ephemera
Pamela Apkarian-Russell

Miami, Cuba, And Art Deco

Miami has always been a multi-ethnic city. From the days when "Selected Clientele" on hotels meant no Jews, Irish, and Blacks, there were ethnic areas where certain groups congregated. There was not only comfort and safety, but language, religion, ethics, the way of thinking, and the way of perceiving the world and common foes as well as friends, involved.

Years ago, Art Deco, Miami, was a short trip by boat or plane to many that went to Cuba to party. During prohibition they went to gamble (there is a wonderful horse track there) and drink (Bacardi Rum) and dance to the great Latin bands, or to visit the caves, or the sites they had read about in Teddy Roosevelt’s escapades. Cuba’s economy was sugar and tourism. After the fall of a corrupt Batiste government, Castro came into power. Hailed as a hero when he visited Washington, DC shortly after taking power, some openly wondered why a communist was welcomed with open arms. Shortly thereafter, Castro declared "The true communist dream" for his people, and became the bride of Russia.

Most everyone knows about the Bay of Pigs and the many refuges that have fled from Cuba over the entire rein of Castro-Communist terror. Even Castro’s own daughter escaped. For almost fifty years people have taken every opportunity, even risking their lives to come to America, the land of freedom. Because so many of Miami’s Cuban citizens have lived under Castro or have members of their family that have or are still living under it, the population is rabidly anti-communist.

One of the most interesting things about this close proximity between Miami and Havana is the architecture, which is often beautifully shown on travel brochures and luggage labels. Take just one example: the Gran American Hotel in Havana; the El Comodoro Hotel in Miami! They are very similar in style and overall treatment. Both hotels want to give an imported ethnic-international feel to draw in their clientele.

An entire section of Miami is known as "Little Havana." If you have ever had the pleasure of eating in the restaurants and shopping in the ethnic grocery stores or buying pastry at the bakeries, you know what a delectable and appetizing area this is, even for those of us with little or no Spanish.

Miami has become the surrogate mother for Cubans who believe their homeland was stolen from them. The family that owned Bacardi, along with others who owned businesses in Cuba had them nationalized and lost much of everything. Bacardi at least came out of Cuba owning their name, which was internationally copyright.

Of course, boat people continue to risk their lives to exit Cuba and make their way to the Miami shore which represents life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and freedom to them. The Cuban Missile crisis, Castro’s dumping of criminals and the mentally challenged on our shores, all have been a cross to bear by the American Cuban community. Second, third and fourth generation Americans look to Cuban to become Americanized and for Castro to be overthrown — not for America to become more like Cuba.

There is a great amount of nostalgia for Cubans who are exiles; to own books, posters, and postcards of their former homeland. Programs from the different nightclub-restaurants, racing programs from the racetrack, and poster type Bacardi advertising cards are a few of the items that they avidly seek.

I do not know how many times I have heard, "that’s the street I lived on" or "we lived right near there," ...but then, the yearning for one’s roots is strong in all people. I have heard some Cubans say they wished Cuba would become a state.

After the Elian Gonzales incident I wonder if they still feel that way? Has their faith in the upholding of
the US Constitution by our government been shaken?

Miami is a city that has been well integrated. The Jewish, Haitian, Canadian, Caucasian, French and Cuban communities along with other groups have mixed and melted well, keeping their own identities as well as incorporating that which they like in other communities. One of the great tourist attractions was Sloppy Joe’s Bar, the Crossroads of the World. Here the international set would shop for their Havana Cigars and other luxury items. Hemingway and other literary figures came here, enjoyed the beaches, the caves, other attractions and bought their boxes of cigars to take home. This was truly a Great Gatsby type place! If you recall in "Guys & Dolls", Sky takes Miss Brown to Havana in the early days of their tumultuous courtship, before she finds out he is a gambler and he, that he will give up everything for her. It’s one of the great musicals of all time and though the Cuban visit isn’t in the theater version, it is in the movie version and I’m sure Damon Runyon while writing and revamping this story for adaptations spent many a happy day in Havana.

The Deco days of architecture brought with it Cuban culture and South American music. Desi Arnez and Carmen Miranda influenced many of their Caucasian and Black contemporaries and opened the door for the Latinizing of everything from show music to American Jazz.

Beside items from famous Latin stars being extremely popular, Teddy Roosevelt and San Juan Hill; Jose Mart; Admiral Dewey, and "Remember the Maine" are of great collecting interest. Marti, was the first President of Cuba and the man who made Cuba what it was until Batiste ruined it and Castro destroyed it. Admiral Dewey and the sinking of the Maine in Havana harbor are of great interest to not only the American Cuban community but also military collectors. Teddy Roosevelt is still the most romanticized of our Presidents. Teddy, not shooting teddy bears, Teddy storming San Juan Hill with the Rough Riders, Teddy whistle stopping the country, speaking in places like Vermont and NH, Teddy being President or fighter or just himself, is irresistible to military collectors, political collectors, and the Cuban-Americans. It would be interesting to know how Roosevelt would have handled the current Cuban crisis; would he have sent in the Rough Riders to Miami or if ages back they would once again have stormed more than San Juan Hill.

Morro Castle views are very common and are of minimal interest, but the sinking of the battleship Maine and the thousands of items showing either Admiral Dewey or the Maine itself are sought after. (Beware the many repros of the glass candy container). When the Maine was sunk there was a cat on board and there is an incredible photo of it hanging on for dear life to the mast. The cat was rescued.

Posters and banners showing the early morning raid on Miami and a little boy having a gun pointed towards him, right here in America, are equally poignant and are a part of Miami’s and America’s social history. How sad that "rescue." Will a Castro communist bring his child back to Cuba, to become part of Castro’s youth brigade? Anyone have a "Save Elian" button for sale?

About the Author: Pamela Apkarian-Russell has an antique shop specializing in postcards, ephemera and holiday items, and is always interested in purchasing items for her shop on Route 10 in Winchester, NH or for her private collection. An author of 5 books, and publisher of the Trick or Treat Trader, she writes for magazines/newspapers internationally. Email/call: halloweenqueen@cheshire.net or 603-239-8875.