Libman, Robert interview

Permanent Link:: http://dpanther.fiu.edu/dpService/dpPurlService/purl/MBVM000013/00001

Material Information

Subjects / Keywords:: Oral histories -- Miami Beach (Fla.)
Hospitality Industry -- Food Service -- United States -- Florida -- Miami Beach
Tourism -- Social aspects -- United States -- Florida
Genre:: Video Recordings
Spatial Coverage:: United States -- Florida -- Miami Beach
Coordinates:: 25.8116481 x -80.1927944

Scope and Content:: Robert Libman came to Miami Beach with his parents when he was 14 years old. He was a scrawny boy so his father bought him some barbells and Libman eventually became a champion weight lifter and judo instructor during the Korean War. While in high school, he and a friend started The Rhythm Club, a place where youth under 21 years old could socialize with soft drinks and ice cream while being entertained by black performers from Overtown in downtown Miami. They charged a dollar per visit and were so successful they were written up in the newspaper. Libman's father Abe ran the Betsy Ross Hotel, among others, and booked the first black convention on Miami Beach. Libman tells how local bookies set up business in the lobby during the convention to keep an eye out for any trouble from white protestors. There were no incidents. Libman is a member of the "Peripheral Land Group," developers who specialize in orphaned parcels of land leftover from mall development. Libman was CEO of Lums, which began on Miami Beach, famous for its beer-steamed hotdogs.