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Retro RFH Surf Dude Chillin’

RFH Class of '78 surfing buddies Photo/George Day
RFH Class of ’78 surfing buddies
Photo/George Day

With the start of the school year and a rev-up of the RFH Surf Team beaching it and catching waves, we’re taking another a close-up and personal reprise look at that ’70s RFH crew of surfer boys catching cool waves (or beaching it) and sitting on top o’ the Sea Bright world. Most of these guys are actually still friends.

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Back to School & Walking the Rope

Our annual reprise of back-to-school memories and walking the rope in Fair Haven …

“But I don’t wanna walk on the rope next to her!” I cried from under my freshly-cut kindergarten bangs. “I wanna walk on the rope next to Pam!”

Pam was my neighbor. She was my best buddy.

It was 1965. It was the 60s. One thing’s for sure: Our Fair Haven kindergarten class was the last to have its first year of school at what was called the Youth Center, now the Fair Haven Police Station and Community Center on Fisk Street.

We kindergarteners were also the last to be tugged down the street on a rope, yes a rope, headed by an official-looking police-type lady.

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Retro Fair Springsteen Sighting

Springsteen at the 1995 Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

A reprise, because everyone’s talking about the Jersey Springsteen concert these days; and, every fair has its surprises, stars and, well, photo bombers …

Seemingly everyone knows that Bruce Springsteen until recent years made Rumson his primary home. The Boss was always known as a big fan and frequenter of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair. Over the years, he’s been seen countless times casually roaming the grounds — though more often when his kids were little.

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Retro Fair 50/50 Booth Buds

Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair 50/50 Booth in the 1970s
Photo/FHFD media archives

The Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair’s opening night is Friday. And, with the fair come games of chance spins and wins.

From the prize booth wheel spins to 50/50 and Super 50/50 tickets taking a tumble in a big bin, there are winners every night. The winnings? Everything from candy to tens of thousands of dollars.

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Retro RFH Senior Dinner Dancing Girls & a Guy

Last dance? Last chance for fun? Not for these RFHers! Never.

Forty-five years ago, the RFH Class of ’78 kids, like these four, were off to their senior dinner dance at The Shore Casino in Atlantic Highlands. They’d have never imagined then that 45 years later, they’d be right back where they thought they’d danced their last teen-spirited dance.

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Retro Sizzling Rumson Dock Girls’ 50s Summer

Rumson girls Alice Coyle Mansfield and Linda Zerr Feeny in the late 50s
Photo/Ken Card, courtesy of Alice Mansfield

Reprise, because everyone’s asking about those hot Rumson girls of the 1950s dock days. And they’re still around the towns …

Well, we are steeped in steamy summer heat. And there’s really nothing more sizzling summer hot than two Rumson girls of the 1950s who took the plunge into and out of summers together — suited up, off the Rumson Dock and into a longtime friendship.

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Retro Rumson Summer: The Barn Theater

Clip of press photo for The Barn Theater's production of "The Fantasticks" in the summer of 1977
Clip of press photo for The Barn Theater’s production of “The Fantasticks” in the summer of 1977
"Bye Bye Birdie" at The Barn Theater in Rumson circa summer of 1977 Photo/Elaine Van Develde
“Bye Bye Birdie” at The Barn Theater in Rumson circa summer of 1977
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

The following piece was originally posted on July 8, 2015. As we dive into summer season, we thought it only fitting to remember good summer times outside of the usual beach romp for those who grew up and raised their families in the Rumson-Fair Haven area — summer theater. Once upon a time, there was a special little place in Rumson called The Barn … Take a trip back with us to  simple summers and magical, theatrical times … 

Remember The Barn Theater in Rumson?

Well, if you don’t, you missed out and are probably significantly younger than those who do and didn’t — miss out, that is.

It’s a plus if you’re that young. But, it’s definitely a factor in the minus category if you didn’t work, play or get entertained there.

It was a community theater that cast hundreds, maybe thousands, from the area, including many Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) students.

The building is still there, only a few blocks away from the high school on Avenue of Two Rivers near the intersection at Ridge Road. The reason why it was called The Barn was, well, because it was an old barn, gutted (if there is such a thing with a barn) and converted into a small arena-type stage theater, with the stage at floor level and risers around it as seats, though not all the way around.

You get the picture. Now, here’s what’s behind the place’s show folk and shows …

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Retro RFH Summer Theatrics

Summer theater productions are opening once again all over the Rumson-Fair Haven area. This seasonal show time for locals has proven as popular as hitting the beach with buddies — OK, far away from the invasion of the outta town tourists.

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Retro Rumson Beach Boys & Girl & Clubbing History

Rumson girl and beach boys of the 60s
Photo/courtesy of Cindy Crowley

A reprise for history’s sake …

The Rumson beach boys of the 1960s no sooner made their retro appearance than the iconic spot of their clubbing and lifeguard stand antics became a focal point of the snapshot.

And there’s a sequel with a girl added to the beach boy mix, apparently having broken up the standoff on the lifeguard stand, calming top spot. Mayhem ensued. Meanwhile, back at the club …

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Retro RFH Guys’ Summer Dive

Class of ’76 seniors dive into summer
Photo/RFH Yearbook 1976

The sun has had a hard time peering out from the dank weather veil these days. So, daydreaming about a simpler summer time when a dive into the ocean in Sea Bright was all you needed comes a lot easier than that ball of fire and the imminent need to cool down.

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