Joseph P. Hayes, founder of the Surflight Theatre, concocted the original Show Place scheme in 1975 as a way of providing additional revenue and collaborated with his friend T. Scott Henderson, a local banker, to make the idea a reality. Coincidentally, the bakery on the corner of Centre Street and Beach Avenue had been converted into an ice cream establishment already, had many of the necessary equipment and was in an excellent location—a block away from Surflight.

Joe imagined a family-oriented food establishment reminiscent of a turn of the century restaurant, complete with handsome soda jerks in red and white striped vests—a pattern that would match the wallpaper. Show Place would not only be visually attractive and appealing to tourists, but also employ a unique cast of entertaining servers. A meal at Show Place would be fun and funny. Servers had a routine of music and gimmicks that would coincide with items ordered from the “Show Biz” menu—a tradition that remains today.