Photograph: Michael S Williamson/The Washington Post “Arrivaderci Roma” begins blaring from the float’s speakers, and the white-haired Guardian, wearing brown wingtips and a neon yellow raincoat, starts leading the procession south.Ītlantic City mayor Don Guardian passes the Revel Casino, which was heralded as a sign of revitalisation when it opened in 2012 but shut its doors in September. Though the promenade is quiet this blustery October Saturday, parade organisers motion for a handful of vehicles to fall in line. For 30 years, casinos created a veneer of glitz and glamour along its seaside boardwalk. This town of about 40,000 has a long history of keeping up appearances.

“Like it’s sunny and it’s beautiful and you want to be here.” Guardian poses with the group for pictures in front of a float bearing Italian and American flags. The fast-talking 61-year-old shakes hands with one wearing a tiara and sash reading “Miss Columbus”, from a beauty pageant to celebrate its namesake’s arrival in North America. Drops of water patter against the town’s wooden boardwalk as Mayor Don Guardian approaches four young women shivering in gowns.

Atlantic city casino closed down