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Summertime in Sarasota in 1947 was when most everyone went into slow gear.  Even back then some people invaded the mountains of north Georgia and the western Carolinas.  With no I-75 super hi-way, an auto trip to Atlanta meant an overnight stay en-route in a Mom and Pop owned roadside cabin.  Do you remember seeing all those chenille bedspreads and rugs hanging on a clothesline?  Bargains Galore!!

But us stay-at-homes were not left with no amusement or diversions.  Sure, many of the downtown stores (were there any other kind??) closed at noon on Wednesday and doctors had no office hours on Thursday afternoons.

For a day at the beach, just roll up your bathing suit in a big bath towel, put a dine in the slot on the Cities Transit bus and in no time at all you're in the pool at the Lido Beach Casino.

For evening entertainment, Mr. Vincent, manager of the Florida Theater came up with Thursday night talent contests, live, on the stage.  Among the contestants were dance groups, baton twirlers, acrobats, jugglers, vocal soloists and a quartet-Five Guys And A Gal.  We started out with four of us, first tenor, second tenor, alto and bass.  In case one of us couldn't make a gig we went to five.  So, each of us had to learn two parts so we could fill in for each other.

What did we sing?  "Chloe", "Dry Bones", "Moonglow", and "All Through The Day".

Who were we? Left to right; Betty Ann Merry, George (Pete) Esthus, Morgan Stafford, Leslie Rice, John Bayliss and O.J. Hendry.  Pete was out of uniform but he loved those black and white wingtips.  Life was/is good.