| | | | | | | | | TO: | Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee Members |
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| FROM:
| Alina T. Hudak, City Manager
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| | DATE: | November 30, 2022
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| | SUBJECT: | DISCUSSION REGARDING PLACEMENT OF A STATE OF FLORIDA HISTORICAL MARKER HONORING DESI ARNAZ, WITHIN LUMMUS PARK ACROSS FROM THE PARK CENTRAL HOTEL. |
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| | | | | | | | HISTORY:
| On September 14, 2022, at the request of Commissioner Alex Fernandez, the City Commission referred the discussion item to the Public Safety, Neighborhoods and Quality of Life Committee (Item C4 M).
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| | | | | | | | ANALYSIS
| BACKGROUND
Desi Arnaz was born Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha on March 2, 1917, in Santiago, Cuba. His father was a prominent physician, a wealthy landowner, and a popular senator. Batista's Cuban Revolution forced Desi and his father to flee to Miami (his mother would arrive later) where the penniless 17-year-old arrived unable to truly speak, read, or understand English. Remarkably, despite their reversal of fortune, neither he nor his father gave up hope. For Desi, that meant cleaning canary cages for 25 cents each, helping his dad lay tile in Miami Beach homes, and struggling to save money by sleeping on cots shoved in the back of a warehouse on SW Third Avenue. A family friend and fellow refugee helped Desi enroll at St. Patrick Catholic School. Over time, he improved his English, learned guitar and the conga drum, and assimilated into his adopted home.
DESI ARNAZ’S CONNECTION TO THE PARK CENTRAL HOTEL:
In 1937, Arnaz met Bobby Kelly, son of entrepreneurial restaurateur 'Mother' Kelly, who was then opening a 200-seat nightclub as an addition to the Park Central Hotel. Promising Kelly an orchestra, Desi was hired for a two-week engagement. At the nightclub's December 30, 1937 premiere, the 20-year-old had been so desperate for work he didn't reveal his orchestra was really just a handful of musicians who couldn't play the Latin rhythms Arnaz had promised. Remembering his childhood in Santiago where a hypnotic rhythm was played at city-wide parties that stretched from dusk to dawn, Arnaz quickly taught the musicians to play a cadence of 'One-two-three-KICK!' Arnaz beat his conga drum in time, shouted to the audience to follow him and above this primal rhythm he proceeded to dance everyone around the bar, out the doors of the Park Central, and down Ocean Drive for several blocks before circling back on Collins Avenue and back into the nightclub. What Arnaz called his 'Dance of Desperation' launched 'The Conga Craze' in America. Even more significantly, the ensuing publicity raised his profile and led him first to Broadway and then to Hollywood where he met the love of his life, Lucille Ball with the two becoming the proud parents of Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz, Jr., to his own orchestra, the production and ownership of 'I Love Lucy', and the couples' purchase of RKO Studios.
ANALYSIS
The proposal to introduce a State of Florida Historical Marker was spearheaded by Gary McKechnie, a resident of Mount Dora, Florida. Mr. McKechnie learned of the incredible accomplishments of Desi Arnaz and submitted a nomination to the State of Florida for a historical marker honoring the entertainer. On May 24, 2022, the State of Florida Historical Marker Council met in Tallahassee and unanimously approved the nomination.
Mr. McKechnie then began an effort to raise funds to pay for the marker which costs approximately $2,500. The Administration has been in contact with Mr. McKechnie who has confirmed that his efforts have been successful and the cost of fabricating the marker will be covered by the generous donor.
The proposed location for the marker is within Lummus Park, adjacent to the sidewalk between 6 and 7 streets, directly across from the Park Central Hotel. Each marker is made of cast aluminum with a black background with white lettering and a white Florida Heritage emblem. The markers come with a 7’-0” concrete post and have a text area of 30” by 42”.
The verbiage approved by the State of Florida Historic Marker Council is as follows:
Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha was born into wealth and privilege in Santiago, Cuba. After the Cuban Revolution of 1933 forced his family to flee to Miami, the teenage refugee lived in a pest-ridden warehouse and earned spare change cleaning birdcages – not knowing he would one day transform American entertainment. A turning point came at the Park Central Hotel in 1937 when the young bandleader realized the Latin music he knew was foreign to his pickup band. Arnaz saved the show by beating out a tempo on his conga drum. When the band joined in, the mesmerized audience followed Arnaz, dancing down Ocean Drive and into neighboring streets. What Arnaz called his “Dance of Desperation” launched the “Conga Craze” in America. His endless talent and determination led him first to Broadway and then Hollywood where he met the love of his life, Lucille Ball. Married in 1940, they would have two children, create Desilu Productions, achieve stardom with I Love Lucy, and purchase RKO Studios. On a 1954 TV special honoring the couple, Arnaz reflected “From cleaning canary cages to this night... I don’t think there’s any other country in the world that can give you that opportunity. I want to say thank you. Thank you, America.”
The proposal also includes the above verbiage translated into Spanish for the side facing Lummus Park.
Pursuant to Section 82-504 of the City Code concerning monuments and memorials, the City Commission is required to hold a public hearing prior to final approval of the commemorative plaque. The proposal for a commemorative plaque must be transmitted to the City Commission with an accompanying written analysis prepared by the City Administration.
At the close of the City Commission public hearing, the approval of the proposal requires a 5/7 vote. Unless expressly provided otherwise in the City Commission Resolution approving the historical marker, the approval shall establish the presumption that the City shall assume the costs associated with the ongoing maintenance of the approved marker.
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| | | | | | | | CONCLUSION:
The Administration recommends that the Public Safety, Neighborhoods and Quality of Life Committee transmit a favorable recommendation to the Mayor and City Commission for the placement of the State of Florida Historical Marker honoring Desi Arnaz within Lummus Park and direct the Administration to schedule the public hearing for the November 16, 2022 City Commission meeting.
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| | | | | | | | Applicable Area
| | South Beach |
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| | | | | | | | | Is this a "Residents Right to Know" item, pursuant to City Code Section 2-14? | | Does this item utilize G.O. Bond Funds? | | | Yes | | No | |
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