The Sinbad Motel - Miami, Florida Still open since 1953. . Notice the pole sticking out at an angle from the roof. Originally that pole had a metal statue of a bird stuck on the end. In 1964 Hurricane Cleo blew the bird off the pole and it was never found. The bird was then replaced with a star. In 1992 Hurricane Andrew blew through Miami and destroyed the star. The star was never replaced, but the pole remains. So, what is the significance of all this? The Sinbad Motel is near Criteria Studios, where R.E.M. recorded most of the album, "Automatic for the People." The original title was to be "Star," and the Sinbad star appears on the cover. Picture of Mike Mills and the star (not the album cover)
@ Nancy Hart It was really interesting to read the history of the Sinbad Hotel!!! I bet a lot of these older places have all sorts of cool stories to tell. Someone should make one of those big coffee table picture books with all the stories. Hungry Horse Hotel in Montana.
@Nancy Hart , that one is funny! Where is @Joe Riley ? I do hope he is not hanging out at some cheap motel.