Archives
Fire Island Celebrity history- Kay Ballard
There were many celebrities like actress Kay Ballard who were familiar with the Pines. They were part of the inner circle of closeted stars who found the haven of Fire Island a place to be themselves.
Fire Island DJ Howard Merritt
There were many DJs who added working on Fire Island to their resumes. It definitely added prestige. DJ Howard Merritt was one. Howard was a frequent visitor to the Pines as he had friends there, and would play at many house parties.
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.
A Very Natural Thing- 1974
An important film in the history of American gay filmmaking, "A Very Natural Thing" is considered the first feature film on the gay experience made by an out gay man to receive commercial distribution. Many scenes were filmed in the Pines.
DJ Tom Savarese
The early days of disco brought many young DJs to Fire Island to test the waters. DJ Tom Savarese was one.
DJ John Ceglia
Throughout the 1980’s and 90’s a group of talented DJs made their mark in the Pines as it was as noteworthy on your resume as a New York club. DJ John Ceglia joins our rank in Pines history.
Pinesfest 2016. The party/ benefit that almost wasn’t…
Pinesfest was the brainchild of Pines resident Greg Dyer. A New Beach Festival. September 3-5, 2016. Pinesfest was born out of the desire to carry on the incredible legacy of Fire Island Pines. Due to an impending hurricane the party never saw its true potential…
The “Ripped” Party 1990-91
Parties in the Pines have always been very detailed and planned affairs. The creative in the community would lend their talents making them almost professional as invitations were designed by graphic design artists as well as decor. The best DJs of the eras would play and record them for posterity. The Ripped Party of the 90’s was just one.
Art history- Jack Brusca
Many artists have found their way to the Pines. Some for fun, sex, inspiration, or all of that combined. Artist Jack Brusca was just one.
DJ Warren Gluck
DJ Warren Gluck was a creative perfectionist in life and art. His music was always well planned out with thoughtful decisions. He rose to the top of his profession leaving his mark on all that were lucky enough to experience his magic.
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 GMHC Morning Party 1995-1997
Created in 1983 as a community answer to the growing AIDS crisis the GMHC Morning Party grew throughout the 1990’s.
The Copa Cherry Grove Est.1980-81
Like a shooting star The Copa nightclub arrived in Cherry Grove and lit up the night. Night life that is. Like the Pavilion in the Pines that was built on the site of the Sandpiper, it was built on the site of the former Sea Shack.
DJ Lina Bradford
For 10 years DJ Lina Bradford ruled the deck at Sip n Twirl in Fire Island Pines. Creating the phenomenon called Twirlina Tea. What was a mixture of music, performance art and lovefest was an experience that is irreplaceable. Before that, and now after is a history that is like no other…
Boardwalk Talk : The DJ Discussion & Souvenirs 2017
The Boardwalk Talk was inspired by a program run by then owner Andrew Kirtzman in 2011. Our topic would be a DJ discussion with the many DJs of Fire Island.
Rockshots Greeting Cards by Michael Rock & Tolin Greene
An image is worth a thousand words they say, and so it went with Photographer Michael Rock and the erotic images that became greeting cards known as Rockshots of an era…
World AIDS Day…we remember.
1987. As we celebrate World AIDS Day we remember the rose ceremony that was a tradition began in the Pines as more and more from the community were lost to AIDS. Many brought a rose as a symbol of love. These were then thrown into the ocean at the close of the service…
Fire Island Art history - PaJaMa: Paul Cadmus, Jared & Margaret French
In 1937 on Fire Island, Paul Cadmus, Jared and Margaret French forged a photographic collaboration they called PaJaMa, an amalgamation of the first two letters of each of their first names. The trio produced intimately posed photographs that detailed their relationships, both amongst themselves and within Fire Island’s thriving artistic community.
The Dolly Parton look-alike Contest- Cherry Grove 1978.
The Dolly Parton look alike contest was part of the annual Cherry Grove Fair. Community events like this give Cherry Grove its unique history.