Nov. 18 - Captain Tony's Bar Becomes"On Limits"to Navy Personnel - a podcast by 43 Keys Media

Anthony was born on August 10, 1916 in Elizabeth New Jersey. His father was an immigrant who made his living as a bootlegger during these times of Prohibition. 

  By the time Anthony was heading into high school, he decided his time would be better spent making whiskey and selling it to his Father’s customers.    During the war, he left to work for Boeing aircraft company in Seattle. After the war, he returned to NJ and began gambling on horse races to earn money. Well, you can imagine the mob characters that Anthony was dealing with and eventually he crossed them one too many times.   One particularly close call happened with the Mafia decided to teach him a lesson he would never forget. Anthony was beaten within an inch of his life and tossed into the Newark City dump, where he was left for dead. Instead of becoming a feather in the cap of the mafia - Anthony survived, and knew that he needed to get out of town and make a fresh start.    Anthony decided to head south to Florida. He didn’t have much money - only $18 in his pocket when he saw a sign that said “See Key West”. Anthony stopped at the race track in Homestead and started inquiring about Key West. He had already missed the last bus heading to Key West, but instead caught a ride with the milk truck. When he finally rolled into Key West, Anthony couldn’t believe his eyes. Bars were on every corner, slot machines all of the place and there were more women of ill repute than he could shake a stick at.   He immediately said to himself, “This place is for me!” Anthony got work in the shrimp yards, heading shrimp. He eventually had some shrimp captains take him under their wing and show him the ins and outs of shrimping. Later, Anthony got his Captain’s license and began his fishing career. He had a great career and became a highly sought after charter fishing captain, and he held plenty of records!   Eventually, Anthony began spending more time in the bars on Duval street. He loved the night life. He got along great with gay people because his brother was gay. He loved a good party, and knew everyone in town. He eventually had an affair with one of the Navy wines he met at a bar and caused quite a scandal. Eventually, the gay bar owner left town and committed suicide. So Anthony’s favorite bar closed down.   Anthony missed that bar so much, that eventually his friends talked him into opening that bar back up. The word-famous bar that used to be Sloppy Joe’s and plied booze to the likes of Ernest Hemingway and Truman Capote now became Captain Tony’s bar. Anthony or “Captain Tony” as everyone knew him kept the place just like it was and could be seen there nearly every day of the week, until a couple of weeks before he died.   It was today in Key West History, November 18th, 1964 that this Establishment, formerly known as the Oldest Bar at 428 Greene Street was placed “on limits” to Navy personnel.  Can you imagine the stories that building could tell? I mean, the gays, the shrimpers, the women of ill repute, and now the Navy boys - what a time they had.   And that is what happened today in Key West History.   Today in Key West History is brought to you by 43Keys Media. To learn more fascinating stories about our beautiful Florida Keys and the Eccentrics who have called it home for generations, visit 43keys.com

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