Podcast
Tales From South Florida: History of the People and Places That Shaped South Florida
Hosted by Bill Monty · EN
Tales From South Florida is a storytelling podcast exploring South Florida history, old Florida landmarks, forgotten towns, and the people who shaped Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and beyond.
Take a Talk Down Memory Lane as we uncover the stories that time almost forgot…
The Hollywood Sportatorium, Pirates World, Rascal House, Pioneer City, and Sunrise Musical Theater. The Coral Castle. If these names spark fun-filled memories, well, you are in the right place.
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Don't miss out on the adventure – be sure to LIKE, COMMENT, SHARE & SUBSCRIBE to immerse yourself in the stories that make our corner of the Sunshine State truly unique.
Join the FUN at our website, https://www.talesfromsouthflorida.com
Comments or questions write to us at talesfromsouthflorida@gmail.com or call at 754-800-3170.
34episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Malls of South Florida
3d ago00:15:31Tap to summarizeBuy Me a Coffee to help support the show. Thank you.Anyone remember Burdines? Richards? Jordan Marsh? The Orange Bowl? Chess King? Spec's Music and Tapes? Today, I discuss the places where we went to meet friends, get jobs, and simply hangout. The Dadeland Mall, The 163rd Street Shopping Center, The Hollywood Fashion Center and The Hollywood Mall. They defined our teen years and for a brief while, our culture.We thought those days would last forever...until one dark day in July 1981. And after that we never looked at malls the same way again.Join me for another TALK Down Memory Lane with another of these Tales from South Florida.How to Support the Show:If you enjoy reliving memories from the past and exploring the cultural significance of bygone eras, consider subscribing to Tales from South Florida on your favorite podcast platform. Don't forget to leave a rating and review and share the podcast with friends and family who might enjoy a trip down memory lane.Connect with Us:Follow tales From South Florida on Facebook and YouTube for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and more nostalgic fun.Episode Length:Approximately 15 minutes.Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host, Bill Monty, and include his personal memories of growing up in South Florida at a specific time. Additional research has been done for background purposes. Listener discretion is advised.5.8.24Send Me a MessageSupport the showClick the Leave A Message link above to text Bill Monty...FREE!Share your Memories here: Send a voice message to TalesFromSouthFloridaVisit our website at Tales From South Florida Want to be a guest on Tales From South Florida? Send Bill Monty a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17520056164340322cfae84a5 - Search Share your South Florida memories with us at Talesfromsouthflorida@gmail.com or leave us a voice mailat 754-800-3170. Be sure to tell us your name and the best way to contact you as well as the story you'd like to tell.
Transcribe →Ode to the Hollywood Sportatorium
2w ago00:03:18Summary readyA song honoring that big, steel barn with lousy acoustics, a leaky roof and our youthful memories all in one place; The Hollywood Sportatorium.Buy Me a Coffee and help support the show. Thank you!Written by Bill Monty with vocals and music by SUNO.2.14.26Send Me a MessageSupport the showClick the Leave A Message link above to text Bill Monty...FREE!Share your Memories here: Send a voice message to TalesFromSouthFloridaVisit our website at Tales From South Florida Want to be a guest on Tales From South Florida? Send Bill Monty a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17520056164340322cfae84a5 - Search Share your South Florida memories with us at Talesfromsouthflorida@gmail.com or leave us a voice mailat 754-800-3170. Be sure to tell us your name and the best way to contact you as well as the story you'd like to tell.
SummaryJulia Tuttle and Eddie Rickenbacker: Pioneers of South Florida
3w ago00:13:53Summary readyBuy Me a Coffee and help support the show. Thank you!Who were Julia Tuttle and Eddie Rickenbacker?In this episode of Tales From South Florida, Bill Monty takes a closer look at two often-overlooked figures who helped shape modern Miami in very different ways.You may have driven across the Julia Tuttle Causeway on your way to Miami Beach or crossed the Rickenbacker Causeway heading toward Key Biscayne—but do you know the fascinating stories behind the names?Press that PLAY icon and I'll tell you their stories so that you can share them with others.Plus, stay until the end for a surprising South Florida Fun Fact about Julia Tuttle that many lifelong Floridians don’t know.Visit TalesFromSouthFlorida.com for more episodes, South Florida history content, the Spotify playlist, links to YouTube channels, and more.Don’t forget to Subscribe, Like, Share, and Comment to help more people discover stories from Florida’s fascinating past.#TalesFromSouthFlorida #MiamiHistory #SouthFloridaHistory #JuliaTuttle #EddieRickenbacker #HistoryPodcast #FloridaHistory #MiamiFlorida #OldFlorida #KeyBiscayne #MiamiStories #FloridaPodcast #HiddenHistory #HistoricMiami #FloridaTravel #MiamiLandmarks #SouthFlorida #VintageMiami #LearnHistory #FloridaFunFacts Talked about in this episode: Henry Flagler and the Train That Built Florida Send Me a MessageSupport the showClick the Leave A Message link above to text Bill Monty...FREE!Share your Memories here: Send a voice message to TalesFromSouthFloridaVisit our website at Tales From South Florida Want to be a guest on Tales From South Florida? Send Bill Monty a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17520056164340322cfae84a5 - Search Share your South Florida memories with us at Talesfromsouthflorida@gmail.com or leave us a voice mailat 754-800-3170. Be sure to tell us your name and the best way to contact you as well as the story you'd like to tell.
SummaryThe Day Key West Seceded from the United States
4w ago00:11:52Summary readyBuy Me a Coffee and help support the show. Thank you! You can use many words when describing the Florida Keys but conventional isn't one of them. In honor of the Keys Independence Day coming up on April 23, on this episode i talk about one of my favorite Tales from South Florida: the time when Key West just said, "To heck with it. We're out of here!", becoming the first government of any kind to break from the United States since the Civil War. And then suing the U.S. for $1,000,000,000 in aid.And they didn't stop there.Join me as I Take a TALK Down Memory Lane and recall the day that Key West Seceded from the Union and all that followed.2.23.24Send Me a MessageSupport the showClick the Leave A Message link above to text Bill Monty...FREE!Share your Memories here: Send a voice message to TalesFromSouthFloridaVisit our website at Tales From South Florida Want to be a guest on Tales From South Florida? Send Bill Monty a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17520056164340322cfae84a5 - Search Share your South Florida memories with us at Talesfromsouthflorida@gmail.com or leave us a voice mailat 754-800-3170. Be sure to tell us your name and the best way to contact you as well as the story you'd like to tell.
SummarySouth Florida's Wild Kingdom
Apr 1500:14:31Summary readyBuy Me a Coffee to help support the show. Thank you.Explore the fascinating world of animal species found only in Florida. From the elusive Florida panther to the tiny Key deer and rare Miami blue butterfly, this episode of Tales From South Florida takes you on a nostalgic journey through the wild side of the Sunshine State.PLUS: stay tuned to the end for the first of our FLORIDA FUN FACTS #FloridaWildlife #SouthFlorida #Everglades #FloridaKeys #NaturePodcast #WildFlorida #FloridaPanther #KeyDeer #TakeATalkDownMemoryLane #TalesFromSouthFlorida #FloridaNature #OldFlorida #PodcastLife #EcosystemSend Me a MessageSupport the showClick the Leave A Message link above to text Bill Monty...FREE!Share your Memories here: Send a voice message to TalesFromSouthFloridaVisit our website at Tales From South Florida Want to be a guest on Tales From South Florida? Send Bill Monty a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17520056164340322cfae84a5 - Search Share your South Florida memories with us at Talesfromsouthflorida@gmail.com or leave us a voice mailat 754-800-3170. Be sure to tell us your name and the best way to contact you as well as the story you'd like to tell.
SummaryWhat's In A Name: Broward, Dade and Monroe Counties
Apr 100:14:09Summary readyBuy Me a Coffee to help support the show. Thank you.Every day we travel from Broward County to Miami-Dade County to Monroe County, but have you ever stopped to wonder why the counties have those names? I have. Come with me, your host Bill Monty, to Take a TALK Down Memory Lane and explore the origins of Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties in South Florida, tracing their names to key historical figures and events. From early U.S. territorial expansion to the Seminole Wars and the transformation of the Everglades, the episode connects the region’s geography to its deeper historical roots.Mentioned in This Episode: The Cooley Massacre#SouthFloridahistory #BrowardCounty #DadeCounty #MonroeCounty #Floridahistory #Everglades# NapoleonBonaparteBroward #FrancisLDade #JamesMonroe #Florida #Seminole Wars #SouthFloridapodcastReferences (General Historical Sources):· Florida state historical archives· National Park Service – Everglades history· Florida Memory Project· U.S. historical records on the Second Seminole WarSend Me a MessageSupport the showClick the Leave A Message link above to text Bill Monty...FREE!Share your Memories here: Send a voice message to TalesFromSouthFloridaVisit our website at Tales From South Florida Want to be a guest on Tales From South Florida? Send Bill Monty a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17520056164340322cfae84a5 - Search Share your South Florida memories with us at Talesfromsouthflorida@gmail.com or leave us a voice mailat 754-800-3170. Be sure to tell us your name and the best way to contact you as well as the story you'd like to tell.
SummarySpring Break in Fort Lauderdale
Mar 2900:16:05Summary readyIt was a time like no other in recent memory. By the time it ended hundreds of thousands of college students were coming to Fort Lauderdale to spend their spring Break in the surf and the sun and living life to its fullest. How did the annual ritual of Spring Break begin, what catapulted it and Fort Lauderdale into the national spotlight and what ended it?Take a TALK down memory lane as we revisit a time of wet t-shirt contests, teeny-weeny bikini contests and the clubs that presented them.It's The Tale of Fort Lauderdale Spring Break2.28.24Send Me a MessageSupport the showClick the Leave A Message link above to text Bill Monty...FREE!Share your Memories here: Send a voice message to TalesFromSouthFloridaVisit our website at Tales From South Florida Want to be a guest on Tales From South Florida? Send Bill Monty a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17520056164340322cfae84a5 - Search Share your South Florida memories with us at Talesfromsouthflorida@gmail.com or leave us a voice mailat 754-800-3170. Be sure to tell us your name and the best way to contact you as well as the story you'd like to tell.
SummaryPioneers of South Florida: Marjory Stoneman Douglas
Mar 2200:09:26Summary readyDiscover the untold story of a Florida legend, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, on a journey through the remarkable life of the woman who gave voice—and fierce protection—to the Florida Everglades. You may recognize her name from a school or street sign, but her legacy runs far deeper. From her roots in Minneapolis to becoming the first female reporter at the Miami Herald and ultimately penning the book that redefined the future of the Sunshine State, Marjory's story is one of courage, grit, and unstoppable impact. This podcast episode was mentioned:John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and Key Largo Memories7.2.25Send Me a MessageSupport the showClick the Leave A Message link above to text Bill Monty...FREE!Share your Memories here: Send a voice message to TalesFromSouthFloridaVisit our website at Tales From South Florida Want to be a guest on Tales From South Florida? Send Bill Monty a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17520056164340322cfae84a5 - Search Share your South Florida memories with us at Talesfromsouthflorida@gmail.com or leave us a voice mailat 754-800-3170. Be sure to tell us your name and the best way to contact you as well as the story you'd like to tell.
SummaryHugh Taylor Birch and The Bonnet House: Pioneers of South Florida
Mar 1800:15:25Summary readyBuy Me a Coffee to help support the show. Thank you.Take a TALK Down Memory Lane and explore the life and legacy of Hugh Taylor Birch, the Chicago businessman whose land purchases helped shape Fort Lauderdale’s development. The story continues through his daughter Helen Birch Bartlett and her husband Frederic Clay Bartlett, whose artistic vision created the historic Bonnet House estate. Together, their legacy helped preserve vital natural land in Broward County and led to the creation of Hugh Taylor Birch State Park. These are true Pioneers of South Florida.Mentioned in this episode: Henry Flagler and the Train That Built FloridaSources• Bonnet House Museum & Gardens historical archives • Florida Department of Environmental Protection – Hugh Taylor Birch State Park history • National Register of Historic Places documentation for Bonnet House • Friends of Birch State Park historical materials • Broward County historical recordsSend Me a MessageSupport the showClick the Leave A Message link above to text Bill Monty...FREE!Share your Memories here: Send a voice message to TalesFromSouthFloridaVisit our website at Tales From South Florida Want to be a guest on Tales From South Florida? Send Bill Monty a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17520056164340322cfae84a5 - Search Share your South Florida memories with us at Talesfromsouthflorida@gmail.com or leave us a voice mailat 754-800-3170. Be sure to tell us your name and the best way to contact you as well as the story you'd like to tell.
SummaryYamato: South Florida's Forgotten Town
Mar 400:09:17Tap to summarizeBuy Me a Coffee to help support the show. Thank you.Once upon a time there was a small agricultural community founded by a group of immigrants looking for a better life. The whole enterprise was successful for a brief moment in time. Now it exists as the name of a road in Boca Raton and in the beauty of the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens. Take a TALK Down Memory Lane as we revisit the forgotten town of Yamato, Fl. #floridatravel #browardcounty #history #stories #miznerpark #bocaratonMentioned in this episode: South Florida Small TownsSend Me a MessageSupport the showClick the Leave A Message link above to text Bill Monty...FREE!Share your Memories here: Send a voice message to TalesFromSouthFloridaVisit our website at Tales From South Florida Want to be a guest on Tales From South Florida? Send Bill Monty a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17520056164340322cfae84a5 - Search Share your South Florida memories with us at Talesfromsouthflorida@gmail.com or leave us a voice mailat 754-800-3170. Be sure to tell us your name and the best way to contact you as well as the story you'd like to tell.
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