Bird and Betty served me my first beer in New Jersey. (I grew up in North Jersey and would jump over to New York (both “Upstate” and NYC by bus). Herman from Polly’s Dock was there to witness my first beer a bit early by NJ standards of the day (before the brief flirtation with 18 year old drinking) Reply
The Acme Bar. Summer of 1973, 18years old could drink Legal. Rolling Rock pony bottles 25¢, Rum and coke 30¢, pool was 10¢ and the crazy drunks having the Best times talking of fishing, clamming, surfing, flying airplanes, helicopters. Was a Great time to be alive in Beach Haven! Reply
Another Acme Hotel saga This episode took place in the mid 70’s, back then, and even today, there were over a half dozen bars, all within a half mile radius in Beach Haven, NJ on Long Beach Island, and the perfect Café Racer scenario. The Acme Hotel was a water front, seaside dive bar, in a class all its own. In the early 1900’s, it was frequented by Babe Ruth and Doc Cranmer. During Prohibition, it had a hatch in the floor where boats would pull up underneath it, when it was literally on the water, and unload illegal rum and whiskey. By the 70’s, the floor was like a rollercoaster ride, so uneven from most of the floor joists below it being rotted out, that it felt like you were drunk just walking across it. The bathrooms had pallets on the floor, because the urine, vomit and beer were so profound, it was the only way you could keep from standing ankle deep in it. The first time I was ever in the Acme, was 1968, I was only 17 years old and very nervous about being so underage. Back then, there were steps just inside the door to the bar, that led up to what used to be the hotel rooms upstairs. As I nervously walked in, the first thing I saw was a small “two top” table, in the dark, under the steps, with three people sitting there, an older couple, at least in their mid 80’s, and a very attractive, very young blonde, clothed in crotch high cutoff jean shorts and a very Spartan white tank top, no underwear. What surprised me more than this odd crowd combination was the fact that they were casually passing a joint back and forth. It was then, that I decided that this was my kind of place. Years later, about 1975, after being a regular for several years, my friend Andy Chanin, got me a job as a Bouncer at the Acme. Andy, affectionately known as the Maniac, was a big, hulking, former Olympic weight lifter, and general rough house kind of guy. One night I had been at the Bay View Manor, another watering hole a few blocks away, but it was kind of quiet, so I jumped on my bike and rode over to the Acme. As I approached the bar, I noticed Andy standing outside in an aggressive posture, with 5 guys standing in a circle surrounding him. Realizing there was trouble, I jumped off my bike, letting it fall to the ground and ran in, back to back with Andy. I kept shouting, “Andy, what’s going on?”, but he was ignoring me completely, and just kept repeating to these guys, “I said get the fuck out of here!” As I more closely surveyed the situation, I started to notice that every one of these guys were bleeding profusely and pretty fuct up. Broken noses, teeth through their lips, Etc. Very shortly after this I could hear the sirens of police cars growing closer, so without any further adieu, we all separated, taking off in separate directions, to avoid any police confrontation. I later learned from the occupants of the bar who had witnessed the whole scene, that it started when there was a local “Biker Gang”, the Aces and Eights, in the bar, with an attractive young lady, who I later learned was my dear, late friend, Robin Kyle. It seems Andy had challenged the largest of these guys to an arm wrestling contest, with the prize being this young lady. The guy made the mistake of accepting the challange, whereupon Andy easily defeated him, but when the deal changed, that’s apparently when the shit hit the fan. I guess because there were 5 of these guys, they mistakenly thought they could intimidate Andy. Always a big mistake with this guy. Those who witnessed the debacle, told me it was right out of a movie scene, with Andy drilling each of them as they came at him, at one point, having a guy in a one armed headlock under his arm, driving his head through a window, breaking it, as he punched another. When I first encountered Andy outside, he was out of breath and slightly scuffed up, but the poor guys who made the mistake of challenging him, I’m sure learned a valuable lesson they will never forget. BTW, it was ME who dressed in Drag and drank on Ladies Night! Chris Capp Reply
Hi Chris. I remember you at the acme. I can’t remember which day of the week was Ladies night. I think my friend Joe was inside the night Andy went Bezerker.. The story sounds the same. I hope you are doing well. It has been a LOT of years since the old Acme days. Reply
Played there all summer of 73. Thursday nights. $10 bucks apiece (3-man) band. Fast forward to 1980. Me and one of the guys got record deals. Me: EMI. Other guy same label as Brian Ferry. Go ACME. Oh yea, I worked Morrisson’s across the street. Bill was a stand up guy. He favored musicians. Reply
I remember doing a modified “wheely” on my 650 cc Triumph motorcycle on the front porch of the ACME Hotel. Crowded, friendly, steamy on summer nights. Reply
I often wondered whatever happened to the Acme Bar. We (all single females) rented houses at Brant Beach in 1967 and 1968. All the women were nurses with the exception of me-I worked for a brokerage firm. Many a night we would drink cheap beer and then go back to the house, eat tuna fish sandwiches and hit the beach. I’ve lost track of everyone from those years-too bad as they were good people and fun times. Now we’re all old and decrepit. Reply
Since I noticed Chris Capp posted here, let me add one unforgettable memory…the time Chris came in for a “Bikini Contest” wearing nothing but a diaper. He had also surreptitiously smeared some chunky peanut butter inside the diaper and proceeded to swipe his finger underneath and put it in his mouth with a huge grin on his face. And that is only one of many stories about what went on at the Acme/Ketch back in the day.-from a former Beach Haven lifeguard Reply
Reading this story and the comments almost had me tearing up. Growing up in the 70’s and spending most summers weekends in Beach Haven, the Acme was on our regular circuit. Hudson House, Acme, Bayview, She’ll & repeat the next nite. Maybe throw in the Black Cat diner if we had extra cash. Describing the Acme to those who never visited is almost impossible. Chris M’s comments above are spot on: specials, pallets on the dirt floor in the bathroom, vibe of the crowd. It Al resonates, yet does not translate if you weren’t lucky enough to have participated. I think even then we knew the Acme and its crowd was a lucky one-off. If only we could all meet there again just one more time. – JAD Reply
Loved the Acme . Hotel. Being so young seemed like a hippie type place for locals. We used to call it the “Attack me”, 18 years old and as was said street legal. 1978, 1979. Great times getting severely hammered on dirt cheap beers. Went there many times The “rustic” appearance was just fine with us, actually we always looked forward to going back to the great “beach bar” type vibe. My brother and I always hoped one day one of the pretty beach girls would “attack me”. Happened more than once…The Ketch aint no Acme Hotel. Miss that place! Reply