Key West’s 1978 summer tourist season was one of the best on record. When the summer of 1979 rolled around, people hoped the trend would continue. Through no fault of the people of Key West or the Florida Keys, things did not go as planned.
1979 was a special year, and not in a good way. Without getting into the politics of the Iranian Revolution that created an Islamic republic, one of the things that went wrong was Iran’s diminished oil production; it led to gasoline shortages in the United States. Rationing and long lines made headlines, as did signs saying, “Sorry, out of gas.” For summer vacations, travel was inhibited by the fear of not being able to find gas.
While the Florida Keys had no gas shortage, a liquid was being rationed that caused issues for visitors and residents alike. On Stock Island, a desalination plant was opened in 1967. The plant removed salt from ocean water, creating another source of freshwater for Key West residents. In 1979, it broke down, causing Monroe County officials to declare a state of emergency and ration water supplies. Tourists were warned that water in the Southernmost City was in short supply.
Between the lack of gas and freshwater, tourists did not flock to the Florida Keys that summer. Unfortunately, more bad news was on the horizon. In late August, Hurricane David devastated the Caribbean islands, including the Dominican Republic, where as many as 1,200 people lost their lives. The storm set its eye on South Florida for the Labor Day Weekend. Hurricane warnings were issued from Key West to Palm Beach. Governor Bob Graham urged all Keys residents to evacuate.
While the storm turned and skirted the Florida coast before coming ashore north of Palm Beach, the threat of a hurricane was not over. Days after the warnings of Hurricane David were gone, Hurricane Frederic stormed to life. Though it passed well south of Key West, hurricanes are unpredictable and offered yet another reason to avoid South Florida and the Keys.
All things considered, it was not a great summer for tourism in the Florida Keys, especially Key West. People started talking about a big idea that people had been talking about for years. For the reasons stated above, 1979 was the year that set the ball in motion. Joe Liszka, Tony Falcone, Bill Conkle and Frank Romano worked to bring a festival, like Mardi Gras, to Key West. The plan was to bring financial relief to the island.
In a story about the event printed in The Miami Herald, Liszka called it “a party for grownups.” Liszka was one of the event’s founders. Like many others in Key West, he was a business owner suffering losses from an unfortunate summer season. He was also the president of the Tourist Development Authority.
The hope was to bring 20,000 people to eat, drink and celebrate during what is the slowest part of the year. They would need hotel rooms.
A key ingredient to a good party is alcohol, and this party was too big for an establishment; it was imagined as not just a street party, but a Duval Street party. One problem was that open containers were not permitted on the island’s streets and sidewalks. Officials drafted a letter to people in New Orleans and requested copies of the ordinances governing their Mardi Gras celebration.
For the event, Key West commissioners waived the open container law. Local bar owners agreed to serve drinks in plastic cups so people wouldn’t parade over broken glass.
The inaugural Old Key West Fantasy Fest ran for three days, kicking off Friday, Oct. 26. The Grand Mistress of Madness, Mary Ellen Toppino, arrived at Mallory Square in a black horse-drawn carriage. Calypso music played as the sun set. Local restaurants and clubs served island food. A masked fantasy ball started at 10 p.m.
The big event was Saturday night’s parade down Duval Street. Twenty-six floats participated, including a black sedan with a woman called Sister who was bare from the waist up, painted silver, and posed as a hood ornament. There was a costume contest. Top prize was $1,000. Tennessee Williams was tapped as one of the judges.
According to newspaper stories about the event, on Sunday morning, it looked as if a hurricane had struck Duval Street. One of the people helping to sweep up the mess on Duval Street was Liszka. Restaurants served hangover brunches. The festival came to a close Sunday night with two costume balls, one at a gay club called Monster, and the other at the Fort East Martello Museum.
While the first Fantasy Fest was not the booming success many hoped for, with fewer than half of the expected crowd showing up, it has grown a little bit over the years. That Saturday night, around seven thousand people lined up along Duval Street to watch the parade, and they ate, drank and spent the night in hotel rooms.
Forty-seven years later, the cost of putting on Fantasy Fest has increased, as has the size of the crowd that lines up along Duval Street to watch the parade’s spectacle. While estimates vary, Fantasy Fest attracts about 75,000 people to Key West and helps to boost the economy during a historically slow period. It also serves as a fundraiser benefiting the community.
This year’s theme is “Musical Icons and Iconic Musicals.” Expect an orchestra of puns and fabulous plays on words. With more things happening than can be counted on an entire family of fingers and toes, it is no longer just a party for grownups. While the Duval Street parade is always the big draw, there are a host of activities including the Goombay Festival, the Kinky Carnival and the always adorable pet masquerade featuring more than the island’s cats and dogs. More than 100 events and activities are scheduled, and there is something for everyone. The fun begins Oct. 16. Fingers crossed for drier weather.
