Old Motel Photos and Postcards - Sunny Isles

[Colorado Jeff]

Greetings Fellow Miami Beachers of the Yesteryear:
At last I've found a group of folks as OCD about the Miami Beach of the 60s. I thought I was the only one who lamented the wholesale destruction of one of the coolest places in Florida.
My family owned motels from S. Beach up to Sunny Isles (The Betsy Ross, Croydon Arms, Chez Paree, Tahiti, to name a few...) I grew up on Sunny Isles (not literally but I spent nearly every summer there, renting surfboards, teaching swimming, working the switchboard and front desk). My brother and cousins did the same, part of a rite of passage.
I've been collecting odds and ends from the 60s period and I'm always looking for new stuff. I'm a bit late joining this thread so I have lots of catching up to do. I look forward to searching the photos y'all posted and I'll see if I can add anything else to the cause.

[Maria de los Angeles]

Welcome Colorado Jeff! Eager to hear more stories you may have!

[Gus]

Welcome, Jeff. Thanks for joining us.

Betsy Ross has always been one of my favorite hotels.

Sounds like you had an exciting childhood.

[Colorado Jeff]

Wouldn't call it exciting but lots of fun and crazy memories. Which I'll share over the next few weeks, before my memory starts to fade.
Anyone remember Thee Image? It was a 60s hotspot just around near the Sahara Motel. During the 60s (circa 1967 or so), lots of progressive "underground" bands played there. Vanilla Fudge, Hendrix, the Mothers of Invention, Spirit, Cream. I specifically remember working at the Chez Paree the night Led Zepplin played there (first U.S. tour). For those who want specific location, Thee Image was located just behind Juniors Restaurant.

[Colorado Jeff]

Yeah, gotta quite a lot of stories.
As my father (and uncle) were the owners and operators of the motels, during hurricanes Dora, Betsy, and Cleo, we had to stay at the motels to ensure the buildings were safe and that the guests (the ones who were insane enough to ignore evacuation) were not looting the rooms. My brother and I had to tape all of the windows (spider-web style) to keep glass from shattering (there was no "shatter-resistent" glass in the early 60s). One very vivid memory I have: after the storms had blown thru and it was time to assess the damage, there was a very strange odor all along the beach area, and there were crabs all over the place. One hurricane destroyed one of our pools at the Tahiti. Originally we owned the Bali and the Tahiti, and we called it the Bali-Tahiti motel. The Bali pool was destroyed in the hurricane and we decided to link the two motels and call it the Tahiti.

[Newfloridian]

I am on a nostalgic trip back to South Florida and was delighted to come across this forum. I am currently staying at the Hotel Victor on Ocean Drive, South Beach and took a drive up the A1A for old times' sake. I must admit that I was incredulous with the changes that have wrought on Sunny Isles since I was last here.

I made my first visit to Florida courtesy of Freddie Laker and his Skytrain. The chap sitting in the next seat to me had bought a standby ticket (London to Miami) for £25 (the exchange rate then was $2.40 to £1) In those days Miami was considered a very exotic destination. Working back I was in Sunny Isles about the same time that the freighter, the Summit Venture, demolished the Sunshine Skyway bridge in Tampa Bay (I had the experience of crossing the remaining span the following week). This was also the time that Miami had been rocked by the Liberty City riots (an area I strayed into on my way from the airport).

We stayed one night at a very tawdry motel with brown paintwork, threadbare linen, and an in-window air conditioner that was deafening in use. The bill was $25. We moved to another place (I think it was The Dunes) the next day. We were introduced to the Florida spectacle of "the brimmer" - which we were informed was due to the deposition of various plastic articles into the sensitive local plumbing system.

Further down the strip (I think the Colonial) the motel was hosting brit package tourists from the UK firm Thompsons. Boards outside advertised a Monday day trip to Key West, a Tuesday day trip to Orlando and The Magic Kingdom and "Thursday night is pub night" with bangers and mash washed down with warm Watney's Red Barrel beer.

I do recall that the "posh" place about five buildings north was The Thunderbirds which sported a chinese restaurant (was the properietor a Mrs Lau?) I dined on Moo-shoo pork! and notable for the time was the declaration on the menu that they did not use MSG. (This was 1980). Opposite were a series of fast food places, beach and memento stores (I guess where Publix now stands). One I do remember was a branch of Nathans which served a mean hot pastrami sub.

I returned to Sunny Isles twice more - in 1983 and 1984 - both times staying at the Holiday Inn. My main memory there was of a rude and officious waitress who insisted that we settled the tip part of our bill as she was going off duty.

I have visited Florida two or three times a year since then although my activities have been mainly on the West Coast or in Orlando (30 visits to the home of The Mouse!!). There has been some development over the years around St Pete and Treasure Island but the complete redevelopment of the Sunny Isles strip is astonishing. I could not believe I was in the same place. I am just sorry I have no photographs of the trip.

Alan

[jhbretton]

Hey All....I worked as a teenager at the TBird in the summer of '75.....talk about an education....well I went back last year for the first time in thirty plus years and honestly could not believe my eyes!! All those 50's boutique hotels were gone...I honestly thought my friend was in the wrong area of Miami!! It was a concrete jungle....NOTHING like I remembered....I fely as if I was on a different planet!

the only remnant remaining was the T-Bird...and boy do I have some stories to share with you guys about that place. My return back showed me it still had those gnarly trees in the courtyard...rooms still small and pink and the lobby pretty much the same...I worked as a bellboy in the summer of '75 and rented a room across the street at Sunny Isles...lady by the name of Lorita Small...89 then and what a great gal!)...anyway was quite saddened at the devastation of all that nostalgia on Collins Ave (heck the sun doesnt even get thru those buildings)...anyway now for my story (and remember I was a VERY naieve seventeen year old in the summer of '75 and couldnt believe what I saw at the Tbird...)

- first off I also worked as a busboy at the same time at the Colonial Inn for lady by the name of Kaye (bouffant hairdo) and a British guy (dont remember his name but quite nasty). He didnt like me and never knew why...But I remember when I first applied for a job she said I looked hungry and she gave me a meal in the dining room (NICE lady)...then I worked outside at the pool under the cabana making sundaes and I am afraid to admit sampling the hot fudge ALL too often with my finger :)

This was the year of Puka shells, mood rings, Quiana shirts (shiny material), disco, and Jaws which was playing on the Collins Avenue strip and cant remember where now but definitley on Collins Ave.

-anyway, during my stint at the T-Bird I worked under the front desk manager by the name of Henry...a very sorry kinda guy who was an alcoholic...lived in the same neighborhood as I...and just a sorry chap (about six foot/bald/glasses/thin)

-as a bellboy at the Tbird I also worked alongside a very goodlooking guy who was always tanned, dirty blonde hair,(maybe 35 at the time, shirt always opened...good build)....he also used to call BINGO upstairs in the lounge...(ANYONE REMEMBER HIS NAME??)he told me that because of my looks (I guess I was pretty hot then too :) that I shouldnt be surprised if I were to get little cards with 'tips' to be provided if any of my 'other' services should ever be needed by the female patrons (yes its true and I was left speechless...played it cool but knew that my time at this place would be limited!)He then showed me a card that a female guest had given him that said something to the effect 'please come up when youre free' type of thing'....yikes!!

- shortly after that Henry (front desk manager) told me to always leave one of the upstairs corner motel room doors open for outside 'guests' who would use the facility often (yep....the P word)!!

Well I never did 'play along' or ever get involved in that sort of thing so I lasted there a couple months....needless to say theres always a dark underbelly to many things...but YES I do miss the simplicity that once existed on Collins Avenue altho Surfside still retains that 'boutique" feel.......

also does anyone remember dave steinerg.....tall blonde california looking guy used to lifeguard at the tbird and lived across the street in sunny isles??

BTW also went back to the Sunny Isles neighborhood and the home I used to stay at that summer ...it was occupied by I believe Russians but what a MESS...the former owner who was the 89 year old lady I was staying with took such wonderful care of it and it was so disheartening to see the disrepair...it was a tough day for me all around seeing how it all changed...but then maybe we all mourn the yesterdays of our youth :(

[Maria de los Angeles]

Hi JH! Thank you SO much for sharing your stories! Very intriguing and entertaining. You have to wonder what still goes on in those hotel rooms!

I recently came across a photographer on Flickr who has tons of vintage beach photos.

[Delvikings]

Does anyone know what happened to comedian Don Sebastian ? Great comedian on the motel row circuit. Appeared mostly at the Aztec Motel IN THE 1970's . Thanks --

[Rebecca Lucente]

Wow-

I just spent about a half hour reading through this thread- so many great stories and pictures- I think it is so amazing that so many people came together on this thread with a wealth of memories and photos and shared experience. I totally felt like I was there. This totally made my day- thank you all for sharing!

[zippyjet]

Hey my friends, not sure if anyone posted this link but, I found it by accident. There are some great classic old hotel and motel pics including our much beloved Colonial Inn. BTW, I'm in the stages of planning my annual Florida vacation which happens in August for my birthday. Gus, I may take you up on that VIP tour of the Fountainbleau. And Maria, can't wait to see you all again. :-)
And, you'll see recurring themese in these now quaint advertisements besides the rediculous low prices. Dress is always casual, bring this brochure in for a free gift and of course the obligatory weiner roasts.



http://edocs.dlis.state.fl.us/fldocs...nt/BR0237b.jpg

http://www.floridamemory.com/Collect...es.cfm?DOC=211

[terminalecho82]

"Singapore Resort Motel" - 96th Street on Ocean/Bal Harbour - Miami Beach

Does anyone out there remember the old "Singapore Resort Motel"? It was in the Bal Harbour section of Miami Beach. I use to stay there as a kid and at one time use to have memorabilia from the hotel, post cards, brochures, etc. All of that got destroyed in a flood several years ago and I was wondering if anyone out there happens to have any of that kind of material from the "Singapore"?

You can reach me via E-Mail, terminalecho82@yahoo.com.

[zippyjet]

Here's a blast from the past picture. From 1969 it's room 242 at the Colonial Inn and the theme is obvious. Check out the black and white Admiral TV and the aqua colored walls. Hopefully I can dig up more. And, I can't believe my parents were that young and my dad had his beard. I remember back in the day folks would come up to my parents while on vacation and greet and talk to them in rapid fire Spanish. How cool.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2617/...f0ed88bcea.jpg

[sunaddicted]

"Singapore Resort Motel" - 96th Street on Ocean/Bal Harbour - Miami Beach

Does anyone out there remember the old "Singapore Resort Motel"? It was in the Bal Harbour section of Miami Beach. I use to stay there as a kid and at one time use to have memorabilia from the hotel, post cards, brochures, etc. All of that got destroyed in a flood several years ago and I was wondering if anyone out there happens to have any of that kind of material from the "Singapore"?

You can reach me via E-Mail, terminalecho82@yahoo.com.

We first stayed at the Singapore in 1970 and probably 10 more times until we finally bought a condo up in West Palm Beach (what was I thinking?). I have lots of pictures and remember all the rude help, the pool guy, etc., and really loved the place despite it all. I think we originally payed $18 a night (June) and always left before December 18 to avoid the high Season prices which were $40 or 60, I don't remember which. When we first stayed there they hadn't extended the beach so you couldn't walk north on the beach to the Americana. South was open because it was in Surfside. There were lots of kosher delis then which disappeared and only recently made a reappearance.

[Charlie Glide]

Here's the additonal photos from the CD Insert:

This photo is the one with the Bon Aire Sign as the background plate for the album credits




This shows the band walking along what appears to be a motel, but I could be wrong.

Hello all, I am a newby here but when I saw this picture from the album I had to join in. I am a big Miami Vice fan so I recognized the location of this motel right away. It was used in an episode called Lombard. Sadly the motel has been torn down and now a strip mall stands in its place. The exact address is now a store called Armani Closets. On biscayne Blvd. just north of 135th street. In vice days the motel was called Florida Villas.

[Maria de los Angeles]

Hi Charlie! Thanks for joining and for giving us some good 411!

[Colonial Inn Dude]

Oh my goodness, a place were others love to talk about their Colonial Inn memories.

Here are some random memories of mine from those years.

I basically grew up there from 1974 until 1995 spending my Summers there (Baby till 22).

My parents whould always meet up there with other friends every year who they met thruought the years.

So you all know, the decor and Lobby looked EXACTLY the same in 1995 as it did when any one else reading this was there.

I remember Terry the Asian waitress who then moved onto the Rascal House. Ring a bell with anyone?

I believe the last owners were named Chase (Ben Chase) and the previous owners were named Jackers, not Jakal.

Jack Ross was one of the MC's who I remember and I think Mark Leonard took over for him.

UPPER LOBBY:
At least when I was there, was not used except for Bingo, movies and Horse Racing (yes, horse racing). They would set up a screen and show horse races and I think there was money involved (though not much) for either or both Bingo and Horses.

Cant forget the play room. That place was so fun with all the plaques we painted and games we played. Up the stairs in the playroom were one or two video games and several pinball machines. In the 90's I dont recall seeing the play room opened. I think it was used for storage. There also were two soda machines and a bank of phones on the second floor.

I honestly cant remember many people ever going into the card room.

POOL AREA:

The putting green was turned into a flower/plant area in the mid 80's I believe. BOTH diving boards were removed around the same time due to insurance reasons.
Both ping pong tables as well as the shaded patio and bar were still there. The snack bar was there but not always opened. The pools were both there as were the Shuffle Board, Bocchi Ball and Tennis court.

Stan taught me to swim and yes, he threw me off the top diving board too.

LOBBY:

I dont think any hotel in this world has as cold a Lobby as the Colonial did. I rememeber always walking in from outside and getting blasted with freezing cold air (it was great).

Again, same furniture throughout the years we were there. The evening desk clerk was named Aleen and the night switchboard operator was an elderly woman named Dottie. I always liked as a kid to see mail waiting for us in the mail boxes (marked with room numbers) behind the desk.

In the Lobby, remember there was a "forest" with a deer near the restaurant? He was still standing there in 1995.

I remember also climbing, against my Parents whishes, the Colonial Inn structure/ tower. It was roped off but I went with a bucnh of kids. To say it wasnt safe to climb would be an understatement.

ACROSS THE STREET:
There is a shopping plaza. Nathan's was there and had a HUGE game room and a big painted Miami Dolphins logo in it. But it was torn down and an office building was built. Cant forget the porno theatre and McCrory's, the drug store, the candle shop, the grocery store, the shoe store and my favorite, Mr. Pizza where I spent tons of money playing video games. Oh there was a KFC built in the parking lot near the grocery store. Also nearby was a Tony Roma's and Publix where I always bought Starwberry soda (Pix soda).

I really wish the Colonial Inn was still there so I could take my Baby and Wife there with my Parents too.

Ok so if you have read this far you really have fond memories of the area.
If you have any questions abouyt this time period (1974-1995) please post here.

I will try to post pics if I can figure it out.

Mike

[Colonial Inn Dude]

Heres some pics

[Maria de los Angeles]

Hey everybody! We have a new thread called Then and Now about Miami hotels, pretty much focused on photos. I thought you would be interested.

[CANEFAN]

Oh man do I feel at home! My father was a piano player who worked at several of the old motels on the strip during the 1960's and early 1970's. He went by the name "The Colonel". Anybody remeber him? I used to sometimes go sit with him in The Mardi Gras Room at the Old Aztec Motel.Same place where Don Sebastion worked. I remember he also played for awhile at another place farther up Collins ave not too far from where Golden Beach started. It was on the east side...the bartender was named Anne. Anyhow, I still have lots of old pictures, ect of those days...there was an artist who did characture drawings at the Aztec too. I could go on and on..but my dinner is calling. I moved away from So. Fla in 1994 but was devastated when I went back for vacation years ago and saw all those motels gone. I will try to post some pictures soon.