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Hey, I'm Where The Boys Were

"Where The Boys Are" is a 60s film about spring break in the town once known as "Spring Break USA": Fort Lauderdale. Since the 50s college kids from across the U.S. and Canada flocked to Fort Lauderdale Beach in droves - in the hundreds of thousands - to party. And that's just what the film portrayed...




Times have changed. In the mid 80s Fort Lauderdale was overrun by somewhere in the area of 350,000 hot-blooded and/or drunk teenagers. Today things have changed. The city fathers have discouraged the love-in and now cater to an older, whiter-haired and richer kind of tourist. And it's to Fort Lauderdale I have come for 2 weeks, and as for older, whiter-haired and richer? Two out of three ain't bad...


Here's a modern Fort Lauderdale beachfront hotel, compared to the tiny motels from days gone by, followed by an older edifice, updated.






And here's a view from across the street of the famous Fort Lauderdale Beach, practically deserted.

Here's where the boys are these days...the Nirvana of southern Florida: BASS PRO! Here's where else the boys are: air-boating through the everglades...
And spotting alligators...



And unfortunately it's no longer where Connie Francis is...

Comments

Me-Me King said…
I remember that movie all too well. And, so does my dad - he was in love with Connie Francis and would demand silence every time "Where the Boys Are" played on the radio.

Looks as if you're having a great time. Thanks for sharing your photos.
Donnie said…
Fort Lauderdale is just too damn crowded these days for me! I haven't been there in years and just for that reason. It's still nice, but not as relaxing as I remember it.
nonamedufus said…
Me-Me: Yeah, we're having a pretty good time. I was 8 when the movie came out so didn't see it till I was older on TV. By then it was pretty campy. Ft Lauderdale is nothing like it was then.

Don: The crowds are long gone. 'Course the rain may have something to do with that. Our Orioles/Rays game got rained out today.
Anonymous said…
My fams and I used to rock spring break in Fort Lauderdale all the time when I was little. Then my Dad decided it was too boring and we hit up the west coast. I haven't been back to the FLA. since.
Unknown said…
Ah, my dad lives in the Florida keys, and I've yet to do one of those fanboating adventures... It always looks like a lot of fun.

How big were the mosquitos-- and did you get to see the Florida Everglades Skunk Ape, the bigfoot of that area? :)
nonamedufus said…
FTA: Used to take the kids to Disney World, Cocoa Beach, Daytona. This is the first trip back to FLA since kids grew up. Visiting snowbird buddy for couple of weeks. Nice and warm here!

Jenn: Didn't make it to the Keys this trip so didn't see Skunk Ape or, thankfully, mosquitos!
Deb said…
It may be warm there in Ft. L, but I'll stay here in Maine wearing my Mud Season muck boots and mittens because here in the Land of the One-Tooth People there are no traffic jams, no traffic lights, no parking meters, not even traffic updates on the radio, no cafeterias and most importantly, NO PEOPLE! God, am I antisocial, or what?
nonamedufus said…
Deb: I admire yer spunk (I mean that in a nice way) but I'll take warm over winter any day!
nonamedufus said…
FTA: Used to take the kids to Disney World, Cocoa Beach, Daytona. This is the first trip back to FLA since kids grew up. Visiting snowbird buddy for couple of weeks. Nice and warm here!

Jenn: Didn't make it to the Keys this trip so didn't see Skunk Ape or, thankfully, mosquitos!

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