| Return of the Steel Pier Diving Bell |
| Atlantic City . . . For years, the Diving Bell was a popular attraction at Atlantic City’s world-famous Steel Pier. Now, it’s restoration and placement at the city’s Gardner’s Basin complex has become a centerpiece of a festival planned there. On Saturday, October 13, Gardner’s Basin and the Atlantic City aquarium will present their first annual Oktoberfest with music, food, family activities, prize drawings, special values offered by the restaurants and sidewalk sales offered by the retailers and artisans in the Crafter’s Village. Jim Craine and his Atlantic City All-Star Band will play two sets of big band music, starting at 12:30. Craine, a former Steel Pier employee and operator of the Diving Bell, will be bringing back many of the Steel Pier performers including Ed Hurst, who hosted the popular ‘Summertime At The Pier’ television show and ____ Hart, one of the young women who rode with the pier’s daily ‘High Diving Horse’ shows. Also invited back for the party will be many of the former ‘Tony Grant’s Stars of Tomorrow’ who performed as youngsters on the pier. The Atlantic City Aquarium will offer free admission all day to any families showing proof of residence in Atlantic City. Once inside, early aquarium visitors can witness the ‘Dive & Dine’ show at 11 a.m., in which a diver enters the main aquarium tank and feeds the rays and sharks. Later, at noon and 3 p.m. families canhelp feed rays and sharks in the second floor touch tank. A raffle for prizes including a bicycle, guitar kit and tickets to the Philadelphia Eagles (courtesy of Beck’s Beer), 76’ers and Flyers will benefit the Marine Mammal Stranding Center who will be on hand with information on their important work and offering shirts and other items for sale to help in their fund-raising efforts. Gardner’s Basin will also be inviting organizations and persons to sponsor and name a window on the Diving Bell which sits directly in front of the entrance to the Atlantic City Aquarium. The Gardner’s Basin Oktoberfest gets underway at noon and ends at 4 p.m. |