Tales From South Florida: History of the People and Places That Shaped South Florida

Let's Take a TALK Down Memory Lane.  The Gilded Age Series In the second episode of "The Men Who Built South Florida" we delve into the life and legacy of George Edgar Merrick, a man whose vision shaped the very landscape of Coral Gables, leaving an indelible mark on history. Despite his pivotal role in designing iconic institutions, roads, cities, and hotels, his name remains obscu...

The Gilded Age Series Step into the riveting saga of Carl Fisher, a visionary from Indiana whose passion for bicycles blossomed into an unparalleled legacy. From pioneering the Indianapolis Speedway to constructing the nation's inaugural East-West highway and later the groundbreaking Dixie Highway, Carl's relentless drive reshaped the American landscape. But his most daring venture await...

Buy Me a Coffee to help support the show. Thank you. Anyone remember Burdines? Richards? Jordan Marsh? The Orange Bowl? Chess King? Spec's Music and Tapes?   Today, I discuss the places where we went to meet friends, get jobs, and simply hangout. The Dadeland Mall, The 163rd Street Shopping Center, The Hollywood Fashion Center and The Hollywood Mall.  They defined our teen years and for a bri...

Buy Me a Coffee to help support the show. Thank you. Do you remember when: Hotel row was the place to take visitors so they could see The Castaways, the original Diplomat, the Eden Roc and more? Saturdays were for spending the day riding your bicycle with friends all day? Eating at Royal Castle? Or the lunch counter at Woolworth's? Shopping at Jackson Byrons? The U-Pick-'Em fields in Hom...

Buy Me a Coffee to help support the show. Thank you. When Joseph Young named his local parcel of land Hollywood, he was hoping to mirror in South Florida the burgeoning film industry of its Californian namesake. While the aspiration seemed lofty, South Florida did indeed become a cinematic hotspot, especially during the mid to late 20th century. This week, we delve into two iconic television shows...

Buy Me a Coffee to help support the show. Thank you. Step into the glamorous world of Hemingway's, nestled in a historic building in downtown Hollywood, Florida. A haven for the famous and infamous alike, Hemingway's was more than just a restaurant; it was a legendary institution where culinary excellence met celebrity intrigue. Diners were treated not only to unmatched food and service...

Who was Zev Buffman and why should we celebrate him? Well...he was the architect of the modern Broadway touring business, brought the Coconut Grove Playhouse to life again in the early-1960's, renovated, built or backed venues all-over South Florida, created a little event called the Coconut Grove Arts Festival and helped bring the NBA to Miami. Oh, and he was a really nice man. Take a TALK d...

Buy Me a Coffee to help support the show. Thank you. Step into the bustling streets of South Florida, where the aroma of freshly baked bagels. Once upon a time, Corky's, Wolfie's, Pumpernik's, and Rascal House stood as icons of the region, where locals and luminaries alike gathered to savor the flavors of tradition. From the glittering lights of Miami to the sandy shores of Miami Be...

It was a time like no other in recent memory. By the time it ended hundreds of thousands of college students were coming to Fort Lauderdale to spend their spring Break in the surf and the sun and living life to its fullest.  How did the annual ritual of Spring Break begin, what catapulted it and Fort Lauderdale into the national spotlight and what ended it? Take a TALK down memory lane as we revis...

Buy Me a Coffee and help support the show. Thank you!  You can use many words when describing the Florida Keys but conventional isn't one of them.  In honor of the Keys Independence Day coming up on April 23, on this episode i talk about one of my favorite Tales from South Florida: the time when Key West just said, "To heck with it. We're out of here!", becoming the first gover...

  Buy Me a Coffee to help support the show. Thank you. From WQAM in the 60's to WSHE's album rock in the 70's to the new sounds of Country music in the 80's and the advent of great talk radio which would dominate South Florida radio in the 90's, we're taking a TALK down memory lane and reminiscing about the evolution of radio in South Florida over the decades, from it...

Step into the wild and untamed west of Broward County, where history echoes through the dusty streets of Pioneer City. Once a bustling replica of Dodge City, Kansas, with its own train, shoot-outs, and dancing girls, it vanished as quickly as it came. But the legacy it left behind is etched in the annals of South Florida history. Join your host, Bill Monty, for another captivating TALK down memory...

In this special episode of Tales from South Florida, and in honor of Black History Month, we pay tribute to three remarkable African-American artists who have left an indelible mark on South Florida's cultural landscape.  Join us as we delve into the lives and careers of these influential artists, whose impact on our community continues to resonate. Through their artistry, they have not only...

Buy Me a Coffee to help support the show. Thank you. At one time it was listed as the 4th largest amusement park in the United Staes. Opened in 1967 and using service and entertainment concepts found at Disnleyland, but pre-Disney World, Pirates World was the go-to place for fun in the South Florida sun with 15 attractions including the original Steeple Chase ride from Coney Island. Its history wa...

Buy Me a Coffee to help support the show. Thank you. It used to be that there was only one way to get from Southwest Florida to Southeast Florida, and it took forever. In 1968 a new road opened that allowed for high-speed travel coast-to-coast. You just had to not mind 80 miles of a dangerous two-lane road laden with snakes, panthers and alligators. Original names tossed around were the Everglades...

Buy Me a Coffee to help support the show. Thank you. He became the face and voice for Florida good times and made the Florida Keys THE place to be.  When he passed on September 2, 2023, he left a gap in the hearts of  Parrotheads everywhere and while Bill Monty doesn't call himself a Parrothead, his love of the music and attitude of the Caribbean troubadour drove him to the microphone to reco...

You are invited to take a TALK down memory lane as we explore all of the Tales From South Florida Send Me a Message Support the show Click the Leave A Message link above to text Bill Monty...FREE! Share your Memories here: Send a voice message to TalesFromSouthFlorida Visit our website at Tales From South Florida   Want to be a guest on Tales From South Florida? Send Bill Monty a message on PodMat...

Buy Me a Coffee to help support the show. Thank you. If you attended a concert in South Florida between 1971 and 1988 it is more than likely that you were at the Hollywood Sportatorium.  Going there meant waiting in traffic, trying to stay dry inside when it was raining outside and a bathroom experience unique to the time. And then there were the acoustics. But most important the biggest names in...

In this special episode, we explore a couple of haunted Tales from South Florida for you. First up, The Biltmore Hotel where a mischievous mobster murdered in 1929 likes playing elevator man with the ladies. But is he a smooth operator? And what's up with those spectral flashers in the hospital gowns? Next, we travel to Broward County to learn about six spirits who just may make your next vis...

in 1972 the Miami Dolphins accomplished something that no football team has done before or since; an undefeated season, with no tie scores, resulting in victory in Super Bowl VII. It was a season that united our community and placed the spotlight on professional sports in South Florida. With names like Csonka, Kiick, Morris, Griese, Warfield, Briscoe, Buoniconti, Anderson, Scott, Yepremian and Mor...

It's the premiere episode of Tales From South Florida. Host Bill Monty lets you know what the show is all about, how you can be an active participant, and then we dive straight into one our first...Tales From South Florida; Broward County's own marine park, Ocean World. Remember to LIKE, SHARE, COMMENT, SUBSCRIBE.  Send Me a Message Support the show Click the Leave A Message link above t...

If you grew up in South Florida, or live here now, then you know there's a story around every corner. From Al Capone to Meyer Lansky, the Fort Lauderdale strip to strippin' it off at Haulover Beach, Flipper to Miami Vice, we're exploring stories from yesterday and today.  These are Tales from South Florida. Coming January 3, 2024. Hosted by Bill Monty Send Me a Message Support the s...