Boardwalk Hall
| Atlantic City Convention Hall | |
|---|---|
| U.S. National Historic Landmark | |
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| Location: | 2301 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA |
| Coordinates: | Coordinates: |
| Built/Founded: | 1926 |
| Architect: | Lockwood-Greene & Co. |
| Architectural style(s): | Other |
| Designated as NHL: | February 27, 1987[1] |
| Added to NRHP: | February 27, 1987[2] |
| NRHP Reference#: | 87000814 |
| Governing body: | Local |
Boardwalk Hall, also known as the Historic Atlantic City Convention Hall is an arena which served as the primary convention center in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA, until the 1997 opening of the Atlantic City Convention Center.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987.[1][3]
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Boardwalk Hall played host to the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies ice hockey team from 2001-2005, and the Atlantic City CardSharks in 2004. The arena seats 10,500 people for hockey, and can accommodate over 17,000 for concerts. It was the regular venue of the Miss America Pageant until 2004, and hosted the WWF's WrestleMania IV and V in 1988 and 1989 (although on camera it was referred to as 'Trump Plaza' as the casino hotel was the primary sponsor.) Many WWE shows have also been held with both WWE Raw and Smackdown making appearances. Boardwalk Hall has been home to many boxing events as well. In September 2007, Boardwalk Hall hosted the Kelly Pavlik - Jermain Taylor boxing match for the World Boxing Council, World Boxing Organization, and Ring Magazine middleweight championships. The Atlantic 10 Conference held its 2007 and 2008 men’s basketball championships there, and will return in 2009. The NJSIAA uses Boardwalk Hall annually to host the individual state finals of its wrestling tournament.
In 2001, the Boardwalk Hall's $90 million renovation was unveiled to the public. The restoration received many awards, including the 2003 National Preservation Award, Building Magazine's 2002 Modernization Award, and Billboard magazine recognized Boardwalk Hall as the top grossing mid-sized arena in the United States in 2003 and 2004.
It was also the host of the 1964 Democratic National Convention that nominated Lyndon Baines Johnson for President, nine months after the assassination of his predecessor, John F. Kennedy. The following week, thousands of screaming rock fans packed the Hall for one of The Beatles largest concerts in their first American tour. The arena was also the spot of a classic and widely boot-legged Rolling Stones concert in 1989. The concert which was shown on Pay-per-view television was widely remembered by fans for a mishap where viewers were cut off from the performance during the song Satisfaction. It was also the venue of the former Boardwalk Bowl college football game in the 1960s and 70s, and the 1964 Liberty Bowl, the first major college bowl game played indoors and the first indoor football game telecast nationwide in the United States. In 1996, Boardwalk Hall saw the United States beat Spain 5-0 in Fed Cup (Women's version of Davis Cup) and saw Monica Seles's return following her 1993 stabbing.
Built in 1929, it became the home of the world's largest pipe organ, the Main Auditorium Organ, as listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. However, due to a lack of stewardship, the condition of the organ was allowed to deteriorate and is no longer fully functional. A restoration program is currently underway. The Midmer-Losh organ has around 33,000 pipes and requires around 600 horsepower (450 kW) of blowers to operate.
Boardwalk Hall's Ballroom has a 55 rank theater/concert pipe organ, originally installed to accompany silent movies. ACCHOS has received a grant from the federal "Save America's Treasures" program to help restore the Ballroom organ, which was severely damaged during the renovation of Boardwalk hall. The Main Auditorium organ also sustained damage partly due to dust due to the renovation.
The ACCHOS (Atlantic City Convention Hall Organ Society) web site has sound samples and several images, along with a stop list and more information about the organs that Boardwalk hall houses. They are currently accepting donations to help with the very expensive restoration of both organs.
The Boardwalk Hall is adjacent to the Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino.
| Preceded by None |
Miss America Venue 1921 – 2004 |
Succeeded by Planet Hollywood Theatre |
| Preceded by John F. Kennedy Stadium |
Home of the Liberty Bowl 1964 |
Succeeded by Liberty Bowl Stadium |
| Preceded by Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena |
Host of the Democratic National Convention 1964 |
Succeeded by International Amphitheatre |
- ^ a b "Atlantic City Convention Hall". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1982&ResourceType=Building. Retrieved on 2007-10-13.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-01-23. http://www.nr.nps.gov/.
- ^ James H. Charleton (1985-06-17), National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Atlantic City Convention HallPDF (735 KiB), National Park Service and Accompanying 12 photos, exterior and interior, from 1977, 1985 and undated.PDF (1.49 MiB)
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