Atlantic City 1942

This home movie, filmed in 1942, likely in Kodachrome, captures a vibrant snapshot of Atlantic City, New Jersey, during wartime America. Shot by an amateur filmmaker, the silent reel showcases the bustling boardwalk—teeming with summer crowds, sailors on leave, and families enjoying a respite from WWII’s shadow. Footage includes the iconic Miss America parade, with beauty queens waving from floats adorned with patriotic bunting, reflecting the pageant’s wartime pivot to boost morale. The camera pans across Skee-Ball arcades, bingo halls, and candy apple stands, while the Steel Pier’s amusements—perhaps the Diving Horse—peek into frame. Beach scenes show sunbathers and surf, with the grand Traymore Hotel or Marlborough-Blenheim looming as backdrop. Subtle signs of the era emerge—rationing hints in sparse concessions, uniformed servicemen mingling with civilians—blending leisure with a nation at war. A charming, nostalgic glimpse of Atlantic City’s wartime heyday, digitized from the Orgone Archive.