always good to "GO HOME" every once in a while
================
Celia Darrigo
March 10 at 8:38pm
There ya go..now you have an excuse to come home if
something happens..lol.
================
Beth Amatelli
March 10 at 8:38pm
well - make sure it's while I'm up there!!! I'll need
someone to drive the Explorer while I hang out the sun
roof!!!!
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Beth Amatelli
March 10 at 8:39pm
"Who says you can't go home" - that's what is usually
playing on my MySpace when I head north......
================
Celia Darrigo
March 10 at 8:39pm
I'm there with Sue for ya..lol.
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Beth Amatelli
March 10 at 8:40pm
LOL -Cel - not QUITE what I had in mind - but it will
work!!!
================
Celia Darrigo
March 10 at 8:42pm
Ooops! Silly me~lol
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Beth Amatelli
March 10 at 8:43pm
LOL - that's okay - we'll have fun!!!!!
================
Doyle H. Crowe Jr.
March 10 at 10:15pm
I remember The Circuit back in the day I worked at BMS
from3PM until!AM everyday in the summer.I wish I knew
you all better back then but that was my lost!
================
Nancy Coffman
March 11 at 9:57am
HEY ---- What am I ??? Chopped liver??? I am gonna be
out there in APRIL!!! I wanna party & play also!!!
================
Beth Amatelli
March 11 at 2:13pm
LOL - we need to coordinate our visits so the coincide
with one another - that way we can party together!!!!
================
Ken Wescott
March 11 at 3:06pm
spoken like a true Neptune Person! I am in and out of
here.. I went to my settings.. I posted a thingy under
my name... IDK? well I will see you around the
"old neighbourhood"
================
Beth Amatelli
March 11 at 3:09pm
works for me Ken ---
================
Nancy Coffman
March 11 at 3:22pm
Next time we can co-coridnate the visits Beth. I am
really excited about going in April --- it has been
nearly 2 years. Way too long!
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Ken Wescott
March 11 at 3:24pm
I moved out here on a permanent basis last year.. time
just blows by.. I may go back for our 30th reunion in
the fall? Take care
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Celia Darrigo
March 11 at 3:26pm
Yes Nancy...it has been Too long!!!!!!! Hurry up and get
here will ya!!! lol Nancy Coffman
March 11 at 3:34pm
Cel --- It is just a little more than 4 weeks now. The
13 days that I am there are just gonna FLY by, and I
will be wishing that I had more time to do all the stuff
I wanna do!!! I hope to even squeeze in a quick day trip
to Lebanon, PA to see family - but I am not sure yet. I
guess that will depend on if my 'ride' is gonna stay for
the weekend or just make it a one day trip. So many
things to do --- so little time!!
================
Beth Amatelli
March 11 at 8:04pm
Okay - am I the only one who is getting "WARNING"
notices when I try to access my FB mail - telling me I'm
abusing the feature????? What's up with this???
It's starting to annoy me!
================
Al-Vis Al
March 11 at 8:28pm
Beth: Here is FB's official response, from their support
site:
-------------------
I received a message telling me that I am approaching a
limit for sending messages. What should I do?
Facebook has limits in place to prevent behavior that
others may find annoying or abusive. These limits
restrict the rate at which you can use certain features
on the site. If you received a warning for going too
fast when sending messages, you will need to temporarily
stop this activity to avoid hitting a message block on
your account.
For future reference, please keep the following policies
in mind:
Facebook prides itself in protecting users from spam and
does not allow users to send messages promoting or
advertising a product, service, or opportunity.
The Inbox functionality is not intended for the purpose
of having live conversations with people. If you would
like to do this, we recommend using the Facebook Chat
feature.
Unsolicited messages of any kind will not be tolerated.
-------------------
Apparently FB is much more strict about this than any of
the other social networking sites, and their support
message boards are filled with complaints about this
strictness.
Two things:
1) If any of us do get blocked it is supposedly
temporary
2) We now have Ken's Remembering The Circuit group with
a message board, which is the usual place for
conversions like this anyhow.
And I'm sorry if any of you get blocked, but I didn't
know this myself. Lesson learned, tho!
================
Celia Darrigo
March 11 at 8:35pm
Leave it to Al to find the problem...you go Al!
Thanks..information greatly appreciated.
================
Al-Vis Al
March 11 at 8:40pm
You mean I found the Solution I hope!!! I think I
already found the problem when I started the thread. But
thanks anyway.. lesson learned by all of us, I hope.
================
Celia Darrigo
March 11 at 9:43pm
lol..you always did know how to word things Al..love ya
for it! |
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