Genuine Florida

The front and back to a brochure for the 1960 Fiesta in Tampa.

Here’s an envelope mailed from Tampa with a neat logo on it. Interesting how various sports were intertwined in the name. The Platt Street Bridge shown in the illustration is amongst a number of historic bridges around Downtown Tampa. At one time the Platt, Lafayette, etc. bridges were often used to promote Tampa in photography and illustrations.

A matchbook from about 1970 of Tropical Acres Restaurant. The first image is the outside of the book. The second image is the inside.

They are still going strong with great steaks and a great piano player to accompany the fine meals. They are celebrating 60 years this year.

I was digging through my chest of childhood memories the other night and this little piece of Americana surfaced. It’s taken directly from a Stuckey’s Location Guide, circa 1974 or so, which shows thumbnail maps of 24 Florida locations, including one (Titusville) with its own “Campark.” But this is the real gem. I remember it, too. It was an early form of email for travelers. To distill the description: a friend or business associate could call the Stuckey’s 800 number and Stuckey’s would type a message to you into their computer network. Then, when you stopped at a Stuckey’s, while you grabbed a coffee and some pecan rolls, you could also check their HELPS computer to see if anyone left you a message! Almost seems cute, now, but this was pre-cell phone, pre-Internet. How modern thinking Stuckey’s was, and how a once mighty brand has faded.

HELPS email from Stuckeys

The Heartbreak Hotel

Here we visit The Heartbreak Hotel, which far preceded the famed Elvis Pressely tune. It’s situated on County Road 523 in Kenansville. Click here to get more of the story.

Entrance to the Heartbreak Hotel