Reopening December 23rd 2011
Rhythms of the Night reopened on Friday December 23rd at 4 pm for a long overdue Happy Hour and DJ Dance Party!
With that said please call and book your New Years Eve reservations now! Call 908-707-8757.
Hurricane Irene – August 2011
Rebulding after Hurricane Irene took some time to accomplish. At many steps along the way work had to stop to allow inspections to occur that authorized the remainder of the rebuilding.
New permits for a multitude of things also had to be applied for, application reviewed and then the permit secured.
This picture is of the post flood warp in the dance floor as viewed from near where the salad bar would be – not a pretty sight at all!
JP's Steakhouse – 2007
Even with a large assortment of foods this wasn't enough to get non music clubbers to stop in to eat. In 2007 a change was made, the result was the addition of the establishment's second name, Johnny Pett's Steakhouse.
Several high end steak & seafood choices were added to the menu. In the spring 2008 more pasta dishes, burgers and several wrap sandwiches were then added to the menu.
2007 Nor'easter April 14-17
"We flooded a foot inside, but it wasn't too bad!" No, The Huggers didn't play that night! The Millstone River again rose that weekend.
Rhythms reopened a few weeks later after a quick cleanup.
Rhythms of the Night opens – 2004
John Pettoni bought The Yellow Rose property in 2000 and then gutted everything inside to create his vision of a music club and restaurant – the building's age dates to the mid 1930s. From floor to ceiling, the restaurant is littered with musical memorabilia, ranging from old musical instruments (including John's first accordion) to record album covers, which line the inside top shelf of the main bar, to pictures of some of the greatest musicians of all time; Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, and "Ol' Blue Eyes" to name a few.
A wide elevated stage was constructed in the back of the restaurant. The attic above the stage and dance floor was replaced with a cathedral style ceiling with skylights.
Hurricane Floyd – 1999
The September 1999 flood disaster was the worst ever to hit Manville. The Millstone River had suffered a number of severe flooding events over the past 200 years. Hurricane Floyd produced a particularly severe flood. The vacant, building was ravaged by Hurricane Floyd. Inside, standing on what seems to be the floor which was covered with inches of mud, leaves, and other debris.
Now, try to picture a beautiful room full of tables, chairs, booths, a bar.….no, make that two bars, a dance floor, and a stage where the band will play. Can't? Neither could anyone else; that is, except for John Pettoni, CPA and restaurateur.
The Yellow Rose – 1987 to 1998 ?
Crystal Roller Palace – ???? to 1987
Crystal Roller Palace "The roller rink…was there in the late 70's early 80's. It was called the Crystal Roller Palace. My cousin used to be the DJ there. I believe the building's original use was the Knights of Columbus."
Crystal Roller Palace DJ 1982-87 "Bobby Durnye owned a rink in Manville in the 70's"
Last day from Facebook group: Crystal Roller Palace
Date of "Crystal Roller Palace" opening unknown - citation eneeded.
The Hullabaloo - Teen nightclub – 1965 to 1973?
The Hullabaloo was an alcoholless teen club that gave young bands the stage and 14 to 21 year olds a place to dance & hang out. The club was part of a chain of five independently owned teen clubs in Asbury Park ('67), Toms River (Freehold '68), Middletown ('66), Manville and New London Ct. Hullabaloo clubs were born by Johnny Angel, the founder who modeled them after the Hullabaloo TV show. (1 2)
Below is a video of the band Witches Bru performing at The Hullabaloo in Manville, NJ some time in 1966.
exact dates of "Teen nightclub" operation unclear.
Building built
– 1938?"… I believe the building's original use was the Knights of Columbus…." (2)
Manville formed
– April 18, 1929Manville was formed by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 1, 1929, with a referendum held on April 18, 1929; prior to that it was a section of Hillsborough. The section of Weston on the west side of the Millstone River and the remainder south of Zarephath was not included in Zarephath when it was formed in 1906. The section of Weston on the west side of the Millstone River later became a part of Manville.
J.R. Connell farm
– 1860From a 1860 map of Hillsborough the property Rhythms is built on was a part of the farm of J.R. Connell.
Mill, Dam and Bridge
– 1740 to present
The Weston Mill was built as Schenck's Mill about the 1740s and operated for nearly 250 years. It was later named Van Neste's Mill by it's second owner, Abraham Van Neste. It was the scene of a bloody skirmish during the American Revolution, when raiding British were searching for flour.
When William Rodgers owned the mill between 1823 and 1843, he changed the name of the area to Weston, purportedly to reflect the name used at the time for an area across the river from the mill (where Rhythms is).
Wilbur Smith was the mill's last owner, beginning in the 1920s. In 1982, the mill structure collapsed and in 1983 the remains of the mill burned in a fire. The mill's dam is still present and connects the island (visible from Rhythms back deck) to the eastern shore of the Millstone River. The bridge is on the present-day site of the causeway between Zarephath and Manville (visible from the south end of the deck - towards Krauser's).
Millstone River – river flow height gauge
Millstone River at Weston NJ United States Geological Survey gauge number 01402540 is located behind Rhythms.
Installed on the downstream center pier on Wilhouski Street bridge over the bypass channel - visible from the south side of Rhythms deck. Shiny cylinder and white pipe in the picture.
