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Don Boyd | all galleries >> Memories of Old Hialeah, Old Miami and Old South Florida Photo Galleries - largest non-Facebook collection on the internet >> Miami Area RESTAURANTS, Drive-Ins, Bars, Lounges, Liquor Stores, Clubs, Strip Joints, etc. Gallery - All Years - click to view > Early 1950's - The Great Gables, world's most beautiful drive-in restaurant
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Early 1950's From a postcard

Early 1950's - The Great Gables, world's most beautiful drive-in restaurant

Tamiami Trail (SW 8th Street) and Ponce de Leon, Coral Gables


other sizes: small medium original auto
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Kevin Preciado 24-Apr-2019 05:08
Looking the architectural elements of this Drive-In it stands to be a dead ringer for the very famous Douglas Honnold penned and 1949 constructed Tiny Naylor’s Hollywood.
This icon sat just north of the former Charlie Chaplin Studios-(now Jim Henson Productions) on Sunset & La Brea.

I used to look forward to passing it, stopping in for dinner/breakfast and felt very welcome knowing it was there... Until a theme that continues to this day of demolishing very nice architectural landmarks for non descript mini mall boxes.....
Sadly it was razed in 1984 and was caught in film sequence being torn apart.

I was surprised to see that this duplicate existed and in “The Sunshine State” of all places. The Great Gables Drive in seems to be much altered from its original architectural elements that made it identifiable as a Honnold penned Drive-In.

I would love to see some actual images of the GGD-I if anyone could muster some up .
DIANNE Whitman Glick 09-Jul-2017 02:33
I was a very good friend of Ilene Goldstein. She was the daughter of Walter and Estelle. Sadly Ilene passed away. We did spend many fun hours at the GG.
Leighton 09-Apr-2017 13:57
January 2017 - still there.
Orin Hollander 02-Jun-2016 03:17
by the way, anyone interested in a DVD of the 1961 Miami High - Edison State Championship game on TG? Miami won 14 - 0
Orin Hollander 02-Jun-2016 03:16
Orin Hollander EP 1962-64: Went there often with my sisters and the EP brothers. What a great time.
Leighton 20-Apr-2016 14:28
Oops, my first comment disappeared. The front of the building faces SW 39th, with the back at Ponce. The imprint now, is barely recognizable, but it is the same building. But for sale, and likely won't last much longer...
Leighton 20-Apr-2016 14:27
Yes, it is indeed the same building, as I zoomed in, on the Streetview pics. Owners have surrounded it with billboards. Still there in Nov of 2015!
Jerry Ford 05-Oct-2013 10:51
My email is jerryford46@yahoo.it,, thanks
Jerry Ford 05-Oct-2013 10:50
anyone have a real photo of this drive-in ?? I cannot remember it for the life of me, and i went by almost every day of my young life
Michael Chanin 12-Sep-2013 19:08
As cousin Mel stated, the restaurant was owned by Danny and Walter Goldstein, and their brother-in-law, Jack Chickansky (my father).
It was quite a unique restaurant - one of the first that offered curb service.
Times changed - Miracle Mile became too popular with its restaurants.
The Great Gables closed its doors, and the three young men went their separate ways, but only for a short while.
They opened the popular Danny's Restaurant in Surfside, Miami Beach and the rest is history - several year of history - from about 1962 until the mid 90's.
THOSE 2 RESTAURANTS WILL BE MISSED AS WELL AS THEIR OWNERS - WALTER, DANNY AND JACK.
jmore 19-Jul-2013 05:55
nice nice place jmpalmcity@gmail.com
Don Boyd16-Jul-2013 03:32
Thank you everyone for your comments and information, especially Earl Sedlik who provided the location and background on the restaurant.

Don
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Mel Goldstein 19-Jan-2013 20:07
Mel Goldstein- Miami High "57, Sigma Rho '54-'57 The Great Gables was built in 1952, and opened in 1953 by two brothers and a brother-in-law. They were Walter, who was my Dad, Danny, and Jack Chickansky (husband of Estelle) I was the oldest of the nephews and nieces and my brother, Marvin and I often worked in the restaurant helping our father. I am living in Delray Beach, and am thankful for this flashback. I will gladly discuss Sigma Rho prior to 1958. email me at melynngold@yahoo.com
Phil Genet 28-May-2009 18:01
Jack Blumenfeld: Phil Genet, EP, Gables 65. How are you? Please send me e mail at: phil@genetwestern.com Steve Rohan, Howie Neufeld and I discussing a EP reunion down the line. Any help, info, or EP history aprreciated. How is Mike?
Long time since our last meetings! EP ALWAYS 5/29/09
Don Boyd04-Mar-2009 15:01
Thank you Earl, Jack, Michael and Rachelle for providing first hand information on this beautiful drive-in and providing some memories.

Don
EARL SEDLIK 04-Mar-2009 07:40
Right oin the Trail near the Ponce de Leon connection to Coral Gables, this was the high class drive-in onwed my Marvin Goldstein's family. It was the quintesential 50's drive-in for the Jewish Crowd (the goyim frequented Paley's Big Wheel) with dining inside too. The Miami High fratenity guys would hang out here and switch from car to car. I once climbed in the back window of a freind's car (not Howard Cantor's '57 chevy which was too nice to mess with) to impress a girl (Lee Roth) - my ribs hurt for a week. The corn beef sandwiches were great and the shakes were real ice cream. Our other favorite spot was Red Diamond.
Jack Blumenfeld 17-Feb-2009 00:22
It was owned by the Goldstein family. Marvin graduated MHS in 1960 and was and is my closest friend. It was the hangout for our fraternity Sigma Rho.
Michael Osman 15-Feb-2009 18:02
Favorite hangout for our Eta Sigma Phi brothers. If you were lucky you got Tilly to serve you at the drive in spot.
Rachelle S.F. 13-Feb-2009 06:06
I think my neighbors "The Goldsteins" may have been the original owners or managers of this place for many years. The last I heard, their son was a private eye in South Florida. We went to MHS '60. I don't recall ever going to the drive-in.
Don Boyd24-Dec-2008 04:47
Thanks Dick, I got some bad info on the years obviously and I'll correct the date and sequence in the gallery.

Don
Dick Raymer 23-Dec-2008 22:43
Great Gables was built no earlier than '52 or '53