Name: Florida Vintage: Bear wrestling at bars in the ’80s
Uploaded: 2026-04-28T12:24:19
Duration: 1 min 16 s
Description: 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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Florida Vintage: Bear wrestling at bars in the ’80s

Published: April 28, 2026 at 8:24 AM

Tags: Florida Vintage

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.