1968 EDEN ROC HOTEL, MIAMI BEACH FL. .... I WAS 16 AND A LIFEGUARD IN SCHOOL ... MY NEIGHBOR WAS JOE COHEN WHO WAS THE CABANA POOL MANAGER AT THE EDEN ROC HOTEL. HE HAD AN EMERGENCY ... HIS BEACH SECTION LIFEGUARD AT THE HOTEL QUIT AND LEFT HIM HIGH AND DRY. THE BEACH WOULD HAVE TO BE CLOSED AT THE HOTEL UNLESS HE COULD FIND A LIFEGUARD AND FAST! .... HERE I COME HIRED TEMPORARY UNTIL HE COULD GET AN OFFICAL LIFEGUARD / CABANA BOY. MY PAY WAS $8 A DAY + FREE MEALS + FANTASTIC TIPS .. YOU HAD TO RENT A CABANA EITHER BY THE SEASON OR DAILY IF AVAILABLE .. THEY CONSISTED OF A DRESSING ROOM, FULL BATH, LIQUOR CABINET, TELEPHONE, 2 LOUNGE CHAIRS & DINING TABLE ... VERY NICE SET UP ... YOU COULD ORDER ROOM SERVICE AT THE BEACH OR POOL.....SUNRISE TO SUNDOWN WERE THE HOURS ... 28 CABANAS TO SERVICE PLUS THE ENTIRE BEACH WITH DOZENS OF LOUNGE CHAIRS, UMBRELLAS, TOWEL SERVICE ETC. NOT TO MENTION TONS OF GIRLS & COUGARS ... WHAT AN EDUCATION I GOT..... LOOK AT THE BEACH PICTURES, MY CABANAS WERE ON THE BEACH WITH 300 FT. OF OCEAN TO WATCH ... I SAVED MANY SWIMMERS CAUGHT IN THE UNDER TOWS ... THEY NEVER LISTENED TO MY WHISTLE!

NOW THE GOOD PART ... I HAD IN MY CABANA SECTION SOME VERY FAMOUS AND INFAMOUS JEWISH GENTLEMAN ... SUCH AS ...MORRIS LANDSBURGH (flamingo hotel owner) ... SID LUCKMAN ...(bears quarterback) ... MEYER LANSKY ... (mob) ... EDGAR BRONFMAN ...(seagram's whiskies) ... HARRY MUFSON .. (eden roc owner) ...AND MANY CELEBRITIES WHO PERFORMED AT THE EDEN ROC ... I WOULD BE ASKED TO STAY LATE AND SET UP THE CARD GAMES FOR SOME OF THESE V.I.P.'S ... I WAS JUST A KID AND I REMEMBER RUNNING TO THE STORE FOR SEALED DECKS OF PLAYING CARDS, FANCY CIGARS, CELERY TONIC SODA AND PLENTY OF ICE ... THEY PLAYD MOSTLY GIN ... SOME POKER ... AND THEY DID USE A SMALL SUITCASE OF CHIPS ... WHICH HAD NO DEMONINATION ON THEM ... THE GAMES WOULD END AROUND 10 OR 11 PM ... AND MY MOTHER WOULD ALWAY'S WORRY WHERE I WAS. THE WINNER WOULD USUALLY THROW ME A $100 BILL FOR MY BEING A WAITER / SERVER ETC. .... I HAD NO IDEA HOW POWERFUL OR IMPORTANT THESE OLD JEWISH GENTLEMAN WERE. MY CABANA MANAGER BOSS WAS SO NERVOUS AROUND THEM ... I TREATED THEM WITH RESPECT, BUT ALWAY'S MADE THEM LAUGH TO BREAK THE ICE... ONE TIME THE FBI RAIDED THE POOL CABANA CLUB AT THE EDEN ROC ... SOMEONE WAS MAKING BOOK AND TAKING BETS ON THE PONIES ... (see photos) ... I HAVE GREAT MEMORIES WORKING AS A BEACH CABANA BOY AND EVEN BOUGHT A MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE ... TONS OF CASH TIPS! .... HAD TO BACK TO SCHOOL AND ONCE IN AWHILE I WOULD WORK A WEEKEND IF NEEDED ... HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOGRAPHS .... THANKS RICH BURGEL