Frequently Asked Questions

What is Doo Wop? Where did the name come from? I thought it was just an old music style.

Synonymous with 1950s entertainment, doo wop street corner singing had its beginnings during World War II with the group THE INK SPOTS, but it really evolved into a famous musical genre in the decade to follow. The doo wop style of music is group harmony with a shoobee-doowop-doo-wah distinction. The words "doo wop" are attributed to a group named The Turbans, who used the words for background harmony. The groups named themselves after birds, cars, household items, emotions and after the music itself. As groups began to form, they developed their songs mostly without music. This led to some of the songs having sounds in them made by human voices, which eventually also became part of the sounds of later doo wop recordings. The emergence of this popular music was used as a device to convey the sweeping social, political, economic and cultural history of these years that historians regard as fundamental in determining what our nation is today.

What is the Wildwoods connection to Doo Wop?

The Wildwoods became a postwar musical entertainment Mecca. Its proximity to the large east coast metro areas made it an attractive and accessible destination for summer vacation. The family's infatuation with its car, and the newness of vacation and increased leisure time offered the incentive to get up and go! There was a new state, Hawaii, and a strong space race that America held a strong position in and was proudly flaunting it on television. Television was also offering glimpses of exotic far away places that many people had never seen before - places that they may never afford to go to. The Wildwoods offered a taste of this international style by replicating the stylistic nuances of far away lands and offering these exotic pretend places by the ocean. It's stylized commercial development catered to that era's needs, thus we apply the Doo Wop tag to this architectural style as well. It is a regional term. In other areas, the terms "Googie," "Populux," "Moderne" or "streamlined" are used.

Why is it important to preserve this style? They look like a bunch of old motels to me! (That's what they once said about Miami Beach and Cape May!)

Learning from Miami Beach who protected its 1930's buildings & Cape May who saved and revitalized their late 19th century architecture, we know that heritage tourism is growing in popularity and it is directly linked to the uniqueness of a tourist site. The Wildwoods are a great destination for a variety of reasons and the irreverent mix of modern design makes it an even more remarkably memorable attraction.

How will it benefit Wildwood and the region?

It is an asset to the Wildwoods to own this unique collection of buildings which have been virtually untouched. It is the largest collection of such in the world! This fact has made it a source of tremendous national media coverage. Its potential for even greater recognition enables the island community to capitalize on this new found national interest by pursuing opportunities like funding and more academic studies to aid the resort in reinventing itself. The region benefits by having another unique experience that it can offer to tourists. Regional tourism is in a high growth period. It is common knowledge that consumers today prefer a variety of options, a colorful palette of places to visit, and a menu of new experiences.

How will it benefit National Historic Preservation?

With a recent article by US News and World report touting the Wildwoods as "Must See Americana," recognition by the National Trust for our buildings to be documented and included in the Library of Congress, and a two year academic study by one of the leaders in identifying popular culture, there is little doubt that preserving these structures is beneficial to our nation. Collectively, they offer a time capsule of an important part of America's history.

What can I do to help?

Spread the Word! Tell others of your appreciation of this unique collection! Become a member through a $ donation. Take a trolley tour! Visit our headquarters. Support organizations, projects and establishments that are preserving or renovating in the spirit of Doo Wop. Make a donation to our "retro" collection at our headquarters.