Prior to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Miami was a racially segregated city and Black visitors were not welcome in the fancy local hotels. The Hampton House Motel and Villas, originally opened in 1954 as the Booker Terrace Motel, was the most prominent lodging establishment that provided Black guests with accommodations.
“The Torch of Freedom” is a 1962 promotional film produced after Harry and Florence Markowitz acquired and upgraded the establishment with a new style designed by architect Robert Karl Frese. The film is unusual as it was the only production of the Jim Crow era designed to encourage Black tourism in Miami.
The Hampton House attracted many significant visitors – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Roy Wilkins, Althea Gibson, Jackie Robinson and Jackie Wilson are seen in the film. The film spends a great deal of time at the establishment’s pool and in its nightclub – and considering that nearly all of Miami’s public pools and nightclubs were not welcoming of Black patrons, these were the only places that Black tourists could luxuriate without harassment. The venue also hosts its own beauty contest, albeit as a much smaller scale effort compared to the Miss Universe competition that was also taking place across town.
The film avoids acknowledging the level of discrimination in Miami and tries hard to play up the belief that it is an integrated city. There are sequences where Black visitors mingle without incident at the popular tourist attractions and shopping district. The only mention of race in the film involves the Orange Blossom North and South Golf Tournament, which “draws top Colored stars from throughout the nation.” Still, the truth seeps out in odd moments, most notably when a Black family congregates by themselves in a segment highlighting Miami’s fabled beaches – it is hard not to wonder why they’re the only ones on that section of the beach.
Ultimately, the film cannot hide the fact that the Hampton House was a modest little motel and not a fancy resort, despite the celebrities that turned up. But for the era, it was a friendly oasis in an environment where its guests were still being treated as second-class citizens. Florida Memory has re-digitized the film for online presentation, and it should be a must-see for anyone interested in Black American history.
“The Torch of Freedom” can be seen here.