1675-3 Roney ully News&Metropolis, Feb.7,1926)
PO` FAM (From The Miami ED SEASIDE DRENDEZVOUS`'READ '`' r
bt
,�, / With dome high against the colorful vault .t _
W\Q` of a tropical sky,rising in majestic dignity of r•• r s r!
tine end graceful architecture Irum the very �"is // '.
sands of the Atlantic ocean, the Roney Plaza •a�pf
hotel at Miami Beach opened its doors during , ~* ' r
the last week and extended a welcome to the ° t , ''Id t, it R' •world,and in so doing Inscribed anew upon the tilt .? , " ' . • at !•/ .r,�- - i+t •;'•
chronicles of Miami Beach the trite but truthful A le ' • -• 1
statement,"It can be done." 'rs ' ^. Z -, ____, .
Deprived of many of the needed features to - - Jr
provide the usual gala opening,with the color ..f.. • ^-41.1.'
. I cwt '� \i— ,;
and brilliancy expected to harmonize with the • -• — - -
great structure, the building nevertheless r • —••••
great ' »--,..-, -
stands ready to contribute Its share toward the - `._, _,. •/¢�"". .� '�'t—,•
success of the present winter at Miami Beach, _A✓� •-_ .+ -
and forecasts greater things for the winters to �' e
_I�• .-
come. Rubbed as It temporarily was of these -- ' ,14
things that reflect the spirit of show,the great 1^�••r -- r '. 1- - •• 'r
hotel stands virtually as a monument signifying r�/ `•^�,,-. - .,
triumph over obstacles as great as any ever •..i,f] ' � �w�.'•�;,Y+ �}'
overcome by man,even in the most remote sec- 7 ` v '• . .' i •a<�yn j..—- �-•.
tion of the world. ;Wet , ) 'V' • ' }a •L1 a
Less than a week ago,when the hotel re- 1:,'.... " 1 •- w.'. a-,_. F - 1- •
•
celved Its first guests, It was truthfully said - a' y 3tr -4'b • '°• -
that"a part of the Roney Plaza Is on land and ya `' a A' '{% +ft •'is.v+ __ _., af• i
the rest Is at sea."In spite of this fact,the hotel 11 y '
was opened—perhaps never to close—and at . ', , , q4•�4 1.tf _.. a- 1/ 5... +
present the management Is concentrating upon ��•, ,:;:;„.41,01:1 :�+•
plans to receive a great number of guests dor• . "r t �'1R w a• • . "/ , r
Ing the coming weeks,and preparing for the Fe,
•
formal opening dinner,the date for which will Com" �
be announced soon. he• `..••,•-
/.,,`
s-
In the meantime N.B.T. Roney, conceiver er • j4 �' / ' ,->r .•>y j;
and builder of the ocean front edifice,and W.G. le . ,, 'O' , _ •.. ` , ,
McMeekin.manager of the hotel known as the sae ^ - p f_'R
greatest "on the Atlantic" south of Atlantic Y �. i 4' 'i
City,have Joined In an Invitation to the public . �'N[Z s"
• }
to make an inspection of the various public .•!".c`"1172-
.
J t•,• r`Y
rooms In the Roney Plaza. ^i• �^ i - , •,.,., ! 'i {44.110'
The thought of these men,and others, to • _ `��! _ / -•••ar- Jy'fj f + v
have the public visit the hotel is based upon the i•' ,f f•,'.L � .9i
belief thatin the q Plaza wl be found col-y ` � . M. ' ' •
ors, motifs and antique designs unlike any J s ',:•,, , P M,i,` .�;.
other to be found in this portion of the country. • ...of i, f.. .• , t r.s•1ab• r,a,
The Roney Plaza is not only a hotel,but an - y;. v Qtv y • fit+
orderly, well organized community within it- ! ry' t;' 7r,
self.Its ground floor has been given over en- ,, ' �.' • '
tirely toe series of stores and shops,and here, ei k; *5. ki- 1.4 .Ire+•«,:h" '--
. through brilliant arcades,the visitor may wan- '.' � { ,i t .‘40..,,,....X,1 s.?� ,•
der and find any necessity or luxury that his wjiiiig ft��� . I .y. a't► s +
discriminating taste might demand.Here In an -• �•,'s v gl 1. ���tf�tt . - ,,? t`•i'•'
FF iF "f, .
area of a few thousand square feet is a fairly y _ "'T .
accurate"branch" of Fifth ay.,or any other 1 .,a•.4-, ' + �i.Fi/! ',5
great shopping district of the world. "a+ Jr ^ ,,, ZSY 't •r
Favored with a location at the very edge of : . I.
the surf of the Atlantic ocean,with one of the - -
world's best bathing beaches not over 300 feet Roney Plaza Hotel is in foreground close to the time of its opening in February 1926.
from the entrance of the hotel at the eastern The large building immediately north of the Roney is the Wolford Hotel, a pioneer
terminus of the new Venetian causeway,the 9
hostelry on Miami Beach.Few other buildings had been constructed along the ocean-
Roney Plaza from this standpoint Is able to
claim some distinction. front north of 23rd Street when this photo was taken,nor were the residences on the
Location Is not the only factor, although east side of Lake Pancoast and Indian Creek,
one of great Importance and that which needs
supplementing.To provide the hotel complete.
it was early decided that the Roney Plaza chitectural firm of Schultze & Weaver, men was realized.When material was provided for
should be kept open the entire year round.N. who had designed some of the most famous the building,and the workmen moved forward,
B.T Roney,literally speaking,has thrown the buildings In the Miami district, as well as other difficulties arose...
key of the front door into the Atlantic ocean. throughout the country.A short time later,to New opening dates were set,were watched
Another innovation for a great hotel is the Insure speed in construction,and to carry out and were abandoned.Finally all but a few Ito-
fact that the Roney Plaza is operated on the Eu- the idea of substantial construction,the general portant articles of supply were at hand.The ar-
ropean plan,with three a la carte dining salons contract was awarded to the George M.Fuller tides needed were aboard ships rushing Into
In the main portion of the building.The hitch. Construction Co.Work was started under most south Atlantic waters, headed for Miami and
ens, marvels of sanitary science, are directly favorable conditions,and during the early sum- Miami Beach...
off the main dining room.Departmental chefs, mer exceptional progress was made.The open- It was a brief respite, however, becaufk
skilled In eating celebrated southern and cos- log planned for Dec. 1 appeared certain, but then and there,or thereabouts,the Prins Velde-
mopolitan dishes,will seek to satisfy the most then— mar rolled over on her side,blocked the chan-
epicurlan preference. Manager McMeekin has There came whisperings of freight conger- nal and left a portion of the Roney Plaza five or
lung held a reputation for providing his guests tion — a shortage of building materials.The six miles at sea.
with"food that Is food." great stacks of concrete,gypsum,plaster,brick So It is that the claim Is being made that the
Thus the Roney Plaza takes its place along and other necessities piled about the building Roney Plaza is "Florida's greatest hotel
with the exclusive hotels of Miami Beach.and site diminished.The structure grew.but slow• achievement,"and now actually opened,ecru-
becomes one of distinction among the famous ly.Came the embargo,and the building mated- ally taking its put In the greater development
Inns of the world. al supply further dropped.Dark days appeared. of Miami Beach and southern Florida,stands
It was early in the spring of 1925 that N.B. Dec. 1 as an opening date faded and new not only as a monument to Implicit faith,but as
T. Roney made known his plan to create for hopes were anchored.These,too,were swept a conquerer over as many trials and tribal..
Miami Beach and southern Florida a hotel that away, as the impossibility of receiving great tions as ever assembled to block the wheels of
was different.Plans were prepared by the ar- shipments of furniture from northern points progress.
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Typical public relations picture featuring Miami Beach and the ions,pool by Roney Plaza,moving pictures with sound by Para-
Roney Plaza. The caption attached to this December 1931 mount, entire efforts by Miami Beach News Service. Roto(gra-
photo reads: "Models and clothes by Burdines' Sunshine Fash- vure)by Mianii Daily News.Aren't they holies(sic)?"
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