Back to Atlantic City

My wife and I celebrated our anniversary by going back in time. No, we don’t possess a time machine, we took a four hour drive south to Atlantic City. When we first started dating a million years ago things were going well and we decided it was time to test the relationship with an out of town overnight trip. These excursions can make or break a relationship. Does he snore like a freight train? Does she complain about everything or roll with the little mishaps that accompany every trip? You find this stuff out quick.

So our first trip was a quick jaunt to AC as we call it. We chose the Taj Mahal back then because it was the best one on the boardwalk at the time. Eventually a hotel called the Borgata would come along and challenge it for elegance but we like to walk on the water and the Borgata is not on the ocean.

The trip went well so there were more trips to Atlantic City and “comp” rooms. The Taj has a restaurant called Roberts with the best steak and water goblets shaped like animals; trust me it made you giggle every time they refilled your glass.

Over the years as every state started legalizing gambling and everyone had slot machines 20 minutes from their homes, AC fell into decline.

I tell my wife all the time I wish she could have seen it 25 years ago when it was thriving. Trump had three different casinos at the time and my mom and sister took bus trips down. Good times and good memories.

Back then the slot machines took quarters so everyone walked around with plastic buckets filled with coins held by dirty hands. It really was quite disgusting how filthy your hands got. When you were done gambling you brought your bucket to the cash window and they weighed the change out like George Clooney’s sword fish in “The Perfect Storm.” And just like Clooney it was never as much as you imagined it would be.

There were many wonderful trips and memories involving my mom and Atlantic City. I know that sounds strange to some of you who have fond memories attached to more traditional places like Disney but different strokes for different folks.

I remember one trip many years ago with my mom and sister when my mother got lucky. We had to stand in line for the buffet, things were going slow and my mom’s legs were bothering her so she decided to sit at a slot machine on the edge of the casino to rest. When our table was ready my mother walked over and handed each of us a hundred dollar bill. She’d put a quarter in the slot machine where she was sitting, out of boredom, and hit for $300 bucks.

After my mom died my sister and I went but it was bittersweet. You kept thinking you’d turn the corner and see mom sitting with a cup of coffee and smile asking, “How’d ya do sweetie?” She’d give you her last buck if you were losing.

So my wife and I went back a few days ago and the Taj is now the Hard Rock. It’s beautiful and they certainly put some serious money into the place to modernize it. I don’t think old Donald Trump would recognize the place. It wasn’t too busy but that may be because it was a Wednesday in December. Still as I looked out the window on the 38th floor at the sea of lights from the other hotels still hanging on I wonder if there are enough customers nostalgic enough to come back. Before you know it people will be gambling from their own couches at home.

HBO did a fabulous TV series called “Boardwalk Empire” showing the birth of Atlantic City. Back then if you got caught cheating the casino you ended up swimming with the fishes; to borrow a line from “The Godfather.” Even if your not much for gambling I recommend you watch it. Good old Nucky Thompson.

I’ll tell you a secret. On my DVR I’ve saved a copy of the old movie “Rounders” starring Matt Damon. It’s a great film but that’s not why I save it. About 30 minutes into the movie Damon and his buddy take a trip to the Taj in AC and I for about two minutes you can see how the place used to be, complete with Trumps over the top chandelier. That’s the hotel my mom knew and loved.

I think we’ll go back to the Hard Rock just to get away. There’s something about ordering room service and walking on a beach that recharges the soul. Of course there’s also nothing like dropping a hundred bucks in a slot machine to make you appreciate which sliced ham is on sale at the Price Chopper deli back home.

If you have any fond memories of AC shoot me an email. I’d love to hear them. John Gray is a news anchor on WXXA-Fox TV 23 and ABC’S WTEN News Channel 10. His column is published every Wednesday. Email him at johngray@fox23news.com.