Originally created on Absecon Island in the 1850s as a vacation spot for Philadelphia's elite, the Atlantic City and it Boardwalk soon developed a madcap personality of its own, becoming one of America's most fabled cities -- a distinction it has never lost. The first planked boardwalk provided circus-like arenas for vaudeville acts, minstrel shows, and performers like escape artist Harry Houdini. But the most famous boardwalk act of all time ran on Steel Pier for 49 years: the high-diving horse. Several times a day, a horse and its scantily-clad female rider would leap from a 60-foot tower into a pool of water.

The dense collection of amusement piers, local theaters and hotel concert halls evolved into one of the nation's most important entertainment centers. By the 1920s, Atlantic City was established as a kind of Hollywood East, swarming with a glitzy assortment of movie stars, producers, musicians, song writers, and entertainment moguls. In the 30s, the city was THE home for "Big Band" music, the place where a skinny kid named Frank Sinatra sang in the Harry James band as he angled for his first big break. It was just as common to catch a glimpse of famous gangsters. For half a century, Atlantic City was notorious for its mobsters, back-alley gambling dens and speakeasies. Inventor Charles Darrow allowed everyone to visit this wealthy area in his game Monopoly—a game created using the real streets of this resort area. Today’s Atlantic City is every bit as bright and bold as its history. Known now for its casinos, it still offers a carnivalesque boardwalk, shows and entertainment of many varieties.

This month we grab the bold colors and patterns of the boardwalk, add in a dash of the wild and outrageous, and enjoy the atmosphere of the original boardwalk.