World War 2 - Freedom Magazine Presents The History of Clearwater Florida Part X

War Continues

As the war continued into 1943, the U.S. fought in the Solomon Islands and the Aleutians. The Red Army recovered lost territory near Stalingrad and the Allies scored important victories in North Africa.

Here at home, belt-tightening was the rule. Local law enforcement officials cracked down on contraband—sugar, tires, gasoline, copper and liquor smuggled in from ships offshore. A rationing calendar was in effect, allowing each household three pounds of sugar and five pounds of coffee per month—and each person three pairs of new shoes per year. Home canning of produce and fish was encouraged and local school cafeterias benefited from the fruits of their own gardens. New home appliances costing in excess of $5 could not be purchased.

"Dim-out” regulations in Clearwater—to ensure no bright lights offered easy targets for any enemy planes, ships or subs maneuvering in the night—became stricter than ever. Yet social life largely continued in style, with dinner dances at Carlouel, the Clearwater Yacht Club, the Everingham Pavilion at Clearwater Beach (where Pier 60 is situated today), the YWCA and the Clearwater Auditorium.

Everingham’s Pavilion
Everingham’s Pavilion was a 1940s focal point for swimming and socializing.

As noted in Michael Sanders’ Clearwater: A Pictorial History, “Coe’s Casino, affiliated with the Belleview Biltmore Hotel, flourished illegally until 1949, and was a gathering place for such notables as actor Tyrone Power, the Duke of Windsor, Dan Topping (then owner of the New York Yankees), and names like Studebaker and Guggenheim.” Later Coe’s Casino would become Trinity College, the Bible college from which evangelist Billy Graham graduated.