Interview with Richard BERENSON.

Interview with Richard Berenson, the third of the “Berenson” dynasty. Throughout the interview Richard tells us about his grandfather Richard “Dick” Berenson. How he came from Boston in 1929 to Miami, where he took over the Miami Jai-Alai and the subsequent take-off to become the most appreciated of all frontons. His attempt to open a fronton in New York in 1938. Upon Richard's death in 1967, he was succeeded by Stanley “Buddy” Berenson who had nurtured the business since he was a child. Richard tells us what it meant to his father when the players went on strike in 1968. “He took it personally and was given no opportunity to negotiate.” After the purchase of Tampa Jai-Alai, 1969, “Buddy” opened two frontons: Fort Pierce and Ocala, creating year-round employment for the pelotaris at the respective frontons. He lost control of World Jai Alai and the Berensons stay out of the circuit until 1980, when they bought Hartford Jai Alai. In that interval, the mob murdered the owner of WJA, Roger Wheeler, as well as John Callahan (former president of WJA). Richard recounts what the strike of '88 meant to him and his family. His disagreements with the strategy of both sides, owners of the frontons and IJAPA. Hartford Jai Alai closed its doors in 1996. Richard was the accountant. The Berenson family, after 66 years involved in jai-alai, was saying goodbye to a business they loved, unlike the other owners, in Richard's words. In short, “The Perfect Storm” destroyed jai-alai in the US.