By Jane Feehan
Those who were lucky to live in Fort Lauderdale when restaurants were top notch, exceptional establishments—the 1960s and 70s—with celebrities among their patrons will remember Heilman’s.
Opened by Hubert (Hubie) Heilman in 1958 after relocating to Florida from Lorain, OH, Heilman’s at 1701 U.S. 1, was lauded for its food, drinks and occasional entertainment. Signage for the restaurant, reflecting the owner’s celebrated sense of humor, claimed the eatery “is recommended by Hubert Heilman.” The beverage menu boasted the “world’s second best martini.” Customers—and Heilman—raved about its Back to the Farm fried chicken. Wife Dorothy helped manage the 285-seat restaurant where entertainer Milton Berle once stirred up some laughs waiting on tables and greeting a shocked customer by name.
In 1975, at age 60, Heilman sold the restaurant (but remained president of the Broward County Restaurant Association) to George and Nick Telemachos, owners of a steak restaurant in Melbourne, FL. Heilman’s was renamed at Hubert’s request and became Helman’s. A poetry enthusiast, Heilman went on to attend writer’s workshops in the U.S. and England; he earned a second bachelor’s degree (the first from Cornell University) at Florida Atlantic University. Dorothy, who he met at Cornell, died in 1990. Hubert Heilman died in Fort Pierce in 2005 when he was 90.
The Heilman’s Fort Lauderdale story includes the colorful—and short life—of Hubie’s son, Ross. After graduating from Fort Lauderdale High School, Ross joined the marines. Following his service, Ross visited South America where it was reported he became a “big game hunter.” He then opened a crocodile farm—home to more than 1,200 of the reptiles—in Jamaica on the north coast between Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, where it became a noted tourist attraction.
The farm was also the site for scenes from the movies Papillon and the James Bond flick, Live and Let Die, both released in 1973. Ross was tapped as a double for Roger Moore in Live and Let Die and scenes included running atop the backs of hundreds of crocs in water. He sustained an injury requiring nearly 200 stitches according to one news account. Heilman or Kananga, his desired professional name, was paid $60,000 for that gig.
Wanderlust seemingly behind him, Ross returned to Florida where he wrestled alligators at Flamingo Gardens. He bought some land in the Everglades for another enterprise and drained it by himself. In January 1978, while spearfishing in the Everglades in a canoe, Ross and a friend fell into the water. His friend swam to shore but Ross was not found until the following day. It was reported he died from cardiac arrest due to the very cold water; Ross William Heilman was 32. In addition to his parents he was survived by siblings Robert, Lynne and Becky.
The Heilman restaurant tradition, which began in 1907 in Ohio, continues. Robert, Hubie’s brother, opened Heilman’s Beachcomber in 1948 in Clearwater. Today, son, Robert Heilman, Jr., operates Bob Heilman’s Beachcomber Restaurant (heilmansbeachcomber.com) in there.
Sources:
Fort Lauderdale News, Jan. 17, 1963
Fort Lauderdale News, May 28, 1969
Fort Lauderdale News, May 14, 1970
Fort Lauderdale News, Dec. 14, 1970
Fort Lauderdale News, June 14, 1972
Fort Lauderdale News, Dec. 7, 1975
Fort Lauderdale News, Jan. 29, 1978
Fort Lauderdale News, Feb. 1, 1978
Sun-Sentinel, March 7, 1990
Sun-Sentinel, Sept. 1, 2005
