1950’S JOHN HUTTER TRAVELOGUE FILM “THE FLORIDA KEYS: AMERICA’S TROPICAL PARADISE” KEY WEST XD44234
96,707
Published 2022-05-18
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This travelogue film takes viewers to Key West, Florida. Key west is an island and part of the Florida Keys archipelago. This is the southernmost point of Florida. The film was created by a world traveled lawyer named John Hutter. Hutter created these films with the introduction of “Chateau Hutter Films Presents” (:09) and planned to show them to guests at a resort lodge he had constructed in Wisconsin. Tragically, the resort was forced to close after Hutter had a dispute with the regional chamber of commerce and lost access to advertising outlets. The film opens with the fireplace in the living room of Chateau Hutter with the lawyer himself sitting near it (:33). A map shows the route from Miami to Key West is 130 miles (:45). The Everglades National Park is also to be toured (:59). Two men stand on the back of a small boat with fishing poles (1:12). The Rickenbacker Causeway plaza (1:18) leads to the islands off Key Biscayne and Virginia Key. The Atlantic and Gulf mini Railway are seen in Crandon park (1:22) which is connected to Miami through the Rickenbacker Toll Causeway. Coconut palms ride along the route as tourists take in sights (2:03). Coconut palms; not native to the area, were brought in from Caribbean’s. The road which is captured on film is part of an extension by Gulf Coast Railroad and the Florida East Coast Railroad (3:06). This railroad later became the modern highway seen in film as the world moved towards automobiles (4:45). A picturesque shot follows of the massive highway from the rocky shoreline (5:00). Mangrove trees spread their roots in the crystal blue waters (5:27). Pelicans stand among the rocks (5:33). St. Paul’s Church; from the 19th century, rises in brilliant white off Duval Street in Key West (5:51). A sign offers popular meals including steak chops, turtle steaks, and the turtle burger (6:03). The main industries in Key West are considered to be fishing, sponging, canning of turtle soup and the manufacturing of cigars. Residential homes in the area are depicted (6:24). Two young boys play in a Silver Comet wagon (6:29). Modern and upscale homes and resorts are seen recently erected as the tourism industry began to bloom here (6:53). The film turns to the Everglades National Park (7:41) covering over one million acres. A sign points the way to the Anhinga Trail (8:08). Wildlife are filmed in the area including egrets (8:48) which had nearly been hunted to extinction prior to the park’s establishment. A turtle (9:36) and an alligator are also captured (10:03). Crocodiles generally prefer saltwater though some are seen in the Everglades (10:28). The freshwater heron bird is seen (11:07). A picturesque shot of a sunset captured between palm trees follows (11:26). The film concludes and had been produced at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin (11:29).
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All Comments (21)
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I am a sucker for Florida nostalgia. When it was still very undeveloped and wild.
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I used to talk to an old man Robert Strickland ( aka Dad ) he told me he was in a railroad car out of Key West when the big Labor Day Hurricane came he said that the waves we're so high crashing over the railroad trustle getting everyone wet inside the railroad cars always love listening to those stories rest in peace Robert. Never Forget YOU !!!
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Grew up on Key Biscayne back in the day. We kids had the run of the island. It was a magical place then...
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Would loved to be in KW back then. Lived there from 69-73. It has surely changed a lot. Can only imagine how nice it was back in the 50’s.
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So nice to see people and young children without a cellphones and actually caring for others when they are listening to them or engaging
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Been there once during spring break 1964. Drove the two lane highway in a Plymouth Valiant all the way. Still have a black and white picture of the car by a sign that read something about the beginning of U.S. 1. Back then it was all about Ernest Hemingway.
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It wasn't until I moved away from the lower keys that I realized how amazing it was to grow up on big pine. Moved back after a year and a half in Colorado and I'll be here until we sink, and hopefully long after that
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My mother loved this. She grew up in Miami back in the 60s and visited Key West on vacations often. Loved seeing the Crandon Park Zoo train and the narrow bridges along the Overseas Highway that were scary as hell to drive across.
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The whole USA was a Wonderful place in the 40's,60's,60's70's,80's....today most these Paradise getaways are Destroyed ...Its Sickning and Depressing
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Nowadays the old roads depicted in this film are recreational fishing piers. I always shake my head at the thought of it being 2 lanes with pedestrians fishing too. And you can actually see it happening in this film.
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The old bridges never scared me, loved em , part of the old keys. So sad the way it is now. It was magical decades ago
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I lived there from '86 to 2020. I worked for Treasure Salvors and played music in every bar on Duval. Made "friends" with dozens of women and had a life I wouldn't trade for anything. Now it sucks. Sorry if you missed it 😃
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Ah to see Key West in the 'old days'....now its the land of the multi million dollar home and the $500/night hotels :)
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Thanks for sharing this wonderful old color film of THE FLORIDA KEYS AND MIAMI! We lived there since 1948 till 2010 and it sure brought back old memories of that area…back when South Florida was a wonderful place to live…NOT ANY LONGER…BUT the Florida KEYS still is fantastic 👍
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I love these old travelogues, sometimes they will show this stuff on on TCM, or other cable networks as a fill in....things how they use to be, less crowded, simpler life, nice !
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Grew up there in the 60's......islamorada and key largo.had my boat ,and my friends ....would go pool hopping at Howard Johnson's,the islander,Jerry's sunset inn.......
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A lot of my moms family lived in the Keys from the late 50's thru the 80's. I have some good memories as a kid in the late 60's and 70's visiting them. Drove thru to KW last year, first time in forever. How I wish I bought my aunt place in Key Largo for next to nothing when she sold in "88....just wasn't on my radar then! Ha!
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I grew up in south Florida and remember the seven mile bridge. Driving on it was a terrifying white knuckle drive at night with no shoulder and oncoming traffic! Thanks for putting this video. Loved it! 🌴🌺🐊🦩
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Thank you for the wonderful look back. Those truly were the days.
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Me encanta key west florida, vivo aquí hace 3 años es el lugar más lindo de mundo. ♥️😍🏝🌴🥥🌊
