New Game In Town

Storms came in bunches, and Hurricane Doria in the fall of 1971 and a series of spring nor’easters in 72 broke up the southern section of the boardwalk and disconnected a gazebo. The beach needed replenishment, extension of the jettys, and boardwalk repairs. It would all be expensive. Leaders looked to the Federal, State, and County to help with the work. But there was political resistance to allocating money for a restrictive beach.

The policies at Monmouth County beaches were coming under renewed scrutiny. Neptune sued Avon-by-the-Sea. Avon sold beach badges to renters and homeowners at a significant discount to the general public. The Courts interpreted that the public trust required that everyone have an equal right to the shoreline.. While towns could charge for services, they could not discriminate. Every town was forced to re-evaluate its policies before the 1973 season.

Alex Webster publicity photo NY Football Giants

Alex Webster opened a bar-restaurant, The Stadium, at the Plaza, next to the Post Office. Alex, a star running back with the NY Giants and then the Head Coach, lived on Washington Blvd. Two other Sea Girt partners backed him, Hal Armstrong and Dick Bowman. Alex had developed a great relationship with charities at the shore, lending his name to campaigns for Easter Seals, MS, and the American Heart Association. The bar featured pictures of players and memorabilia. Alex had come to Sea Girt through Giants connections.

Doc Johnny Johnson, a trainer for the Giants was born in Sea Girt. When not working for the NFL team, John was training student athletes at Manhattan College. Doc was on the Giant’s staff from 1946- 2008. John was honored by induction into the Giants Ring of Honor, and Manhattan named an athletic facility after him. The Mara family, owners of the team, also had a summer house in town. The bar drew Giants fans from all over the Shore.

Gus Steck resolved his issue at the aged Tremont hotel. Rather than try to expand the hotel, he kept the successful beachfront bar and restaurant and demolished the rest of the structure. Homes would be built where the hotel section was. The new smaller facility, the Yankee Clipper, was completely refurbished and was an instant hit. A small apartment above the restaurant was built to allow musical guests to stay at the Clipper. Sea Girt had two new great bar/restaurants.

Josie Johnston, a young actress, lived in Sea Girt with her husband, Joseph Semas. Josie starred in her first major film, Stigma, which dealt with a subject not openly discussed in the past: venereal disease. 1970s cinema was epitomized by pushing boundaries and nudity. Josie later went to Hollywood and got more work. She appeared in television on Kojak, one of a dozen detective shows that marked the era.