Watching an episode of the new Apple TV+ series “Palm Royale” is like stepping into a time capsule of 1969 Palm Beach, with sets and costumes that scream vintage society.
While the series, which stars Kristen Wiig as an outsider desperate to break into Palm Beach high society, was not shot in town, certain details like vintage Lilly Pulitzer dresses and rooms decked out with potted palms help to create a sense of place for viewers.
What did Palm Beach actually look like in 1969? And did “Palm Royale” pull off authentic costumes?
Hundreds of images from Florida’s past available in the state archive provide a closer look at Palm Beach society of that era.
Many of the scenic shots of Palm Beach in that era come from the state Division of Tourism, which chronicled locations from Worth Avenue to Royal Poinciana Plaza and the memorial fountain dedicated to noted Palm Beach architect Addison Mizner.
Photos of key figures including Estée Lauder, Marjorie Merriweather Post, Arnold Palmer and Perry Como come courtesy of the state archive’s collection of images by photographer Bert Morgan, who was known for chronicling high society.
One group of Morgan’s images that stand out particularly for “Palm Royale” fans are shots from a fashion show at March 1969 gala to benefit St. Mary’s Hospital at the Everglades Club in Palm Beach.
Why are these photos notable? The clothes worn by socialites in these 1969 shots are close matches to some seen in “Palm Royale.” The colorful prints, floor-length skirts and playful patterns are distinctly Palm Beach.
The photos’ captions also provide a throwback look at 1960s society and how women were identified in the press: A number of photos do not identify women by their first and last names, but, in the style of the time, by their husbands’ names. Many of the images in the Bert Morgan Collection do not have married women’s first names, including the fashion show, where those pictured are referred to as “Mrs. George Matthews,” or “Mrs. Edward H. Cochrane.”
Kristina Webb is a reporter for Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at [email protected]. Subscribe today to support our journalism.
