New Jersey Hall of Fame...

Stars shine at New Jersey Hall of Fame exhibit in Asbury Park

Jersey Shore native Jack Nicholson earned mostly A's in second grade at his childhood Roosevelt School in Neptune City.

But a few times, and it's hard to imagine why, his teacher gave the future iconic Academy Award-winning actor a C in self-control and conduct. But just for a few marking periods.

Nicholson's report card is part of the New Jersey Hall of Fame's first public exhibit, as is Susan Sarandon's red cheerleading jacket from Edison High School from the 1963-64 school year. "Sue" is inscribed on the front. Both actors are among the 43 inductees of the New Jersey Hall of Fame in the past three years.

On Wednesday, the organization officially opened the temporary exhibit in the Fifth Avenue Pavilion on the Asbury Park boardwalk, primarily featuring celebrity photographer Timothy White's photos of 30 notable New Jersey natives or residents in the entertainment industry. Six of the hall's inductees are included — Nicholson, Sarandon, Danny DeVito, Meryl Streep, Jon Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen.

The gallery also has an Edison Gem Model A phonograph from 1903 on loan from the Edison Innovation Foundation, and one of the late Les Paul's guitars. His son, band leader and electric bassist Rusty Paul of Mahwah, was on hand to represent his father, who died at the age of 94 in August 2009.

Madison Marquette, the lead boardwalk developer, donated the space for the exhibit, which will be open from 4 to 8 p.m. Fridays and from noon to 8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through the coming months.

"What we're trying to create here is the first tangible, actual exhibition to demonstrate that the New Jersey Hall of Fame is a real viable organization that has had these wonderful induction ceremonies, but now is going to hold exhibitions throughout the state," said Gary Mottola, president of investments of Madison Marquette and a resident of Oakland.

"All of us from New Jersey are a little biased, but I do believe New Jersey has a higher percentage of noteworthy people," Mottola said. "There's something about our character, our intensity, our drive and our edge that makes that happen."

Don Jay Smith, executive director of the Hall of Fame, said the organization has existed on the Internet for more than three years, but this is the first exhibition.

Permanent sites are planned to be developed in the next few years in Trenton, Newark and Atlantic City, he said. A mobile collection will visit schools throughout the state. A Wall of Fame exhibit is planned for the Cheesequake rest area.

Bart Oates, chairman of the hall's board of commissioners and a past two-time Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants (and once with the San Francisco 49ers), said it was important for children to learn about the people who have grown up in New Jersey and become successful in all walks of life. Oates credited Steven Edwards, chairman of the Hall of Fame Foundation board of trustees, for coming up with the idea in the first place.

Some of the photographs on display in the exhibit include depictions of John Travolta walking in a winter park scene; Nicholson smiling at the camera, wearing a gold woven tie, his shirttail out; Jon Bon Jovi on a Harley-Davidson; Nathan Lane, his head inside a gold bird cage; Meryl Streep, backstage next to curtain ropes; Michael Douglas, looking very Wall Street-like; DeVito, in side profile, smoking a cigarette; and James Gandolfini, very close up, smoking a cigar.

State Sen. Sean T. Kean, R-Monmouth, said New Jersey is becoming known as a high energy state.

"Maybe some of these people wouldn't have been so successful if they were not from New Jersey," the senator said.

The Hall of Fame was created through state legislation in late 2005 and began inducting residents or natives in 2007. For more information, visit njhalloffame.org.


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