In a sea of fancy hats sparking jewelry and gloved hands, the Federation of Women’s Clubs held their Music Festival at the Spring Lake Community House. Women from different clubs performed the Broadway songs of Rogers and Hammerstein, Victor Herbert, and Sigmond Romberg. Choral groups and individuals sang, “It’s a Grand Night for Singing”, “Wonderful Guy” and “Softly as a Morning Sunrise”.
Oklahoma Playbill 1955
The entire assembly sang “Oklahoma” together. Sea Girt was represented. Alex Hawes of Boston Blvd was president of the Sea Girt Community Club, whose Women’s division was a member of the Federation. She was also a member of the new Holly Club, a garden club founded by Kitty Berg, who hosted meetings of the Garden Division in her home at 112 Stockton. To attract future members, and to assist in education, they formed a junior affiliate garden group, the Holly Berries.
Kitty Berg’s house site of the first Holly Club Meeting
Two parties were held for the kids in town for Halloween. The Fire Company hosted 75 kids for a costume party, and live animal and train display. Every child received a lollypop and a balloon. The boardwalk had a parade of costumed children.
Winners for the best costumes at the firehouse were Richard Venino, Lisa Cook, Susan Sheehan, William Merten, Carol Ann Merten, and George Brash.
Winners for the best costumes at the Boardwalk were: Chris Hays, Barbara Caspersen, and Betty Lou Van Ness, first and second-grade class; Holly Richards, Linda Schock, and Joan Darby, third and fourth-grade class; David and Robert Kregg, Patricia Bennett, Laren Christensen, fifth and sixth-grade class; Patricia Carey, Sandra Herzig, Barbara Reid, and Susan Christensen, seventh and eighth-grade class.
Richard Nixon and Family with Walt Disney at the Monorail
TV featured The Mickey Mouse Club and the Wonderful World of Disney. Disneyland opened in California. Simple wholesome entertainment dominated popular culture.
Bill Haley (left) and his Comets publicity photo
But the first signs of change were visible at the Asbury Park Casino. They were in competition with the Convention Hall Auditorium, which featured the top quartets of the era, Casino brought in Bill Haley and the Comets in 1955, who were spreading a new type of music. “Wild and unarranged”, Rock and Roll was criticized for its beat, the way it made kids dance, and its roots in African American jazz and blues, and southern Dixieland, all of which were looked down upon by refined tastes. Rock Around the clock was a smash hit. Things would simmer over in 1956.
