Ft. Lauderdale was described as a “sleepy little town” before her hit; “Where the Boys Are” drew scads and scads of teens there, making Lauderdale famous for spring break. It’s where I lived back then, so there’s kind of a melancholy connection with her for me. (ironic, given the rape, and what it did to her)...
My Grandparents lived there in the 50's and 60's and 70's. We would visit beginning in the mid 60's - the rapid development changed the landscape in just a few decades.
In November, 1961, I was in Bern, Switzerland, and “Where the Boys Are” was playing at a local movie theater. I first saw it when it came to TV.
Elvis Presley’s movie “Girl Happy” was also set in Fort Lauderdale, and that probably contributed to its appeal as a spring break mecca.