Archives
Fire Island Celebrity history- Carol Channing
As a good friend to Broadway composer Jerry Herman actress Carol Channing had special access to Fire Island. From her early visits in the 1960’s to her last to Cherry Grove in 2013 she made herself at home here.
Drum magazine and the Fire Island issue 1965.
Started in 1964, Drum Magazine was one of the first gay magazines to combine news and erotica. The founder and editor Clark Polak saw himself as a kind of gay Hugh Hefner. The Nov 1965 issue features Fire Island.
The Gifford, Wittstein, Miller, & Bromley house. Est. 1963-1981
Architect Horace Gifford’s second house design for Robert Miller and his partner Edwin Wittstein began as a sketch in the sand…
Harvey Milk on Fire Island 1950’s
You would be surprized by people who you never thought could be part of Fire Island history. Visionary civil and human rights leader, and one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States Harvey Milk is one.
Welcome to Fire Island Pines. A Family Community… the sign
In 1952 the Home Guardian Company of New York began planning a new community called Fire Island Pines. Designed and envisioned as what they called “A family community.” They communicated this with a large sign in the harbor.
Sea Shack Cherry Grove Est.1952-1979
The Sea Shack 1952-1979 was a restaurant and gathering place in Cherry Grove Fire Island.
The Fire Island National Seashore. Est. 1964
Fire Island National Seashore was established by Congress on September 11, 1964, following a long history of preservation efforts, most with grass-roots support. Without the plan by master builder/ developer Robert Moses there would be no NPS. His role was a major turning point in Fire Island history.
The Monster Cherry Grove Est. 1969
Before it became the institution it is known as today, The Monster (Greenwich Village, NYC) started out as a restaurant in Cherry Grove on Fire Island. The Monster was named after a carved wooden sea serpent from the Coney Island carousel. Joe Scialo opened the restaurant and bar in 1969, where it swiftly evolved into the hottest gay nightspot of the time. From there, the concept expanded to Key West where it became immensely popular with snowbirds who would flock to vacation there during winter seasons. At the height of its popularity, The Monster was even considered Studio 54’s rival.
Fire Island Celebrity history- Jerry Herman
1960’s-1990’s. Broadway composer Jerry Herman loved the Pines so much so that after moving away, he came back time and time again to become a resident three times purchasing homes on both the Ocean and the Bay.…
Fire Island Celebrity history- Diahann Carroll
Diahann Carroll was an American actress, singer, model, and activist from the Golden Age of Hollywood. At the height of her fame in the mid 1960s, she spent her summers at a modest ocean-front cottage in the Pines with her six-year-old daughter.
Cherry Grove People-Johny Poole
Cherry Grove icon Johny Poole and his Fire Island journey…
Celebrity history- Joan McCracken
Many celebrities found the Pines their home. Actress Joan McCracken was one. The former wife of director Bob Fosse it was she who got the house in the divorce and made it her own.
Fire Island Celebrity history- Barbra Streisand
1966. Actress/singer Barbra Streisand, just beginning her illustrious career arrives by seaplane in the Pines with her then Broadway show “Funny Girl” costar Kay Medford for lunch.
Grey Gardens Est. 1960’s.
Named after the famous home in the Hamptons “Grey Gardens” also lived in the Pines. However it had a very different story…
Jay Hyde Crawford Home Est.1969
Jay Hyde Crawford was a fashion Illustrator most famous for his design for department store Bonwit Teller. A simple bouquet of violets created in 25 minutes according to him…
Pines People- Walter & Joyce Reich
Walter & Joyce Reich were straight people living in a gay community, however they were here first. Yet none of that mattered as they created community wherever they went…
Fashions of the Pines 1960’s
Fashion has always been a part of Pines history. Noted designers like Halston, Angelo Donghia, Calvin Klein, Perry Ellis and more have either visited or made a home here. It was natural for a Fashion Show to become a community event…
The Origins of Fire Island’s Tea Dance at The Blue Whale
The Tea Dance was created in 1966 in the Pines by then owner John Whyte. It is now replicated in gay resorts around the world…
Leedom- Cott Residence. Est.-1963
Sometimes when designing a home on Fire Island there are rooms without a view. That is just where Architect Horace Gifford found himself at the home he was now designing for Kenneth Leedom director of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Fire Island Celebrity history- Montgomery Clift
Actor Montgomery Clift comes to the Pines to stay. He becomes a very visible part of the community until 1966.