Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-10
BY SAUL PETIT

MIAMI BEACH.-Among the
Kwakiutl Indians of Western Can
ada tribal chiefs used to gather for
an annual feast with but one pur-
pose.
Each hoped to prove he was the
wealthiest man in the clan. For
hours. they sat around the fire
Dragging of their property. To
clinch his claim. a chief would
throw 500 blankets into the fire.
Another would toss in sos. Still
another, $40. And so it went, each
1 chief trying to Guido the other.
each proving he had blankets to
burn.
y In those days, the tribal rite was
called potlatch.
In these days. it's called conspic-
Gous consumption
Which brings us to Miami Beach.
Miami Beach Riviera in
neon land of the big splash
and the palm-the open palm. T..
The happy watering ground of the
mink and all its mutations, of the
big buck. the Cadillac. the binding
diamond, the wheel. the big
wheel.
Also the little wheel. the little
chief, with no blankets to burn. -.
Pensioners. widows, stenographers
who save all year for two weeks in
the sun and-hope, hope, hope
matrimony. Dizzy contrasts:
Uptown, mink: downtown, let-out
Inuskrat. Uptown gin rummy at
rs cents point; downtown, a-tenth
Of a cent. Uptown. swank dinners
by candlelight; downtown, supper
by subterfuge.
Tenoces and Gold Telephones
The Miami tone is set by the
big chiefs uptown. Hotels? Fabu-
lous, fabulous. Look at all that
glass, at the gold telephones in
your room, at your private terrace
with a view Of the Atlantic.
Architecture-what do you like?
A little Louis ", with dash Of
Frank Lloyd Wright and soupcon
Of Las Vegas perhaps? We got 'em
all in one.
Lobbies? You could play football
in one, if it weren't for the Greek
statues or the gold-tiled columns
-. Swimming pools? Every one is
"Olympic-size,' regardless OF di-
mension or shape. Expensive?
Listen. you can pay 500 a day
for room. Where else could you
pay more? Sure, that's without
food You think they can give it
away? Some of this ocean-front
land cost $4,000 a front foot.
Supper clubs. cocktail lounges?
You can get COG au win or ''veri-
table borscht a la polonaise," all on
the same menu. Did you catch
Tony Bennett at the Bal Masque
Room? Listen. understand Jerry
Lewis pulled down $4,000 clans per
week in the La Ronde Room.
Miami Beach. Don't fight it or
try to understand it all at once.
One class, one part Of town at a
time. Now. you take the rich.
In the women's shop Of the
Americana, This years hotel" the
owner reported: well, we've sold
dresses for 81 900 each and chin
chilla pieces for $1,000 But don't
get the wrong idea. The average
woman coming in here will spend
only between 81 500 and $4,000 for
stole. They'll buy the kind OF
thing they can pay for easily. with
out having to consult their hus-
bands"
That last line was uttered with
no suggestion Of irony.
Said an executive of the Fon-
tainbleau: The biggest check we
ever cashed for a guest? There was
one for $4,000 I think the man
was on his way out to Hialeah.
THE biggest single guest bill? A
man and his wife ran up a tab for
$4,000 But remember that was
for four months-room, board.
some incidentals. : y
Who Wants the Oceon?
Miami Beach, city of strange
values. In addition to the cost
of your room, you can pay 500 a
week for a cabana facing the ocean
or $3.50 for a cabana facing the
pool. Why? Anybody can have the
ocean. Besides. more people see you
at the pool
Miami Beach, city Of staggering
sights. Along Lincoln road: A
4 blond wearing blue denim pedal
& pushers. high wooden clogs and
mink stole. . Around an elegant
hotel pool, 300 people taking the
sun or grimly playing gin. Only
four in the water once a season"
said hotel man. I'VE drain and
clean the pool. No swimming that
one day and you should hear the
screams.
Night life? Dog track. jai-alai.
supper clubs. night clubs. the
Johina Bar twhere the mattresses
wear negligeesl, about strip joints
and B-girls with the standard. low
cut, cooling greeting: MY names
Marie. what's yours and won't you
buy me drink? 80.
Sin? Even in the best hotel bars,
call girls by pairs. seemingly inter-
ested only in each other but care
fully surveying the field. :. Gam