“Fire Island Fever” 1979
An Adult film by Jack Duveau.
In the 1970’s Fire Island became a wanted backdrop for the Gay Porn Film and photographic market. The beauty of nature and the freedom made it the perfect location for filming. Also their was plenty of hot young men willing to shed some inhibitions for extra cash. Some of the local employees would even do this on a lunch break during their work shift.
Fire Island Fever
was just one of the more notables. Taking its title from the hit movie “ Saturday Night Fever”. Featuring some known actors such as Will Seagers, and featuring George Sardi. Even getting its world premier in Cherry Grove at the Ice Palace.
In the sun-drenched summer of 1979, Fire Island Fever hit underground screens with a riot of color, camp, and cultural defiance. Directed by Jack Deveau under Hand in Hand Films, this comedic gem captured the spirit of an era when Fire Island was more than a getaway—it was a symbol of freedom, pleasure, and queer resilience. As New York reeled from post-Stonewall tensions and disco-fueled liberation, Deveau’s film offered a humorous yet pointed take on gay life, rooted in one of the East Coast’s most storied queer enclaves. Fire Island, a barrier island just off Long Island’s south shore, had been a haven for gay men since the 1950s, and by the 70s, it became a mecca for expression, eroticism, and rebellion against mainstream suppression. With a backdrop of beach houses, parties, and romantic entanglements, the film mirrored a unique chapter in American queer history, blending light-hearted narrative with bold affirmation.
Behind the scenes of Fire Island Fever (Jack Deveau, 1979)
Behind the scenes, Deveau was known not just for his filmmaking but for pushing the limits of what queer cinema could achieve artistically. Shot on 16mm film, Fire Island Fever stands out for its clever dialogue, sunny visuals, and ensemble cast who brought genuine chemistry to the screen. Though marketed as adult entertainment, its comedic tone and accessible storytelling made it popular among a broader audience. Hand in Hand Films, co-founded by Deveau in 1971, was at the forefront of the gay adult film renaissance, promoting narratives that treated queer characters with humor, depth, and dignity. Today, Fire Island Fever is viewed not only as a cult favorite but also as a historic record of pre-AIDS queer culture, offering a time capsule of liberation before the darkness of the coming decade.
Copy by Brighter Eras Captured
Fire Island Fever features cameos by some notable figures in Deveau's New York City gay circle: Michael's Thing and Topman editor Frank Schmitt and Gay Morning America producers/hosts George Sardi and Johnny Savoy, all playing themselves (and Sardi performing an original musical number below).
A list of Adult Porn films shot of Fire Island:
Day Dreams aka Cocktails (Richard Fontaine, 1950)
A Day at Fire Island (Young Physique, 1960)
Pose Please (Young Physique, 1960)
My Hustler (Andy Warhol, 1965)
Last Summer (Frank Perry, 1969)
Double Exposure (Peter de Rome, 1969)
Sticks and Stones (Stan Lopresto, 1970)
Dakota (Colt, 1970)
The Boys in the Sand (Wakefield Poole, 1971)
A Gift (Edward Parente, 1971)
Fire Island Kids (Peter de Rome, 1971)
The Erotic Films of Peter de Rome (Peter de Rome, 1973)
Fire Island (Derek Jarman, 1974)
Bayside (Target Studios, 1974)
Dune Fox aka On the Beach (Target Studios, 1975)
Dunes aka Jogging (Target Studios, 1976)
Beach Cowboy (Target Studios, 1976)
Anatomy of an Idol aka The Man (Target Studios, 1976)
The Destroying Angel (Peter de Rome, 1976)
Dune Buddies (Jack Deveau, 1978)
Full Circle aka In and Out (Unknown, 1979)
Fire Island Fever (Jack Deveau, 1979)
Just Blonds (Jack Deveau, 1979)
Boys in the Sand II (Wakefield Poole, 1984)
Parting Glances (Bill Sherwood, 1986)
Longtime Companion (Norman René, 1989)
It’s Big on Fire Island (LaMonte, 1995)
Dirty Baby Does Fire Island (Todd Downing, 1998)
Fire Island Cruising 1 (Michael Lucas, 2000)
Fire Island Cruising 2: Boys on Fire (Michael Lucas, 2001)
Fire Island Cruising 3 (Michael Lucas, 2002)
Fire Island Cruising 4 (Michael Lucas, 2002)
Fire Island Cruising 5 (Michael Lucas, 2003)
Fire Island Cruising 6 (Michael Lucas, 2004)
Fire Island Cruising 7 (Michael Lucas, 2005)
Meat Rack (Max Sohl, 2005)
Fire Island Cruising 8 (Michael Lucas, 2006)
Return to Fire Island (Michael Lucas, 2008)
Obsession (Michael Lucas & Mr. Pam, 2009)
Whorrey Potter & the Sorcerer’s Balls (Dominic Ford, 2010)
Fire Island Beef (Robert Van Damme & Dominic Ford, 2011)
Men in the Sand (Jake Deckard, 2012)
Fire Island (Francis Mead, 2013)
Love & Devotion (Adam Killian, 2013)
Kings of New York (Michael Lucas, 2013)
The Normal Heart (Ryan Murphy, 2014)
Fire Island Meat Rack (Dominic Ford, 2014)
Fire Island Staff House (Dominic Ford, 2014)
Fire Island Cruising Raw (Adam Killian & Jake Steel, 2015)
