A Historic South Beach Resort Hotel
Historic Shelborne circa 1940-1950.
Saturday, December 28, 1940. - You could have nine pounds of laundry washed for 29 cents. You could rent an Oceanfront Penthouse for $15 per day from December through June 1941. This is also the date the hottest new South Beach Resort Hotel, the Shelborne Beach Resort Accommodations, celebrated its formal grand opening.
Everyone's favorite bandleader, Chet Brownagle and his orchestra played at the opening. The Miami Herald wrote this of the Shelborne South Beach Resort before its opening:
Article from Miami Herald, December 1940:
"Chet Brownagle, favorite bandleader here for the last 10 years, will begin a season's engagement tonight at the formal opening at the Shelborne Hotel. Chet and his orchestra will play in the Mayan Room hotel cocktail lounge from 4 until 6 p.m. and in the Blue Room from 7 until 10 p.m. for dinner dancing."
Miami visitors and their guests will find something entirely different when they visit the Shelborne's cocktail lounge. It's done in Mayan theme with walls and ceilings splashed in vivid and brilliant colorings of reds, greens, blues and yellows and depicting in queer-shaped hieroglyphics and gargoyle grinning heads the calendars and shields of Mayan-land which is now Central America. Mural done by Ethel Tennyson of Miami-depicts "True Man", ruler of this ancient civilization seated on his throne of gold and jaguar skins, dressed in finest of jades, embroideries and a very elaborate headdress of quetzal plumes.
Blending and toning down the bizarre effect are the walls of soft-grey and the appointments in natural wood and deep blues. Bordering the Mayan Room is the dining salon Blue Room. Walls are of a natural wood with matching tables and chairs upholstered in Biscayne blue. Dance floor centers the room, which is done in a glassed-in effect, and which borders the flagged terrace and pool.
Ultra-modern Hotels in South Beach Miami
Designed by Igor Polevitsky, the Shelborne has a less ornate style than other buildings and hotels in South Beach Miami. Ultra-modern and sleek, it is a forerunner of the International Style. In pink pastel with blue trim, flaunting its trademark 30-foot deco sign, the Shelborne South Beach Resort hotel cannot be missed. At the time of the Shelborne's construction, the sign was poured in place on top of the building. The trademark Shelborne "S" is 28 feet tall and 10 feet wide.
The Shelborne hospitality, along with the Miami Beach sun, sand, and surf, attracted guests from all over to one of the finest hotels in South Beach. Indeed, the Shelborne enjoyed almost mythical status in the 1940's, 50's, and 60's. The Shelborne was home to the Miss America and Miss Universe Pageants, and was a home away from home for some of America's biggest stars.