Entertainment
Title
Entertainment
Description
Movies and Television
The film industry really took notice of Florida in the 1960s. The demand of the decade was for larger than life sets that could not be made possible in a sound stage. Florida’s grand hot-spots and lush, tropical scenery made it a perfect candidate for on location shooting. During this time, Florida saw some big stars and some box-office hits, such as Sean Connery as 007 in “Goldfinger” (United Artists, 1964) and Dustin Hoffman in “Midnight Cowboy” (MGM 1969), and Frank Sinatra in “Lady in Cement” (20th Century Fox, 1968). The silver screen also brought some welcomed state advertisement as well; the 1961 hit “Where the Boys Are” virtually turned Fort Lauderdale Beach into the USA’s most popular Spring Break location.
Television stations began taking up office in Florida in the 1950s and business boomed big during the 1960s with many top stations such as NBC and ABC filming in locations all over the state. In many ways these television shows showcased much of what Florida had to offer, from wildlife, through the hit “Flipper“ (NBC 1964-1968), to city life through “Surf-side Six” (ABC, 1960-1962) and “Miami Undercover” (Syndicated, 1961). Television helped the Country get a good look at Florida.
Arts
Creative and experimental photography grew in the 1960s through Florida institutions such as the University of Florida and Florida State University, with native Floridians taking part. Influential photographers of this time include Van Deren Coke, Jerry Uelsmann, Evon Streetman, Douglas Prince, and Oscar Bailey.
The Highwaymen in are probably Florida’s most well-known and important contributors to art in the 1960s. This group of African –American painters were self-taught landscape artists who peddled their works and the roadsides of Florida. These native Floridians painted for money, and landscapes of postcard-picturesque Florida were what sold to natives and tourists alike. Their works were generally produced on a cheap material called Upson board, which was used by roofers, and framed with crown molding. No one source can agree, but it is estimated that a core group of Highwaymen artists produced at least 50,000 paintings, helping to solidify the image of Florida in Americas mind.
Sports
The decade saw the beginning of the Miami Dolphins as a pro-football team in 1966. Original owners Joe Robbie and Danny Thomas dubbed the team after the well-known marine mammal through a fan contest. The Dolphins secured their first win against the Denver Broncos in October of that year.
The film industry really took notice of Florida in the 1960s. The demand of the decade was for larger than life sets that could not be made possible in a sound stage. Florida’s grand hot-spots and lush, tropical scenery made it a perfect candidate for on location shooting. During this time, Florida saw some big stars and some box-office hits, such as Sean Connery as 007 in “Goldfinger” (United Artists, 1964) and Dustin Hoffman in “Midnight Cowboy” (MGM 1969), and Frank Sinatra in “Lady in Cement” (20th Century Fox, 1968). The silver screen also brought some welcomed state advertisement as well; the 1961 hit “Where the Boys Are” virtually turned Fort Lauderdale Beach into the USA’s most popular Spring Break location.
Television stations began taking up office in Florida in the 1950s and business boomed big during the 1960s with many top stations such as NBC and ABC filming in locations all over the state. In many ways these television shows showcased much of what Florida had to offer, from wildlife, through the hit “Flipper“ (NBC 1964-1968), to city life through “Surf-side Six” (ABC, 1960-1962) and “Miami Undercover” (Syndicated, 1961). Television helped the Country get a good look at Florida.
Arts
Creative and experimental photography grew in the 1960s through Florida institutions such as the University of Florida and Florida State University, with native Floridians taking part. Influential photographers of this time include Van Deren Coke, Jerry Uelsmann, Evon Streetman, Douglas Prince, and Oscar Bailey.
The Highwaymen in are probably Florida’s most well-known and important contributors to art in the 1960s. This group of African –American painters were self-taught landscape artists who peddled their works and the roadsides of Florida. These native Floridians painted for money, and landscapes of postcard-picturesque Florida were what sold to natives and tourists alike. Their works were generally produced on a cheap material called Upson board, which was used by roofers, and framed with crown molding. No one source can agree, but it is estimated that a core group of Highwaymen artists produced at least 50,000 paintings, helping to solidify the image of Florida in Americas mind.
Sports
The decade saw the beginning of the Miami Dolphins as a pro-football team in 1966. Original owners Joe Robbie and Danny Thomas dubbed the team after the well-known marine mammal through a fan contest. The Dolphins secured their first win against the Denver Broncos in October of that year.
Collection Items
Goldfinger: Sean Connery as 007 Movie Poster
Movie poster featuring Sean Connery's role as 007 in Goldfinger, 1964.
Lady in Cement
Movie Poster promotional packet from Lady in Cement, Starring Frank Sinatra, Raquel Welch, and Dan Blocker.
Lights! Camera! Florida!: 90 Years of Moviemaking and Television Production in the Sunshine State Exhibition Catalog
Jerry Ulesmann biography and catalog of exhibition in the 1960s.
Lights! Camera! Florida!: 90 Years of Moviemaking and Television Production in the Sunshine State, page 8
The Hollywood sign replaced with the word “Florida “ was bold move in effort to move the industry to the Sunshine state.
Lights! Camera! Florida!: 90 Years of Moviemaking and Television Production in the Sunshine State, page 65
A shot from the hit movie Where the Boys Are, filmed in Ft. Lauderdale. Top Left: Jerry Lewis in The Bell Boy, shot at the famous hotel and nightspot The Fountainbleu Hotel in Miami Beach.