1664-29 Hotels & Tourism •
Walter Winchell
- Our Sand In Ole Walter's Shoes Will Make Him
a Cracker Before He Can Say Miamihavinfun!
Things I Never Knew Till Now
• ' (about a branch o/"Heaven"—M(anti Beach, Fla.)
The word "Miami" Ls Seminole Indian for "Sweet Water" Yet,
Sweet Water Beach, an island. is completely surrounded by the Atlantic
Ocean—salt water. ..Miami Beach is 15 degrees warmer in winter than
Cairo. Egypt.. . The highest temperature recorded in the past 20 years
was 94 ., .Harry Richman has a$10,000 bathtub In his home here
The town is more of a divorce center than Reno, but has less publicity
about it. You can get a divorce in Miami Beach for as low as $100 , , -
The life of a bathing beauty's picture is just two years ago. After that,
the Steve Hannagan-Joe Copps Press Bureau (for the city) considers her
an oldie and drops her . , , The Mayor (John Levi) has been a public
officer for 19 years consecutively, and has never publicly asked a citizen
to vote
for
G Menp eferjthe FlamingovHo el mean Thee 1 t State legislators the'
Dempsey-Vanderbilt • , , The socialites and press the Roney-Plaza,
The Miami Beach publicity dept which exerts itself getting photos
of celebs and the elite in the ocean or pools never goes swimming!
• The only thing to warn visitors against is the Portuguese Man o' War—
_ an attractive blue-white sea-dweller that rests on the beaches. If It
stings you it hurts until you apply ammonia , . , Damon Runyon once
sat on one of them. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy , ••Runyon
lives between Miami and the beach—and rarely visits either , • Miami
is where the citizens hold hurricane-parties—hoarding up their homes,
inviting their friends, laying in a supply of food and thirst-quenchers
and filling the tub with water (all electric, gas and water is turned off before a storm hits) When the last storm missed Florida and
`t devastated the North, the Miamians had a terrific let-down feeling!
1 •One of the chief recreations is treasure-hunting. Hunting for gold
. One radio man in town made 13 gold-finding instruments in two
;' months—at 5300 per The 5 O'Clock Bar, an attractive night spot,
features drinks on the house at 5 p. m. daily • , The late John S.
Collins, "father of Miami. Beach," bought the site to start a coconut
, farm. He lived to learn that the wintourist crop was much better. Col-
lins was a horticulturist from Moorestown, N. J. . . . Miami Beach has
• no hick cops. Many of them are borrowed from the Chicago and New
York police departments to "spot" the bandies . The hotels, apart.
ments, etc., refuse to hire anyone without a police okay. If they refuse
to be fingerprinted—they "must have a past."
Wm.K.Vanderbilt,who can afford the biggest house in town,,lives
1 on his yacht, . . If a person with a "record" checks in with the local
gendarmes and behaves himself he is permitted to settle here or holiday
.If he gets out of line—goombye—but forever!,,,The exclusive Com-
, mittee of 100 actually has over 300 members. They are mainly obscure
millionaires who made good in their home towns, but not in the social
1 register...The outstanding attractive spot is Carter's—the former Beach
1;and Tennis , .•"La Boheme" near Hollywood,Fla.,.is the class spot, ..
t4 You can gamble there without Interference Claude Renshaw, the
A. beach city manager for 14 years, was formerly mayor of Roundup,
i,,Wyoming. He has the enviable record of balancing the budget every
'j!year,, Ed Jouffret,manager at the Roney,is the envy of all men over
940• , ,Because of his rigger!
• Miami Beach has no railroad,airport,or docks. This was so planned
to eliminate noises—and make it a real resort and resting place for
•weary nerves . . many of the women haven't worn dresses In years
Usually slacks or shorts... Even when shopping. . .Most of them
have good"reasons," too.•.The shops have the most attractive window
displays •,• Lincoln Road now has Hattie Carnegie's, Saks 5th Avenue,
De Pinnas, etc., and other familiar New York stores ,., Mother Kelly's
is a popular spot.Mother Isn't a woman.She's a him!•..A good-natured
plump in the middle, Irishman, who does a Tex Guinan—always In a
.white sport shirt The other night when the G-men and some re-
porters ankled in, a flip guy at the next table began showing off .
Hmmm, here come the G-men and the press," he said, "I oughts do
something big!"..."Yeah,"stifled Mother Kelly,"why don't you leave?"
' And out they were pushed. . . The big idea at the dog racetracks
11s betting "Quinielas" ., .If the two dogs you select come In one-twoi you collect big. , .First night In town the column picked 1 and 4 and
they won all night!
The clever Hawaiians in the Roney Tap Room will tell you that the
,torch carriers favor such,ditties as"So Help Me" and"Get Out of Town"
.Play them more than any other love lilts,,.Ted Husing is the most
popular announcer 1n Florida. He is also the biggest booster for the
Orange Bowl game—having plugged it nationally until it. was born , F
The skyline of Miami—at night—reminds New Yorkers of their home
town a little . . , The Miami Herald editorial department looks like a
newspaper office—not like the ones you see on the screens • • . There
Is a Joint named "La Paloma" which the Kluxers raided last year . , ,
Cost you two-bits to see theglrla wear practically nothing— nd Is note
(worth e. thfir /
i
f. Seward, who probably read your palms on the AtlanNty
Boardwalk,'has built one of the most beautiful hotels (The LeRoy) in
the world...From the coins people spent wanting to know their futures
.,.The stone crabs you buy In The Stork Club (New York) are flown
north daily by Dick Merrill from Joe's, a popular Miami Beach restau-
rant .• .The Stork Club chef shouldn't make them fancy—none of that
extra trimmings . ..Just put'em on a plate, break the shell,and serve
'with melted butter.,.The songstress at the 5 O'Clock Bar (Lady Vine)
ds the daughter of an Alabama (or is it Georgia?) preacher • • , The
decorations on the La Conga walls are nudes of Cuban belles. •.