NOT Your Typical Review: New Jersey Hall of Fame Induction and Red Carpet in Asbury Park USA. By Calvin Schwartz November 14th 2014

Calvin Schwartz with The Shirelles

We knew it was going to be a special night. A certain energy and excitement was building all week.  Our NJ Discover TV interviewing team, Frank Dicopoulos, Tara-Jean Vitale, Calvin Schwartz  and Chris Fotache on camera were all poised to hit the Red Carpet at the 2014 New Jersey Hall of Fame Induction being held this year at Convention Hall and the Paramount Theater in Asbury Park USA on Thursday night November 13^th.  Personally, for me, I felt it was so perfectly appropriate to have this world class celebrity ceremony in Asbury Park, as I’ve been writing (with its concomitant dreaming) of seeing this Jersey shore city become the global music and entertainment destination that the stars, moon and synchronistic universe signal will happen. As Tom Gilmour, from the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce and Department of Economic Development told me last night, “We’re almost there.”

Frank Dicopoulos with Coach Bob Hurley

Tara-Jean Vitale with singers, Jerzy Jung, Sally Webb & Emily Grove

The press arrived an hour before the Red Carpet began. Walking up the steps  to the boardwalk, under the ‘Greetings from Asbury Park, New Jersey’ roof signage, which I always stare at proudly, was a band just beginning to warm up to greet spectators despite a cold cloudy ambiance which foretold the coming of the first snow. It was festive already.  The great arcade between the Paramount Theater and Convention Hall was decked out in Red Carpet, lights, action and abundant media cameras.

Tara-Jean Vitale and Calvin Schwartz on Red Carpet

Tara-Jean Vitale & Frank Dicopoulos on Red Carpet

NJ Discover set up shop near the front of the Red Carpet but we knew about being highly mobile to track down the celebrities. First to arrive, dressed in stunning red, were Beverly Lee and Shirley Alston Reeves, The Shirelles from Passaic. I mentioned to them I was probably the only media person on the carpet who actually danced to their music way back when they started. They laughed. Legendary coach Bob Hurley was inducting Patrick Ewing. I think my Rutgers hat, which I almost always wear, subliminally, visually battled with my suit and tie. I commented and coach smiled.  We couldn’t catch up to NFL Films driving force, Howard Katz; his mother taught at Weequahic High School when I was there; a significant center of commonality. Tara-Jean Vitale corralled the ceremony back-up singers for Glen Burtnik’s band; Emily Grove, Jerzy Jung and Sally Webb for an interview. They are part of the essence of Jersey shore music.

Bruce delivering Brian Williams Induction speech

Frank & Brian

Suddenly the Sopranos cast arrived. We all did our individual photo-ops with them. Aida Turturro, who played James Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano character’s sister Janice, was warm, affable and approachable.  I told her about my wearing the Rutgers hat in honor of James who graduated there in 1982. She thanked me.  We took a picture together then she grabbed my Rutgers hat and posed; a perfectly delightful personality.

Frank Dicopoulos caught up to a very gracious Brian Williams and they talked on camera for quite a while; mostly on what it means to be from New Jersey and how for a while he left the state and couldn’t wait to come back. He’s a homeowner at Exit 98 now.  I talked to Brian about my new journalism career which in part was motivated by his persona. Then I asked whom he thought would be the guest inducting him. He thought someone from NBC.  Of course the surprise guest was Bruce Springsteen. When the ceremony began, I got a phone call from Tara-Jean Vitale telling me Bruce was in the building to induct Brian and to stay put.  I did.

Calvin & Brian talking journalism of all things

Aida Turturro wearing Calvin’s Rutgers hat

For me, part of the lure of the night is the opportunity to meet people just below the surface of the night meaning I got a chance to talk at length to James Gandolfini’s sister Johanna and his niece. I told Johanna that I absolutely loved her brother for many reasons; a great actor, humanitarian, Jerseyan, and most importantly, Rutgers alum like myself. Then I mentioned how I’m obsessed with James’ last movie, ‘Enough Said’ and how I just keep watching it again and again; his last facial expression sitting on the steps with Julia Louis-Dreyfus was so emotional. She watched the movie again that morning. We smiled at each other.

The lights flickered; it was time for the ceremony to begin. I walked to the back of the arcade to say hello to Steven Levine from the Wind Mill Restaurants; they were serving their amazing hot-dogs. Brian Williams, quintessential Jersey, also had hot-dogs on his mind. He was just squeezing a  row of mustard on his dog as I arrived; he was wondrously happy.  So was I. It was a perfect day and night. Asbury Park was on center stage and I love that city. And I love New Jersey.

Calvin Schwartz  11-14-14

Chris Fotache with The Sopranos Vincent Pastore

Brian Williams having just finished application of mustard to his hot dog is greeted by Steven Levine from Wind Mill Restaurants with an additional supply of hot dogs.

This year’s  inductees include Brian Williams, The Shirelles,  James Gandolfini,  former Knick Patrick Ewing; former Gov. James Florio; writer Dorothy Parker; suffragette Elizabeth Cady Stanton; NFL broadcaster Howard Katz; chef Alice Waters; jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie (who was inducted by Max Weinberg of the E Street Band); workers’ rights advocate Peter J. McGuire; and Holocaust survivor Maud Dahme.