Clearwater, Florida - The venerable Belleview Biltmore Hotel was the scene of a remarkable gathering of shoppers, dealers and serious collectors of a very specific type of Americana. The event was the Florida Collectibles & Vintage Memorabilia Show and as the carpeted halls of the historic Victorian-era hotel rang with the sounds of live island music, visitors were treated to a huge selection of vintage Florida collectibles.

Who would have believed that so much of Florida's roadside attraction kitsch and souvenir baubles would have been preserved for thirty or forty or fifty or even eighty or ninety years? But there they all were, displayed in booth after booth...the shell lamps, the lawn flamingoes, the palm frond smoking stands, the Sunshine State tablecloths, the Seminole dolls, the bathing beauty postcards, the alligator ashtrays, the mermaid salt and pepper shakers...the wonderful, tangible memories of long-ago vacations.

Dealers and customers alike seemed to be having a great time at the attractively presented one-day event. In addition to the many exhibitors, there were author/consultant/experts on hand to share their knowledge on various Florida-related topics. An impressive display of works by Florida's highly collectible "Highwaymen" artists was highlighted by lectures and appraisals on Florida art.

A walk-through of the show yielded a good variety of vintage "Floridiana," including articles from tacky to terrific; from silly to sophisticated.

Old felt wall pennants including colorful triangles from Orlando, Miami and Fort Myers were in the $25 to $35 range, with smaller pennants as low as $5 each. An original F1orida tablecloth with attractions depicted in bright colors was $75 and a compact-and-1ipstick combination in go1d-tone metal with a map of the state on the cover was $50.

Severa1 dea1ers had brought along decorative p1ates. Most were in the $30 to $50 range. A nice sepia-tone 10" p1ate with Bok Tower in the center and other attractions in the border was $40. There were items from defunct attractions. An ashtray from "Circus Wor1d" was $10. A dainty souvenir of Florida sugar and creamer were $42 for the pair. Matching sa1t and pepper shakers were $28 and a cup and saucer to match was $28 also. Shadow boxes containing vintage Florida souvenir items on appropriate backgrounds were tagged from $145 to $245.

Flamingoes were much in evidence. A "doub1e f1amingo" vase, with f1amingoes facing east and west, was $65. An unusual pair of ceramic flamingoes rendered in blue with go1d trim were $85 each and an aged pair of lawn flamingoes was $175 for the pair.

Florida Highwaymen paintings have come a long way since, back in the 1950s, young back artists used to paint the fanciful landscapes and then sell them along the side of Florida's major highways. At the show a large painting by Highwayman Livingston Roberts was $2,550 and a smaller Alfred Hair landscape was $1,650.

Alligator handbags, still in remarkably good condition, were generally in the $100 range. Other Florida-themed handbags in straw or plastic were $15 and $25. A 52"x52" Florida tablecloth, never used and with labels intact was $110. A silk kerchief with Florida designs was $38. A set of six frosted, hand-painted tumblers, souvenirs of Miami Beach, was $85.

Seminole dolls were seen in several booths. The newer dolls were mostly in the $35-$40 range, while the older dolls, circa 1930s, might bring upwards of $500. An interesting large Seminole doll made entirely of palm husks was $350 and some rare vintage Seminole boy dolls were from $325 to $625.

Shell lamps, replete with plastic flamingoes, bright colored coral, and the occasional religious figure were seen from $24.50 to $85.