1624-13 Clubs RAY FISHER
414-- �" OTOGRA "HE[''n �}�H10700 SW 72 Court
ti O1 MIAMI, FL 33156-3820
TEL (305) 665-7659
/ (, FAX (305) 665-8668
February 6, 2001
Howard Kleinberg
14520 SW 79th Court
Miami, Fl 33158
Dear Howard:
Old timers mostly seem to remember places to eat, but how many people remember the places
to go for entertainment. Remember after WWII, this place was the hub of entertainment both large
and small. It was the most popular place for the comedians and singers to come to, Las Vegas was
not the hot spot it is today.
In Miami Sam Goldman had "The Clover Club" on Biscayne Blvd. which featured Woody
Woodbury, while his brother Al ran "Ruby Foos" Chinese restaurant on 71st Street on Miami Beach.
Just up the block from the "Clover Club" on Biscayne Blvd. was "Don Lannings". Don's wife was
entertainer Roberta Sherwood, who Walter Winchell later made famous when she played at "Murray
Franklin's" night club on 23rd street across from the Roney Plaza Hotel. Also on Biscayne Blvd. was
the "Club Bali", which of course has a Polynesian decor. Later on there appeared the "Vagabond
Club", run by the comedy singing quartet . Years later there also was "Zorita's" which featured
strippers, and the "Playboy Club". There was also a club with gambling called the "86 Club" because
is was located at 86th street on Biscayne Blvd. Around 20th Street, there was a club called the "Lew
Mercer's Nut Club". The floor was covered with peanut shells. Nearby was "Zissen's Bowery", an old
time 1890's night club, with waiters dressed in stripped tee shirts who sang barbershop melodies. How
many UM students remember the "Red Barn" on NW 36th Street, which starred stripper Penny Art.
The Vagabonds played on the same bill with Martin & Lewis at the "Beachcomber" on Miami
Beach, which was owned by Ned Schuyler. During the final night playing "The Beachcomber", Martin
& Lewis did a famous movie stand-in routine. Where in the final bit they throw custard pies at
everyone on stage. Their band-leader was Dick Stabile, who also received a pie in the face. In the
audience was Sophie Tucker who got her mink covered with custard. She came on stage and said
that the two comedians were too talented to stoop to such low comedy. Also at "The Beachcomber", I
remember Frank Sinatra playing to white tablecloths in an almost empty club. That was before he
came back in "From Here to Eternity". Danny Kaye also played there and the chorus girls were
directed by June Taylor, before she did all the choreography for Jackie Gleason. Another big act was
"The Will Mastin Trio starring Sammy Davis Jr." which was before he became famous as a solo
entertainer.
Across the street on Dade Boulevard was famed "Copa City". It originally was "The
Copacabana" night club, run by Murray Weinger. The place burned down? They rebuilt it as "Copa
City" and it was the premier night club, south of New York. Everyone appeared there. Jane Froman,
Milton Berle, Jimmy Durante, Jack Cole and his dancers, among whom was Gwen Verdon and Marge
& Gower Champion. Big bands led by famed conductors such as Xavier Cugat and Sammy Kaye.
Olson & Johnson reprising their "Hellzapoppin" show. The first appearance in the U.S. since WWII of
Josephine Baker who went on to New York and had race problems at the Stork Club. 'Copa City"
was where everyone went for an occasion,. Walter Winchell would spend many evenings there at the
same table in the back of the club, with many hopefuls hovering over his table hoping to get
mentioned in his newspaper column. The doorman was a midget. Inside the club were stores, one of
them was a clothes shop run by Maida Heatter,. In the lounge they had a nightly radio show hosted
by "Barry Gray" who would interview all the celebrities in town late at night. When he was off on
leave, he would have guest hosts, among who was the famed newscaster Gabriel Heatter, Maida' s
father.
Up the street further west on Venetian Way was the only night club that was next to a funeral
home, "Newman's Funeral Home" (Ed Newman, who is gone, was the brother of famed photographer
Arnold Newman). The club was "Mother Kelly's". Mother Kelly was a big tough Irishman. The stage
was behind the bar, Julie Wilson played many engagements there. Comedian Gene Baylos would
make the audience roar with his bemoaning the fact that they only made $500 a week, but Martin &
Lewis made $25,000 next door at the Beachcomber. He then stated that $25,000 was fine but it
wasn't steady.
Around the corner on Alton Road was the "Kitty Davis' Airliner" night Club. The interior had the
atmosphere of an airplane. There were fake propellers spinning slowly for decor and the waitresses
were dressed like stewardesses. The owner was Kitty Davis and her husband Danny. They were from
the old bootleg days in Chicago.
On Collins Ave. there was the "Pango Pango" room, a night club in the "Dempsey Vanderbilt"
Hotel between 20th & 21st Street. It was owned by Benny Gaines. Across the street was the
"Blackamoor Room" a small intimate club, which later on became Martha Raye's club. A block north
on 22 Street was the famed "5 O'clock" club owned by the Barken brothers. It was popular with the
soldiers in Officer's Training School who would come there and have a free drink at 5 O'clock, A.M. or
P.M. Next door Alan Gale, a comedian, had a night club where he performed nightly. Around the
corner Charlie Farrell played his piano and sang clever songs at his piano at the "Park Avenue".
Down the block from there was "Bill Jordan's Piano Bar" where Jordan and his associate would play
dual pianos to entertain the patrons.
Further down the beach along Collins Avenue at about 9th Street was the "Paddock Club"
which was a lower priced night club. Comedians like B.S. Pully & H.S. Gump, starred there with their
off color jokes. Pully went on to star in "Guys and Dolls" on Broadway. Lenny Bruce played there and
Milton Berle would rehearse his upcoming show at the Copa at the "Paddock". Many years later, the
famed fan dancer Sally Rand appeared there. Her advance man/publicist was a Miami Beach boy,
Julian Cole, whose daughter is now head of Public Relations at the Fontainebleau.
There was small club on the corner of 5th & Collins run by a comedian named Jo Jo Gostel. (I
don't recall the club's name). Up the beach, in Surfside was "Maxim's" an upscale club with gambling.
The entertainment was low-key with Dwight Fiske singing his dirty ditties while seated at his piano. In
Sunny Isles there was another gambling establishment "The Green Acres". Further up in Hallendale
was "Poppa Bouche's" which featured a French type nude show. There was also another gambling
spot, "The Colonial Inn" with a full chorus line and famous comedians, run by Harold Minsky of the
famed burlesque theaters in New York. (Many years earlier he ran "Minsky's" on the pier at the south
end of South Beach).
I'm, sure that there are many establishments that I have forgotten, but this should stir some
memories of us old timers.
We always enjoy your column.
Warmest Regards,
1°.°717
Ray Fisher