Blast from the Past!
by Joyce Gardner Renzo
Where can you get a full service suite with a bedroom, separate dressing area, storage unit and countless other amenities, AND have the chance to bump into one of the most famous sex symbols of the day, for only $10.00 per night? Right here at Palm-Aire! What’s the catch? If you weren’t around in 1962, that deal is now expired! Those were the offerings way back when. The Palm-Aire Lodge had just opened to cater to the lodging needs of visitors to the world famous Palm-Aire Country Club. Actress Jayne Mansfield was one of many celebrities who visited the club in the early days.
During the seventies, Palm-Aire saw its share of everything from sports celebrities to politicians to the Hollywood elite. California Angel, Jim Fregosi, paid a visit in March of ’71, while golf superstar Bert Yancey encouraged other touring pros such as Doug Sanders, Tony Jacklin, Tom Weiskopf, R.H. Sikes, Miller Barber and Billy Maxwell to participate in Palm-Aire’s Easter Seal Pro-Am. The Club was becoming known for its dedication to charity tournaments, which, in turn, drew famous guests to the area.
From Phil Rizzuto, of the NY Yankees, to Jessica Canne, Beauty Editor of Vogue Magazine, Palm-Aire became a popular choice for a golfing vacation or just a trip to the spa. Even Elizabeth Taylor, “the most beautiful woman in the world”, was a frequent guest.
The Tennis Center, part of the ‘World of Palm-Aire’ scored a major coup in October 1971, when they signed Billie Jean King, the top woman’s tennis player in the world as their touring pro. King went on to win the famed ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match against male tennis star Bobby Riggs. However, she always found time to work with the Palm-Aire center. She served as a consultant in all phases of the tennis program, participated in numerous Palm-Aire events and even made an instructional film here with a young winter resident, Jeff Wong. In February of 1972, Palm-Aire was the setting for the Women’s Invitational Tournament in which King was finally defeated by a then-unknown teenager by the name of Chris Evert.
In 1973, Morey Amsterdam, Jack Carter, Henny Youngman, Dick Shawn and Jan Murray were contracted to appear at the Conference Center at Palm-Aire, while May of 1973 saw even more honored guests. Palm-Aire was opening the new Palm-Aire Beach Club (formerly Lucaya Resort Motel) on the ocean even as First Lady Patricia Nixon was presenting Palm-Aire with a special award for Outstanding Contributions to Environmental Improvement at the White House.
The seventies continued to see its share of exciting sports and Hollywood celebrities, both as residents and guests. We kicked off the year with a concert by the amazing Buddy Greco. Later, in ‘74, Jerry Lewis made the first of several visits to Palm-Aire. This time as a guest of Hasbro, one of the world’s largest toy makers.
That year also saw Palm-Aire West as the host of the Virginia Slims tournament, which boasted some of the biggest names in tennis including; Chris Evert, Evonne Goolagong, Kerry Melville and Valerie Ziegenfuss. Former Miss America, Anita Bryant, was a frequent visitor to the Spa as Harvey Korman of the Carol Burnett Show worked on his golf game.
Leslie Caron appeared in a play at the Parker Playhouse in May of 1974. She lived at Palm-Aire during the run of the show, where she was joined by her director husband Michael Laughlin and her two children.
By February of 1975, Palm-Aire had become the regular stop for the show business ‘in’ crowd. Karen Friedman and Virginia Sherwood of ABC-TV in Washington enjoyed the Spa facilities right along with Jack Klugman, of The Odd Couple. Others that sought respite in Palm-Aire that year were Jessica Tandy, Hugh Cronyn, Morey Amsterdam, former Dallas Cowboy and TV personality Don Meredith, his wife Susan, and Donald O’Connor. Anna Marie Alberghetti, Lou Carey and comedian Shelley Berman entertained us while folks like actor George Hamilton visited with his mother, Anne.
The following year, we were honored to have speakers like Congressman Paul Rogers of Palm Beach, the Mayor of Pompano Max Ryder and we honored Harry Levin for his philanthropic contributions. These and other important folks from the political arena kept us in the know while we continued to welcome the Hollywood elite. Throughout 1976, we saw Governor Milton Shapp of Pennsylvania, who was a Presidential candidate that year on the Democratic ticket, as the lovely Kathryn Grayson, Sid Caesar and Jack Gilford appeared at the Clubhouse. Athletes Joe DiMaggio and Babe Lewis joined golfers Herman Baron and Lee Elder at the clubhouse. In May, Palm-Aire was proud to host the Florida Open.
In the New Year’s edition of the ‘Palm Airings’ for 1977, the community looked forward to an appearance by the beautiful Jane Powell and reflected on a recent show by Jan Murray. Funny man Marty Allen made us laugh and Chicago Bears quarterback, Bob Avellini, made us swoon.
Movie ‘Tarzan’ Buster Crabbe was on the scene in 1978 and Kate Mostel and Madeleine Gilford promoted their new book, Our 170 Years in Show Business. The ladies were relaxing at the Spa and relished the amenities on the ‘working vacation.’ Miller Brewing Company filmed a commercial here during May and with that, we got acquainted with famed novelist Mickey Spillane, who often starred in Miller Lite commercials.
In December of 1978, we welcomed back old friend, Jerry Lewis. Jerry’s people loved Palm-Aire so much that they chose it as a location to film his movie, Hardly Working slated for March of 1979. “PalmAirians”, as they were called by the Palm Airings, were encouraged to show up on set as extras.
The excitement continued in ‘79 as Deborah Kerr, star of the movie version of The King and I called Palm-Aire home while appearing at the Parker Playhouse. Henny Youngman, now dubbed, ‘King of the One-Liners’ joined Palm Airings as a columnist as well.
As the new decade of the eighties rolled in, Lee Trevino was a big hit on the links, while Goldie Hawn courted the press in the Peninsula Room at the Spa hotel. Goldie’s daughter, Academy Award nominee, Kate Hudson, just a baby then, accompanied her that year, along with her son, Oliver. Canadian TV Star Ann Rohmer and Actor-Comedian Jack Weston were also seen at the Spa during the decade.
In 1986, Palm-Aire saw a huge outpouring of star-power when it hosted a Celebrity Tennis Event for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The Star Studded Event included a Tennis Tournament, a Celebrity Roast, a Dinner-Dance and a Silent Auction. The three-day gala raised over $115,000 for CF, with the likes of Lyle Waggoner, Connie Stevens, Lee Meriwether, Bobby Riggs, Jimmy Van Patten, the Wrigley Twins and Miss America, Kaylene Brandon in attendance.
The excitement continued into the nineties, when tennis great Martina Navratilova filmed a Visa Rainbow Credit Card commercial at the Oaks Racquet Club. Martina is known for her charitable endeavors and the card, issued by RAINBOW ENDOWMENT, donated more than $100,000.00 to charities during its first year.
Looking back on Palm-Aire’s past brings back exciting and poignant memories to many area residents. Let’s all raise a glass to Palm-Aire’s past and to a great future!
**Thanks to Palm Aire Country Club General Manager Rick Webber for his co-operation in providing the information for this article.**