Wildwood: The Movie

The video above is a series of clips from the little-seen 1994 documentary Wildwood, N.J. Directors Carol Weaks/Cassidy and Ruth Leitman took to the boardwalk (and its surrounding area) of resort town/hole in the country Wildwood, N.J., in 1992, to explore the culture of the girls and women who populate it. The results are almost entirely hilarious. Even before my posts about it, I have long been obsessed with Wildwood and its unapologetic trashiness. I've always described it this way: if Jersey is the armpit of the U.S., Wildwood is a louse clinging to one of its hairs. Watching the film today, though, it's hard to say where the trashy begins and the products of the time (be they mousse or gel) end, but I'm pretty sure that halo-like scrunchies and shoulder-less button-up shirts and (maybe) lying about all the girls you've beat up and put in the hospital were never a good idea.

The film has a feminist bent (just the fact that anyone cares enough to talk to these girls about their lives and dreams bespeaks a rare kind of social consciousness) and it's moving at times, especially during a segment where girl after girl talks about her fatherless life. Mostly, though, it's a big laugh. It feels like a missing link for me, as it's full of females so similar to the ones that surrounded me while growing up just 25 minutes away from the profiled town: girls and women who know they're funny but don't quite realize that they're hilarious. Relating to those people introduced me to the strange sensation that occurs when you find yourself simultaneously laughing at and with a person. That same sensation is present when I watch and talk to people on reality TV.

Basically, Wildwood, N.J., feels like it was made for me (much love to John, who hooked me up with a copy). I don't know if people will be as amused as I am by this (some of the clips I included based on accent alone), but I figured with July 4 looming, it's the right week to find out.

Update: Wildwood, N.J., director Ruth Leitman contacted me to say that she's thrilled about the attention this unreleased gem is receiving and that she's going to start to sell copies of the film via her site within the next few days. Here's what Ruth says about procuring your own copy (which I [South Jersey Accent]soooooooow[/SJA] reccomend):

I am really excited that so may of you asked about the film. Because of this I am mastering a new DVD and you can order via PayPal. As we speak, I am having my web designer add a button for this shortly on my website (Ruthless Films). It's $22.99 including shipping & handling. We were in the process of a re-design when this all came up, so that is why there is so little on there now. After you've purchased please allow 3 weeks for delivery.

Update 2: OK, it's available.

Below, some screen shots to celebrate the fashions of the time/location...

Heh:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You know you're in a veritable fashion capital when a striped tube top and clunky pastic earrings look refined in comparison to everything else. The wonderful thing about Jersey is that plenty of people still look like this, 17 years later.

Comments

[Dara]

Wow. Just wow. I feel the need to draw my brows on, slip into a tube top and kick some ASS.

Rich, you are fount of cultural reference.

Thank you.

Happy Independence Day!!

[raymi]

I NEED TO SEE THIS

[Blake]

Oh my gosh, Linda and Mer, I though the EXACT same thing, her laugh even sounds the same... The only problem: she's 38 now, which would put her at 21 in 1992, and the girl in the vid. doesn't look 21...

[briannaproctor@juno.com]

The chick whose boyfriend wouldn't let her get into any more fights - I WANT HER HAIR. OMG.

Sad, but true.

Also, the second to last picture is DJ Tanner. Fer Reals.

[Bridget O'Neill]

excellent! You would like my Wildwood photo series. This is so spot-on. I connected your link from my blogspot, http://photoballads.blogspot.com as most recent post is about Wildwood as well, but it's focuses on it's time-stands-still architecture! Hope you like. Im ordering the movie this week form Ruthless films! PS. LOVED your confederate flag series! How did you NOT circle the one that read: Get er done;? yikes! The South lives on and strong in Jersey and Philly. I should know, I escaped years ago. Great content on your blog, Im hooked! Bridget

[Andy S. aka 'O']

http://fourfour.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b8c369e201157199f3a5970b-800wi

the girl wearing that looks cute too!

also, it's different every night.

XDD DED

[pete]

we always went to my cousins' in Margate, but i remember going to Wildwood one year. crazy bitches and the Jersey shore? i live for this shit.

[a to the mcd]

I got a response from the director in regards to the doc. She said that one of the Housewife of NJ is in it!

[akinsenegal]

from nj and abroad with some americans who have apparently never been and i've been trying to explain to them what new jersey is like for the past two years. i now finally have everything i could possibly need.

[meg]

the major problem with Wildwood was all the trashy New Yorkers who came down because there were no beach fees....

[hi]

Love ya dude, but this isn't feminism.

[Stuart]

Those were the days!

[j]

Please, please, please...let's have a follow-up "Where Are They Now" DVD to be released soon

[Tini]

OMG you just gave me a moving diary of my childhood. Those dreams i had to grow up & work down there in the summers, what a trip, I keep waiting to see myself, i had to buy the video. Thanks for doing this!!

[scorzi]

I was in fourth grade in 1992. All of my babysitters looked like this. I thought they were the COOLEST. Especially when they'd let me try on their blue eyeshadow. (Fist pump)

[Talix]

Ah, the cropped sweater. When it's cold enough to wear a sweater and yet warm enough to bear your abs. Who can't relate?

[Talix]

BARE your abs. Good grief.

[Christy]

Oh dear me. After a really hard day, seeing this, made it all better. Memories of Wildwood after Prom. Oh the big hair ... the crazy Jersey kids, wouldn't give it up for the world.

[Lex]

Oh My God. The girl in the sixth picture down. I HAD THAT SHIRT! In 1992 & I was in 10th grade. I think I bought it at Merry Go Round...and I wore it with my Z Cavaricci jeans and I only wish I was joking about this!!

[Ice]

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[spencer]

awesome. just bought a copy. thanks, rich.

[Chelsea]

This needs to be sent to John Waters IMMEDIATELY.

[kelly]

if you think wildwood is bad you should visit seaside heights nj. believe me. i live here

[hannah]

my favorite moment of the posted clips had to be when that girl with shoulder holes in her shirt was like, "yeah, i put her in the hospital," and the cool girl in the leather jacket was giving her this look like, "wtf, who ARE you, get away from me!"

[maria]

Sigh, I grew up in Wildwood and still live here. At least I was 8 when this movie was filmed, so no surprise cameos.