www.ambiente.us SEPTEMBER / SEPTIEMBRE 2008
Michael Aller: Mr. Miami Beach
by Herb Sosa
There are a few people we are fortunate enough
to not only read about or see on TV, but to
actually get to know as a real person. Michael
Aller, aka "Mr. Miami Beach," is known to millions
thru his many TV appearances, intoxicating smile,
endless energy and his passion for his city. He is
wild about fragrance counters, is always smartly
dressed, has a phone at his ear that never stops
ringing, goes nowhere without his I ♥ Miami Beach
pins, and for over 20 years I have been proud to
call, a friend.
Michael Aller has served as tourism director and
chief of protocol for the city of Miami Beach since
1991. In this capacity, he has greeted presidents
of the United States, more than 40 other heads of
state and countless celebrities. Michael serves on
the board of the Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian
Chamber of Commerce and is a past board
member of the Gay & Lesbian Foundation of South
Florida. He also helped to start
www.GoGayMiami.com. In 2002, Aller worked
with the Task Force in securing a commitment from Miami Beach officials to establish a domestic partner
registry and include transgender persons in the city's non-discrimination laws. He previously worked in the
nursing home business for years before first retiring in 1979. As a young man, Michael lived with his parents
in the Fontainebleau Hotel. – Official Michael Aller Bio
GROWING UP IN THE FONTAINEBLEAU
Coming to Miami Beach since he was a kid, Aller was born and raised in Detroit, but would spend winters
here among the affluent Jewish community. As a teen, he and his parents lived at the Fontainebleau hotel.
Allers' dad sold the hotel a lot of stone and marble that the hotel couldn't pay for, Aller says. So he got a three
bedroom apartment in the hotel instead. “We moved in October of 1954 and the hotel opened in December
of 1954. I was a precocious child. I spent a lot of time in the back of the house.'' said Aller.
As for the heyday of the hotel- “It was all about Glamour – Glitz” he recalls. “It was home, but I got to see Red
Skelton walk across the Fontainebleau pool (referring the catwalk that stretched the then-pool), and I often
accompanied Frank Sinatra to the La Ronde Nightclub, where he would immediately walk in , take the mike &
start singing”
Judy Garland, Lena Horne, Nat King Cole, Jack Benny, Frank Sinatra. They were all
at the Fontainebleau. – Michael Aller
Running into mobster Meyer Lansky in Miami Beach was also commonplace for the Allers, often seeing him
walking to Wolfie's for his breakfast.
COMING OUT IN 1954
At 14 Aller decided to tell his parents he was gay- First his father, then his mother. She cried. Aller Sr. told her
to stop. This wasn’t about them, it was about Michael and his life. Very progressive for parents in the 50’s
but a visit to the Psychiatrist was still in order.
“I went 3 times to his office. It was tiny and filled with smoke. Then he told me something I will never forget
‘What’s on a child’s lungs is also on his tongue’, I didn’t understand and I thought something was wrong
with me or something I said – but my parents assured me nothing was wrong with what I said or with me.
The therapy sessions ended”
From that point on life at home was just fine, almost too much so. Michaels’ mother constantly wanted him
to bring home his boyfriends and to meet their parents. Michael didn’t know quite how to deal with this
attempt at traditional dating with a gay twist, and looked to his father to keep his moms efforts in check.
Eventually Aller did have 2 significant boyfriends in his 20’s and then a long-term relationship lasting 23
years. “Today I am totally satisfied and content with my life as a single gay man. I have my job, friends, home,
Miami Beach. I have a good life. My job is my passion”
Aller believes his personal life as a gay man has never been a factor in his professional life. “If it has I have
never really noticed. I consider myself an Urban Liver.” To see how Aller is respected and revered
everywhere he goes, it is clear that he leads his life openly and above reproach -A model for any young LGBT
person entering the workforce.
As for Miami Beach then & now, Aller believes that “Things evolve. A lot of people would say the Beach is
overdeveloped now. They would say a lot of things. But, how many cities in the world are as beautiful as
Miami Beach? Sun, surf and sand. That's what it's all about and that's what we'll always have. The
complexion of a place has to change. But this is still one of the hottest places to be in the world.”
Every tourist I meet is a VIP. They should all be treated as heads of state;
as celebrities. – Michael Aller
Before Michael was known as Mr. Miami Beach and well after he had walked away from a lifetime career in
nursing home business, his passions were expressed in other ways, including the creation of Michaels
Floating Piano Bar, a radio show host, salesperson at the Mens Polo Department at Miami Beach’s Burdines
(now Macy’s) store, and business & volunteer coordinator at the Chamber of Commerce, just to name a few.
But it is being M.C. of a floating piano bar, or a sing & talk dirty bar as he calls it that still puts a sparkle in his
eye. “I would love to do that again if I had more youth.” One look at Michael and you know that youth or energy
is the last thing he is lacking.
A DAY IN THE LIFE…
- Wake up at 3 A.M. and read the paper and go exercise downstairs.
- In the office by 6 A.M.
- Breakfast and/or meetings by 8 A.M.
- Meetings, protocol, celebrities & media all day. -
Leave the office by 5 P.M.
- Dinner & in bed by 7:30 P.M.
With all of the glamour, glitz, Stone Crabs at Joes, flashbulbs and celebrity, Michaels’ favorite place to sit and
think is still – at home and by himself. “In the words of Sophie Tucker…I live alone, and I like it”
WORD ASSOCIATION
MIAMI BEACH – Sun & Fun Capital
FONTAINEBLEAU - Happiness
ART COLLECTING – Art Basel Miami BEACH
PETS – Not for me
MEN – As many as I can
PROTOCOL - Formality
CONVERTIBLES – Hot, Sexy Michael (I own a convertible)
FAVORITE THING TO WEAR – Polo & Gucci
WHEN I DREAM, I DREAM OF... – The next days’ excitement
I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED (how) – As Mr. Miami Beach
Copyright © AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HERB SOSA herb@ambiente.us
Cuban-American, community activist, Miami historian, preservationist and freelance writer, Herb Sosa is a
founding member and Director of Unity Coalition/Coalición Unida, a non-profit focused on minority political &
social empowerment. He is also Editor-In-Chief of Ambiente Magazine, a Latino/Hispanic focused LGBT
publication and regularly offers public speaking, leadership and political empowerment training workshops.
Sosa served as chairman of Miami Beach's Historic Preservation Board for over six years, and has served on
the Board of Directors of the Miami Design Preservation League, Dade Heritage Trust, Miami Beach
Community Development Corp., Shelbourne & Fernwood HIV/AIDS Housing, and variety of other
organizations throughout South Florida.
In 1995 Mr. Sosa created and developed the Ba-Balú Store concept in Miami & Miami Beach, celebrating
Cuban heritage thru art, cigars, music and unique giftware, and earning the store the unique distinction of
being named one of Conde N’ast Traveler Magazines top 100 destinations in the world in 1996.
In January 2004, Herb Sosa was named one of Tentaciónes Magazines Top Ten Latina/o activists in the U.S.
and in 2005 was named one of OUT magazines Top 100 LGBT Activists and featured on LOGO TV. In
summer 2006, Orgulloboriqua.net named Sosa one of their Orgullo Del Momento - Pride of the Moment-
recipient and on April 2008 Sosa was named Terra.com's Activist of the Month.
Michael Aller: Mr. Miami Beach
by Herb Sosa
There are a few people we are fortunate enough
to not only read about or see on TV, but to
actually get to know as a real person. Michael
Aller, aka "Mr. Miami Beach," is known to millions
thru his many TV appearances, intoxicating smile,
endless energy and his passion for his city. He is
wild about fragrance counters, is always smartly
dressed, has a phone at his ear that never stops
ringing, goes nowhere without his I ♥ Miami Beach
pins, and for over 20 years I have been proud to
call, a friend.
Michael Aller has served as tourism director and
chief of protocol for the city of Miami Beach since
1991. In this capacity, he has greeted presidents
of the United States, more than 40 other heads of
state and countless celebrities. Michael serves on
the board of the Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian
Chamber of Commerce and is a past board
member of the Gay & Lesbian Foundation of South
Florida. He also helped to start
www.GoGayMiami.com. In 2002, Aller worked
with the Task Force in securing a commitment from Miami Beach officials to establish a domestic partner
registry and include transgender persons in the city's non-discrimination laws. He previously worked in the
nursing home business for years before first retiring in 1979. As a young man, Michael lived with his parents
in the Fontainebleau Hotel. – Official Michael Aller Bio
GROWING UP IN THE FONTAINEBLEAU
Coming to Miami Beach since he was a kid, Aller was born and raised in Detroit, but would spend winters
here among the affluent Jewish community. As a teen, he and his parents lived at the Fontainebleau hotel.
Allers' dad sold the hotel a lot of stone and marble that the hotel couldn't pay for, Aller says. So he got a three
bedroom apartment in the hotel instead. “We moved in October of 1954 and the hotel opened in December
of 1954. I was a precocious child. I spent a lot of time in the back of the house.'' said Aller.
As for the heyday of the hotel- “It was all about Glamour – Glitz” he recalls. “It was home, but I got to see Red
Skelton walk across the Fontainebleau pool (referring the catwalk that stretched the then-pool), and I often
accompanied Frank Sinatra to the La Ronde Nightclub, where he would immediately walk in , take the mike &
start singing”
Judy Garland, Lena Horne, Nat King Cole, Jack Benny, Frank Sinatra. They were all
at the Fontainebleau. – Michael Aller
Running into mobster Meyer Lansky in Miami Beach was also commonplace for the Allers, often seeing him
walking to Wolfie's for his breakfast.
COMING OUT IN 1954
At 14 Aller decided to tell his parents he was gay- First his father, then his mother. She cried. Aller Sr. told her
to stop. This wasn’t about them, it was about Michael and his life. Very progressive for parents in the 50’s
but a visit to the Psychiatrist was still in order.
“I went 3 times to his office. It was tiny and filled with smoke. Then he told me something I will never forget
‘What’s on a child’s lungs is also on his tongue’, I didn’t understand and I thought something was wrong
with me or something I said – but my parents assured me nothing was wrong with what I said or with me.
The therapy sessions ended”
From that point on life at home was just fine, almost too much so. Michaels’ mother constantly wanted him
to bring home his boyfriends and to meet their parents. Michael didn’t know quite how to deal with this
attempt at traditional dating with a gay twist, and looked to his father to keep his moms efforts in check.
Eventually Aller did have 2 significant boyfriends in his 20’s and then a long-term relationship lasting 23
years. “Today I am totally satisfied and content with my life as a single gay man. I have my job, friends, home,
Miami Beach. I have a good life. My job is my passion”
Aller believes his personal life as a gay man has never been a factor in his professional life. “If it has I have
never really noticed. I consider myself an Urban Liver.” To see how Aller is respected and revered
everywhere he goes, it is clear that he leads his life openly and above reproach -A model for any young LGBT
person entering the workforce.
As for Miami Beach then & now, Aller believes that “Things evolve. A lot of people would say the Beach is
overdeveloped now. They would say a lot of things. But, how many cities in the world are as beautiful as
Miami Beach? Sun, surf and sand. That's what it's all about and that's what we'll always have. The
complexion of a place has to change. But this is still one of the hottest places to be in the world.”
Every tourist I meet is a VIP. They should all be treated as heads of state;
as celebrities. – Michael Aller
Before Michael was known as Mr. Miami Beach and well after he had walked away from a lifetime career in
nursing home business, his passions were expressed in other ways, including the creation of Michaels
Floating Piano Bar, a radio show host, salesperson at the Mens Polo Department at Miami Beach’s Burdines
(now Macy’s) store, and business & volunteer coordinator at the Chamber of Commerce, just to name a few.
But it is being M.C. of a floating piano bar, or a sing & talk dirty bar as he calls it that still puts a sparkle in his
eye. “I would love to do that again if I had more youth.” One look at Michael and you know that youth or energy
is the last thing he is lacking.
A DAY IN THE LIFE…
- Wake up at 3 A.M. and read the paper and go exercise downstairs.
- In the office by 6 A.M.
- Breakfast and/or meetings by 8 A.M.
- Meetings, protocol, celebrities & media all day. -
Leave the office by 5 P.M.
- Dinner & in bed by 7:30 P.M.
With all of the glamour, glitz, Stone Crabs at Joes, flashbulbs and celebrity, Michaels’ favorite place to sit and
think is still – at home and by himself. “In the words of Sophie Tucker…I live alone, and I like it”
WORD ASSOCIATION
MIAMI BEACH – Sun & Fun Capital
FONTAINEBLEAU - Happiness
ART COLLECTING – Art Basel Miami BEACH
PETS – Not for me
MEN – As many as I can
PROTOCOL - Formality
CONVERTIBLES – Hot, Sexy Michael (I own a convertible)
FAVORITE THING TO WEAR – Polo & Gucci
WHEN I DREAM, I DREAM OF... – The next days’ excitement
I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED (how) – As Mr. Miami Beach
Copyright © AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HERB SOSA herb@ambiente.us
Cuban-American, community activist, Miami historian, preservationist and freelance writer, Herb Sosa is a
founding member and Director of Unity Coalition/Coalición Unida, a non-profit focused on minority political &
social empowerment. He is also Editor-In-Chief of Ambiente Magazine, a Latino/Hispanic focused LGBT
publication and regularly offers public speaking, leadership and political empowerment training workshops.
Sosa served as chairman of Miami Beach's Historic Preservation Board for over six years, and has served on
the Board of Directors of the Miami Design Preservation League, Dade Heritage Trust, Miami Beach
Community Development Corp., Shelbourne & Fernwood HIV/AIDS Housing, and variety of other
organizations throughout South Florida.
In 1995 Mr. Sosa created and developed the Ba-Balú Store concept in Miami & Miami Beach, celebrating
Cuban heritage thru art, cigars, music and unique giftware, and earning the store the unique distinction of
being named one of Conde N’ast Traveler Magazines top 100 destinations in the world in 1996.
In January 2004, Herb Sosa was named one of Tentaciónes Magazines Top Ten Latina/o activists in the U.S.
and in 2005 was named one of OUT magazines Top 100 LGBT Activists and featured on LOGO TV. In
summer 2006, Orgulloboriqua.net named Sosa one of their Orgullo Del Momento - Pride of the Moment-
recipient and on April 2008 Sosa was named Terra.com's Activist of the Month.
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