The Pat Kenny Show Simon Tierney on pre-Castro Cuba
Mar 28, 2026
Simon Tierney, journalist who researched pre-revolutionary Cuba, paints a vivid picture of 1950s Havana. He recalls frozen-in-time streets, classic cars and Hollywood glamour. He talks about Batista-era US business ties, casinos and rumoured mob links. He also traces cultural touchstones like Hemingway and vintage travel promos.
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1950s Americana Still Dominates Havana
- Cuba still feels frozen in the late 1950s with mid-century American culture visible across Havana streets.
- Simon Tierney observed colourful Chevrolets and Buicks and a pervasive sense of Americana during his 2017 visit.
Batista Era Was A US-Backed Playground
- Pre-revolution Cuba was effectively a US client state where Batista and American business interests shaped society.
- Tierney highlights Batista's ties to the American mob and a gambling and tourism industry that created a 'permissive paradise'.
Hemingway's Presence Still Celebrated In Havana
- Ernest Hemingway left a strong cultural imprint on Cuba after living there for over 20 years and writing works set on the island.
- Simon describes visiting El Floridita, raising a Papa Doble to a sculpture, and noting Hemingway's Finca and fishing inspiration for The Old Man and the Sea.