Tony Mart Presents
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Karen
Urbisci: I don’t have a story, but this shirt
was my fathers shirt I just stumbled across
today. It is very fragile I love it!
Randy Margraf: Between the years of 1972 and
1974 I bartended at Tony Marts. As the story
goes I was given the opportunity to work at this
establishment with the help of friends who work
there also. Glenn Everson, Rick Brace And Bob
Denofea. The first night I started there I was
placed at the front door as a bouncer. For most
of the night things went fine and about three
hours till closing Tony was sitting in his place
next to the door behind the small bar watching
all who came and left. He called me over his
deep rough voice and said to me,” you don’t look
like a bouncer“. I said no I guess I don’t. So
he asked if I ever bartend it and I said no. So
he said, no problem get behind the bar here. He
told me to study Mr. Boston’s book of drinks and
gave me his best points of bartending and bar
business. From that point on I moved around the
bar to one of the different seven bar locations
each week for the next two summers. I couldn’t
have asked for a better summer job. Beach all
day then bar set up at six and back to work at 8
to 830. I lived in a house that we rented on
18th St. in Ocean City with eight other
bartenders and bouncers. And we did our beaching
at 12th St. in Ocean City every day. Sitting in
a circle of 15 to 20 people at a time on the
beach shifting with the sun. Great memories.
Ed Gibson: I was the bass Player in the
Magnatones we were booked by Tommy Tatler into
Tony Marts as the Irish Beatles. Also spent 6
years at the Emerald Room. Playing at Tony Marts
was a very big deal you had to play well and
entertain.
Pam Nelson: Hey! After I graduated from
college in June 1968, I moved to Collinswood, NJ
for a job with the state. I spent every
weekend at the shore just to go to Tony Mart’s.
It was the best summer that I’ve ever had and
I’m 74 yrs. old. I reflect on those days
often. I also got a Tony Mart’s T shirt
and bought another one for a friend from NJ that
use to go there also. I am from NC and in
my older years, I made it back here after living
in several states. Anyway, Tony Mart’s was
and still is the very best “bar” I’ve ever been.
I have such wonderful memories from there. The
band that I remember most was “Gunthers Bus.”
They were absolutely fabulous and their version
of “Hush” was incredible. If you
would/could get them to play (assuming they’re
all still alive), I’d definitely drive up there
to see them. I would imagine there are
some older folks, like me, that would love to
see them also. I kept in touch with them
until 2003 so I don’t know what their situation
is now. I also became good friends with a
bartender named Frannie. Thank you for reading
this, an old woman who still loves rock ’n roll!
Ed Gibson: I was the bass Player in the
Magnatones we were booked by Tommy Tatler into
Tony Marts as the Irish Beatles. Also spent 6
years at the Emerald Room. Playing at Tony Marts
was a very big deal you had to play well and
entertain.
Chris Linker: Hello , My first memory of Tony
Mart was when I was a kid and my neighbors had a
pizza shop down the street across from the
Gateway Playhouse. I had an older brother who
would go to TM and other places like Gregorys
and the Anchorage. I remember that Chubby
Checker performed at TM singing The Twist. Later
on when I was old enough I had many fond
memories of TM as I spent my summers in
OC. Like many others who have told their stories
of memories of TM I was surprised when watching
Eddie and The Cruisers to see TM again after
many years away from that era. It is a great
stroll down memory lane as I read through the
other stories. Thanks Carmen for keeping the
legacy alive.
Linda Shingle: I still have a purple t-shirt
bought in the early 70's from Tony Marts.
Paul Barry: Who of us grey haired old guys can
forget the beautiful TM chicks and dancin’ to
the R&R of “The Monkey Men” Band performing at
TM’s in the mid ‘60s ?
JP Lecours: I am from Montreal, Canada. My
parents used to rent a house every summer in
Ocean City...My brother and I used to go to TM
in the mid sixties. I have such good
memories...I only wish I could be 18 again.
Thank you TM and all TM patrons for such
memories.
Class of 1981: My favorite memory at Tony Marts
was in 1979 or 80. Can't remember. It was
Tuesday Night "Drink and Drown". $5 cover.... $2
Longnecks.... $3 shots. Something like that. A
way to keep the bar going in the winter.
Impossible nowadays. I wasn't supposed to be
out, let alone in a bar. We were slightly
underage with fake ID's. A Mainland High School
Band, RACE, was playing and everyone was
going!!!! In walks my MOM. I was horrified. I
thought I was in trouble for sure. A friend
stumbles up with a beer for her and shots. My
mom is gone now but I'll never forget my 1st
drink with her. A shot at Marts just in front of
the stage. She never told my Dad. I realized at
that moment my Mom was "cool".
Joe Barnett: One of our usual stops on the other
side of the 9th St, Bridge. Most of the time we
started at the Anchorage and Ended up at the
Pizza Stand across the Street. We were basically
broke and all worked jobs on the OC Boardwalk so
we could not afford Tony Marts for more than a
couple drinks. Watched some good bands there but
always remember an annoying lead singer who
covered one ear for most of the night. Don't
know if he did not like his own band or could
not hear properly because of the poor sound
mixing, Resorted to 3 rolling rocks pony bottles
for 1 rather than risking major stomach problems
from the unwashed glasses at the Anchorage.
Bayshores had better bands from my vague
recollections. Highlight was seeing NY Dolls at
Dunes til Dawn. Glad I survived the whole
ordeal.
Doug Fusonie: In 1962 and 62 I was a bartender
at Tony Marts in summers. During rest of year I
was a medical student at Temple Univ Med School.
Good job, nice people, great music. Busy, busy
place.
Steve Cupani: I worked the door at Tony Mart's
from 78-79, the experience was a blast for an 18
year old guy fresh out of MRHS, Carmen hired me
but I actually got fired by Tony Junior on 4th
of July weekend in 79 after I beat and threw out
an aspiring entrepreneur and purveyor of
recreational pharmaceuticals in the bathroom
that wouldn't take his business outside to the
parking lot! Carmen tried to reason with Junior
explaining how I was protecting the Liquor
License but this was during Juniors Hunter S
Thompson "Fear and Loathing" period of life! I
went right over to Margate and was hired by Neil
Bryers at Gables the same night! Sad thing was
that once they changed the drinking age from 18
to 19 in 1980 and then proposed to raise it
again in 1982 to 21 the handwriting was on the
wall that the end was near for great clubs like
Tony Marts! I was there at Marts the second week
of September in 1982 when the magic ended, two
weeks later on October 1st 1982 I started an
almost 32 year career with the ACPD, where over
the years I had many dealings with various
alumni from my Tony Marts days!
Joe Wick: I used to go to Somers Point every
weekend from 1960 to 1966. I remember all the
bands, Pete Caroll, Bill Halley, Gabriel and The
Angles, Mike Pedican. Lived In Drexel Hill, PA.
Went to Upper Darby High 1957.
Sonny Himber: Carmen, when I worked at TM the
mgr. was Pete and you were a little kid. Think
it was Summers of 1958-63. I worked front bar
next to stage with Dick Brunswick. They were the
best years of my life. Conway Twitty played
there one summer and went on to be famous. I’ve
been in Vegas ten years now and love it here.
Thanks for the great memories.
Charlie Falkenstein: We used to rent from Tony
Mart, the white house on shore and George St.
spent many a Sat. afternoon with my friend (now
deceased) Ronnie Ramsbottom listening to Tony
stories, (them god damn abumma's). Also one of
the high lights of my career was selling the 2
Chevy Nova's that Berringer drove in Eddie And
The Cruisers. Really miss those days!
Tony Cherry: I'm Tony from Mace, it was great
working for Tony & Carman Mart. The great bands
we worked with were so wonderful. Alotta sweat
but, the crowds were great there. I'm 66 now
but, I think back & just smile about those
times. Donny & Buzz are gone now, leaving Jeff,
Kenny & me. Well love u all & thank u Tony &
Carman God bless!
Memory Lane 1970-1972
Pete Snow: Summer of 1971!! I played at Tony
Marts for one glorious summer with the seven
piece horn band called Tomorrow. We played
Chicago, Blood Sweat & Tears and all of the horn
driven music of the time. That was the year that
Rick & the Rockets debuted their 50's revue.
Later, when I saw the movie Eddie and the
Cruisers, I was instantly taken back to Tony
Marts and the center stage where we stood from 5
PM to 2 AM six nights a week! Great memories!
Mel Davis: I was the organist for the band full
house. I enjoyed Tony Marts very much.
Ickle: First went to Tony Marts in 1955. Was
working at the Rustic Gardens in OC. Was all of
16. Knew to go in the side door down the alley.
Won a Tshirt at amateur night. Also loved Mike
Pedicin at Bay Shores and a final beer at
Longos. Great memories.
Bill Smith: It was Labor Day Weekend of 1961.
Two friends and I had worked all summer on
construction and we were between our Junior &
Senior years of college. We had never been to
the Jersey shore so we decided to celebrate our
summer of work by taking a vacation to Ocean
City. It was a Friday nite and we walked into
Tony Marts and The band the Fall Guys were
playing Del Shannon's Runaway. What a night we
had dancing and socializing. I came in 2nd in
the Limbo contest and won a Tony Marts Fall Guys
T-Shirt. I often wonder what ever happened to
that T-Shirt. But I always remember that nite
like it was yesterday. I am going back to Ocean
City next week for the first time since 1961 and
really looking forward to visiting Tony Mart.
Bob Ryan: Just came across this site, saw
someone mentioned the Point Diner. My mom worked
there for 24 yrs, her name was Eleanor. She was
hostess/cashier/bouncer on the midnight-8am
shift in the summertime. As some of you may
remember, if you came in all juiced up and
caused a problem, mom would either call the cops
or just grab you by the ear and drag you out the
door! Mom passed away in Oct. 2008. Anyway, lots
of good memories of Tony Marts, Bayshores, The
Dunes, and The Attic (remember that one?)
Carmen, long time-no see. Glad to see you
haven't left. Whenever I get the chance to visit
The Point again, I usually go past the old site
just so I can remember. Take care and keep this
site going!
George Paige: In the summer of 1965 I had just
graduated high school and got a job bartending
at Tony Marts. Tony and his manager (Pete?)
never asked me for my ID and if they had they
would of discovered I was only 20 yrs old.
Interesting when it came to me having to card
patrons at the bar. I went on to work at Tony
Mart's for a number of summers after that
(including BayShores across the street and The
Dunes as well).
But it was in that August of 1965 that I tended
bar on Stage #2 where a band played "Levon and
the Hawks." They were great guys and we partied
several times in their "band' apartment above
the club. It was the year of weed, acid and
mushrooms. I'll never forget that psychedelic
poster on their wall of Jimi Hendrix with colors
and graphics that seemed to move with the music.
Of course "Levon and the Hawks" turned into Bob
Dylan's electric band and then The Band. That
summer inspired me with The Hawks, then
Woodstock then years later I'd end up working
with major artists like Aerosmith, Bob Marley
and the Wailers, Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye,
Edgar Winter, Big Brother after Janis died and
The Doors. Today I'm a TV and Film Producer and
still working with musical talent. It all
started that summer of 65 at Tony Marts in
Somers Point.
Pete Martin: I was in The Cut Loose Band. We
were there 3 nights a week, hanging with Shotgun
a little during down time and Alien used our PA
and lighting when they were there. Great times!
The first night we played a group of girls said
we could stay at their rental in Margate when we
asked about nearby hotels. We were from
Connecticut and I spent a month straight there
without heading back north because it was so
much fun.
Jim Weiss: I worked with Fast Cookies Band in
1979. I was there lighting tech. In this version
of the band, Dana on bass, Sid on Guitar, Johnny
on drums, Bob Noble did not play that year. He
was with Dana earlier. He was playing with
Auburn from Reading PA. I was with him right
before Sid asked me about going to Tony's with
them. I used to set off flash pods during the
show. Scared a few people who weren't ready for
it. We had so much fun that year. We shared the
stage with another band I don't remember their
name though. Thank you Carmen and Tony for the
great memories. I still go to OC every year for
vacation.
Bob Potterton: I had a blast at Tony Marts in
the late 70"s and 80"s . I worked at the Ank and
Mothers, my room mate worked at TM. We all
partied way too much ..... Ah the good ole days
! I hung out with Steve Shields and we carried
on like crazy kids. Day time employment was at
Copper Kettle Fudge and surfing the break off
6th street ! I miss those days.
Kolman M. Kleinbord: I worked as a bouncer on
and off from 1958 to 1962. I loved the place and
the job. The original building was classic. One
of my tasks was to keep people from dancing in
front of the band area--which as we all knew was
practically the only place to dance in the old
building. That was always fun. Learned a lot of
diplomacy doing that. The cook always had
meatball sandwiches and chocolate milk for me
for dinner. I also worked at Bayshores and the
Dunes. The Dunes was a real treat getting
everyone who was ripped coming in after 2AM
closings. Earned every cent I got paid there.
When I started to teach in 1962 I stopped
working. A great experience and a great time. Hi
to anyone from that time.
Herbie Holroyd: Some of the happiest days (and
nights) of my life were the summers of ’63 and
’64. I work the days at the Lincoln Hotel in
Ocean City, where my buddies and I would steal
cases of beer from the River Boat Club located
on the second floor of the Hotel. Although O. C.
is a dry town the Ocean County power group
(judges, politicians, etc.) had their own
private club so we felt like it was okay to
steal from them. Like we were Robin Hoods, but
really just more like plain hoods.
Anyway after work we all would first go to
Bayshores for about an hour or so to try and get
lucky. If no one scored off to Tony Mart (I had
a insistence that we all call it TONY MART and
not Tony Mart’s because that was the name on the
building…but all my buddies made fun a continued
to call the club Tony Mart’s). Bayshores was a
great place and probably would have been be the
best club ever had it not been for Tony Mart. We
would stay till closing at 2:00am and then head
to the Dunes. My last night ever at the Dunes
was the night Harry Anglemyer, an Ocean City
businessman (he owned Laura’s Fudge) was killed
in the parking lot of the Dunes on Labor Day,
1964.
Now I am a lifetime Jersey Shore guy. In fact my
New Jersey auto license plate reads “SHORE”, and
for many years I have experienced all the rock
venues from Margate to Wildwood. I have promoted
rock concerts in the old Wildwood Convention
Hall. Booked acts like Southside Johnny,
Marshall Tucker, 38 Special, Kenny Loggins to
name a few. But I must say that no place, not
even Wildwood in the 70’s, compared to Tony Mart
in the 60’s. One could travel the country a
never find anyplace like that corner of Somers
Point, NJ. ‘The Mart’ was simple the best!
Jim Rowbotham: My Tony Mart's summer history
goes from 1963 through 1969, covering my years
at Bucknell University, then grad school at
Wharton. Truth told, I managed to get into Tony
Mart's when I was just shy of legal drinking
age. By my Bucknell senior year, I and my
classmates/fraternity brothers were legal. Along
with buddies of mine from Havertown PA and
Middletown NY, we'd check in for weekends at one
of the Ocean City rooming houses, largely owned
by sweet old ladies, hit the Ninth Street Beach
during the day, have some cheap eats at either
Coach's Corner, the Anchorage, or Gregory's,
then make our way to Tony Mart's for great music
and a lot of cute babes. The summer of '65 was
truly magic because of Ronnie Hawkins and the
Hawks, which morphed into The Band, plus the
Conway Twitty Band, along with the gorgeous
go-go girls. One summer Saturday night that year
I spotted Arline DiPetrio, one of the "American
Bandstand" cuties from the early '60s. I said to
one of my mates "She is really pretty. I'm going
to ask her to dance. But first I'm getting
another beer…" Tony Mart's was very well-run,
with precious little acrimony or fights; that
was not the case across the street at
Bayshore's, which seemed to attract guys looking
for trouble. One of the bartenders there, who
was very good at his trade, seemed to have a
group of nasty friends; he later worked at
Little John's in NY City. The same guys would
show up on Friday nights and cause the same
dustups. When attending grad school, a group of
us rented one of those old ramshackle houses in
Ocean City one summer. That enabled us to try
inviting babes we met in Tony Mart's back to our
house for after-hours partying. At least that
was our intent. The entire Somers Point summer
scene, with Tony Mart's as the linchpin, was
indelibly fun. At various times over the ensuing
years I've driven over to Somers Point for a
drink at Gregory's or at the Anchorage. They are
all that's left of that era. Thanks to the Tony
Mart's cohort for the Web site and for keeping
memories alive.
Pat (Goll) Levis: I recently found a Tony Mart's
sailor hat that I had won in a "dance contest"
in the 1960's. I will always have great memories
of Tony Marts and Bayshores when I worked (at
the College Grill) and lived in OC during my
teenage years. I spent many nights there (under
21) with my friends. We loved the music and
loved to dance. I still live in Ocean City and
wish we could find a place like TM and Bayshores
to dance and have fun. Still dancin', Pat.
Michael "Pokey" Walls: Was playing the summer of
66 with the Chartbusters and on the other stage
were the Four Reasons. There was a bouncer at
Bayshores, across the street, that was SOOO big
that two of the Four Reasons performed a whole
set in one pair of this guy's surf jams - one in
each leg! If Tony called you a "musisha'
bum", he liked you (because all musicians are
basically "bums"). If he called you idiota -
watch out. RE: "Sparkle" the gogo girl - you
still pass through a dream or two now & then.
:-]
Cindy Arbogast Royer: This is my second entry.
Through my 1st entry, I found Greg Arena, front
man for the group Night Time Sunshine, played
Bayshores in 1970 with Caswell and Crystal
Mansion on the second stage. Through him I found
Joan Pullia Portor and Sara Trasferini. We
are going to Somers Point on Aug 10 - 12th and
have a reunion. It's been 44 years. I still did
not find John Doty who stood 6'8" and tended bar
at Tony Marts. cindysworld14@aol to join our
reunion. Staying at the Residence Inn.
Chris Knight: I was a radio announcer at WSLT/AM
& FM in Ocean City at 10th and Asbury Ave. I was
asked to be an extra in the movie Eddie and the
Cruisers and was in the bar scene in the far
left. As a Teenager...when the drinking age was
19....I used to drive my boat to the slips at
bay shores and trot over to the Mart. You could
see the Giant RED neon sign for miles.
Dick Squires: I worked part time at Tony Marts
from 1964 to 1968. I was one of the cashiers at
the door with the castor wheels on the cash
registers, so as to pull them out of the way
when anybody was being removed. I will always
remember Pete, with all those keys hanging from
his belt, and little Joe. Most everybody that
worked there would always walk around the place
looking at the floor for dropped money. The
Bands that lived upstairs and all the people
that would pack the place almost every hour it
was open. I will always remember Tony Marts.
Dwight Hutchison: Summer of' '62 - tended bar at
Tony Mart's - lot's of 'shoobies' coming in on
Fridays all wild and excited - leaving Sundays
broke and bedragled - back again on the next
weekend. Never ending fun, Fall Guys with Joey
belting out
'Peanut Butter' -- Pete Carroll whistlin'
'Sweet Georgia Brown' -- Baby Bear keepin' the
peace at the door -- Pete Toscano checking our
registers. Best summer I had before embarking on
a career in Medicine.
Lin Gooch: My grandparents frequented Tony Marts
almost every weekend in the 40's and early 50's.
My grandfather Albert Wood had the most amazing
tenor voice. I've been told that he was called
up to entertain and rarely sat down. He was paid
with a bottle of booze. When I was a kid I
remember seeing all the bottles in his liquor
cabinet. He's long gone but those legendary
stories remain of the memories of Tony Marts!
Kim Weiland: Hi, Carmen, many great memories of
the Marts as one of the 18's with you and Dan
Rose, Jeff Frost and Parry Lord etc. One of my
first jobs as an artist was painting and
lettering the drinks signs for the walls behind
the bar.
Great times!!!!!
Susan Rumer Peifer: Just got home from the music
pier, what a FABULOUS show!!!!!!So much talent.
Loved it.
Jim and Maureen Bigley: Just a short note to let
you know we loved the beach concert on Fri
night. The Midiri brothers and other musicians
were fantastic. We didn't think it could
be topped until we went to the show at the Music
Pier on Saturday night. Wow! Wow!
Wow! It was great. I have watched
shows on WHYY which are fund raisers using the
rock music from the 50's and 60's and yours was
better. Those guys are fantastic. I
am sorry we missed the 1 hour 10 minutes you had
to cut out. I would love to hear that
also. Looking forward to seeing this show
again. Congratulations to you and a
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