Wildwood Doo Wop.com

To say that Kirk Hastings has kept himself busy over the past two years would be quite the understatement.

In addition to his duties as the president of the Wildwood Crest Historical Society and as an associate board member of the Doo Wop Preservation League, Hastings has managed to co-produce a DVD and write a book about the Wildwoods’ famous collection of mid-century architecture within that time span. He has also compiled a number of notebooks which can viewed at the WCHS Museum (located at Crest Pier) and is presently working on another book, a pictorial history of Wildwood Crest for Arcadia Press.

I recently had the opportunity to chat with Kirk about these topics, and a few others…

Al Alven: First off, Kirk, thanks for taking the time to speak with us today. You’ve certainly kept busy over the course of the past 24 months or so. Have you found the time to get any sleep?

Kirk Hastings: Sure. Mostly between sunset and sunrise!

AA: (laughs) We’ll touch on a number of subjects and some of the projects you’ve been involved with, but let’s start with your recently-released book, “Doo Wop Motels: Architectural Treasures of the Wildwoods.” How about a brief synopsis, straight from the author?

KH: The book is a photo history book about the futuristic-looking 1950s and 1960s “California Coffee Shop Modern”-style buildings, mostly motels, located on 5 Mile Beach Island, in southern New Jersey. Four communities are on this island: North Wildwood, Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and West Wildwood. The book describes when these buildings were built, who built them and what design styles influenced their construction. The book also documents efforts by the Doo Wop Preservation League, a local preservation society, in the 1990s to rescue these buildings from possible demolition.

AA: How did the idea for the book come about?

KH: I started taking photographs of these unique buildings in 2002 for the Wildwood Crest Historical Museum, as many of them were in danger of being sold and demolished as part of a real estate boom. Then I started collecting historical information about the buildings too, with the idea of compiling a notebook for the Historical Society, of which I am the president, about them. One day, I realized that this would be great source material for a book. No one else had yet succeeded in publishing a book on this subject, though some had tried.

AA: What was the biggest challenge you faced while putting the book together?

KH: Getting good photos of the buildings that had already been demolished before I started taking pictures in 2002. Thank God for local collectors and eBay!

AA: What would you say was the most interesting thing you learned while doing your research; something you were unaware of or didn’t realize previously?

KH: Becoming familiar with the people who created the famous plastic palm trees and the neon signs for Wildwood’s various motels.

AA: On a personal level, what do you feel you’ve gotten out of the project so far? On the flip side, what do you hope readers of the book take away from the experience?

KH: I have developed a new appreciation for the incredible creativity that went into designing and constructing these buildings; a creativity you don’t see much anymore in building circles. I hope the readers of my book will also come to recognize the incredible creativity inherent in these structures.

AA: We alluded to some of your other projects earlier. Talk about working with Dan Espy in co-producing his “Doo Wop Motels of the Wildwoods” DVD last year. What was that like, and what was involved in the process?

KH: Basically, I supplied Dan with all the still photos of the motels that he used in the documentary, and I followed him around as he filmed the buildings, giving him suggestions and moral support. I also supplied historical information for the narration on the DVD. It was a great, fun experience.

AA: Do you have any other ‘Doo Wop’ or Wildwood-related projects in the works at this time?

KH: I’m still working on the Doo Wop motel notebook for the Wildwood Crest Museum. And next year I will have a history book on Wildwood Crest coming out, published by Arcadia Books. Naturally the book will have a section on the Crest’s Doo Wop motels!

AA: In addition to the book and the DVD, you also serve as president of the Wildwood Crest Historical Society, and are an associate board member of the Doo Wop Preservation League. Tell us a little about these roles and what both responsibilities encompass.

KH: For the historical society, basically I run the monthly meetings that they hold from October to May, and help with various other projects. As a board member for the Doo Wop League, I attend meetings and make suggestions on current and future projects. And do everything I can to further the “Doo Wop” cause!

AA: You grew up in Wildwood Crest, near the main motel district. What was that experience like, and what are your most fond memories of that time?

KH: I remember when many of the Doo Wop-style buildings were built, and how exciting it was each time one opened. Some of them actually caused a bit of controversy at the time because of their “odd” designs! Personally, I used to love playing around those buildings in the wintertime, when they were closed up and deserted. It was like having my very own fantasy playground!

AA: What is your all-time favorite “Doo Wop” motel or landmark, and why?

KH: That’s a hard one to answer. But I guess my favorite would have to be the Casa Bahama Motel in the Crest. I’ve always loved the “tiki” design style, and I’ve always loved the Casa Bahama’s unique design. Plus, the Casa Bahama was the only Wildwood motel I ever had the chance to stay in. In 1962, when I was 10 years old, we had some friends visiting from Maryland that stayed in that motel. I was able to visit them in their room there, and I distinctly remember watching an episode of “Hawaiian Eye” on the TV! At the time I felt like I was really there in Hawaii!

AA: Likewise, do you have a particular favorite among the motels that are still around?

KH: My favorite of the Wildwood motels that is still standing would have to be the Caribbean Motel, another motel with a great “South Pacific” feel to it. And that great pool area and second floor lounge, done over in a 1950s “Polynesian” style!

AA: Demolitions have certainly slowed down, and the “condo boom” as it was, appears to be over. What do you see as the future for “Doo Wop” in the Wildwoods?

KH: That’s hard to say at this point. What I would like to see is some new motels built that incorporate some of the designs of the classic Doo Wop motels that we have lost into them, like the Ebb Tide, the Satellite or the Fantasy motels. Whether this will ever happen is anybody’s guess.

AA: What are the keys to this ‘future?’

KH: We need some forward-thinking community leaders in place that will recognize that the secret to making and keeping the Wildwoods a truly unique vacation destination is to look back on its rich history, and use that as a stepping stone to design and guide its future.

AA: In closing what, in your opinion, is the best way for the average Wildwood enthusiast to support “Doo Wop,” and the historical preservation of the Wildwoods, in general?

KH: The best way to do that is for everyone interested in The Wildwoods to keep up with what is going on there, and make their voices heard loud and clear at every opportunity as to what direction they would like to see the island go in. And support the remaining Doo Wop properties by staying there and spending your money there! And writing lots of letters to the editors of the local newspapers voicing your opinions wouldn’t hurt either!