1669-8 Social, Society,& Local News 1946-1993ONNOMb
Curtiss E. Kanitz 3050096106319 P. 01
Howard Kleinberg June 29, 1993
Miami Herald
"Talk radio,etc"
With all the turmoil in the world today,how refreshing to
read your commentary . Especially for my generation
that settled here in Miami during the late thirties and
early nineteen-forties .
Your article brought back many fond memories of times long
past and almost forgotten .
When I write the Herald ,more often than I ehould , I forget
many Herald staffer ' s are newcomer ' s to this area, and are
naturally unaware that Miami was for many year ' s the true
paradise of choice .
I remember "Silver dollar Jake" of Lincoln Road
fame, handing-out silver dollars indiscriminately to
pedestrians that happened to take his fancy . He proudly told
anyone who would listen that he made a million dollars on
three separate occasions .
And what about Ed May,playing the organ in the lobby of the
Lincoln Theatre . "Guess the tune and you won free ticket ' s to
an upcoming movie . " All the while Col . Wolfson and Wometco
executives' were contemplating what negative effect their
newly acquired WTVJ would impact on their theatre dynasty .
I started my business career with Wometco and a few months
prior to the hiring of Ralph Renick . I also was buddy-buddy
with the late Larry Cotzin ,who went on to become Chief of
Police of Miami Beach . Too,many will recall the late "Sonny"
Shepherd who was never seen without his buttoniere . We used
to joke he, probably was so adorned even in his pajamas .
Art Brun ' s was also a figure to contend with ! The Copa,
Mother Kelly' s , Bill Jordan' s Bar of Music along with Martha
Raye ' s Five O ' Clock Club were the "In" places to be seen .
Slumming was left to The Paddock Club and the Circus Bar of
South Beach and Fifth St . notoriety.
Curtiss E . Kanitz 3050095106319 P. 02
(2)
Dade County had its problems with the Kefauver committee and
the unsavory SSG Syndicate . Harvey Seed ' s American Legion
Post reluctantly forfeited their slot machines along with
the Green Acres in Miami Springs . "Flea" Madden of "If I
knew you were coming, I ' d baked a cake" was beating the
trapp ' s at the Valhalla Club in downtown Hollywood Fla .
Sgt . Yancey was promoted to the fledgling City of Miami
Harbor Patrol . My brother ,Officer Eugene Kanitz newly
assigned to the harbor patrol , seemingly located every body
found in Biscayne Bay . The Miami Herald duly supported that
contention ' I thought my brother was a weirdo and asked,
"can ' t you look the other way?"
Would you believe , we drove all over Dade County at all
hours of the night and early morning,never thinking for one
moment that our live ' s were in danger?
This also was the time when from my grandmother ' s apartment
in the Granada Apartment ' s just west of the Briokell avenue
bridge , I used to watch the sea cow' s cruising down to the
bay with their offspring in tow. Believe it or not you could
clearly see the bottom of the Miami River? WOW !
Thanks again for the memories and god bless you ,
CURTISS E. KANITZ
3017 ALCAZAR DR.
MIRAMAR. FLA. 33023