21. Zorita’s snake

Zorita, a celebrated exotic dancer of the 1930s, had an affinity for her pet snake that caused quite a stir in downtown Miami. On a seemingly ordinary day, February 22, 1939, the then 21-year-old dancer decided to take her pet snake for a noon stroll along busy Flagler Street. The sight of Zorita and her slithering companion quickly drew a crowd, turning an everyday walk into a spectacle that overflowed onto the street, slowing traffic to a crawl.

The unusual sight eventually led to the involvement of the local police, who arrived on scene due to the traffic disruption. In an attempt to disperse the crowd and restore normal traffic flow, Zorita and her snake were escorted to the police station. The incident sparked speculation among veteran police officers, who suggested the possibility of a premeditated publicity stunt. However, Zorita dismissed such assertions, insisting she and her pet were simply “taking the morning breeze.”

Regardless of the intention, the incident undoubtedly brought Zorita and her snake into the limelight. Just two days later, an ad featuring Zorita and her reptilian companion appeared in the back pages of the Miami Daily News, marking the beginning of a long series of advertisements that would run in local papers for the next forty years. These ads chronicled the unique bond between Zorita and her pet snake, a relationship that continued to captivate Miami until her death in 2001 at the age of 85.