What went on in Atlantic City in 1923? 1923 was an important year for Atlantic City. A new high school, a new monument, traffic lights, and a radio station are among the highlights from that year. The city's logo was "Atlantic City All the Time", and there was so much to do and see! Sinclair Lewis' "Main Street" showing at the Savoy Theatre, the twice-a-day net haul at Young's Million Dollar Pier, and dancing to the orchestra at Steel Pier were options for entertainment. Edward Bader was mayor, Bessie Townsend was comptroller (a woman!), and Enoch Johnson was the County Treasurer. Mary Katherine Campbell was the reigning Miss America, winning for the second year in September 1923. Find out more about Atlantic City in 1923.

1923. Aeroplane view of beach and Boardwalk. (H049.745.8Aer016) From the Heston Collection of the Atlantic City Free Public Library.

Atlantic City and Atlantic County Officials, 1923

Mayor		Edward L. Bader
City Commissioners		Edward L. Bader, Director Department of Public Affairs
		Albert Beyer, Director Department of Revenue and Finance
		William S. Cuthbert, Director Department of Public Safety
		Louis A. Steinbricker, Director Department of Streets and Public Improvements
		Louis Kuehnle, Director Department of Parks and Public Property
Comptroller		Bessie M. Townsend
Chief of Police		Robert C. Miller
Chief of Fire Department		John J. Bartlett
Beach Patrol Superintendent		Dr. Charles L. Bossert
City Engineer		John W. Hackney
Board of Education		Lewis B. Glenn, President
		Henry M. Fisher, Vice President
		Duncan Freedley MacDonald
		George H. Berke
		Harrison Cook
		John L. Kelly
		Hiram Mathis
		P.L. Hawkins
		Caroline M. Carmack
Atlantic County Board of Chosen Freeholders		F. Fraley Doughty, Board Director
Atlantic County Sheriff		Malcolm B. Woodruff
Atlantic County Treasurer		Enoch L. Johnson

Facts about Atlantic City in 1923

Permanent population of city (from 1920 census) -  50,682
Registered voters - 15,955
Assessed value of real estate - $163 million
Daily average number of visitors in August, 1923 - 300,000
Number of licensed rolling chairs - 2,500

Highlights of the Year, 1923

• World War I Memorial (also known as the Greek Temple Monument) erected
• New Atlantic City High School building opens at intersection of Albany, Ventnor and Atlantic Avenues with room for 2100 students
  
• First Atlantic City radio station goes on the air from Seaside hotel, WHAR.
• First traffic signals installed Tennessee and Atlantic Avenues and Tennessee and Pacific Avenues. Operated by an officer in a tower at each intersection.
• Fire Department's drill school opens.
• Entertainment included plays, concerts, moving pictures, pier amusements, and more.

Resources in the Atlantic City Free Public Library Atlantic City Heritage Collections:

Amusements: Where to Go and What to See. (Various issues from 1923.)
Boardwalk Illustrated News. (Various issues from 1923.)
Frank Butler. Book of the Boardwalk. Atlantic City, N.J. : Haines and Co., 1952.
Ed Davis. Atlantic City diary: a century of memories, 1880-1985. McKee City, NJ : Atlantic Sunrise Pub. Co., 1986.