Convention Hall
Introduction
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Images
Present day image of the south side face of Convention Hall.
North side of Convention Hall. Date of image unknown.
1934 image of the famed Morro Castle wreck east of Convention Hall. 251 passengers of the liner were either dead, or missing.
Paramount Theatre, which is inside of Convention Hall. Today, there are concerts regularly held there. Previously, the theatre was owned by Paramount Pictures, Inc.
Backstory and Context
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In addition to serving as a beachside entertainment venue and tourist destination, Convention Hall also has a little known military history. A nearby military base, Fort Monmouth used it for training during WWII.
Convention Hall has hosted world-famous musical acts; the lineup is notable for its diversity over the years. For example, during the 1960s as the Civil Rights movement and the Vietnam War went on, Clarence Clemons, famed saxophone player with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, had his start in Convention Hall. During concerts at Convention Hall, crowds were always integrated and diverse, which was revolutionary after coming out of an era of Jim Crow, where segregation reigned even in NJ.