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| Al Starts "Southern Belle" Showboat, 1962 Florida State Archives/Public Domain |
Live entertainment reigned in Fort Lauderdale restaurants and clubs of the 1960s. Below is a list of hot spots, some with the entertainers they regularly showcased. A few, such as Woody Woodbury, who celebrated his 99th birthday in 2023, were more familiar to people than the venues they appeared at. Andy Bartha’s Dixieland Band was a big draw at several places in Fort Lauderdale and Pompano. There were other clubs and restaurants, but these places were landmarks.
Bahama Hotel – Woody Woodbury – See more about Woody at: www.woodywoodbury.com
Bahia Cabana - off A1A (torn down) near Bahia Mar
Beach Club Hotel - A1A and Oakland Park Boulevard
Captain Al Starts Showboat Belle at A1A and 36th Street
Cat's Meow - off 17th Street Causeway
Cellar Bar on Federal Highway
Charcoal Pit – Federal and Sunrise Boulevard – Living Room Lounge
Chateau Madrid – Kennan Building – Federal and Oakland Park
Colonial Lounge – Federal Highway – any drink 48 cents
Dante’s Restaurant – Federal Highway
Fazio’s House of Prime Ribs – Federal Highway
Forum Restaurant – A1A and Las Olas – also featured lounge music at night
Gaslight Inn – State Road 7 near Broward Boulevard
Heilman’s - at one time featured duo Roger Fenton and Faye Cantrell who played drums wearing long white gloves.
Jolly Roger Hotel featured the Punchinellos.
Lamplighter – McNab Road in Pompano – Piano by Mr. Pinky
Le Dome of the Four Seasons – off Las Olas, west side of Intracoastal. Four Seasons condo still there
Mai Kai Restaurant – Polynesian revue. Still operating.
Marlin Beach Hotel on A1A showcased “Flip” Phillips
Muriels's Exotic Jade House, north of Lauderdale by the Sea
Muriels's Exotic Jade House, north of Lauderdale by the Sea
Mark 2100 - 1900 N. A1A with its Patio Bar nearly on the sand at the beach
Mousetrap – 2960 N. Federal Highway featured Pat Brown, Ed Hunt, Peggy Martin
Pier Top Lounge at Pier 66 – opened in 1965
Round Table Restaurant at Oakland Park and Federal – lounge with live music and jukeboxes with accompanying movies/videos – ahead of its time.
Rum House at the Galt Ocean Mile Hotel
Sea Shore Resort – A1A north of Sunrise featured Danny Bridge and the Tunesmen at the Tapis Lounge
Statler Hilton Hotel on the Galt Mile
Tale O’ the Tiger – N. Federal Highway – featured Jay Wray
Tea House of the Tokyo Moon – Seabreeze Boulevard – live music
TJ's Lounge on Commercial Boulevard - jazz
Yankee Clipper featured a Polynesian Revue. Today, home of world acclaimed mermaid show at the Wreck Bar (swimming pool with portal windows to the bar)
