1635-11 Anti-Semitism I
values and to protect the legitimate investments of corisiderable number of them were Jews:the Galbuts,
Miami Beach."26 Getting rid of illegal gambling in the Abesses,the Kassewitzes,both Weiss families.In
Miami Beach would prove to be not as easy as voting the most southern section of Miami Beach, this
to rescind the legalization of slot machines. Illegal appeared to be no problem,either to the landlords or
gambling,crime and corruption were to have a long, to the people already there. But elsewhere in Miami
profitable association with the city.When FBI chief Beach, it was. The concerns of 1920 Fisher-built
J.Edgar Hoover,on vacation at the Flamingo Hotel Miami Beach extended into the Thirties.Fisher and
in 1939,announced that his agents were investigating his colleagues feared the community would take on a
crime and corruption in the Miami area,2? Miami Jewish image that would tarnish the ambience he
Beach politicians were quick to react. "We know and they sought to create. A brochure published for
there are hoodlums here, as in every other city," the 1935-36 winter season, and endorsed by the
Mayor John Levi was quoted. "What we want is Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, contained
someone, not to criticize us, but to tell us what to advertisements for restricted apartment houses and
do."28 hotels.30 The restrictions were boldly stated. The
Socialite Alfred Barton,reflecting upon Miami Indian Creek Apartments at 3300 Collins Avenue
Beach in the Thirties, told author Polly Redford: said it catered to"Gentiles exclusively."The Ansonia f.
[The] real Miami Beach . . . was certainly at 318 Twenty-First Street advertised "Exclusive
the theatrical, gangster, middle-class, New Gentile Clientele." The Venetian Apartments at
York-Chicago people . . . . They made the 1623 Lenox Avenue also mentioned "Gentiles
hotels and they created an atmosphere here exclusively."31 Restrictive notices were not limited
which certainly was quite different from any to small print in brochures. Signs posted on hotels
other town in Florida.The gangster element and apartment houses also made those declarations.
was so predominant here during[those]years A photograph surviving to this day shows school
that Twenty-third Street was the hangout children in a playground that abuts an Espanola Way
for every known gangster in America.29 apartment house,with"Gentiles Only"painted atop
Likely, Barton was exaggerating;he was, after the building. Another such sign was uncovered in
all, a producer of extravaganzas. But he was correct 1985 when workers peeling off old paint on another
/
in that the Miami Beach of the Thirties was being Espanola Way apartment house discovered the words
built and populated by middle-class folks. A "Gentiles Only"painted on the structure.32The most
Discrimination was no secret in earlier Miami Beach. The owner of this Espanola Way apartment house painted his restrictive
policy on the outside of the building. (MN)
4,.j a - .,, .444'; _ __ _
—•,.. .: - .� ,',"40;. ; }` �n; APARTMENTS N LV
, . '' I _ j SSA i , . '4 t - GENTILES ONLY i
'J1 r . I i 41 ts ''. , 0
r 777 �, , ' ..„, I! , .�{{. rf,l. ; ,
... i I 1 yf :4 � / • lam. - I �/ t `,....",-;•(-- }e ,: I r l
• Aiti5f✓aris a i
5.
k 1— i .. , *4 = ; -yet 1 1
1 ., '
sli:.:‘ lig '4ft
, ,„ -....—__ ... _ ,,,. Y7p.,., 1.,... v __ i iflir, 1
1.-''4."-"'""1N4aa
r ; ;. .
.hs.
N
0
r-. �-�- --------_.- , '- _ � ;
I
_ r1 0, �J
---
' ``x = t�' '4t, iia these episodes that he took to having his suit jackets
c� w• designed with two sets of buttons--one set for the
,` +Il►..c . ., .ccs ^. � r�3`k .�
,,. corpulent Carl Fisher, and the other set for those
; times just afterdrainin .36 His second wife e and former •
REPOR7„ANY CHANGE OF EMPLOYMEN secretary),Margaret,whom he married in June 1927,
OR1 IDENCE ADDRESS was living apart from Carl, she in New York, he in
- "" Miami Beach. Carl's friend and longtime financial
` -) associate Fred Humpage wrote Margaret in August •
.'
X ,J 1938 to apprise her of Fisher's condition. "He seems
1,40 ' • •` SIGNATURG ' more languid and more willingto remain at home
brt._ • - �.►. e
and in bed . .," Humpage wrote, "I asked [the
- i i- '-:. doctors]particularly if they could give me any idea as
z ,,.,,, • ✓; i to what, if anything might happen and when.Their
.V.- a '' f%7� i ''' answer is that there is no way to determine it. . . ."• 37
r ,r, l''//;:g.;•:/,;,:.1;e,'"',.:'
(r '� t Several months later, Fisher still was seeking
444tit6 _ l,it�11 �' ,_ ,,�", , t i . new sources to cure his ailment.So desperate was he
•• . '" , that he inquired about a veterinarian who s ecialized
i vf . in livers and lights, the latter a term referring to the
1' v
alungs of animals.38 Carl hung on into July 1939. On
` -``" ` the occasion of the Miami Beach Chamber of
- - REPORT ANY CHANCE OF EMPLOYNEM. .> Commerce's 19th anniversary, fellow pioneer
RESIDENCE ADDF.EB& Thomas Pancoast invited Fisher to join him and
FASCIMILE SIGNATURE some friends for a commemorative luncheon July 13,
• i ' '- 1939 at the Pancoast Hotel.39 "You fellows at these
•" s J'
471% . . = — * i, , f luncheon parties live too high for me,"Fisher wiote
back."I am on a diet,mostly of pretzels and bird seed,
Contrary to popular belief today, Miami Beach identification
cards were necessary to whites as well as blacks. All persons and some of these I have to take with a high
working in tourist-oriented fields were required to carry the pressure gun; so, I couldn't possibly enjoy the
cards. (MH; Galbut Family) luncheon and I know you wouldn't have any fun
out of me—but, just the same, you have all my
best wishes." He concluded the letter with a post
enduring story of anti-Semitism in Miami Beach is script that showed he had not lost his zest for life
about a sign, ostensibly hung from an apartment or food: "P.S.—If you are going to sneak in any
house or hotel,that stated:"No dogs or Jews allowed." young lobster (which I know is out of season),
In her 1971 Miami Beach history, Polly Redford save me a piece and I will get it at the office later
quotes Miami Beach activist Bumett Roth as recalling in the afternoon."40 Despite writing that he would
that there was an apartment hotel near Forty-Third not attend, Fisher did show up at the luncheon.
Street that had a sign that said: "Gentiles Only. No The day after, Pancoast wrote him: "Of all the
Dogs." Roth,who was at the forefront of founding a people who attended the birthday luncheon yesterday
chapter of the Anti-Defamation League in Miami at the Pancoast Hotel,I felt more honored by having
Beach, said he protested the juxtaposition of the you present than anyone else. I know as a rule you
verbiage to city manager Renshaw, who convinced shy away from functions of this kind and that is why
the proprietor of the apartment house to change it. . I feel so deeply appreciative of your presence."41
The words"No Dogs"were removed from the sign.33 Carl never saw the letter. It was received at
In January 1994,Roth confirmed his recollection of Fisher's office the next morning, just after he was
the incident. He said he has never seen a sign that rushed to St. Francis Hospital with a gastric
said,specifically, "No Jews or Dogs."34 hemorrhage. Late that July 15 afternoon, Fisher
Meanwhile, the years of adventure, big died—with Fred Humpage, Dan Mahoney, Frank
business and heavy drinking were taking their toll Katzentine and Dr. Frank Vorhis at his bedside;
on Carl Fisher. Never a healthy man, he suffered his wife Margaret was in New York.42 Carl Fisher was
iifrom any number of ailments, not the least of 65 years old.The Miami Daily News wrote a succinct
which was damage to his liver from alcohol excess. epitaph in the story of his death: "Carl G. Fisher,
By mid-1938,he was running out of money,steam who looked at a piece of swampland and visualized
and time. Periodically, he had to be drained of the nation's greatest winter playground,died at 4:52
excess fluids, sometimes as much as 21 pounds at p.m. Saturday in the city of his fulfilled dream."43
a time. His girth so swelled and shrunk during . . .the city of his fulfilled dream.
134