GUIDE TO AFTER-DARK
MIAMI 1956
[REF: Cabaret Yearbook, Winter Resort Number, Volume One, poss 1956, p20]
GUIDE TO AFTER-DARK MIAMI
BIG AND BOISTEROUS
Latin Quarter, Palm Island,
Miami Beach (JE 8-5353). Lavish shows in red-plush
surroundings. That's the Latin Quarter, masterminded by Lou
Walters of Latin Quarter fame in other U.S. cities. Emphasis is
on pretty girls in minimum costumes working in big musical production
numbers. Translucent stage, mirrored ceiling, and thick
carpets. This is where Joe E. Lewis works winters but other name
acts are also interspersed with the girls.
Beachcomber, 1271 Dade
Blvd., Miami Beach (JE 8-7634). When Martha Raye's in the mood
for working night clubs, this is where she parlays her comedy into
waiting lines at the front door. This is a big club, and its
attractions are always on the "big name" side of the ledger.
Decor is ersatz South Seas, and the food is generally good.
Copa City, 1750 West Ave.,
Miami Beach (JE 8-4745). Designed by Normal Bel Geddes, this club
cost a million dollars about eight years ago. It has since been
redesigned in ultra-modern decor by Franklin Hughes. Largest
café in the whole Miami area, it's one of the few clubs here
dishing out complete floor shows along with name performers.
SMALL AND NOISY
Vagabonds, 732 Biscayne
Blvd., Miami (3-0874). Popularity of this spot has been enormous
ever since Arthur Godfrey began plugging the Four Vagabonds on radio
and television. It's on the smallish side (seating about 275),
and it's usually packed. Reservations are a must, even for the
midnight shows.
Ciro's, Alton Rd. at Dade
Blvd., Miami Beach (JE 4-2019). Closed for some time, this pretty
little spot is expected to open this winter with name acts and dance
music. Mirrored walls, thick carpets, and a good kitchen mark
this establishment, which used to purvey some of the best Latin dance
bands in the country.
Clover Club, 118 Biscayne
Blvd., Miami (9-1911). Open all year, this downtown club now
features low-priced acts where once it ranked with Copa City and the
Beachcomber in big-name performers and lavish production numbers.
It is one of the oldest clubs in Greater Miami and is located in the
heart of the downtown hotel district.
Place Pigalle, 215 22nd
St., Miami Beach (JE 8-4556). Strictly a Latin dance spot, with
two Cuban bands providing continuous music for mambo-cats.
Although the place has a French atmosphere, there's nothing Frenchy
about the music.
Vanity Fair, 1601 79th St.,
Causeway (89-7696). Real dark and cozy–except for the music,
which is Latin and loud. This is a popular late spot with natives
and tourists. It's located in the heart of the new Miami "strip"
on one of the causeways that connects Miami Beach to Miami.
HOTEL ROW
Algiers, 2555 Collins Ave.,
Miami Beach (JE 1-6061). New show every night in the Aladdin
Room, which is kept quite dark and intimate and with Arabian
decor. One show nightly, with reservations recommended.
Eden Roc, Collins Ave.
& 45th St., Miami Beach. Opening in December, this is Miami
Beach's newest multimillion dollar oceanfront hotel. Its
café will debut with Harry Belafonte, and similar star-names
will mark the type of entertainment here all winter. French
atmosphere throughout.
Fontainebleau, 4441 Collins
Ave., Miami Beach (JE 8-8811). La Ronde Café here is
enormous and beautiful. Shaped like an oval, excellent viewing is
possible from any seat. Service is deluxe, entertainment is of
high caliber, and prices are above average.
Nautilus, 1825 Collins
Ave., Miami Beach (JE 8-6841). New show every week in the
Driftwood Room, decorated to fit its name. This spot has had
considerable success with comedians and comediennes.
Sans Souci, 3101 Collins
Ave., Miami Beach (JE 8-6861). The Blue Sails Room is one of the
prettiest on the beach. It is also one of the most popular, and
reservations are suggested, particularly on Tuesday nights when new
shows debut.
Saxony, 3201 Collins Ave., Miami Beach (JE 8-6811). Pagoda Room is a large, lavish café for shows and dancing.
Top O' The Columbus, 312
N.E. 1st St., Miami (3-2671). This is the nearest thing Top O'
The Mark in San Francisco. Entire top floor of the Columbus Hotel
has been revamped into a dine, dance and drink spot, with a magnificent
view of Miami Biscayne Bay and Miami Beach.
BARFLY ROW
Black Orchid, 1601 79th
St., Causeway (PL 8-5247). Very small and very intimate, with a
view of Biscayne Bay. This is sort of a late-spot hideaway.
Bar of Music, 427 22nd St.,
Miami Beach (JE 1-0439). Twin-piano music by Bill Jordan and Fred
Thompson highlight this small and interesting spot off the beaten track.
Bonfire, 1700 79th St.,
Causeway (84-4451). Popular late-hour meeting place.
Western decor, with initials of show business personalities designed
into cattle brands all over the place. Impromptu songs pianistics
until dawn.
Leon & Eddie's,
Biscayne Blvd. And 8th St. (82-5062). Once quite a gay place,
this spot has been toned down by Miami's new blue laws. But there
is still something for everybody. No cover or minimum.
Zissen's Bowery, 1749 N.
Miami Ave. (37800). A longtime Miami favorite that has sawdust on
the floor, insulting waiters, bowls of pretzels, peanuts and big steins
of beer. Here everyone gets into the act.
Club Echo, 1446 Ocean Drive
(JE 1-9252). This small intimate club has quite a local following
among the gay set. It's very restrained since Miami prohibits
female impersonators. But the entertainers of both sexes do come
off with some entertaining antics. Reservations are needed since
the Echo is always crowded.
STRIPORAMA
Five O'Clock Club, 2002
Collins Ave., Miami Beach (JE 8-1004). Fifteen girls, each with
her own brand of exotic dancing. Each act interspersed with
so-called burlesque black-outs. Right in the heart of the
oceanfront hotel district. $3 minimum
Gaiety Club, 7800 Biscayne
Blvd., Miami (84-3196). Long-time headquarters for Zorita and her
snake dance. Plus, of course, a dozen or more other
exotics. No cover, no minimum.
Life Bar, 134 5th St.,
Miami Beach (JE 1-9655). Probably the oldest stripalace in
town. Inexpensive drinks, and no cover or minimum. Girls
are changed frequently.
Jungle Club, 3690 N.W. 36th
St., Miami (64-9151). Helene Polka runs this continuous-strip
club with mostly local girls, but occasionally brings in a foreign
prancer like Syra, who has made her mark in Hollywood.
Red Barn, 7805 N.W. 37th
Ave., Miami (88-9212). Located just outside the city limits, the
shows here are, at times, somewhat more raw than you'll find
elsewhere. No cover, no minimum. As the name implies, the
building looks like an old barn.
French Casino, 217 N.E. 2nd
St. Despite the French name and a bit of Parisian decor, this is
strictly U.S.A. strip with about 20 girls performing in a revue called:
"For Men Only."
Rainbow Inn, 2724 N.W. 36th
St., (64-9398). Loud and brassy strip entertainment with even the
mc named Half Pint West getting down to his woolies. In the same
location for 15 years, the Inn is by now an institution and draws lots
of regulars right into the milk-man hours.
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