The Marlin Beach Hotel & The Copa, In Fort Lauderdale Florida - I Will Survive, Baumwoll Archives -

This little film is about places that no longer exist, where gay people would go to be free. They could meet other people like themselves and just be. Every Sunday the Marlin Beach Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale Florida would have Tea Dance. This is where Andrew Reach and myself (Bruce Baumwoll) met. I had been working and living at Ellen Burstyn home for 3 years in Snedens Landing NY. And realized that if I did not leave I would never really find myself. So I moved back to Florida and began singing around town . AKA 4:14
I am singing at Richards. I sang at the at the Hollywood Sportatorium for Gay Pride. Many other places around town. When Andrew and I met we decided to move back to Manhattan NYC. We have been blessed to be together now for 41 years. Had it not been for this kind of place, the chances of many of us meeting each other did not exist. The Copa discotheque in Ft. Lauderdale was exactly the same way. So many of us spent many a night dancing away.
This little film is dedicated to my dear friend John Goodwin (aka Dana Manchester). He was a legend then and will always be.
Bruce Baumwoll
Songs:
“Where the Boys Are”
Sung by Connie Francis
Written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield
“I Will Surve”
Sung by Gloria Gaynor
Written by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris