Atlantic City Weekly

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How did the Seventh Annual Atlantic City Air Show — “Thunder Over The Boardwalk” — go from an event that drew 150,000 people in 2003 to one that brought 750,000 people to the beach and Boardwalk to see the 2009 show? Each ensuing year brought more people and a better show. How did it happen?

Those who have been responsible for the success of this event, which brought the greatest number of people to ever witness a show in Atlantic City’s history, thought outside the box. Those involved did not do the same thing each year. They realized that they had to have more attractions and provide for the welfare of those who came from far and near to see the magnificent performances of some of our military’s finest aircrafts, pilots and service personnel as well as highly reputed civilian aerobatic exhibitions. They didn’t just sit back and say, “Wow! We had a record-breaking event so let’s just bring it all back again next year.” They are already at work planning to expand next year’s show. The eighth annual Atlantic City Air Show will be bigger and better, as it will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first air show in Atlantic City, which took place in 1910.

Those involved with the planning of the event for next year are already contemplating how they can pay tribute to those who flew 100 years ago, not from an airport, but from the beach of Atlantic City, to put on their exhibitions over the ocean and then back to land on the beach.

I would like to take this opportunity to commend all those involved in any facet of making the show the success it was this year. There was another record set that has received little attention. There were 187 children lost and reunited with their parents and grandparents by the security forces and observant civilians. Once again, the police department reported there were no major criminal incidents for the third consecutive year. The success of this event showed what Atlantic City can do if all of the city, county and state governments, civic organizations and volunteers work together for a common purpose. Everyone involved, give yourselves a pat on the back, you deserve it.

Bigger and Better?

How can the show be bigger and better next year? Have more parking spaces. Next year, there will be room for at least 1,000 cars at Bader Field. This columnist’s been informed that there will be parking there with shuttle buses to the beach and Boardwalk. We also must continue to have the committee and the community ”think outside box!” Let’s really make it a two-day show. Tuesday is already a practice day, and this year there were more people than ever on the beach to watch the pre-event flights. To entice more to come to Atlantic City on Tuesday and stay overnight or come back on Wednesday, let’s have a major free beach concert Tuesday evening with a fireworks display afterwards, from a barge in the ocean.

Some of you may remember when we had the Beach Boys perform a concert in 1983 that drew over 300,000 people to the beach, and over 200 boats in the ocean. Just think about it — a practice session of the Air Show ending at 3:30pm, followed at 7pm with a concert and a fantastic fireworks display at 9pm. The next day, Wednesday, we look for close to one million people to come and enjoy the Atlantic City Air Show. This too should be followed by a free beach concert at 7pm to keep many of those people on the beach, in the city and not on the highways leaving town. Could this happen? It could and it should. Money for the concerts could come from the $20 million that the Atlantic City Convention and Visitor’s Authority is trying to raise to promote Atlantic City. What better way to promote Atlantic City than to have two full exciting days of air shows, concerts and a fireworks display? What do you think? (See video from the Air Show at acweekly.com)

A.C. Top Boardwalk in America

According to a news release from the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority (ACCVA), the Boardwalk in Atlantic City — the great granddaddy of all boardwalks dating from 1870 — is at the top of the Top 10 List of American Boardwalks according to ForbesTraveler.com. Earlier this year, the same site listed Atlantic City as one of the top golf destinations in the United States. The well-respected travel authority notes that our Boardwalk, “for the majority of the 20th century it served as a stage for the latest inventions and oddities.” In it also makes note of the Boardwalk’s premiere summer event, the Atlantic City Air Show.

The Atlantic City Boardwalk — always capitalized, because it is a legal street — began as a temporary structure to keep sand out of the hotels. Today it is a vibrant assemblage of shops, casinos, restaurants and attractions, and provides access to the city’s vast beach, ocean and beach bars.

Jeff Vasser, president of the ACCVA, said “When you read the narrative, you can see that the editors put a lot of thought and reasoning into their picks. We’re proud of our Boardwalk, its history and all it has to offer today and we’re pleased to see our name at the top of a prestigious and deserving list.”

Friends of the Neustadter family are particularly proud of the recognition being given to Scott Neustadter, whose love life provided the setting for the hit motion picture, (500) Days of Summer, which not only received three stars out of four from most reviewers, but it’s been in the Top 10 grossing films in the nation.