Tag Archives: mcbobleonard

St Pete’s Home Shopping Network Started With 112 Can-Openers

In 1977 Lowell “Bud” Paxson, owner of WWQT 1470 AM Radio in Saint Petersburg had a problem – an advertiser dropped out leaving the station with 112 avocado green-colored can openers. Paxson assigned his top on-air personality Bob Circosta three … Continue reading

Posted in florida history | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ride And Drop Bike Riding Comes To Tampa and Orlando

Central Florida has recently joined a popular trend of recreational biking: bike sharing where people rent the use of bikes by the hour or have a monthly membership and pick up the bikes at hub locations thanks to a unique … Continue reading

Posted in florida history | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Webb’s Candy Factory Has Had The Sweets For Central Florida

A few miles south of I-4 on US27 in Davenport stands Webb’s Candy Shop and Ice Cream. It is a real candy factory, featuring products that tourists were enjoying eighty years ago. The store is actually the result of the … Continue reading

Posted in florida history | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Uncle Charlie’s Ghost Still Working For Florida’s Oldest Saloon

It is appropriate that the Fernandina Beach’s Palace Saloon, the oldest continuous bar in Florida, should be haunted. It seems most of Florida’s oldest buildings have their ghost stories and guiding tourists on nightly spook walks has become a profitable … Continue reading

Posted in florida history | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Triton Subs Puts Florida On The Underwater Map

Who cares about powerboats and kayaks when you can cruise the oceans with your own personal submarine. Better yet, place it on your big yacht and cruise the world’s oceans both above and below. TRITON SUBMARINES (http://tritonsubs.com), located at 90015 … Continue reading

Posted in florida history | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Redneck Yacht Club – No Boats Allowed

When my father was Sports Editor of the newspaper in Punta Gorda – it was fishing, hunting, and football …. then fishing, hunting, and football. Not anymore. Charlotte County has the Redneck Yacht Club – one of the largest and … Continue reading

Posted in florida history | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Disney FastPass+ Causing Lots Of Controversy

Unlike a lot of Disneyphiles the idea of being able to book a FastPass+ in advance and sticking my “blue MagicBand” into the system doesn’t bother me. I’m an old cuss and I hate rushing across Disney parks to book … Continue reading

Posted in florida history | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Fantasy of Flight Attraction Is Closing

Fantasy of Flight, the attraction at Polk City off I-4, is closing its main facilities after 18 years of service. It is another of the “real things” attractions that haven’t been able to attract enough business from the gigantic “fantasy” … Continue reading

Posted in florida history | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Meanest Golf Hole In Florida

What is the meanest golf hole in Florida? Is it the 18th hole at the TPC Blue Monster? Or perhaps the 8th hole at the PGA National Champions Course? They may be tough on the professional players on the tour, … Continue reading

Posted in florida history | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bollywood’s Film Awards Come To Tampa, Florida

Tampa, Florida, may seem an unlikely destination for the 15th International India Film Academy show, but unlike the Oscars the IIFA Awards have been given out in Toronto, Macao, Dubai, Singapore, and Amsterdam. This will be the first IIFA convention … Continue reading

Posted in florida history | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment