Shelburne Hotel (Atlantic City, New Jersey)
Encyclopedia
The Shelburne Hotel was a resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey
located at Michigan Avenue and the Boardwalk. Built and opened in 1869, the hotel was originally a wood-frame cottage. Following several expansions, under the direction of hotel manager Jacob Weikel, a modern, brick-faced, steel frame, multistory structure was constructed along Michigan Avenue at the corner with the Boardwalk. This portion of the hotel opened in 1926. The hotel was a fine example of Georgian Revival architecture and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1978 .
The Shelburne Hotel gained a reputation as a home to entertainers and celebrities, due to its close proximity to Atlantic City's famed Warner Theater, including among them businessman "Diamond Jim" Brady and his companion, actress and singer Lillian Russell
; composer and singer George M. Cohan
; British actress Lillie Langtry
; composer Irving Berlin
; actress Ethel Barrymore
; composer and conductor John Philip Sousa
; and entertainer Al Jolson
.
Despite its tower addition in 1926, the Shelburne was a relatively small hotel in comparison to Atlantic City's much bigger resorts such as the Chalfonte-Haddon Hall Hotel, Traymore, and Claridge. This coupled with the Great Depression
bankrupted the hotel in 1931. It would pass through a series of owners until being taken over by the United States Army
during World War II
, then passing into ownership of the Malmut family who briefly revived the hotels success in the fifties with several renovation and motel expansions.
Upon the legalization of casino gambling in 1976, the Shelburne once again became hot property, as with most hotels in Atlantic City at the time. The Malmut family closed the resort in 1978 after leasing it to Japaenese investors Hiroaki "Rocky" Aoki and Takashi Saskawa, owners of the Benihana
restaurant chain, who planned to keep the existing hotel as well add a 31 story tower and casino calling it the Benihana Casino-Hotel. In 1983 work crews began to renovate the hotel, however, disagreements between the Malmut family, the Casino Gaming Commission, and outside investors led Akoi and Saskawa to abandon the project after investing over 25 million dollars in construction and renovations . In 1984 the hotel was demolished and the site lay empty until the building of Bally's Wild West Casino in 1997.
Despite the caption on the postcard, the hotel pictured at the right is not the Shelburne but the Dennis, which is still standing as part of the Bally casino complex. A part of the Shelburne is visible at the far left of that picture when enlarged. Attached is a picture of the Shelburne.
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
located at Michigan Avenue and the Boardwalk. Built and opened in 1869, the hotel was originally a wood-frame cottage. Following several expansions, under the direction of hotel manager Jacob Weikel, a modern, brick-faced, steel frame, multistory structure was constructed along Michigan Avenue at the corner with the Boardwalk. This portion of the hotel opened in 1926. The hotel was a fine example of Georgian Revival architecture and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1978 .
The Shelburne Hotel gained a reputation as a home to entertainers and celebrities, due to its close proximity to Atlantic City's famed Warner Theater, including among them businessman "Diamond Jim" Brady and his companion, actress and singer Lillian Russell
Lillian Russell
Lillian Russell was an American actress and singer. She became one of the most famous actresses and singers of the late 19th century and early 20th century, known for her beauty and style, as well as for her voice and stage presence.Russell was born in Iowa but raised in Chicago...
; composer and singer George M. Cohan
George M. Cohan
George Michael Cohan , known professionally as George M. Cohan, was a major American entertainer, playwright, composer, lyricist, actor, singer, dancer, and producer....
; British actress Lillie Langtry
Lillie Langtry
Lillie Langtry , usually spelled Lily Langtry when she was in the U.S., born Emilie Charlotte Le Breton, was a British actress born on the island of Jersey...
; composer Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous...
; actress Ethel Barrymore
Ethel Barrymore
Ethel Barrymore was an American actress and a member of the Barrymore family of actors.-Early life:Ethel Barrymore was born Ethel Mae Blythe in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the second child of the actors Maurice Barrymore and Georgiana Drew...
; composer and conductor John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era, known particularly for American military and patriotic marches. Because of his mastery of march composition, he is known as "The March King" or the "American March King" due to his British counterpart Kenneth J....
; and entertainer Al Jolson
Al Jolson
Al Jolson was an American singer, comedian and actor. In his heyday, he was dubbed "The World's Greatest Entertainer"....
.
Despite its tower addition in 1926, the Shelburne was a relatively small hotel in comparison to Atlantic City's much bigger resorts such as the Chalfonte-Haddon Hall Hotel, Traymore, and Claridge. This coupled with the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
bankrupted the hotel in 1931. It would pass through a series of owners until being taken over by the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, then passing into ownership of the Malmut family who briefly revived the hotels success in the fifties with several renovation and motel expansions.
Upon the legalization of casino gambling in 1976, the Shelburne once again became hot property, as with most hotels in Atlantic City at the time. The Malmut family closed the resort in 1978 after leasing it to Japaenese investors Hiroaki "Rocky" Aoki and Takashi Saskawa, owners of the Benihana
Benihana
Benihana can refer to:*Benihana, Benihana's Hibachi Restaurant*Benihana * Benihana, the Japanese word for safflower...
restaurant chain, who planned to keep the existing hotel as well add a 31 story tower and casino calling it the Benihana Casino-Hotel. In 1983 work crews began to renovate the hotel, however, disagreements between the Malmut family, the Casino Gaming Commission, and outside investors led Akoi and Saskawa to abandon the project after investing over 25 million dollars in construction and renovations . In 1984 the hotel was demolished and the site lay empty until the building of Bally's Wild West Casino in 1997.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Atlantic County, New Jersey
Despite the caption on the postcard, the hotel pictured at the right is not the Shelburne but the Dennis, which is still standing as part of the Bally casino complex. A part of the Shelburne is visible at the far left of that picture when enlarged. Attached is a picture of the Shelburne.