By Joe Moffa
CCC Journalism Program
BLACKWOOD – Nelson Johnson, the author of the book “Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City,” will visit Camden County College on Thursday, April 14. He will appear in Civic Hall inside the Connector Building at Camden County College’s Blackwood campus.
Johnson had spent 20 years searching for information and interviewing sources for personal accounts and came up with the book that is a collaboration of all of it, according to a flyer announcing his appearance. The book is the basis of a hit television series.
Johnson will come in to talk about the book and how he gathered his information and there will be a question and answer assembly after his open lecture. On the back of each flyer, which can be found all around campus, there is a registration form to reserve a seat for the gathering.
A fan of the show, Ben Brouse, said he’d like to meet the author.
“It would be great to see the man behind a great TV series about old school New Jersey and the gangsters that populated it,” Brouse said.
The series Johnson is coming to talk about tells the tale of Nucky Johnson, a gangster from Atlantic City who doubles as a Republican politician. He is involved in activities such as gambling and stealing, and he runs brothels and bars. The book takes place during Prohibition, when alcohol was illegal in this country.
Johnson is coming to a warm welcome from Camden County students, faculty, alumni and family anxiously waiting to hear the stories that he has been told about Atlantic City. The question and answer session afterward will involve audience questions about anything Johnson may have talked about or just curiosities the audience may have.
The TV series premiered in the summer and is scheduled to return for a second season.