Asbury Originals
Asbury Originals celebrates Asbury Park innovators, those whose influence and sheer force of nature made them different from the rest. Just like our City By The Sea.
Asbury Park artist Menas took dozens of hours to painstakingly create this accurate and historic piece of work "Asbury Originals."
Asbury Originals
By Menas
Produced by Sea.Hear.Now
A
1700’s Sand Hill Indians were the first inhabitants of the region
1870James Bradley and wife Helen purchased 500 acres and named it Asbury Park, after Methodist minister Francis Asbury.
1888“The Gay Queen of the Waves” the first person to ride a wave on the Eastern Seaboard, in Asbury Park.
1888The first lines cast by the Asbury Park Fishing Club1890-The first public music performances by native and free men marching on the West Side of Asbury Park
1900The first concert band, the Richardson Orchestra plays to crowds on the West Side of Asbury Park.
1870James Bradley and wife Helen purchased 500 acres and named it Asbury Park, after Methodist minister Francis Asbury.
1888“The Gay Queen of the Waves” the first person to ride a wave on the Eastern Seaboard, in Asbury Park.
1888The first lines cast by the Asbury Park Fishing Club1890-The first public music performances by native and free men marching on the West Side of Asbury Park
1900The first concert band, the Richardson Orchestra plays to crowds on the West Side of Asbury Park.
S
1900 Asbury Park author Stephen Crane dies at age 28.
1903Band leader Arthur Pryor begins his decades long residency as the main entertainment attraction on the East Side of Asbury Park
1906 The height of the Asbury Park Baby Parade, which drew up to 80,000 people to the waterfront.
1907The original “Tilyou” was emblazoned on the sign of the Asbury Park Steeplechase, a nod to its cousin the Coney Island Steeplechase.
1909 West Side residents at the south end of Asbury Park, swimming at the black only beach “The Mud Hole.”
1903Band leader Arthur Pryor begins his decades long residency as the main entertainment attraction on the East Side of Asbury Park
1906 The height of the Asbury Park Baby Parade, which drew up to 80,000 people to the waterfront.
1907The original “Tilyou” was emblazoned on the sign of the Asbury Park Steeplechase, a nod to its cousin the Coney Island Steeplechase.
1909 West Side residents at the south end of Asbury Park, swimming at the black only beach “The Mud Hole.”
B
1928 One of the most popular songs ever recorded, “Honeysuckle Rose” was written by Fats Waller and Andy Razaf on Atkins Ave on the West Side.
1937 Asbury Park’s Vivian Eley performs at the most famous venue in the world, Paris’ Moulin Rouge.
1920-40’s One armed artist Lorenzo Harris sculpts magnificent sculptures made of sand on the south end beaches for the enjoyment of all people.
1938 Comedian and Actor Bud Abbott along with his partner Lou Costello become national treasures starring in radio, film and television for decades.
1940AP resident Leon Hess takes his second hand oil truck and builds the Hess Fuel Oils into a household name.
1937 Asbury Park’s Vivian Eley performs at the most famous venue in the world, Paris’ Moulin Rouge.
1920-40’s One armed artist Lorenzo Harris sculpts magnificent sculptures made of sand on the south end beaches for the enjoyment of all people.
1938 Comedian and Actor Bud Abbott along with his partner Lou Costello become national treasures starring in radio, film and television for decades.
1940AP resident Leon Hess takes his second hand oil truck and builds the Hess Fuel Oils into a household name.
U
1960 Westside singer Lenny Welch leaves The Mar Keys for a solo career and cracks the Top 100 chart and has a #4 hit with “Since I Fell for You” in 1963.
1960 For a time, Asbury Park’s Frank Budd was the “world’s fastest human” setting records in the 100 yard dash. He also was the AP’s first Olympian (Rome 1960) and NFL player (Philadelphia Eagles).
1963 West side vocal group, The Broadway’s signature sound influences what would later become the “Sounds of Asbury Park”. The group tours nationally and logs regional and national hits on the R&B charts.
1973 Asbury Park’s Bruce Springsteen releases his debut, “Greetings from Asbury Park” and “The Wild the Innocent & The E Street Shuffle”. He goes to sell millions of records, winning 20 Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Tony Award.
1975 West side actor Danny DeVito is featured in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” leading to a prolific career in stage, film and television.1975-Following the path laid before him. Southside Johnny Lyon brings the updated “Sound of Asbury Park” to the rock n roll masses.
1960 For a time, Asbury Park’s Frank Budd was the “world’s fastest human” setting records in the 100 yard dash. He also was the AP’s first Olympian (Rome 1960) and NFL player (Philadelphia Eagles).
1963 West side vocal group, The Broadway’s signature sound influences what would later become the “Sounds of Asbury Park”. The group tours nationally and logs regional and national hits on the R&B charts.
1973 Asbury Park’s Bruce Springsteen releases his debut, “Greetings from Asbury Park” and “The Wild the Innocent & The E Street Shuffle”. He goes to sell millions of records, winning 20 Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Tony Award.
1975 West side actor Danny DeVito is featured in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” leading to a prolific career in stage, film and television.1975-Following the path laid before him. Southside Johnny Lyon brings the updated “Sound of Asbury Park” to the rock n roll masses.
R
1965 Chez Elle is opened by legendary lesbian activist Maggie “The Cat” Hogan, who was rumored to pack a pistol to protect her patrons and her business.
1979 LBGTQ trailblazer and entrepreneur Carol Torre fosters inclusivity with her real estate and business acumen which included several bars and clubs, that served community hubs and safe spaces for decades.
1982 Drag performer Chantel Curtis makes a name for herself in clubs up and down the East Coast, but it’s her devotion to her hometown that establishes Asbury Park as home to trans and drag culture.
1992 New Jersey’s first Pride Parade happens on the boardwalk to a sparse but lively crowd. Today, the first weekend of June draws 25,000 people of all ethnicities and sexual orientations to Asbury Park to celebrate the New Jersey LBGTQ+ community.
1998 World famous record producer Shep Pettibone buys the Empress Hotel and transforms its club “Paradise” into the longest running gay club in New Jersey and becomes an international destination.
2004 On March 8, the first same sex marriage in New Jersey took place in Asbury Park. Louis Navarette and Ric Best were married by City Clerk Kiki Tomek before throngs of media, setting off a wave of support nationally.
1979 LBGTQ trailblazer and entrepreneur Carol Torre fosters inclusivity with her real estate and business acumen which included several bars and clubs, that served community hubs and safe spaces for decades.
1982 Drag performer Chantel Curtis makes a name for herself in clubs up and down the East Coast, but it’s her devotion to her hometown that establishes Asbury Park as home to trans and drag culture.
1992 New Jersey’s first Pride Parade happens on the boardwalk to a sparse but lively crowd. Today, the first weekend of June draws 25,000 people of all ethnicities and sexual orientations to Asbury Park to celebrate the New Jersey LBGTQ+ community.
1998 World famous record producer Shep Pettibone buys the Empress Hotel and transforms its club “Paradise” into the longest running gay club in New Jersey and becomes an international destination.
2004 On March 8, the first same sex marriage in New Jersey took place in Asbury Park. Louis Navarette and Ric Best were married by City Clerk Kiki Tomek before throngs of media, setting off a wave of support nationally.
Y
1993 Asbury Park bouncer Scotty “Bam Bam” Bigelow becomes a professional wrestling superstar and cultural icon, being name checked in hip hop songs, starring in television commercials with his own action figure.
1998Wendy Williams becomes one of the most successful radio personalities in America which eventually leads to a highly successful eight year run on television.
2008The Asbury Park Zombie debuts and in two short years breaks the Guinness world record for “World Largest Gathering of Zombies.” They break it again in 2013 and today it is the largest day of the living dead on the East Coast.
2006Surfrider Foundation’s Asbury Park Family Day begins the tradition of local surfers teaching the youth of Asbury Park the art of wave riding and ocean safety.
2018Sea.Hear.Now debuts on the Asbury Park waterfront, bringing a world class surfing, music and art festival to the burgeoning cultural capitol of the Graden State.
2019Basketball star Naz Reid becomes the first Asbury Park athlete to make the NBA, becoming a force of nature on the court for the Minnesota Timberwolves, winning the highly prestigious “Sixth Man of The Year” award in 2024.
1998Wendy Williams becomes one of the most successful radio personalities in America which eventually leads to a highly successful eight year run on television.
2008The Asbury Park Zombie debuts and in two short years breaks the Guinness world record for “World Largest Gathering of Zombies.” They break it again in 2013 and today it is the largest day of the living dead on the East Coast.
2006Surfrider Foundation’s Asbury Park Family Day begins the tradition of local surfers teaching the youth of Asbury Park the art of wave riding and ocean safety.
2018Sea.Hear.Now debuts on the Asbury Park waterfront, bringing a world class surfing, music and art festival to the burgeoning cultural capitol of the Graden State.
2019Basketball star Naz Reid becomes the first Asbury Park athlete to make the NBA, becoming a force of nature on the court for the Minnesota Timberwolves, winning the highly prestigious “Sixth Man of The Year” award in 2024.
