The arts, dining and entertainment have always been an extension of my own personality and my interests. So, when my wife Mavis and I founded Entertainment News & Views as a newspaper aimed at a large geographic area, our passions and interests became naturally focused on these subjects.

Our interests have continued to focus on the arts and cultural life, dining and the general area of entertainment, aimed to reach a large segment of South Florida’s population. We realize by concentrating on these subjects, we have created a niche for this publication.

We reach out and attract the middle to upper income readers who have reasonable disposable income. We write about the good life and the good things being done in our community and we encourage those who can to give back to the community. We also support the arts and help bring an understanding of why the arts and cultural life are so important to the economics of our area and in sustaining and improving our quality of life. The paper is an advocate for what is best about South Florida.

Entertainment News & Views is a specialized publication, reporting on what is best in the arts, dining and entertainment. We have also spoken out so that the cultural life of our growing community continues to be offered to every segment of our society. That has been our strongest challenge. We hope we have met this challenge the past 25 years.

Howard Salus
Publisher

As the newest member of the publishing staff of Entertainment News & Views, I must look at the growing area we must cover to live up to our reputation as South Florida’s premier arts, dining and entertainment publication.

There is a new South Florida. It stretches geographically northward from South Dade through three of the fastest growing counties in the United States--Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach. Together, that covers a population of close to 9 million people. County lines are blurred as Miami residents drive to Palm Beach restaurants and museums and Palm Beach residents are frequent travelers to the huge array of eateries and cultural institutions of Metro Dade and Broward. As we South Floridians seek the best in theatres, dining, museum and concerts, there are no county boundaries. The new South Florida is a megalopolis which stretches up Interstate 95 from the Keys to the Gold Coast and width-wise covering the southeastern half of the peninsula.

It continues to be an area of sound economic growth with emerging populations seeking the best that life has to offer.

Our goal will continue to be to let our readers know about the best things South Florida can offer in the realm of dining, arts and entertainment. The first 25 years of this publication have been noteworthy. We intend for the next 25 to build on that reputation.

We also realize the importance to have an editorial voice that supports the arts and stands with the cultural community in its quest to provide the quality of life which is meaningful.

Our dedication to the new South Florida is a continuation of the dream which began in 1980.

Igor Royzis
Publisher
   

It was 1980. A new Administration was halfway through its first term in Tallahassee.  It was an administration led by Gov. Bob Graham and Sec. of State George Firestone which had run on a platform to pay attention to the cultural needs of the State.

Florida had been neglected culturally. Funding for cultural interests were among the worst in the nation, putting the Sunshine State in the bottom 10 percent of the 50 states.

Almost overnight -- thanks to the Graham-Firestone combo and a strong Democratic legislature, cultural funding turned around -- making Florida a showcase for the nation and ushering the State into the top 10 in the U.S. for cultural funding.  Even automobile license plates could proudly proclaim Florida State of the Arts.

The arts --even from ancient times-- flourished when the leaders of a nation gave their support.  It certainly flourished anew in Florida for a dozen years after 1980. Under Bob Graham and the late Gov. Lawton Chiles such arts leadership was maintained.

Then, as politics and policies changed in the State Capitol, cultural and arts funding dwindled once again.  The past eight years have been particularly rough on arts organizations, theatres, museums and other cultural institutions.  Once again, Florida’s standing in the cultural arena is pitiful compared to other States.

The one constant that forward looking legislators realize is the arts are good for business. Cultural institutions spawn economic growth, bringing jobs to this State.

Fortunately, many from the private sector and some local governments have come to the rescue in recent years. But the fact remains, Florida has dropped its role as a cultural icon.

When I had the pleasure to serve as Asst. Sec of State, the question most asked by new businesses planning on relocating in Florida were “What about your school system?” and “What cultural institutions does this area have?” These are the same questions asked today. It’s all about “quality of life.”

As we enter a new generation and celebrate the 25th anniversary of this publication, let us hope we have the new leadership -- both public and private --which will provide positive answers to those questions.

Ron Levitt
Executive Editor

Entertainment News & Views helps inform tourists of the many cultural offerings in South Florida while giving Floridians a guide to the art, entertainment and dining opportunities in their own backyard. I commend you for your dedication to the arts and state of Florida. Best wishes for continued success.

Bill Nelson
United States Senator

Dear Friends:

It is my pleasure to congratulate Entertainment News & Views on your 25th anniversary.

I understand Entertainment News & Views is one of South Florida’s leading cultural, entertainment and tourism-oriented publications. South Florida continues to be one of the most popular destinations in the United States. I commend Entertainment News & Views for their continued dedication and commitment over the last 25 years to provide up-to-date cultural arts, dining and entertainment information.

Best wishes in the future.

Sincerely,

Jeb Bush

Dear Readers:

I would like to extend my warm congratulations to Howard Salus and the staff of Entertainment News & Views on its 25th Anniversary.

Entertainment News & Views personifies all that is best in our community. The publication promotes our quality of life and all of our wonderful amenities—world-class beaches, hotels, restaurants, shopping, attractions, arts and culture, and recreation—to residents and visitors.

Again, on behalf of the more than two million residents of Miami-Dade County, congratulations on 25 years of publishing cultural, entertainment and tourism-oriented news. We look forward to your continued coverage of our community for years to come.

Sincerely,

Carlos Alvarez
Mayor

I would like to congratulate Entertainment News & Views on its 25th Anniversary.

Entertainment News & Views has kept abreast of the numerous varied cultural arts, entertainment and dining experiences that South Florida has to offer for 25 years. It has done a splendid job of providing this information to residents of the City of Fort Lauderdale as well as visitors to the City and the surrounding area. This is the commendable achievement, and one that enhances the rich offerings of our communities.

On behalf of the citizens of Fort Lauderdale, I give Entertainment News & Views and its publishers our best wishes and wish you continued success in the future.

Sincerely,

Jim Naugle
Mayor

Dear Entertainment News & Views:

On behalf of the City of Hollywood, I want to congratulate Howard Salus and Entertainment News & Views on 25 years of service to South Florida’s tourism and arts industries. For a quarter century, Entertainment News & Views has focused on South Florida’s cultural and entertainment offerings in an informative and entertaining way.

The publication has played an important role in introducing a broad range of the cultural arts to a segment of our community that might not have otherwise been exposed to them.

Here in Hollywood, the publication has chronicled our city’s cultural renaissance. From private venues to programs at our Art and Culture Center, Entertainment News & Views has highlighted our efforts to place the arts at the very center of our community.

Best wishes for continued success. We look forward to many years of working together to enhance the quality of life for our residents and visitors to South Florida.

Sincerely,

Mara S. Giulianti
Mayor

To the Staff and all connected with the publication of Entertainment News & Views:

Congratulations to all of you on the publication of the 25th Anniversary Edition of Entertainment News & Views.

Your most informative publication has been with our community since 1980. It is considered one of the leading sources of scheduled entertainment, museum attractions, dining, theatre, and other cultural news in our area, including business and economic news which impact our cultural institutions.

What a fabulous accomplishment—a publication that each and every one of you should take pride in knowing that you contributed to its success. We, your readers from Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach, are grateful that you are here for us.

We salute you for the past and look forward to your being with us for the next 25 years.

Sincerely,

Debbie Wasserman Shultz
Member of Congress

As Entertainment News and Views celebrates 25 years in the newspaper business, it presents a time to reflect on arts and culture in Broward County. In 1980, choices for cultural events were few and far between. Today, the plethora of options is considerably boundless.

A few of the highlights over the years: Both Young at Art Children’s Museum and the Greater Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival began with a small mini-grant and now operate with budgets in excess of $1 million. The level of sophistication has changed in the community and has moved from using War Memorial Auditorium as the premier performing arts venue to the fabulous Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Artists such as internationally-renown sculptor Duane Hanson, Tony Award nominee playwright Vinnette Carroll; America’s most celebrated dancer Edward Villella and Brazilian-born artist Dalva Duarte have shared their artistic talents by serving on local committees and building this community as a great place for artists to live and work.

This year, one of the nation’s most exciting touring exhibitions, King Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharoaohs, will open at the Museum of Art|Fort Lauderdale on December 15, 2005 and will tour only four cities in the United States. This means Greater Fort Lauderdale has definitely arrived on the cultural tourism map. It is estimated that more than one million tickets will have been sold by April 2006!

Over the years, Entertainment News and Views has been there for the more than 450 not-for-profit cultural organizations and 10,000 artists that make Broward their home. The publication has reported on so many performances, exhibits and funding issues at the local, state and federal levels. The Broward Cultural Division is extremely appreciative of the professionalism of the editors and for the depth and breadth of their journalistic arts coverage.

Broward Cultural Division congratulates the Entertainment News and Views and its publishers, Howard Salus and Igor Royzis, on their celebration of 25 years.

Mary A. Becht, Director
Broward Cultural Division

Thank you, Entertainment News & Views, for providing our community with your comprehensive guide for 25 years. I encourage readers to participate in the wealth of Miami-Dade’s cultural treasures.

Michael Spring
Director
Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs

On behalf of the Greater Fort Lauderdale hospitality community, it is my pleasure to extend a well deserved congratulations to the 25th anniversary edition of Entertainment News & Views.

With a cultural community as rich as the golden sands that surround us, and one of the most anticipated art exhibitions, Tutankhamen and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs, visiting in December, life is definitely more than a beach in Greater Fort Lauderdale.  From dozens of theaters, art galleries and museums to more than 4,000 restaurants, eateries and nightclubs, Greater Fort Lauderdale offers something for any palate.

A casually chic combination of sea, sun, shopping, arts and entertainment--framed on the east by 23 miles of sun-kissed Blue Wave beaches and bordered on the west by the Everglades, a one-of-a-kind eco-system teeming with spectacular flora and fauna, set Greater Fort Lauderdale in a class all its own.
We hope you have time to experience the many sunny pleasures and hidden treasures waiting to be discovered in Greater Fort Lauderdale. 

Sincerely,

Nikki E. Grossman
President
Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau