The Evening I “Laughed Until I Cried” in Hilton Head!
Our family began vacationing in Hilton Head Island (HHI) back in the mid 1970’s. It was quite a haul as we’d leave Arlington early in the AM, but it was well worth it “back in the day” as Hilton Head wasn’t yet so commercialized like it is today.
The first few years when we visited Hilton Head, we’d stay in Sea Pines Plantation run Hilton Head Inn which was a rather swanky and large oceanfront hotel offering very nice rooms with the proper amenities, a coffee shop for breakfast, and a nice somewhat upscale restaurant for both lunch and dinner. The Inn had a large pool with a nice poolside bar called the Tiki Hut where Jim was a well-known bartender somewhat famous for creating his frozen concoctions. Also, at the Inn was a rooftop bar called the Crow’s Nest which offered some delicious delicatessen-style sandwiches for lunch, a very well-attended Happy Hour each afternoon with “2 for 1” drinks poured using only “miniature” liquor bottles as required by SC law and turning into the place at the Inn at night for nightlife offering musical entertainment. Allowing me to digress, the newsman for the “Today” show “back in the day” from 1953-1975 was Frank Blair who, upon retirement, moved permanently to HHI and remained there until his death in 1995 and was a daily fixture at the Crow’s Nest. An extremely congenial man, Mr. Blair would seemingly convey a smile such as to give you the impression he may’ve indulged in one or two too many “miniatures” if you get my drift.
Habour Town was “the” place to hang out where you could visit the Harbour Town Lighthouse, shop at the many boutiques, eat, drink, and rock all day long admiring all of the luxury yachts docked at the marina. At night, Gregg Russell who began singing under the old Liberty Oak Tree in 1977 and still continues to entertain today was a “must-see”!
Finding decent restaurants during that era at Hilton Head could be a bit challenging, but here are some we’d patronize providing a satisfying dining experience as I recall. Signe’s located at Harbour Town in Sea Pines Plantation was in what was once known as a “lifeguard shack” being the place to enjoy breakfast known for its baked goods and breakfast sandwiches. A lunch spot located at the Harbour Town Lighthouse overlooking the Calibogue Sound was the Quarterdeck featuring some seafood items, but with an emphasis on sandwiches and the beauty of the Sound. Alexander’s overlooking a lagoon at Palmetto Dunes was a nice lunch and dinner spot with a focus on seafood. Then there was Fitzgerald’s at the Adventure Inn and, of course, the legendary Hudson’s located at the docks where the shrimp boats came in providing the freshest of fresh shrimp.
The best and nicest restaurant, though, was Hugo’s at the Hyatt Regency on Palmetto Dunes. Reservations were a must as was proper dress knowing you were about to enjoy an excellent meal with extremely attentive service. Afterwards, we’d head over to their club known as the Indigo Club where you’d enjoy a “nightcap” or two, a fine cigar, and listen to the music being played by a live band. The leader of the band was also quite the entertainer as well being a jokester.
This particular evening after dinner at Hugo’s we headed to the Indigo Club for our “nightcap”. La Bear and the Baby Boomer were still newlyweds and in those days we vacationed each summer with my parents. Mom wasn’t much of a drinker, but she would enjoy a Grasshopper while La Bear would order a Vodka Collins. Dad and I would enjoy a Courvoisier brandy which came in a warmed snifter along with a fine cigar. Yep, we were living “la vida loca” while on our vacation.
Again, please allow me to digress. My dad was a tall, strapping, and rather attractive man in his day. His aunt, my great aunt, Margaret, for some odd reason would call him by a nickname she had for him–“Keek”. I don’t know why, but I never recall asking my dad why Aunt Margaret called him what I thought was “Keek”. That’s really not “here or there” as Aunt Margaret really loved my dad telling him how handsome he was and that she thought he looked so much like James Arness who played Matt Dillon on the TV western “Gunsmoke”. Of course, my dad ate that all up!
Needless to say, we were very much enjoying our after-dinner drinks and the men their fine cigars when the leader of the band stopped immediately playing in mid-song the tune they were playing. He apologized to the crowded Indigo Room for stopping the tune in mid-song, but he felt it important enough to announce to everyone that we had a “star” amongst us this particular evening to the enjoyment of the patrons. He looked directly at my dad and asked the audience if they knew he (the “star”) was. Dad, of course, was taking this all in raring his massive shoulders back while sitting more straight in his chair boasting a huge broad smile. Folks started shouting out names like John Wayne, Rock Hudson, Forrest Tucker (who actually went to W-L while my dad was at G-W both playing in the “Old Oaken Bucket” football game on Thanksgiving morning), and also James Arness.
My dad was in “heaven” receiving this sudden and unexpected adoration from a crowd of total strangers while the leader said, “Oh, no, no folks, it’s not any of those that you’ve called out”. He looks at my dad and says, “Sir, would you please take your fine cigar and while continuing to sit up straight place it in the center of your mouth?”. Dad, as we all, had no idea what was now going on, but he very agreeably complied with the request, being on “center stage”, and placed his cigar squarely in the center of his mouth. The leader then said, “Thank you, sir, now just remain in that position if you will.” He then turned to the audience and asked them if they now knew who the “star” was that my dad looked like? The club became quiet as no one offered any guesses. After a couple of minutes, the leader said, “Well, I suppose since you appear to be stumped, I’ll now tell you the “star” who this gentleman looks like”. After a short pause he declared, “Lassie taking a crap!!”.
OMG, my dad was stunned! I can tell you he was immediately looking for a hole to crawl into as his face turned “beet” red now having become completely embarrassed. The club went wild laughing so loudly coming to a point of having tears. Mom and La Bear couldn’t help laughing out loud although they tried to hide it as not to add insult to injury.
Well, as for the Baby Boomer, I almost fell out of my chair the evening I “laughed until I cried” in Hilton Head!!