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Post by JerseyDigger29 on Oct 20, 2006 21:02:41 GMT -5
Hey, guys. In my travels today, I was driving down Atlantic Avenue past the Biscayne Motel(s) and caught a glimpse out of the corner of my eye of a rooftop sign for one of our departed doo wop hotels completely hidden from view dead center in the middle of an entire city block. The motel is gone but its sign is still there, for no logical reason I can think of other than maybe no one had the heart to remove it yet. I drove completely around the entire city block looking for the sign to see if my eyes were decieving me. On the north side of the block they are building a huge new condo building and on the south side of the block is the Biscayne. No matter what side of the block you stand at, you'll never be able to read the hidden sign from the street. But If you stand in the street by the eastward section of the Biscayne, you can see a piece of the back of the sign on top of the rear roof of the biscayne. Almost dead center in the middle of the block (condos north of it and the Biscayne south of it.- Is this making sense?). But even the piece of the sign you can see from the Biscayne side is unreadable because the sign faces inward to the center of the block, hidden by buildings on all sides. So what did this enterprising and curious reporter do to get a picture of one of our long lost cherished masterpieces? I got out of my car and quietly walked behind the buildings to take a picture. That's the good thing about off-season in the Wildwoods: no one around to yell at you. ;D Anyway, here's the picture. Bet you didn't know this sign was still there. Somebody should try and save it, maybe. Thom TheWildwoodsReporter.com
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Post by Doowopper on Oct 20, 2006 21:07:02 GMT -5
wow I remember that place, actually I forgot about it until now. Interesting name.
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Post by hulk007 on Oct 20, 2006 21:07:23 GMT -5
I'm somewhat confused Thom, you said this sign was in the middle of the street? When was this motel demolished?
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Post by JerseyDigger29 on Oct 20, 2006 21:19:21 GMT -5
I'm somewhat confused Thom, you said this sign was in the middle of the street? When was this motel demolished? I don't really know. The Bali Hi sign isn't on the street side of the block, it's on the roof of the Biscayne, in the rear. I think it was originally intended to be viewed from the north, but with the construction of the new condo building north of it and the fact that it now faces the inside of the city block with buildings on all four sides, it is no longer visible from the street. It's only readable from the inside of the block (between the buildings). Thom
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Post by Doo Wop Mike D on Oct 20, 2006 21:42:02 GMT -5
Wow, didn't realize that sign was still there... I had noticed it a couple of years ago, as Thom said, obscured from view from the street by the newer buildings around it, but figured it was gone by now as I hadn't noticed it again (I guess I hadn't been looking hard enough)
The Biscayne Motel is now actually comprised of two buildings... the main, original Biscayne Motel building, and an "annex"... what was originally a separate, small motel known as the Bali Hi.
The buildings were consolidated under the "Biscayne" name a couple of years ago, but while still operating as the Bali Hi, it actually had a fairly new free-standing "Bali Hi" neon sign on the roadside itself (Louisville Ave?)... This orange rooftop sign in Thom's photo must be the original (or at least older) sign from some years back...
Might be worth salvaging this... its got a great retro font... interesting that the current owners would just leave it there like that...
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Post by JerseyDigger29 on Oct 20, 2006 22:04:12 GMT -5
Wow, didn't realize that sign was still there... I had noticed it a couple of years ago, as Thom said, obscured from view from the street by the newer buildings around it, but figured it was gone by now as I hadn't noticed it again (I guess I hadn't been looking hard enough) The Biscayne Motel is now actually comprised of two buildings... the main, original Biscayne Motel building, and an "annex"... what was originally a separate, small motel known as the Bali Hi. The buildings were consolidated under the "Biscayne" name a couple of years ago, but while still operating as the Bali Hi, it actually had a fairly new free-standing "Bali Hi" neon sign on the roadside itself (Louisville Ave?)... This orange rooftop sign in Thom's photo must be the original (or at least older) sign from some years back... Might be worth salvaging this... its got a great retro font... interesting that the current owners would just leave it there like that... Mike - Here is a picture of the Biscayne annex you mentioned. As I said in a previous post, I'm in the process of photographing every single hotel on the island that is still here, that's why I have this building in my collection. Anyway, is this annex of the Biscayne really the original Bali-Hi? It doesn't seem to fit my memory of the building. (Anyone have a photo of the original Bali-hi?) The original Bali-hi sign is on the rear of the roof of this building to the far left and rear, out of sight in this picture. Maybe you can visualize from this picture with the giant condos going up in the background why the Bali-hi sign can't be seen from the street anymore. Thom
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Post by beachrat on Oct 20, 2006 22:58:54 GMT -5
Here's the original Bali-Hi. Looks like what you're calling the Biscayne annex, just a different color scheme. We tried several times to stay at the Bali-Hi back in the 70's. They were always booked for the week we wanted. Always seemed like a really nice place, well-kept.
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Post by fuzzyscorpio on Oct 20, 2006 23:02:04 GMT -5
Don't forget we now have the wonderful historical resource that beachrat gave us... ... does that help at all? Looks like the two sections of the building in your picture, doesn't it?
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Post by beachrat on Oct 20, 2006 23:15:33 GMT -5
lol @ fuzzy, we must have posted at the same time.
Have to add - don't you just love the round chairs outside the rooms in the old picture? So much more character than the white plastic things you see EVERYwhere these days.
I was trying to figure out why Thom's picture of the motel looked odd to me.....then I realized - the Crown is gone. You look right through the Bali-Hi into open air now.
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Post by JerseyDigger29 on Oct 21, 2006 0:10:30 GMT -5
Amazing -The hotel has changed its look but the great old sign is still on the roof. Still don't know why they would leave it there when the building has changed so much. Nostalgia, maybe? Thom
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mike
Full Member
Posts: 170
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Post by mike on Oct 21, 2006 7:46:34 GMT -5
I just notice this sign this past August i was showing my sister in law the old pool from the crown and we saw it by the way has anyone seen the pool with weeds growing out of it at the old crown site
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Post by Cindy on Oct 21, 2006 9:13:35 GMT -5
Thom, that is such an amazing find. Makes one wonder what else is still around....
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Post by MMM on Oct 21, 2006 23:14:15 GMT -5
Saw the back of it today - thanks Thom!
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Post by Al Alven on Oct 22, 2006 0:21:56 GMT -5
Great post and great work, Thom!
OK, I'm having a little difficulty picturing the set up of the Biscayne at this point. Is the "annex" that's been spoken of the actual old Bali-Hi Motel? Or is that building actually, in essence, a "second annex" of the Biscayne?
I only ask because, for some reason, I seem to be remembering the Biscayne previously consisting of two buildings -- the main structure and a smaller structure between it and the "Bali-Hi" building. Am I remembering this correctly? Is the Biscayne now made up of three buildings... or am I just remembering incorrectly?
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Post by JerseyDigger29 on Oct 22, 2006 9:12:33 GMT -5
Great post and great work, Thom! OK, I'm having a little difficulty picturing the set up of the Biscayne at this point. Is the "annex" that's been spoken of the actual old Bali-Hi Motel? Or is that building actually, in essence, a "second annex" of the Biscayne? I only ask because, for some reason, I seem to be remembering the Biscayne previously consisting of two buildings -- the main structure and a smaller structure between it and the "Bali-Hi" building. Am I remembering this correctly? Is the Biscayne now made up of three buildings... or am I just remembering incorrectly? Al, I think the current Biscayne is two buildings, the main one on Atlantic and the annex behind it on the side street. The second building, or the annex, appears to be the old Bali Hi. It's identical to the Bali-hi pic someone posted above except for a change in colors and a couple of other things, like a missing awning and sign in front of the old Bali Hi office (according to the pic above). The old Bali hi sign is above and to the rear of the annex building (the original Bali Hi). But if you aren't specifically aware of it, it can't really be seen for what it is since it is facing north, away from the street, and is blocked by newer buildings on all sides. Hope this helps - Thom
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