Professor Hamilton's Diary: Aug. 19, 1935

They discuss plans to visit Atlantic City; they probably didn't come for the crime

This quiet Sunday the Hamiltons attended church in Bronxville and spent an afternoon at home. Barely recovered from their long road trip in Canada, they nevertheless talked over plans to take a short jaunt to Atlantic City, New Jersey the next day.

Fans of the HBO series Boardwalk Empire (2010-2014) will know that this city on the Jersey shore, in addition to being a favorite vacation spot for the middle class, was rife during the 1920s with rum running and bootlegging. The crime boss was Enoch “Nucky” Johnson — Nucky Thompson in the televison series — who as Atlantic County treasurer exercised an iron fist for almost three decades, reaping the benefits of the many criminal activities going on there.

Paid subscribers can read on about Johnson and his fiefdom.

This vintage postcard showing a blimp pulling a banner over the ocean is being offered on eBay.