Remembering a night at The Tropicana

It was a Sunday morning like any other as Edward Pykosz of Weirton opened his Sunday edition of "The Weirton Daily Times" while drinking a cup of coffee. While scanning the Business section he stopped to read an article entitled, "Tropicana celebrates 70 years." This article had particular interest to Edward as memories of his honeymoon entered his mind.

Edward and his bride, Theresa, were married on May 3, 1951 and quite by coincidence, spent a portion of their honeymoon on the island nation of Cuba.

Following their wedding, the couple traveled to Miami to start their new life together. Once settled in Florida, the couple was approached and encouraged to take a small plane to Havana, Cuba.

"It was if they knew that we were young and naive," said Theresa. "We were both 'fish out of water.'"

But they agreed and set off on an adventure; their first time out of the United States.

Edward said, "We didn't even need a passport. At the airline counter we were given a visa printed on a small card. It was such a surprise and so spur of the moment. Our families were quite worried when they heard we were in Cuba."

While in Havana the Pykoszs did some sightseeing and stayed at the International Hotel. Movie star and competitive swimmer Esther Williams was said to have been staying in the same hotel at the same time as the Pykoszs.

They recalled hearing the honking of many vehicle horns, as in Havana they did not have traffic signals.

"Whoever came to the red light and honked first had the right-of-way," said Edward.

They were also bothered by street vendors selling lottery tickets and begging children. When they visited the Morro Castle, a picturesque fortress guarding the entrance to Havana Bay, the children enticed them into throwing coins into the water and then diving in to retrieve them.

"They sang 'Ay, ay, ay, ay, Canta y no llores' (the chorus from the traditional Spanish song 'Cielito Lindo') and wanted tipped," Theresa added, laughing.

"But, the back streets of Havana were depressing," she said.

They also saw the city's slums where pigs, goats and chickens ran the streets. One of the unusual Cuban facts Edward remembered was that someone had told him that in the country there were 5,000 Chinese men working in Havana, but not one Chinese woman.

Edward said, "I was well aware that only high-rolling gamblers and gangsters could get into the Tropicana. But, a gentleman who Theresa recognized as an acquaintance from Steubenville was at our hotel said he could get us in."

The couple spent an entire evening at the Tropicana night club and casino, "Havana's infamous nightspot." They were seated at a round table towards the back of the casino. As they were dancing to Latin music provided by the famous Xavier Cugat Orchestra, a photographer approached and asked, in Spanish, to take the couple's picture. Not understanding the language, Edward and Theresa, were unsure as to the photographer's request.

"A kind, gentleman with only one arm stepped in and translated her question," said Theresa, and at the conclusion of their dance invited the young couple to join him at his table near the front of the dance floor.

"We continued to dine and dance the night away. We knew traditional ballroom dances," said Theresa.

Edward added, "She was a very good dancer."

According to the Pykoszs, the "kind gentleman" was the owner of a sugar plantation who had taken a fancy to Theresa.

"He said I was easy to talk to. Not only did he invite us to his table, he invited us to spend the rest of our honeymoon at his plantation. Of course, we declined," said Theresa.

The Tropicana's elaborate costumed cabaret dancers started at 10 p.m. and continued performing well into the night.

According to the Associated Press article that appeared in the Jan 3 edition, a few years later, in 1959, Fidel Castro's revolution took over operation of the country and the hotels, casinos and other entertainment venues were nationalized. Many closed, but the Tropicana endured.

Years later Theresa, who suffered from allergies, was a patient of Dr. Sanchez, a Weirton doctor who was born and raised in Cuba.

"I brought our photographs to share with him. He was very thankful, as he missed his homeland; the pictures brought back so many of his young memories," said Theresa.

"I read the paper cover-to-cover every day," said Edward. "I subscribe to the 'Daily Times' and 'The Intelligencer,' and my son brings me the 'USA Today' as well."

The couple will be married 59 years in May and are the parents of four children, grandparents to six, and great-grandparents to the newest addition to the Pykosz family, born shortly after Christmas.

(Winkler can be contacted at lwinkler@weirtondailytimes.com)