A few weeks ago I posted a series of vintage images of Florida. On that occasion, the shots covered many of the state’s locations as they looked in the ’50s and ’60s. Today’s post will be narrower in scope, focusing mostly on the posh Miami Beach hotels of the 1950s.
Understandably, many of the vehicles in this post are in tune with their luxurious surroundings (Yeap, lots of Cadillacs!). That said, not all images feature ritzy hotels. After all, a few additional locations and vistas are always good in these posts, just to provide that proper ‘Florida feel.’
The fifth photo down shows something kind of rare and weird. Looks like a `47-`48 Lincoln Zephyr cvt. by the entrance with black two-toning and a weird custom rear fender skirt.
(I say “Zephyr” because it appears a bit short in the rear flanks, unlike the Continental)
I’m thinking it’s too short for even a Zephyr; looks like a customized Mercury to me.
Was going to ask about that “ugly car”? Probably a “luxury ride”, truly, personalized. “Eeek”!
This was our car in that time frame. It’s was my Mother’s car. I was about 3. 110 NE 88th. She worked for Burdine’s as an Assistant Buyer.
Nice looking lady, and a nice looking car.
Was it the Miami Beach Burdine’s she worked at? Very attractive Moderne architecture, and it fit right in with the Miami Beach vibe.
Love the flamboyant architecture! Creativity abounded.
The Casablanca is a takeoff of the Atlantes (plural derivative of Atlas) portico of the New Hermitage in St. Petersburg–Russia, not Florida.
Except for the last photo of that Cadillac, there is a palm tree in every picture!
My favorite here is the Bon Aire Motel, with that observation tower – and oddly the observation tower is on the street side, not the ocean side. Here’s a postcard aerial view.
The motel was constructed in 1951 – looks like it stood where the Trump Royale condo complex is located now.
I wonder if the tower’s intent was to function more as a sign to grab motorists’ attention than as an observation tower to watch the beach. Whatever its intent, a photo of it made its way into the gatefold of R.E.M.’s 1992 album Automatic for the People, so the motel was around at least 40 years assuming that isn’t a historical photo they used.
Wow – great catch on the album art! I suppose you’re right that it’s main intent was effectively signage. Maybe they thought it more likely that they’d get City approval for a 60-ft. sign if it was disguised as an observation tower.
I believe that the undersides of the platforms were illuminated, so the tower gave the impression of floating discs (or flying saucers) at night.
Looks like the motel stood until about 1999, so the REM photo was probably period-correct. Oddly, the place was called the Colonial Motel by then, which doesn’t seem to fit the place.
And here’s a photo of the observation tower under construction in 1951, with what looks like a Chevy fastback in the foreground.
Nash Airflyte! With ultimate upside-down bathtub styling! Packard, Hudson, Lincoln and Mercury were also among that late-1940s herd but the trend came and went quickly. Click on the image to see a version that’s more clear!
It’s almost as if the photographer of the second pic wanted to document the yellow Olds being double parked. It’s more or less the centerpiece of the picture. If he had just wanted a view down the street, the Olds was in the way.
The Olds next to it at the curb looks like my grandmother’s 1950 model, although I dunno the difference between the ‘49 and the ‘50 except that the ‘49s had a two-piece windshield. From this angle it’s hard to say for sure.
Great memories of a family vacation in those pictures, albeit one that took place about twenty years after most of these pictures were taken. We were driving down Collins Avenue, Miami, FL (a.k.a. “Hotel Row”, where I assume most of these pictures were taken) in 1972. Dad had arranged for the family to rent a Winnebago RV for a week in Florida for April vacation week, when we drove the length of Florida. We were driving through Miami so my Dad could show us where he went to college (University of Miami), and we drove past the Fontainebleau Hotel, playground of the rich and famous. We were thrilled for two (2) reasons. First, the connection to James Bond in “Goldfinger” (1964), when Bond causes Auric Goldfinger to lose at cards when he catches him cheating his opponent, then Goldfinger’s girlfriend ends up dead in Bond’s bed, painted completely gold!. Then for the connection to an Allan Sherman song, “The Streets of Miami” on the LP album: “My Son, the Folk Singer!”, Warner Brothers #1475. Find it on iTunes if you’re curious. Allan Sherman was famous for his parodies of popular songs of the early 1960’s, his most famous being “Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah!”, about a boy writing home from his first time at summer camp, set to the tune of “Dance of the Hours”, by Amilcare Ponchielli.
That vacation was noteworthy for several events besides the side trip to Miami, such as attending Disney World four (4) months after it opened in April, 1972, viewing the launch of Apollo 16 and touring the Kennedy Space Center after the launch and touring the Daytona Motor Speedway (that was my choice). Fun Fact: To stay upright on the thirty-eight (38) degree high banking, so your car doesn’t roll over, you must be going at least seventy-eight miles per hour (78 mph), according to the tour guide on the tour. That’s still the best family vacation we ever took, IMHO!
Spotted two of the “weirdly, wonderful, “Nash’s” of the day. Anyone know the make of the dated ride (coming toward the cam), in front of the “Ocean Grande”?
‘41 Plymouth, I think.
Or maybe a ‘41 Dodge
t/y.
My mom/dads first car as a married couple was a “47” Plymouth,coupe.
Remarkable how almost nothing has changed in Miami Beach since these photos, amirite?
It’s surprising to see so many black cars, and ’50s Cadillacs without the telltale critters’ ears scoops behind the back doors that would give away a trunk-mounted air conditioner.
Half expecting to see Lucy and Ricky walking down the steps of the Casablanca. But they wouldn’t be getting into that big bulbous (great looking) Nash Ambassador. Fred and Ethel maybe. Lucy and Ricky would be getting into a convertible of some kind.
Great Shots!
Lately most passenger cars along the lines of the Camry, et al, I have thought they all look very similar no matter who makes them. Looking at these photos makes me think the same thing going on in the 50’s. So many have very similar back ends.
Then we hit the 60’s and cars started to be very distinguishable from the Big 3. I knew immediately what the car was from either the front or back at a quick glance. Today a quick glance wouldn’t quickly separate a Camry, from an Accord, Elantra, Forte, 6, Golf, and a host of others from the back again. From the front, and if you know their maw, one might have a chance. Although I no longer pay much attention to new cars today.
I’ve never visited Florida—much less Miami—and I really enjoyed these car-filled images (plus the time travel) today.
Somehow, I “want” all the vehicles in front of those buildings to be a just a little newer (say, 1955-61 cars)—just as with many of the early-1950s Las Vegas photos I see. But, no, the cars here are part of setting the scene, and they establish each photo’s date pretty closely.
Thanks again!
I notice there’s a bicycle parked beside the convertible in the third picture (first picture of the Saxony building). Could it be the snapper’s ride, same as we sometimes see in current CC articles?
Nice pictures all .
I wonder how many hot & sweaty tourists actually climbed the steps of that observation tower ? . I certainly would have .
-Nate
Fred Mertz would be getting into a Cadillac, alright… the mid-1920’s touring car he bought for the trip to California!