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NIGHTBEAT - Bill Kelly 8/30/2002 END OF AN ONE ERA & REVIVAL OF ANOTHER     The end of a grand entertainment era came on Thursday, August 22, 2002,when Somers Point City Council reluctantly and with reservations, approved the transfer of the liquor license from Club Ice to the Yacht Club. Though the move effectively ended a social tradition at that location that dates back to before prohibition, it also restores a vintage establishment to it's former glory.     The former site of Tony Marts, as most people know it, has been an entertainment Mecca since it was the base of a ferry port and trolley stop. Originally Schick's Hotel and rathskeller, entire generations of patrons enjoyed the place since the turn of the last century.     As with all towns along the Jersey Shore, the end of World War II served as a springboard for change, social transformation and the beginning of a new era. The Anchorage Tavern, Charlie's Bar, DiOrio's and the Point Pub also changed hands or relocated around that time.     Schick's Hotel was purchased by Anthony Marotta, whose family ran a sandwich shop on the Atlantic City boardwalk. Tony discontinued the hotel and the rathskeller became Tony Marts nightclub - "The Showplace of the Stars," which competed favorably with the nearby Bayshores and Orsatti's Gateway Casino. Along with Steel's Ship Bar next-door, and the Anchorage and Point Pubs down the street, Bay Avenue became an entertainment strip of nightclubs that was a primary tourist attraction on the East coast.     The Point Pub, with it's majestic dining room, was where all the local pols and native residents took refuge, drank, danced and partied until the early 1960s, when Ernie Corletto sold the liquor license, which was transferred to the then new Somers Point Shopping Center. Corletto ran the place s a marina until it was featured as the pinnacle of a Bay Avenue revival study, and local marina owner John Mayer bought it. He remodeled it and converted it into a unique Bed & Breakfast Inn, and tried to make it as a private club, but failed. When Dr. Ira Trocki picked up the pieces, he also bought the remnants of the old Tony Marts, also a failed Club Impulse.     Tony Marts had lasted for over 40 years before it was replaced by Egos, a disco that became a string of clubs - Crazy Janes, Key West, Brownies By the Bay and Club Impulse before Troci kept the game going for one final season as Club Ice.     While even a summary of the history of Tony Marts would be a book length tomb, suffice to say the last song has been played at that scene and the license was officially transferred down the strstreet to the Yacht Club, rekindeling the old Somers Point Pub, reincarnated in all of it's Victorian splendor.      So instead of rock & rolling, we're going to gracefully retire to the Yacht Club for chardonay, bruschetta and crepes, and remember the good old days. It won't be too bad, as the new surroundings are fine, and maybe we'll have a new venue for the jazz festival, and go out in style.

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