Caroline O’Toole, manager of the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, speaking at the 50th anniversary celebration.
By ED SALVAS
Caroline O’Toole, general manager of the Stony Pony in Asbury Park, kicked off the celebration of the Pony’s 50th Anniversary honoring the artists who performed there, people who worked there and the fans who paid to see them.
“Every artist, every staff member, and the fans who just bought a T-shirt or took a picture out front, represent what was great about Asbury Park, and what was going to be great about Asbury Park again – and it is,” she said.
She added that staying around for 50-years is not easy. O’Toole knows, she has been manager of the Stone Pony for 20 of those years.
O’Toole spoke at the press conference opening the 50th Anniversary celebration Feb. 8, 50 years to the day from the Pony’s 1974 opening, on a beachfront in decline; years before the arrival of new condos, restaurants, hotels and a hot real estate market.
Asbury Park City Councilwoman Eileen Chapman, also a former manager of the Stone Pony, read a lengthy Proclamation from the mayor and City Council highlighting the events that took place at the Stone Pony and the musical careers launched there. She also praised O’Toole for “never saying no” to a request for a fund raiser. One of those events is the Mayor’s Rodeo for Recreation, and Mayor John Moor pointed out the event has raised more than $300,000 and announced the next Rodeo is coming up on April 25.
Proclamations were presented by the city officials and designating February 8, 2024 as “Stone Pony Day” in Asbury Park. Representatives of Congressman Frank Pallone, Governor Phil Murphy, the State Legislature and the Monmouth County Commissioners were present to honor the Stone Pony Anniversary.
The celebration didn’t end there. The weekend featured a panel discussion, on “50 Legendary Years of Music and Memories,” and “Decades of Rock” a show with bands from the 1970’s, 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s that have performed on the Stone Pony stage through the years.
