Parliament House Motor Inn

Parliament House Motor Inn

410 N. Orange Blossom Trail

Orlando, Florida 32805

Phone (305) 241-6771

June 30, 1972

Hi Edna,

Was here for 2 days took a tour to Disney.  We enjoyed it very much.  Leaving for St. Augustine tomorrow.

Regards,

Marianne and Joe

Mrs. Edna Stertz?

30 Hampton Gardens

Middlesex, N. J.

Orlando residents, especially members of the Orlando LGBT community know of this mecca to all things fun and hedonistic.  It's uncertain if guests at 1972's Parliament House (just to warn you this link is very LOUD in a fun way), would stand outside their rooms on the balcony as an open invitation to come inside, but let's read the description from 40 years ago:

"120 luxurious rooms, swimming pool, excellent Restaurant and Lounge, meeting facilities for 300, 8 blocks from Downtown, ample parking space.  American Express, Diner’s Club, Bank Americard, Master Charge cards accepted.

Dancing and Entertainment"

Yep.  Things haven't changed.  I mean, look at those two boys on the paddle boats.

Okay, so the phone number has changed.  The Parliament House now has 130 rooms and the meeting facilities put a different spin on the term "meeting."   But there's still dancing and entertainment that is enjoyable, no matter your orientation.  Just don't drink anything handed to you poolside by a man in a red coat.  Trust me.

The most interesting thing about this postcard is the date, since it was just three years later that Don Granatstein and Susan Unger purchased the hotel that became the "gayest place on earth."

Middlesex, New Jersey is a borough of about 13,000 people, incorporated in 1913.  Edna's surname is a little illegible, so it makes it hard to search for her.  It's very probable that she could still be living today, or has living children.  The Middlesex County Clerk's office is not living up to its motto "The Best County in the Land!", as its land record search will not load.  Maybe it has something to do with all that radioactive waste in the landfill.

I'd like to think that somewhere, just minutes from me, Marianne, Joe and Edna are just arriving in Orlando, anticipating a warm welcome for the Red Ball, where they will dance the night away with their new "family."