Having
previously posed the question - whereabouts in the south-east of the
USA were they? Is it a lido or the beach? Florida (possibly),
Georgia (more probably) or Alabama (probably not)?
I'll
now give the answer – which was pretty much in the query itself -
the location for the photo was the Lido Beach Casino, Sarasota,
Florida. The key to the identity of the place is in the Art Deco
design by architect Ralph Twitchell - those distinctive towers.
The
City of Sarasota acquired the Lido site, a stretch of beach, from the
John Ringling Estate, transferred to the city in a deal to settle
'delinquent taxes' of approximately $35,000. Federal funds were
secured from the Works Progress Administration for construction of
the casino which opened on 23rd May 1940 - the official
opening took place on 28th December. The complex was
constructed for around $250,000
The
modern architecture would have seemed home from home to the pilots
u/t based at Carlstrom Field, Arcadia as their accommodation had been
newly constructed in the modern style of Miami architect Stefan
Zachar.
Between 1926
through to his death in 1978 Ralph Twitchell made a significant
contribution to Sarasota's architecture. The Art Deco style of the
Lido Casino reflected the modern influences which contributed to
Twitchell's work from the late 1930s. The strong geometrics of the
clean stuccoed buildings were made all the more striking by giant
sea-horse reliefs.
Construction
of the Casino complex started in 1939 – the accommodation
including a 'junior olympic-sized' swimming pool, the Sunset
Ballroom, Hawaiian Lanai dining rooms, the Bathers Grill, Castaways
Bar, Cocktail Loggia, Casino Ballroom, Marine Lounge, Coquina Grill
and 39 cabanas. The ballrooms were graced by famous bands and
Hollywood celebrities, events ranged from athletic events to beauty
pageants.
Twitchell's ethos
for the design of the Sarasota Beach Lido had been 'in the spirit of
democracy to welcome all visitors to America. Young and old, rich and
poor will find attractions here which they can afford and enjoy.'
Just a year after the Lido's grand opening the USA was pitched into
the Second World War and soon young servicemen from the UK were
enjoying the delights of the complex during their recreation time
away from their training bases – Sarasota, Arcadia and others
within easy range of the Lido.
I recommend you
spend a moment to look at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URYFZ1L7JDI
which gives a flavour of the place. Look again at the photo of Jim
and his colleagues – on the beach in front of the cabanas of the
Lido Beach Casino, Sarasota.
On January 20,
1969, the City Commission voted to demolish the casino. One of those
working on the demolitions opined:-
'A real piece of
history wasted, it was the hardest building I had ever worked on. It
was hard as a rock. If they would have left it, it could have stood
for 500 years.'
Incidentally
- the date of Ralph Twitchell's death in Sarasota in 1978 - 30th
January – the 'sly day'!
Any
ideas on the identity of the 'more mature' pilot cadet? Let me know.
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