Miami Beach Divorce

All pressagents have to start somewhere.

Stubby, moon-faced Stephen Jerome Hannagan made his start by shouting the praises of Billy McCarney's troupe of barnstorming auto racers. His big chance came, 20 years ago, when Promoter Carl Graham Fisher put him in charge of Miami Beach's publicity. Hannagan set up a news bureau, sent northward a steady flow of good copy -- about 25% society notes on what the home folks were doing down South, the other 75% pictures of pretty girls in bathing suits. Miami Beach prospered, and Steve Hannagan got a lot of the credit.

Then came the war, and beach hogs went to work. Army flyers in the Miami area for rest periods were charged as much as $40 a day for hotel rooms. Many wives could not afford to be with their servicemen husbands. War-wealthy civilians, who came for the races and were openly annoyed by the presence of soldiers, battened on the nation's blackest black market. Pressagent Hannagan had his work cut out for him; Miami Beach's face needed a thorough scrubbing.

He had been charging his first important account a measly $6,000 a year over & above expenses. For the rugged job ahead, he felt the city should pay nearer what some of his other clients (Sun Valley, Union Pacific, Coca Cola, Anaconda Copper, etc.) pay. He asked for $25,000. Last week, Miami Beach said no.

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