Atlantic City Free Public Library

Date: 1929-1965 and undated
Collection Number: H007

Extent: 0.5 cubic feet (166 photographs)

Repository: Alfred M. Heston Collection, Atlantic City Free Public Library, 1 North Tennessee Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ 08401, (609) 345-2269.

Preferred Citation: Harold P. Abrams Collection, Alfred M. Heston Collection, Atlantic City Free Public Library.

Creator:
The owner of several nightclubs in Atlantic City, Harold "Hal" Paul Abrams was intimately involved in the Atlantic City entertainment industry. He owned Paradise Club, Harolds Club, and Basin Street, and was general manager of the 500 Club.

On one occasion, Abrams saved Count Basie, the leader of a swing band performing at the Paradise Club, from drowning when Basie fell out of their fishing boat.

Abrams donated the collection of photographs to the Atlantic City Free Public Library in 1995. Abrams died in 1999.

Sources:
"Abrams, Harold Paul." The Press, Atlantic City, NJ. 15 November 1999.

Scope and Content:
The material in this collection primarily consists of photographs of club entertainers. Most of these photographs are "head shots" and publicity photographs. Some are autographed.

Also included in the collection are a few business papers, such as a contract, telegram, and biographical notes on a few performers. There is also a copy of a program for Atlantic City Follies of 1946.

Photographs were identified by Abrams and often dated with the years of performances at the various clubs.

System of Arrangement:
Materials are arranged by the club in which the entertainers performed. An index of performers is included below.

Series 1: Basin Street Club, 1963-1964
5 photographs
Photographs of entertainers at the Basin Street Club. This series also includes several photographs of the outside of the Club.

Series 2: 500 Club and Steel Pier, 1964-1965 and undated
27 photographs
Photographs of entertainers at the 500 Club and Steel Pier. Also includes photograph from New Years Eve party at the 500 Club.

Series 3: Paradise Club, 1929-1963 and undated
134 photographs
Photographs of entertainers at the Paradise Club. Also includes program from Atlantic City Follies of 1946.

OTHER INFORMATION FOR USERS OF THE COLLECTION

Related Materials: The Heston Collection has many resources related to the Atlantic City entertainment and nightclub industry. These include books, vertical files and biographical clippings, and archival collections.

Books related to this topic include The Last Good Time: Skinny DAmato, the notorious 500 Club, and the rise and fall of Atlantic City and Chance of a Lifetime : Nucky Johnson, Skinny DAmato, and how Atlantic City became the naughty queen of resorts.

Vertical subject files and biographical files related to this topic are:
Night Clubs - Paradise Club
Night Clubs - 500 Club
Steel Pier
Piers - Steel Pier
Harold Paul Abrams

Other archival collections in the Heston Collection related to this topic include the Alma Fay Horn Photograph Collection (H008) and the Atlantic City Free Public Library Collection of Atlantic City Photographs (H009).

Access Points:
Basie, Count (1904-1984)
Count Basie Orchestra
Orelia, Princess
Lewis, Sabby
Stump and Stumpy
Nightclubs - Atlantic City (N.J.)
Entertainers - Atlantic City (N.J.)
Paradise Club
Basin Street Club
500 Club
Steel Pier

Processing Note: Finding aid written by Heather Halpin, archivist, October 2006. Updated March 2011.

Copyright Notice: While the Atlantic City Free Public Library owns the collection, the Library does not own the copy rights for all of the photographs. Researchers wishing to reproduce the photographs are responsible for obtaining the proper permissions.

INDEX OF PERFORMERS

Finding aid published 28 Feb 2007.