Florida Vintage: Bear wrestling at bars in the ’80s

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Yes — this was a real night out in the ’80s. Crowds packed bars like Summer’s on the Beach in Fort Lauderdale to watch live bear wrestling! It didn’t last though. Growing outrage, animal cruelty crackdowns and tougher laws shut it down, ending one of Florida’s wildest eras.

Yes — this was a real night out in the ’80s. Crowds packed bars like Summer’s on the Beach in Fort Lauderdale to watch live bear wrestling! It didn’t last though. Growing outrage, animal cruelty crackdowns and tougher laws shut it down, ending one of Florida’s wildest eras.

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