History of the Brazilian Court Hotel

Palm Beach Daily News, January 26, 1956:

Brazilian Court Cruising Nicely Into the Season Brazilian Court Hotel is cruising level - winged into the season with a comforta- ble, synchronized setting of 18.5 inches of mercury and 2100 r.p.m.s; or approxi- mately the cruising speed used in Mr. and Mrs. H. F. Vickers ’ private, Douglas DC - 3 plane transporting them from New York City on Friday to Palm Beach and their suite of rooms at Brazilian Court. The Vickers have joined their friends, Mr. and Mrs. James Rand of Stamford, Conn., for an indefinite Winter sojourn. Mr. and Mrs. Rand also maintain a suite of rooms at the same hotel, and several cruises in Florida waters are planned aboard the Rand ’ s 130 - foot Dodson de- signed yacht, “ Galaxy ” - berthed at the Australian Avenue docks.

A letter from Elliott F. Bishop to a Mr. Moor, a Mul- ford representative, dated October 5, 1960 stated:

"The whole resort world is changing its face. This includes type of patronage as well as structural changes; also new re- sorts that have spring (sic) up over night as well as a new type of guest who patronizes them." The new co - op apartments are a real threat to Brazilian Court. They are new, fabulous in architecture, planning and comfort - they have everything." ...many resorts and their ace in the hole is conventions. - before and after social seasons - to have this business you must have ample meeting rooms and all out- door activities, golf, pool, or ocean, ten- nis, etc."

So with these comments made by Bright's long time mentor there is little wonder that he would turn down buying the hotel. General Manager Bright Johnson told me (his son Ronald E. Johnson) a story in the 1990s just a few years before his death. He had kept the secret for thirty years. He said that during the Kennedy presi- dency it was not uncommon for the president to slip away from the Secret Service when staying in Palm Beach and to show - up at the Brazilian Court bar late in the evening at closing time. Johnson would keep the bar open as Kennedy had some private time with a mystery woman who always dressed in red. Johnson was not one to make - up stories. In 2015 a story came out about Kennedy and a Palm Beach so- cialite named Durie Malcolm. There were even ru- mors that Kennedy had actually married the woman in 1947. The records were supposedly purged at the bequest of Joseph P. Kennedy, John's father. There were numerous women in Kennedy's sights. But Durie had the Palm Beach connections. Another Palm Beach hottie was Florence Smith, wife of Earl Smith who had been ambassador to Cuba un- der Eisenhower. Kennedy one night eluded his secret service team. Unable to find the president they called Palm Beach Police Chief Homer Large who knew exactly where to look, next door in Earl Smith's swimming pool. Jack and Flo were alone, and as Homer put it, "They weren't doing the Australian crawl."

1959

Bright W. Johnson, resident manager of the Brazilian Court, was named President of the Palm Beach County Hotel Association in January 1959. He would also assume that position in 1971 and 1972.

1960s

The 1960s saw a new slogan for the BC— “ Palm Beach at Its Loveliest ”.

On February 18, 1960, Vincent Strong Mulford own- er of the BC died in Palm Beach after an extended illness. Mulford was born circa 1878 and owned/ operated a number of widely different companies. He purchased the BC in 1932 and with experienced management turned it into a profitable enterprise. Mulford was buried in the Mount Hebron Cemetery, Upper Montclair, Essex County, New Jersey. The Mulfords wanted Bright to take over ownership of the hotel. The BC was something the family had loved for over thirty years. They dined there, enter- tained there and looked at it as a very special place ... and they knew Bright would keep it that way. There was nothing that Bright would have liked more, but the times were turbulent in 1962 when the Mulfords made their offer. The Cuban missile crisis was taking place and it was all too obvious for Palm Beachers as trains carrying tanks, cannons and armored vehicles passed through town heading south. Bright was just not prepared to gamble on such an investment.

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