ASBURY PARK PRESS: It was one line from a Bruce Springsteen song that made the boardwalk fortune teller world famous. And now, “Madam Marie” has passed away. Marie Castello, who had told fortunes since the 1930s and became famous for her presence and predictions on the Asbury Park boardwalk, died Friday, her great-granddaughter, Sally Castello said today. The psychic reader and advisor was 93. She became known worldwide from Bruce Springsteen’s homage to her in his music. “Did you hear the cops finally busted Madam Marie,” Springsteen sang in his 1973 song, “4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)” “for tellin’ fortunes better than they do.” “That was just the Boss,” said Asbury Park Deputy Mayor Jim Bruno. “She was never arrested. But Springsteen turned her into an icon.” Madam Marie bragged that she had told the fortunes of everyone from Judy Garland to Springsteen himself. Legend has it that she told Springsteen he was going to be a success. Springsteen later joked that she told all the musicians that. And Springsteen never forgot Madam Marie. “He always comes by to say hello,” she told Press columnist Bill Handleman in May. “He knows where he came from.” MORE
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: 4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)
Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ. 19-9-1978