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Rare 1958 Miami Beach, Florida Poolside Snapshot - Fontainebleau Resort & Jewish Americana History
FREE SHIPPINGThis original 1950s b & w snapshot capturing a beautiful moment from the peak era of mid-century Florida resort culture features a young girl posing proudly alongside a deeply tanned, muscular resort lifeguard who sports a whistle hanging from his white trunks and a small pendant on a thin chain, a popular aesthetic with lifeguards in Florida in the 1950s.
It was a popular practice for vacationing parents to take photos of their children with friendly resort staff who had helped them by teaching the children to swim and watching out for the their safety in the pool, and this sweet photo is a beautiful example of it.
Star of David Interest: A close-up view reveals that the the lifeguard is prominently wearing a Star of David (Magen David) necklace. This historical artifact documents the thriving post WWII Jewish resort culture that centered around Miami Beach in the 1950s.
Setting: The two are standing high atop the iconic concrete high diving board tower overlooking the luxury resort pool at Morris Lapis's Fontainebleau Hotel on Collins Avenue.
Period Details: The figures wear classic mid-century swimwear: The muscular man wears uniform-style white trunks complete with a hanging lifeguard whistle, with a hotel emblem faintly visible upon zooming in. The photo has a sharp, wavy, deckle-edge border, while the bottom shows a charming, contemporary handwritten inscription in ink: "Jan 1958 Florida."
Condition: Clear image contrast, crisp paper structure, and clean edges with the only flaw being that the corners were clipped by a previous owner. Please examine the photos carefully for precise details.
This sweet photo will make a charming cross-collectible piece for archives or private collections focused on mid-century Miami resorts, 1950s beach culture, or post-war Jewish American social history.
Free shipping in standard envelope.
