1608-4 Galbut Family NOTES ON INTERVIEW
WITH HYMAN GALBUT AND
RUSSELL GALBUT,
DEC. 17 , 1993
Hyman: My father Abraham bought a 1926 Dodge. Had a farm in
Monticello, NY; grew corn and vegetables.
Visited Miami Beach in the 20s before moving here. Stayed at
4th and Meridian, an apartment house. $300 for six months. Two
parents, three children. Martha Apartments. (Must be after
1926; no Martha Apartments listed on Meridian or Fourth. 1931 :
731 Fourth Street. )
Went to school on Beach. Bank took over farm; gave him $500 to
get out.
Lived on 4th and Meridian; 4th and Euclid; 4th and Washington.
Dad had a store: Al ' s; all night eatery. no doors. 24 hours a
day. Went to school till noon, then worked at Al ' s. Graduated
high school in 1936 . 3 generations graduated Beach High.
Russell:
Grandparents moved to beach in 1934 . Pix of frandfather at 4th
and Meridian; esast side. Another of Bessie at Al ' s Restaurant.
Grandfather one of founders of Beth Jacob.
Abraham: born 5/25/94, Kiev Russia; died 4/24/50
Al ' s Restaurant 34-35; drug store/auto tag agency
Pix of grandma on beach.
Old fisher house became Hebrew Academy for two years after
Lincoln Lane closed.
Hyman:
From Dec . 15 to March 15 was season. All small hotels were
successful . After March 15, you saw brown paper in the windows.
Greek had a fish place on northeast corner of fourth and
collins . Had a 10-foot sailboat. Would sail up and down Beach,
just offshore, catch fish and used it for sandwiches. Lived
across the street from him.
Biscayne Plaza ( ? ) theater. Had no roof. wooden seats. When it
rained, movie stopped.
French casino -- became a picture house in Morris Brothers
building across from Washington Savings and Loan, 12th and
Washington. Later a night club.
In 20s, tourists were Jewish, residents weren' t.
No Jews or Dogs Allowed: , It was the George Washington Hotel,
between Fifth and Sixth Streets on Washington Avenue. Had a
fixed metal sign. But if you hit it, it would move. I would hit
it. He spread his hands to approximate size.
Most tourists came by train. After season,business got
terrible. We would carry people on charge, collect from them
next December. Uncle Paul delivered Harvey A. Jr. , Daily Racing
Form, Telegraph.
Al ' s restaurant had a contract to serve prisoners. When jail
got overcrowded, they put them on a railroad car.