And the Las Olas and downtown areas of Fort Lauderdale certainly went through changes through the years. The business district is now dotted with outdoor cafes. High-rise towers glisten in the distance. There’s a lot more traffic. And construction. Lots of construction.
Let’s take a look at how the two areas looked decades ago through the photo archives of the Miami Herald:
Hollywood
Hollywood Young Circle from the air in 1986. Miami Herald File
Hollywood’s Young Circle in the 1960s. Miami Herald File
In 1994, an aerial photo of U.S. 1 looking north through Young Circle in Hollywood. Miami Herald File
In 1994, an aerial photo looking west on Hollywood Boulevard from Young Circle. Miami Herald File
This is the view in 2002 from the 18th floor of a building looking southwest from Young Circle in Hollywood. Miami Herald File
Aerial view of Young Circle in the 1920s looking northeast. The Great Southern Hotel is at bottom left and the ocean is at the top. Miami Herald File
Hollywood Cinema, off of Young Circle in Hollywood, in 1995. Miami Herald File
The old Hollywood Cinema, near Young’s Circle, in 1993. Miami Herald File
In 1998, the renovation results of the Publix center at Young Circle in downtown Hollywood. Miami Herald File
The downtown Hollywood Publix in 1993. Miami Herald File
This photo was taken in 1934, when the bank building was occupied by First National Bank of Hollywood. Miami Herald File
The Hollywood Bread Building on the southeast corner of Young Circle. Miami Herald File
The Great Southern Hotel in the 1920s, near Young Circle in Hollywood. Miami Herald File
The Great Southern Hotel on Young Circle in Hollywood in 1991. Patrick Farrell Miami Herald File
The Great Southern Hotel in 2002. Candace West Miami Herald File
Hollywood Blvd. looking west from Young Circle in the 1970s. Miami Herald File
Hollywood Boulevard in 1923 Miami Herald File
Train tracks on Hollywood Boulevard Randy Bazemore The Miami Herald / John Rogers P
Hollywood-- A crime scene in 2001 at an apartment building on Young Circle in downtown Hollywood. J. Albert Diaz Miami Herald File
O’Hara’s, a jazz bar on Hollywood Boulevard in 1999, that is now a Twin Peaks. Miami Herald File
In 2006, Barry and Mary Bader of North Miami; and Kenny Bader, visiting from New City, enjoy a meal at the Coral Rose Cafe, 1840 Harrison St., in downtown Hollywood. Marsha Halper Miami Herald File
Shuckums restaurant in 2000 gets a crowd from the Y-100 Wing Ding. Candace West Miami Herald File
In 1999, workers put the finishing touches on the new La Piazza at Young Circle and Hollywood Boulevard, with stores and restaurants on the bottom and apartments above. Miami Herald File
In 2005, art patrons and artists packed the newest addition to downtown Hollywood’s art scene during the city’s latest Art Walk. Eileen Soler Miami Herald File
A saxaphonist performs in 1988 at the old amphitheater on Young Circle in downtown Hollywood. Miami Herald File
In 2004, the old Young Circle amphitheater about to be demolished. Miami Herald File
Work gets underway in late February 2006 for the Young Circle ArtsPark in Hollywood. The 12-acre interactive, cultural and recreational venue is at U.S. 1 and Hollywood Boulevard in downtown Hollywood. Miami Herald File
Fort Lauderale
Diners at Mark’s Las Olas restaurant in 1999. Miami Herald File
The outside dining area of Mangos in 1994. Miami Herald File
Mango in 1993, at the corner of Las Olas and Ninth Street. Miami Herald File
At the Riverside Hotel, 620 Las Olas Blvd., bartender John Hughes mixes drinks and talks with customers. Alan Freund Miami Herald File
Las Olas Art Festival in Bubier Park, across from the Museum of Art in 1992. Miami Herald File
In 1987, crowds gather at the Winterfest activities that include Bob Hope appearance at Las Olas and A1A. Miami Herald File
Las Olas Art Festival in 1979. Miami Herald File
Las Olas Boulevard near downtown Fort Lauderdale in 1994. Miami Herald File
Strollers on the sidewalk at the corner of Las Olas and A1A in 1979. Miami Herald File
The lunch-time trolley service in 1991, on Las Olas and Eighth Avenue. Miami Herald File
Early days of the Las Olas Bridge. Broward Library
This 1925 Photo of Fort Lauderdale beach looking north to the Las Olas Boulevard bridge shows some of the islands that have since disappeared under the water. Directly south of the bridge is the beginnings of the Idlewyld subdivision; the bottom of the picture is now Harbor Beach. The Small island to the right at the mouth of the Lake Sylvia (where the now Intracoastal and New River Connect) has been underwater since at least 1940 and is now owned by a corporation based in California. The large island in the center was probably partially submerged and then filled in the 1960’s to build the Harbourage subdivision. At left are two other small islands that have since disappeared. Miami Herald File
Shops and traffic on Las Olas Boulevard in 1989. Miami Herald File
Pantry Pride supermarket on East Las Olas Blvd in Fort Lauderdale in 1986. Miami Herald File
The scene at the grand opening of the Las Olas Riverfront in 1998. J. Albert Diaz Miami Herald File
Beaux Arts Promenade on Las Olas Boulevard in the early 1960s. Miami Herald File
Festival goers fill the streets of Las Olas Boulevard for the annual Christmas on Las Olas celebration. Miami Herald File
In 1954, the lobby of the Las Olas Inn. Miami Herald File
In 1990, New River Center at Las Olas and Southeast Third Avenue in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Miami Herald File
A Las Olas business. Miami Herald File
The Las Olas shopping area in 1989. Miami Herald File
The 700 block of East Las Olas Boulevard in 1983. Miami Herald File
In 1986, the south side of Las Olas, with the Riverside hotel at right. Miami Herald File
Storefronts along Las Olas. Miami Herald File
Las Olas Boulevard’s business district. Miami Herald File
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