Chapter 47: Paridise Is

Tue, Oct 13, 1970

Fleetwood Mac, Savory Brown & Long John Baldry, Day 1 of 6 @ Radio City Music Hall, NYC, 8pm.

“Sittin’ in the mornin’ sun,

I’ll be sittin’ in the evening come.

Watchin’ the ships roll in,

then I watch ‘em roll away again.

Yeah, I’m sittin’ on the dock of the bay,

watching the tide roll away.

I’m jus’ sittin’ on the dock of the bay...

Wastin’ time

I left my home in Georgia,

headed for the ‘frisco bay.

’Cos I’ve had nothing to live for,

and looks like nothin’s gonna come my way.

So, I’m jus’ gonna sit on the dock of the bay,

watching the tide roll away.

I’m jus’ sittin’ on the dock of the bay...

Wastin’ time.

Look like, nothin’s gonna change.

Everything still remain the same.

I can’t do what ten people tell me to do,

so I guess I’ll remain the same.

Yes, sittin here resting my bones,

and this loneliness won’t leave me alone.

Two thousand miles I roamed,

jus’ to make this dock my home.

Now I’m jus’ gonna sit at the dock of the bay,

watchin’ the tide roll away.

Ooh, yeah, I’m sittin’ on the dock of the bay...

Wastin’ time.”

(Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay

By Otis Redding

Paradise Island, was originally named Hog Island, & contained 685 Acres. It was an Island that was across Nassau Harbour from New Providence Island, where Nassau was.

Paradise Island Resort, was 1st developed in 1962, by the Heir to the A&P Supermarket fortune.

George Huntington Hartford, “Hunt”, 59yo in 1970, was going to be U-Corp’s 30th Partner, as he was joining forces with us.

We had already added our US Ops Chief for C-4, the CEO of AMC, Roy Chapin, to be our 28th Partner, as he was that valuable to us. He was thrilled to be included as a Full Partner, & would be getting 1/30 of all Dividends from U-Corp. Just think how much that would be.

Fidel Castro, was also becoming a Partner, on behalf of all Cuba. It was another way to help his People. He was Partner #29.

A&P was the biggest Supermarket Chain, from 1915-1975. It would go Bankrupt in 2015. As Pug, I knew that was going to happen, but everyone else thought A&P would be around forever. I would make sure we stayed successful, selling out if I thought we couldn’t make a go of it.

If we could Buy Krogers too, maybe we could merge A&P with Krogers. Combined, I thought it would be a winner. Another small Chain I wanted to Buy or Partner with, was Publix Supermarkets, out of Lakeland, FL. My Mom thought it a great store. I worked at one in Tampa, while in High School.

Huntington, “Hunt” had begun a Casino ASAP, getting a Casino License. He merged his Casino & Resort, into Resorts International, taking Control of it. That had happened in 1968.

Hunt was becoming a Partner, bringing to U-Corp, A&P, as well as Resorts International.

We would group all our Gambling Operations under Resorts International, as well as all our other Hotels, Resorts, Golf Courses, etc. We would have a Central Dispatch, which would keep track of every Property. This way, if we had options where to Vacation, we could use lesser used places. This let us Rent Out the Popular ones, helping with Cash Flow, fo sho.

Hunt built Bridges to Paradise Island, from New Providence Island, where Nassau is located. One Bridge is Northbound to Paradise Island, the other Southbound to Nassau.

Huntington 1st built the Ocean Club, where the Staff from the famous Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, worked at the Ocean Club, during the off-season. The Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, is in Antibes, on the French Riviera, aka the Côte d’Azur, so those Staff were the best.

He added The Cloisters, which were from the 14th Century, that William Randolph Hearst had rescued. Hunt had found them in a Warehouse somewhere, adding them to the Gardens of the Ocean Club.

Cafe Martinique was also opened early on too.

There was the 18-Hole, Ocean Club Golf Course too, making Sean Connery happy. It was located on the East End of Paradise Island. It was beautifully designed, like Pebble Beach.

So far, almost all the development was on the East part of Paradise Island. We would develop the West side when demand justified it. Of course, the Atlantis Casino Resort & Marina, would be the biggie.

Hurricane Hole Marina, was built in a semi-circle shape, with 55 Slips, large & small. It is located on the South side of Paradise Island, facing Nassau Harbour, which divides Paradise Island & New Providence Island.

In the 1980’s, Merv Griffin bought Resorts International, for 400 Million, but that won’t happen this time. We’ll keep it in-house.

WE would eventually build the Atlantis Resort, but until then, we would run Paradise Island as another great Resort.

In 1970, the main components of Paradise Island were the Paradise Island Casino, Ocean Club, Ocean Club Golf Course, Holiday Inn, & Hurricane Hole Marina.

Wallace Groves, & Bill Harrah combined forces with Hunt, to expand & improve the Casino on Paradise Island. 1st, was to get rid of any dishonest workers, who Bill quickly discovered were rampant.

Bill Harrah, was the 1st to have an Eye in the Sky, which were places Security Staff could try to catch any Casino Staff cheating Customers. He mainly used it to Catch Customers though, Card Thieves, Palming Cards, Counting Cards, etc.

The Holiday Inn-Sunspree Paradise Island, now called the Warwick, had opened in 1967. It was just to the South of Hurricane Hole. It had 12 Floors, with 246 Rooms, along with 2 Restaurants. Some of us decided to stay there, while some were enjoying the Boating Life, staying Aboard a vessel in the Marina.

We were going to combine Hurricane Hole Marina, & the Holiday Inn, along with the strip between them. The Lot was used to store Containers, so we were going to replace them with a 7,000 Seat Theatre & Event Venue. It would eventually be the Hurricane House of Blues.

We were renaming the Complex, the Westin Hurricane Hole Marina, Hotel & Beach Club.

Most of us decided to stay in the Bungalows, Villas & Suites at the Ocean Club. Between 19 Units, there were 38 Bedrooms, so each Partner could get a Room.

There were 3 Swimming Pools at the Ocean Club too, delighting the Kinder.

The Ocean Club’s Gardens, were built at a narrow spot, & the Garden went between Nassau Harbour, clear across the Island, to the Atlantic. They stepped up, as the elevation changed inland. The Cloisters were midway, at the highest point.

We had invited Bob Seger to hang out at Paradise Island, as I wanted Bob to be the Host Band there.

Eric Clapton & all his Bands were taking over Highborne Cay. Duane Allman & the Allman Brothers Band were sharing it too. They had become addicted to Deep Sea Fishing. They loved Hemingway’s old Pilar.

Eric Clapton would start his Crossroads Rehab Center on Highbourne Cay. He would set up a 2nd one on Antigua.

Bob Marley & The Wailers were claiming the Peace & Plenty Hotel Resort, as well as all of George Town. They had loved the vibe there. It would be a nice change from Jamaica.

I was enjoying helping out these Bands. I thought they would be more relaxed & creative in these awesome places.

Derek & the Dominos, Bob Marley & The Wailers & the Allman Brothers Band were off On Tour together. They were the 1st to Fly in a Retrofitted Pan Am Boeing 707, that had been Tricked-Out, by Jet Aviation BSL. It was the 1st of the Luxury Division of Pan Am.

Juan Trippe had taken some of his earlier 707’s out of Service, replacing them with new Boeing 727’s.

He took the best for Custom Charters. The rest he turned into Freighters, always needed.

All would get Efficiency & Safety Upgrades, with the newest & most efficient Engines & Instruments. We made all Upgrades to be quieter too. All our Crews tried to lessen our impact on the Airport’s neighbors.

Juan & Pan Am had always been the Leader in new Safety Items, especially regarding Navigation & Radios, as he had been the 1st to cross the Pacific.

Besides Bob Seger, we had also reached out to Berry Gordy, Jr, 40yo, Founder of MoTown Records. He was becoming another Partner, bringing with him MoTown Records, & all its Artists. He had Founded MoTown in 1957.

Bob Seger & Berry Gordy, Jr, had Chartered the 2nd Pan Am Luxury Charter Jet, bringing a bunch from Motor City Detroit.

Mary Wells, The Marvalettes, The Jackson 5, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Martha & the Vandellas, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Rare Earth, etc.

MoTown was about to move to LA, after the Detroit Riots of 1967, but were still using the Hitsville U.S.A. Studio, that opened in Detroit, in 1959. We were trying to Heal Detroit, as it was huge to C-4.

Hunt also Owned the old Savoy Theatre, on Bay St, in Nassau, between the 2 Bridges. Bay St is just across Nassau Harbour, from Paradise Island, so it was easy to do Shuttle Loops from Paradise Island to The Savoy.

The Savoy was a classic, built in 1938, & held 650, with 2 Wrap-around Balconies.

As Ralf, The Savoy Closed in 1978, eventually being Torn Down. NO! We quickly put it in a Trust Fund Baby.

It was gorgeous inside, as Hunt had already Restored it.

Bob Seger & all of MoTown, put on Shows for the next few days, starting at Noon, ending at 3am. We had 3 Shifts of Staff. All of Nassau just popped in & out, including us. We had also adopted the Nassau Bus System, Sponsoring it, so it became Ride-Free 24/7. This was its inception, bringing all back to The Savoy. All Running on Propane, of course.

Wed, Oct 14, 1970

Fleetwood Mac, Savory Brown & Long John Baldry, Day 2 of 6 @ Radio City Music Hall, NYC, 8pm., Day 2 of 6 @ Radio City Music Hall, NYC, 8pm.

”You always won, every-time you placed a bet

You’re still damn good, no one’s gotten to you yet

Every-time they were sure they had you caught

You were quicker than they thought

You’d just turn your back and walk

You always said, the cards would never do you wrong

The trick you said was never play the game too long

A gambler’s share, the only risk that you would take

The only loss you could forsake

The only bluff you couldn’t fake

And you’re still the same

I caught up with you yesterday

Moving game to game

No one standing in your way

Turning on the charm

Long enough to get you by

You’re still the same

You still aim high

There you stood, everybody watched you play

I just turned and walked away

I had nothing left to say

’Cause you’re still the same

You’re still the same

Moving game to game

Some things never change

You’re still the same”

Still the Same

By Bob Seger

Crowley Maritime, was taking over Running the Docks on Potters Cay, which is in Nassau Harbour, between Nassau & Paradise Island. It supports Pilings for the 2 Bridges too. It will be a great way to support our needs, as well as all of The Bahamas.

Tom Crowley quickly fired most of the old, lazy & corrupt Dock Workers. They were Stealing w/o anyone caring for years.

Lynden Pindling, the Prime Minister & Tom Crowley hand selected the new Crews, as there were no Unions back then. All came under U-Corp, so Lynden knew they would be taken care of.

Container Docks weren’t common yet, just getting introduced as a better option. Until Containers, all Freight had to Moved one Piece at a Time, sometimes a whole Pallet or Bundle, but still time consuming & dangerous. Much more pilferage & damage too.

We were in Talks with American President Lines, APL, begun in 1948. They were the Inventors of InterModal Freight, using Containers, that you could Load in Paris, France, have it P/U, delivered to a Port, Loaded onto a Ship headed to anywhere, then delivered to your Customer. Except for Inspections, your Freight would be Closed-Up, Safe. We would Combine APL & Crowley.

Thur, Oct 15, 1970

Fleetwood Mac, Savory Brown & Long John Baldry, Day 3 of 6 @ Radio City Music Hall, NYC, 8pm., Day 3 of 6 @ Radio City Music Hall, NYC, 8pm.

”I take my card and I stand in line

To make a buck I work overtime

Dear Sir letters keep coming in the mail

I work my back till it’s racked with pain

The boss can’t even recall my name

I show up late and I’m docked

It never fails

I feel like just another

Spoke in a great big wheel

Like a tiny blade of grass

In a great big field

To workers I’m just another drone

To Ma Bell I’m just another phone

I’m just another statistic on a sheet

To teachers I’m just another child

To IRS I’m just another file

I’m just another consensus on the street

Gonna cruise out of this city

Head down to the sea

Gonna shout out at the ocean

Hey it’s me

And I feel like a number

Feel like a number

Feel like a stranger

A stranger in this land

I feel like a number

I’m not a number

I’m not a number

Dammit I’m a man

I said I’m a man”

Feel Like a Number

By Bob Seger

We were happy to learn, that we had finally Bought Flight Safety International, HQ at LGA, NYC. Pan Am had bought it, but we were gong to let Warren Buffett include its Management, with ours for Jet Aviation & NetJets. Now, all 3 could be Managed as a whole.

Flight Safety always had the newest & best Simulators. Pan Am & NetJets would use Flight Safety for 100% of our Pilot Instruction. Our Pilots would never be In-Need-Of-Training.

I Talk of being Stoned alot, but not with Safety. Ronnie Van Zant, & Lynyrd Skynyrd, Crashed & Burned, Oct 20, 1977. Ronnie & his Pilots had Partied late into that Morning, in no shape to Fly. They were in an old Convair CV-240 Twin Propeller Airliner. They Ran out of Fuel, Pilot Error, fo sho.

That won’t ever happen this time, as I would personally avoid that f/u Crash from happening. Lynyrd Skynyrd would be Flying on a Pan Am Charter, with Pilots stone sober.

Tonight, we had a few Special Guests. 1st was Ronnie Hawkins, “The Hawk”

He & Bob Seger did a great Duet of The Hawk’s Mary Lou. Bob would Record it later, including it in his Live Gigs.

We also were Hosting Dudley Moore & Peter Cook, from the old Beyond the Fringe Comedy Troupe.

Prince Charles loved Comedy, often Taking The Tube to Comedy Clubs in London. He was a fanatic for the old The Goon Show, on BBC-Radio.