Art Stock's Playpen

I never had a bad time at the 'pen. I was there usually a few times a week till the end of its run. The best nights were Heavy Metal Monday Night Football. Great crowd, great music. Metal was happening and always a game on one of the monitors. Perfect.

That was u John.
All I can tell u if u cant remember u had a great time

Fourth of July weekend..1978...US Navy...Was told I had a great time and loved the place...Sorry to say, had way too much to drink, and don't remember much...Do vaguely remember in my hungover haze that it was a really cool place, and that I would go back

Feb 04, 2011 | 11:07 am
Looking for RAE Ray. (Female)from North or South Carolina. we met at the Play Pen in 1979.you were with your Friend.We spent the whole night together. Next day you came looking for me on the beach and spent another night.You are one great moment that was in my life.If Im luckey u may see this if not nice to remember.Im at brodmbrod@yahoo.com and on facebook Michael Brodsky NY My best to all who see this and heres to the past but the future is always at my door step
Why not try again

Harold thank you for your service My best to u

Your father is a great wonderful man. He always made us sailors feel welcome and happy to be there. Every time I saw him he had a smile and a handshake waiting. You might have noticed I talk about him in the present tense. That is because I know that as long as we talk and remember a lost loved one and remember them, they are always present with us. Listening with their friends and talking about the old days.

Thanks Harold my father would of loved to hear me read what u wrote to him. If he was still alive that would of put a great big smile on his face!! As it did ,ine. Thank u to everyone who keeps my fathers memory and clubs alive!!!

In 1980 my friends Yvette, Cecilia, and I started spending every single Friday and Saturday night at The Playpen! I don't remember what year we stopped going...maybe around the time City Limits opened, the manager was Toby? I remember faces but not very many names. I do remember brothers Rick and Fred Rose who were also there every weekend. I have some pictures somewhere!

Yea, I started going there in 1984....Rockafellas, was ok...no big deal.

In 1983 I was one of the bar backs and I refereed the Mud Wrestling with Big Jerry MCing it
The Rockerfellas (Hey Craig) were one of the tightest classic rock bands around.
Midnight Special was great. You also had the Rockaholics jamming the Playpen's stage....
And Johnny Depp played in a band called "The Kids"

I hate to be a bother. But I am getting old now and as a totally disabled retired combat vet of 27 years I find myself looking back in my life to what I call the good ole days. Back when I was a young pup I was stationed on the USS Ticonderoga. After we commissioned and completed qualifications we were given the honor of a port visit in Ft Lauderdale. This was way way back in the summer of 1983. Me and my bro Richard made our total mission to be at Art Stocks as long as we were not on duty we lived at this place. It is one of my great memories of my life. I have talked to my bro and we were trying to remember the name of the band that played there. We were always front row center, claiming our spot. Jamming all day and night. We became good friends of the band. It was fronted by a gorgeous blonde, skinny as a rail, and her husband played lead guitar and vocals. We took them to the ship and gave them a VIP tour. The Playpen was the best bar I/ we ever went. I have been in more bars than ten people, all around the world. See, back then a sailor did not have to be politically correct. Just a professional drinker. Me andRich were All Pro drinkers and All World Rockers. I know I have rambled on but what I would love to know us this. What was the name of that band that played in the summer of 83. Me and Rich are planning a reunion and the Playpen is on our reunion list.. We were so dedicated to this place that if we had to we walked many miles from the piers to get there. The people treated us as if we were old time regulars. Like family. I want to return and bar crawl with my bro, rock to the metal and get drunk in memory of those great days and nights. There were times that we would leave as the lastt ones at closing time. Wait near buy then be there when the door opened we were there to order the first drinks of a new day. I hope you reply because this means a lot. When I get healed up enough from my wounds we will be back. Thanks and take care..

Ok, so you also played down in Kendal at Crown Rocking Lounge too I believe...guess my comments aren't getting across..

yes yes...I remember you guys well. You played The Candy Store from time to time if I remember correctly.

my band was rockerfellas. maybe ur thinking of midnite special, wayne young was 40 back then. pogie was a short gtr player.

Oh craig I remember that the guy who fell was short and had blond curly hair!

Thanks for the reply Craig! Yeah i vividly remember the lead singer was older than the rest and he would do a great job singing Bob Seger songs! Man those were great times from my youth!

@Craig...this sounds familiar. When did this incedent happen and what band?

@ scott, i once fell off the small stage ,knocking over my amp, but jerry, coondog, the bartender caught me from going over. our lead singer was our same age. maybe another band?

Well then Paula, then if you worked there till the end, I'm sure I at least have seen you. I did not go as much from 88-90 as it really had lost its 'soul' as well as most of the scenary and people. But Im sure if I saw a pic of you, I may recognize ya...

I worked there for a short time in the late 80s -88-89/90. I worked with jerry 1 of the nicest guys there. I just went for a visit in Ft lauderdale & ran into the lady that handed out our checks!! she was waitressing at 'the deck' . I asked her about jerry & she said he was doing well, in pharmecutical ssales now. I wish I could find my lost love-steven-I still have all his letters from when he wrote to me when I went to europe.
wish I would have kept in touch with a lot of people.
Im hoping this site & facebook reunites me with some old friends.

Paula Gruba

Anyone go during the early to late 1980s? Especially on Mondays (Metal) and Fr-Sa... If so, love to hear from ya. Upload pics if possible. Long live Art Stocks.....

I was there one night in the early 80's and I remember the guitarist of one of the bands being a little tipsy and falling off the platform while they were playing but everybody laughed about it and he was ok! i don't rember their name but I remember the lead singer was an older man than the rest of them .

i was there from 1980 til the 90's with the rockerfellers

Well, that should be a great gig in NJ for the reunion tribute....if they decide to do that Art Stocks Playpen South, in Ft Lauderdale, and redo the place to the early days and have the bands that used to play there, I will fly there from Vegas JUST for that!

There will be a tribute, to Art Stock & the Playpen this Saturday. The event is at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park this Saturday, May 7th. Many bands are playing, many of the most popular bands from those good ol' days. some bands are reuniting just to play a few songs in Art's memory. the line up is incredible and a true honor to art stock and his daughter. We asked his daughter to attend and she will be flying in from Spain so we can present her w something. Tommy Janorone from Bar A will be Mc'ing and special guests..
Check out the link for a list of the all the bands that frequented many of Art's many clubs.
Come have a beer for the man who invented the night club scene, wet tshirt contest, mud wrestling & the best dam parties in town!! GOTTA LOVE YA ART!! WE MISS U BUDDY

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=130392287021062

Tara Stock - I'm working on a documentary for ESPN that will take a moment to explore the '70s Jersey Shore bar and club scene that our protagonist used to enjoy so very much. I read in an old post on here that you have boxes of slides in a warehouse. Is that still the case? If so, I'd be happy to help you transfer them to digital files so you can have them forever. I would love to be able to use some to represent your father's establishments as well.

Please email me Matt@triplethreattv.com

I was always hoping to get there. Shame it never happened. Those are some good bands that were listed. The Pen in Lauderdale had the same type of bands....great place.

Again if you had read the post earlier, I was at Artstocks from early 80's till the end...and 87-88 was definatly the end to Artstocks...no more atmosphere, soul or music. Lots of the regular locals stopped going and a lot of the staff members were different...very depressing to see it start the death rattle in those years.

does anybody remember being at art stocks in !987-88?? steven from azriel?

Hey Craig. Im sure I would know who you are if I saw you. I was in Lauderdale in the clubs usually 3-4 nights a week thru out the 80's. I remember the Rockafellas. I live in Vegas now...I had to move here to keep the entertainment alive. South Florida is all but dead...

wow, just found this site. i played there for years in the rockerfellas. along with many bands and musicians that i am still in touch with. send me your memories.

1977/78. I was there every Thurs - Sun. I love those days. My uncle Manny (who is 3 yrs older than I) use to get there early just to dance and we'd be there til closing time. The end of the night ritual for our group was to make our way over to Subway(across the parking lot) and order subs.Some of the people we hung out with were...Manny,Jan,Maria,Ritz,
Luis,Heidi,Jorge,Robert...there were others I just don't remember their names. There was this one girl that during the freak dance contest would strip and she always danced with Manny. Crazy funtimes...I loved the Playpen. I would love to see pictures and be able to share them with my daughter who can't relate to our days.

lived in lauderhill, worked @ 2400 los olas with john beneke, (jennie lee's). lots of rem's; packy, johnny, from the 400 club @ the Y, i heard he took over the bottle club in the 90's. i got 'run-down' there on march 26th of 80, one of a small group to live thru it, are there any other survivors on here? i was the 19th to live from a total of 36 hit on RTE. 1 that year, alittle late for a class action, "we're the St. Elizabeth faction of the playpen action" i still carry my VIP card to this day, i went back there on crutches, and still own the ASPlaypen shirt i wore outta the hospital. sorry to bring up the darker side but, still have fond mem's. i have more Ft.L stories to share.

Looking for RAE Ray. (Female)from North or South Carolina. we met at the Play Pen in 1979.you were with your Friend.We spent the whole night together. Next day you came looking for me on the beach and spent another night.You are one great moment that was in my life.If Im luckey u may see this if not nice to remember.Im at brodmbrod@yahoo.com and on facebook Michael Brodsky NY My best to all who see this and heres to the past but the future is always at my door step

I am just writing here because I was only 10 yrs old when my 2 uncles used to attend Playpen almost every weekend Fri and or Saturday nights and pissed me off because I never understood why they wouldn't take me there (thinking it was a fun place filled with video games etc). And, I googled "playpen" today at my age of 37 for my uncles so they could go into nostalgic memories. And, yes they did. Maybe you guys remember him...He was new to the US from Afghanistan (one of the first Afghan American citizens). One had somewhat of Stallone look and named Faroq. The other was Nader. Both dark hair and dressed very nice . They rolled in a 1981 new mustang. We live in CA today. Thanks to my uncles I have grown to love all 80s music. So the outside of the building does bring back memories for me. In my days I lived BAJA beach club. My facebook email is mustafaandar@yahoo.com

So grateful I found this site tonite. Been thinking alot about my uncle, Al Malone, and was wondering if anybody remembers him from the Playpen. Before Fl. he was at the Chez Paree in Chicago. Whenever he would come home for a visit he would always bring us, my sis, me and cousin, these gold flecked pants (tights?) that the girls wore. We would laugh cause we were in our teens and as little as we were we could never fit in those small sizes. Lots of teeshirts would make it home w/ him, too. Sounds like you all had a blast! Take care and thanks for allowing me to get some memories out concerning, Uncle Al, the kiddies pal! LOL

Hi Dawn, I started going "religiously" since Mid 1984. As far as Heavy Metal Monday, I was there about every Monday. Loose Bruce was there alot spinning discs. I forget the other guy that was there most of the other nights. Great guy as he always let me pick out some great songs to play. When the 'pen changed their look around 1987, I tried to like it and stayed till the end of the actual Playpen, but it was just a bar with walls at that point. The true Local Pens moved on, the crowd changed, music was ok at best, bands were barely tolerable, and the staff was new for the most part. It must have been my fave bar being I traveled almost an hour each way to go as I lived in Deep South West Miami. This is coming from a guy now that still loves his music and bars...hence I had to move to Vegas to continue that 'ride'...

Chuck
What year's did you go to the playpen?

The Playpen will be MY ALL TIME FAVORITE. I really got into the place when it was Heavy Metal Mondays. To me that was the best time to be there. Fr-Sa were almost as good, but to hear just metal and see all us metal heads together that night....wow! To this day, I wish, of all the clubs and bars that I still go to, was open. The later 80's lost its vibe with the inside change over and dropping some of the music etc that used to be there. To put that place back with the rocks on the walls and windows showing Playpen pics and souvenirs and such, along with us rockers and music would just be over the top. I'd fly back to Ft Laud just for that...I rememeber Pam, as well as Jerry the bouncer..He saved my life from the damn Spring Break college kids that thought they ran the bar, when in reality, it was us locals!!! Jerry went on to Rosebuds(Metal Factory)late 80's-early 90's then seemed to vanish. I used to see him at Biscayne Babys (circa 1988)in Coconut Grove on Tues. alternative night.

I was crazy for Jan Wertz..Also wondering where and how he is??
Paula C.

spent the month of december in florida for several yrs
and alot of those nights at the PLAYPEN. Was appointed
special guest/judge/water pourer for many wet-t contests as well as dressing room wall on stage. Went back years later and was featured on the slideshow on the closed circuit throughout the club. What a trip that place was, never will forget it!

Unreal, I just was thinking of the good old days at Art Stocks Playpen Lounge in Sayreville...I worked there I want to say 70-71...disc jockeyed,barmaid and danced the nights away! Great set up..whatever happened to Jan Wertz?

I also Hung out at the Art Stock's Playpen from 1977 to 1981. In the right corner of the disco room, where RC was the bartender. Hello Pam and Dawn. What happened to Renee, Keno, Marty, etc?

Rick Adamo

I too remember the Playpen fondly!I was hired as a "regular" by Toby for the wet t-shirt contests along with Alice,Colleen,Juicy Lucy,Carol from California aka Autumn from Montana.I was Gigi from New Jersey.Between the Candy Store,Mr. Pip's,The Playpen and Summers,I ended up with $250 a wk.Even more if I won,which wasn't too often,unless the above mentioned didn't show.I remember Toby the manager,Barb who bartended the bar to the left of the main stage.And of course who could forget Dancin'Sam doin' the robot out on the lit up dance floor?Can't remember the name of the house band,but I remember Tracer,as I dated one of the guys in the band.So sorry to hear of your loss,Tara!The Playpen holds alot of fond memories for me,as I'm sure it does for so many others!And with the passing of your dad,it truly is the end of an era!I would love to see any old photos of the t-shirt contests your dad had!I don't have alot of photos from my younger years!I hung out there from 1977-81.Thanks!

Wow!! This all brings back some big memories...I grew up in Lauderdale, worked at Peaches (Remember them!) Records at the corner of Sunrise and 15th. Man! Ft. Laud was fun in the 70's and 80's. The Playpen was fun to go to. Good Times!

Hi Kathy!! Jerry was a big guy-more like a bouncer then a bartender. Last time i visited Ft Lauderdale-sept 1997--everything had changed. All the familiar bars had gone. City limits, summers, playpen, gone. I found Jerry at a rock bar with harleys out in front. Sure enough, I also ran into some people I knew from 1987 & the playpen. Im still looking for 'Steven' he played with a band called Azrael in aug 1987 at summers & playpen. I would really love to know how hes doing. & also another friend -stacie-she used manage a clothing store-express or something like that.....my memory fades...I worked at playpen with a little brunette-pam-she was from chicago. she bartended & i waitressed at the same time. any info would be appreciated. thank you!!! paula (jackie)

Hi Paula jackie,
By chance was that big bartender Jerry from North Carolina and perhaps in his late 30's?

Kathyaye

oops-i meant steven- he played in a band called `azrael` aug of 1987.....I remember only from rereading his letters to me while I was in europe. I was a waitress there (playpen). Pam (who is from chicago) was a bartender, jerry who was a huge guy was a bartender. i dont about anyone else, but my mind is kinda foggy from those days...!! i need to post a couple pics of 1 of the bands i hung out with.

I worked at art stocks playpen in 1986-1987. Loved it there! met Johnny depp there. I wish I had pictures from back then. I was even looking for an old friend-seteven-he was playing in a band called azrael-they played at art stocks & summers. Is summers even there any more? I know the playpen is long been gone. the memories i have of that place will never be forgotten.

Time frame is right I hung out there from 77 - early 80's... but most people remember me as the little blonde from california having ice poured down her tee shirt. seems i had a new name every other week lol ....... What amazed me is the variaity of oppinions over my choice of easy income in those days ... and i will say as I did back then. its water lol ... cold yes but no one ever asked any more of us girls...

The playpen was my home away from home.Every Friday and Saturday night from 1977 to 1981. I loved Disco. Jach Fahey the DJ, RC, Zach, Kenny the bartenders.The bouncers, everyone was great there. I spent the best years of my life there, wish I could go back for one weekend. I met Art Stock, sorry to hear of his passing.
Anyone remember me, answer back. We used to hang out in the corner where RC bartended the right back corner. Pam, Belinda, Joann, Q€uino, Eddie, too many to name.
Good old days and memories....Is this Dawn that used to hang around with pam and joanne??omg please let me know. I used to go to playpen every friday and saturday and used to hang out with you guys. name is tony from brooklyn. please respond

Wow memories of when young and wild... Loved the playpen .. Art was a great guy. He liked hugs too. he always treated me respectfully. I never had to worry about any trouble at the playpen. I could dance and party and if someone got out of line
the staff handled it well. Your dad had a great club.

Tara if you find any pictures of the wet T contests from ... oh late 70's early 80's please contact me.

Dawn, one of my best friends around 1977-78 was a bartender named Jerry Henceman. I am pretty sure he was finally canned for being too wild but I remember him talking about Kenny and Eddie. In fact, I have a picture of Jerry and I believe Eddie. My roomates back in 75&76 worked at the Library at the Hilton Hotel on the beach at that time too. Wild times-miss Ft. Lauderdale.

Kathy

are you kidding me, DAwn, we lived at the Palypen. From thursday to Sunday we were there. Buzy, Zack, Jack. Iremember the back room the most..The disco dise as we called it. I remember the Holiday Inn next door. If you couldn't drive, you just stayed there. Someone you know always got a room, so you could crash. Remember the 80's when we freaked out!!!! I also remember the dance contests we entered. Never won, but was fun...Dawn I remember our first introduction to 714..OMG..that was fun. Wish this site could reach out to more..1977-1980..PLAYPEN WAS THE BEST!!!!!

The playpen was my home away from home.Every Friday and Saturday night from 1977 to 1981. I loved Disco. Jach Fahey the DJ, RC, Zach, Kenny the bartenders.The bouncers, everyone was great there. I spent the best years of my life there, wish I could go back for one weekend. I met Art Stock, sorry to hear of his passing.
Anyone remember me, answer back. We used to hang out in the corner where RC bartended the right back corner. Pam, Belinda, Joann, Quino, Eddie, too many to name.
Good old days and memories....

I remember the Playpen!!! When I used to come visit my Dad & old school friends in Florida, Art Stock's Playpen was the best Club to go to. Those were the good ole days!!!! Have alot of great memories of that place!! Tara, your Dad really had great vivion when he opened that club!! Sorry to here he passed. Would love to see some old pictures when you dig them out!!!

I was in Ft. Lauderdale in August of 1982. I went to Florida on board the USS Independence, an aircraft carrier. Myself and about six sailors went to the Playpen on the cabbies advice and had one of the best times of my life as a young man. We partied with the band. I'd never even been in a nightclub before. I was only twenty and it was a time me and my friends will always remeber at least part of it anyway.

To Tara Stock,

I am writing from the Netherlands. I met Art Stock several times in the late seventies, once in the Netherlands and I spent some time with him at the Jersey Shore and in Fort Lauderdale. Are you the daughter of this Art Stock? If so, I am very very sorry to hear he passed away.
I have some pictures of him that you might be interested in. Will you please let me know??

Kind regards,
Wilhelmina

I wish so much the Birch Hill and the Playpen were still here. I played both clubs with my band back in the early 90's There will never be any clubs like that ever again. I will never forget my band being one of the opening bands for Kings X. I am forever grateful to your father Art Stock for giving me an oppotunity that would otherwise have been impossible and for memories you cant put any price on.I became emotional hearing about his departure. To me the music world in NJ now seems alot less exciting..less accessable..less UNITED . I will never forget.....

When i dig em out of the ware house i will make sure to post some here. I know I saw boxes and boxes of them in the very back. They are on slides due to the lack of digital camera in the 70's and 80's lol.., So I will have to convert them somehow. There must be a slide / scanner machine in some electronics store. Unfortunately it may take awhile because there is a lot to sort out right now but i will make sure i post some pics of the playpen eventually. . Thanks again

Tara,
PLEASE DO show us some pics of the outside, AND the Inside of BOTH rooms! That'll bring back some great memories, Thanks,HarryG

Thank you for your continued support in my fathers memory. He loved those days and most of all he loved his patrons and employees. His favorite thing to do was build playgrounds for ADULTS. Find away to make the night club experience different form the average bar... He loved to watch people have fun and know he played apart in it. The one thing I learned about my father over the years was he truly enjoyed making sure other people are having a good time instead of himself. I thank you for continuing to honor ART STOCK and his legacy of night life entertainment...
Sincerely,
Tara Stock
p.s I will be back to post some slides of the good ol playpen days that i found on thousands of slides that my dad stored in our ware house I also stumbled upon the light up stage as well.. lol

I saw Halll and Oates there before they had a hit record. The dance floor did light up.