History

yellowed vintage matchbook cover with blue ink drawings of historic motel

The Way We Were: FAVO, an unlikely artist sanctuary


The Faith Arts Village Orlando, or FAVO as it is affectionately known, is an unlikely artist sanctuary with a charming backstory. Originally, the property was the family-owned and -operated Davis Park Motel, built by William “Bill” and Mary Jo Davis, both respected members of the Orlando community. Constructed in 1955, the motel welcomed visitors for decades. It was heralded as […]

black and white 1980s inside record store with two people

Remembering Murmur: College Park’s former music hub | The Way We Were


It is a sad fact of life that many of our favorite hangouts don’t last forever. For local music fans who came of age in the 1980s and ’90s, one bygone spot in particular is remembered with exceptional fondness and revered as a sorely missed Orlando institution — Murmur Records. In September 1983, music enthusiast Don Gilliland took a walk […]

Bessie Coleman, first Black and Native American aviatrix

Bessie Coleman — The world’s first Black and Native American aviatrix | The Way We Were


Following the Wright Brother’s journey at Kitty Hawk, Americans became fascinated by the possibilities of flight. While the sky was viewed as the embodiment of freedom, being able to fly was not free nor fair, and women and minorities faced challenges in gaining access to airplanes and flying lessons. Critics claimed women were inherently unsuited to become pilots due to […]

The Way We Were: When a data analyzing robot youth lifeform came to town


In January 1985, principal photography began on a major studio motion picture set in the quiet Lake Cherokee Historic District of Orlando. For the film’s supervisor and production manager, Jennifer Ogden Combs, it was the culmination of preparation and advance location scouting that started in the summer of 1984. In a recent interview, Combs recalled the reasons for selecting Orlando […]

black and white vintage diner with neon donut and fountain in front

The Way We Were: Dinette dished out doughnuts, delighted diners


In 1946, an eccentric former magician came to Orlando, and just two years later, he built a corrugated aluminum building — Florida’s first — that would become one of the city’s most beloved eateries. Herb Waters opened the Do-Nut Dinette at 720 N. Mills Ave. with just twelve stools at the counter, an affordable menu and a flare for showmanship. […]

black-and-white photo of shirtless guitarists performing on the floor in a crowded nightclub

The Way We Were: Green Day’s early performance at Club Nowhere


  For longtime fans, it may be hard to believe that it has been 30 years since Green Day, one of the biggest acts in rock music, first performed in Orlando. The show came at a pivotal point in their rise to massive success and still holds a special place for those who witnessed it firsthand. Hailing from the East […]

The Way We Were: The Beautification of Orlando’s Oldest Park


For residents of Fern Creek, Dickson Azalea Park has provided a quiet escape from the bustle of downtown Orlando for generations. The 3.6-acre park, located between Rosearden Drive and Celia Lane, has constantly evolved over the last century to serve the needs of the surrounding community. The area where Dickson Azalea Park now resides once served as a watering hole […]

black and white photo of guitarist who sings at microphone

The Way We Were: History Center’s opening festival celebrated Orlando music


In the fall of 2000, the Orange County Regional History Center opened its doors to the public for the first time. Replacing the previous historical museum in Loch Haven Park, the newly renovated 1927 courthouse on Central Avenue provided a larger space to properly display artifacts representing the history of Central Florida. To celebrate the occasion, the History Center leaned […]

black-and-white image men in 1964 suits greet each other

The Way We Were: ‘I Like Orlando!’ LBJ campaigns in The City Beautiful, 1964


On the morning of Oct. 26, 1964, readers of the Orlando Sentinel woke up to a historic headline: “Welcome to Central Florida, Mr. President.” The occasion of President Lyndon Johnson’s visit to Orlando marked the first time a U.S. president had spent a night in this city while in office and marked only the second visit ever by a sitting […]

black-and-white aerial photo of circular mid-century modern building with distinctive concrete cutout designs all the way around from 1963

The Way We Were: Orlando’s ‘Round Building’: An architectural circle of life


In 1963, a new architectural marvel was unveiled in downtown Orlando. Designed by architect Robert Murphy, the American Federal Building brought a touch of mid-century modern design to our growing city. The building, best known for its round shape and distinctive brise-soleil latticework, consisted of 120 cast-concrete sections that served both form and function, creating visual interest as well as […]


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