From
the ages of 20 to 30 my life went everywhere without, it seems, time to
breath. I lived in Miami Beach for a year or two and then moved back to
New York only to return to Miami Beach and then again go back to New
York. I lost the diaries I kept until 1967 and the only way I can tell
where I lived at a particular time was by a movie or Broadway show I
saw. As an example I know I was living in Miami Beach when the movie
"The King and I" made its 2 a day showing on Arthur Godfry Road (41st
Street) and I was living in New York in 1965 when "Drat! The Cat", a
Broadway musical, opened and in 1959 at the Studio "M" in Miami I was
sitting in a pre-tryout of Tennessee Williams' "Sweet Bird of Youth".

I've
written about Flo letting me rest for 2 weeks or, as she said, to get
rid of the fish smell, before she bought me a white shirt, black
trousers and shoes and made me get a job as a waiter, which I loved
doing. I started at Picciolo's, owned by Sam and Dorothy and with help
from their sons Vincent and Donald. It was one of the best jobs I ever
had and one I knew I could always come back to when I came to Miami
Beach. I remember a lot about tat job including the waiters Lou the
Greek and  Joe, the latter who was a pain in the butt to everyone. Sadly
I don't remember the names of the two waitresses who were so kind to
this young 'know it all'--some things never change--though I do remember
they had the stations in the corner in-between the kitchen and the
patio.

I
volunteered to work the patio because if it rained I would get off
early and could go out and party which I did. I spent most of my
twenties working 5-6 hours a night, going out eating, drinking and
having sex then, if in Miami Beach, going to Wolfie's for breakfast at
around 4 AM, then a swim, home, sleep and off to work. The only
difference when I was in New York was that I didn't go to the beach but
went to after hours clubs.

The
only jobs I had when I lived in Miami Beach, aside from Piccolo's, was
trying to be a bellhop at the San Souci and Saxony hotels but I didn't
make the money I did 'slinging hash' and it was a lot harder.

It
was in Miami Beach that I met Joe and Albyn who became my gay 'parents'
and mentors. When we met they had been together for 25 years, coming
from a small town in Pennsylvania, with Joe leaving his wife and kids as
soon as Albyn reached 18. By the time Joe died they had been together
over 50 years. They lived in one large room with a small kitchen and
bathroom, with Albyn referring to the latter as the only place he had
privacy when he closed the door. Every year they travelled to Europe or
taking cruises, bringing back works of art. Sadly they had to sell
everything when Joe became sick with cancer and the doctor and hospital
bills cost them all they loved, except the most important thing, their
'kids' and I was proud being one of those kids. They came to see me in
New York when I lost my weight and came to Memphis to see my triumphs
there.

Among
the family was Joe the Greek, a married man who came down every
'season' leaving his wife and children back in New York. He was the
first married gay man I really got to know and his feeling was that as
long as he didn't climax he wasn't cheating on his wife. A few years
later he bought a small coffee shop on Collins Avenue, had his family
come down and used my place when he 'needed' it.

After
Joe died, and Albyn was left broke, another one of their 'children',
Jack, who had a home in Miami, redid his garage making a small apartment
for Albyn to live. Unfortunately Jack was a drug addict who overdosed
one night and died, Albyn moved back to the Beach and lived there for a
couple of years. The last time I saw him was when I took him to see Tyne
Daley play Mama Rose in "Gypsy" at the Jackie Gleason Miami Beach
Performing Arts Center before it went on to Broadway in May of 1989 and
he died shortly after.

The
years I spent in Miami Beach are very special to me not only because of
Flo, Joe, Albyn and people I met during that time but things and people
I will never forget. There was  the Pixie Bar on Park Avenue where
Johnny Mathis had to  sneak in because while Blacks were allowed to
entertain in the the hotels they weren't allowed to be guests anywhere
on the Beach. Mary Conover was the bartender and we almost got married
but that's another post! There was Armand, the head waiter at King's
Arthur Court Restaurant in the Miami Spring Villas, who I was to live
with for a couple of months until I spent the day at Dania Beach with a
few friends who I brought home to have an orgy. Armand walked in, threw
the guys out, we had a fight, I smashed his TV and that was that. I
wonder whatever happened to Armand?

There
was Frenchie with his beer and wine joint on Alton Road and across town
the Charles bar in the Charles hotel, filled with old folks tourists,
on Collins avenue and 15th Street where so any celebrities came in after
they were finished doing their shows. There was the Alley and Al's, the
latter opened until 5 AM.

People
talk about 'South Beach' today but it is nothing compared to what it
was back in the 40s, 50s and early 60s with gambling and prostitution
available to everyone. Martha Raye had her nightclub club, Pearl
Williams with her raunch, the biggest stars appeared at the Fountainbleu
and Eden Rock and free, open sex was everywhere from the rocks below
First Street, for the open to everyone gay beach on 21st Street. People
from all over the United States saved up 50 weeks of the year to come to
Miami Beach and live like millionaires, doing things they would never
do at home.

I could talk for many posts about Miami Beach but we have to get back to Manhattan!

(TO BE CONTINUED)

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"Every day we should

hear at least one little song,

read one  good poem

and see an exquisite picture."

Goethe

(Maria's cards)