Key West The Way It Was

06/25/2026

Story and photos by Keith West Terracina, Well, good morning and happy Thursday  I have to admit I really miss my Key West sunrise mornings. I was capturing them on film since 1977, That first one you’re looking at with the cruise ship palm tree and the sun coming up behind me was around eight years ago. I know you locals hate the cruise ships, but it is a nice photograph I needed a subject, that next image is Mr. Luke pretty much our mascot I use to take him to sunrise all the time on White Street pier we even went for some morning swims. Those other images are just some random sunrises. I took in the last 50 years. Have a great Thursday.

06/25/2026

06/25/2026

Well, good morning and happy Thursday, Thursday morning that is, that first image one of my classic published fishing photos back from 1981. That’s my dad Louis Terracina on the right and in the middle Captain Andy Griffith Senior kind of like my step dad 45 years ago. You can actually see Andy Junior on the left. We were on one of our king fishing trips, two electric reels to outriggers and four wild fisherman I was on the stern taking the photo, That next drawing that Bob Kennedy drew, that’s one of my  aerial photographs he painted we both took off in his friends helicopter, and I wanted to capture the intersection of Duval and Green back then which I’m sure it still is the Bermuda triangle. I got fu**ed up in that triangle many times too many bars this image is actually in one of Bob Kennedy‘s very successful posters that bizarre picture of my great uncle Salvador holding the skull that was taken above his mask, photography studio above his little brother’s bar Captain Tony Saloon, and that last photograph that was taken in Cuba that was their Conch train I believe they  copied the idea. That last image was done by a painter. I don’t know where when but I have it.

06/25/2026

Photo and story by Keith Terracina, good evening I am always going on and on about “Key West the way it was” that’s because I was there, like this image right here I captured in May of 1980, this was when I worked for the Key West citizen newspaper, and the island was being invaded by 100,000 Cuban refugees, it was kind of a hysterical event. I ended up having 23 pictures published that month in a bunch of newspapers all over the country 46 years ago. The funny thing is by 1983. I became partners and associates with a lot of those guys from Cuba. You know like the guys from the movie Scarface with Al Pacino. I got some stories. You should check out my book West the way it was” if you want to know where to pick that book up in Key West or no more about it just send me a text 908-361-5606 I return all texts with a phone call if you like all my books are hand, signed thumb printed, and a special gift like I said just text me

06/25/2026

Good evening or good morning. I don’t ever remember. Enjoy my little video clip.

06/25/2026

Video and story by Keith West Terracina, just walking down Duval Street eight years ago I saw this guy playing in the guitar, I took some professional photographs of him and did this little video clip. We talked for a while. He arrived in Key West as I was leaving we talked on the phone a couple times we both exchanged some pretty wild stories to live the life as a pirate in Key West probably my next book.

06/25/2026

You just gotta go there. Have a great Wednesday night time to go out.

06/24/2026

Photo and story by Keith Terracina, 2004 one of my favorite family photos at my dad‘s house in Key West. That’s him in the middle Louis. He’s now 90 years old these days still partying in Key West. He’s on his 52 year and a real pain in the ass the guy in the left his father, my grandfather, Captain Tony, and the guy in the right one of the best friends of the family since the early 70s Captain Roy we are all playing cards at my dad‘s house it’s amazing how my grandfather in his 90s was still trying to count cards. He’s been gambling since he was 13 years old back in 1929.

06/24/2026

Story and selfie by Keith West Terracina, Most people don’t know this but Robin Williams been to two Fantasy Fests dressed as a pirate a pirate, Halloween parties, are one of his favorite events He loves when he’s not recognized that’s how I first met him when he was incognito in a very big art gallery nightclub in Manhattan. I was very fortunate to hang out with Robin one on one for over five minutes. We exchange some funny Key West war stories. This was at the Milk Gallery in Manhattan 16 years ago it was one of the most interesting fascinating conversations I had with a superstar I’ve been with famous people before, but it was nothing like Robin

06/24/2026

Funny story by Keith West Teresina in 1979. I got to play cards with my grandfather Captain Tony and Mr. love 22 right here above the bar this guy my grandfather were good friends. They were actually the same age. I still have his counterfeit money.