Ahhhh my Jersey Sisters and Brothers- No One gets my stories like YOU DO!
TC here- and do you remember the glory days of youth when we used to hit some fun (sometimes semi-dangerous) places that aren’t around anymore? Concert Venues, Amusement Parks and more……These were some fun jams that only someone from New Jersey would remember……

• Action Park- Vernon

  The New Jersey legend- Located in Vernon NJ, Action Park was a place that many of us Jersey kids went to, not just once but many times every summer. In fact, I used to go there on school trips and Matt Murray was an Action Park employee. The Go Carts, Wave Pool, Alpine Slide, Cannonball and grounds of poorly designed rides, (and under age employees!) This New Jersey institution spawned the recent HBO Max Film “Class Action Park” telling the true story behind this disaster land!
  All I knew is I would always come home with scrapes and bruises and made sure there were band aids and peroxide waiting for me.

  Action Park

  Class Action Park Movie

  Alice In Chains at Action Park

• The Capitol Theater- Passaic

  It started out as a Vaudeville Theater, Migrated into a movie theater (showing adult films in the 70’s ) and then became a concert venue, this 3,200 seat venue was a GEM of a concert hall.  Rush,  Duran Duran, Warren Zevon, Prince, Fleetwood Mac….The Capitol hosted everyone! I remember seeing Night Ranger and The Beastie Boys there!

  Closed in 1989- Demolished in 1991

  Damn those were good times

  Stevie Ray Vaughan- Capitol Theater- 1985

  Rush- Capitol Theater 1976

  Prince- Capitol Theater- 1982

• Vintage Vinyl- Fords

  The coolest record store ever- Located in the strip mall in Fords, the treasures I collected at Vintage Vinyl over the years were beyond compare. Owned and operated by Rob Roth, you could also check out live music, artist signings and cool events like the time Motley Crue’s Nikki Sixx worked behind the counter as “Larry” and Ozzy came by to hang. Owner Rob didn’t close because of downloading or the internet but rather retired after an amazing run of providing music to make people happy.
  When VV closed after 42 years I cried. What a piece of New Jersey gone!

  Queens Of The Stone Age at Vintage Vinyl-

   

  Nikki Sixx at Vintage Vinyl (working!)

• Bowcraft- Scotch Plains

  Maybe not the biggest amusement park around, but Bowcraft had personality.
  I remember passing it in the car with my dad and yelling “Daddy….stop….it’s BOOOOOOOWWWWWCRAFT!” 21 rides, you could see them all basically from the road, I had some fun days on the scrambler and this whacky helicopter thing. Day trips to Bowcraft were a blast back in the day.

  Its was sold in 2016, supposed to be demolished into condos, then thought to return, but never did.

  Ahhh the kids don’t know what they missed!

  BOOOOWWWWCRAFT!!

• Suntan Lake- Riverdale

  Drinking, lake swimming and then hitting a concert!
  Sun Tan Jams at Suntan Lake were the BEST! And DHA was there for every single one!
  Cheap Trick, Frampton, Blue Oyster Cult, George Thorogood, Stone Temple Pilots….the list goes on!
  WDHA presented ALL the concerts at this fun, gem of an outdoor festival that we served up Jersey style.
  Where the phrase “Go Jump In The Lake” was always welcome!

  Ace Frehley- Suntan Lake

Just like the Cinderella song- “Don’t Know What You Got Til It’s Gone” – These Jersey Gems offered us good times and great memories. NO CELL PHONES REQUIRED! Hope you had a good trip down the lane-
Any suggestions of places you loved? Hit me up- [email protected] and again- Thanks for reading!
TC

Rick Nielsen and TC at Suntan Lake

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