Cherry Grove Stories

Many have heard or seen pop culture references to Fire Island (just off Long Island in New York City) as being a longtime vacation spot for gay men and women. Filmmaker Michael Fisher’s warm documentary Cherry Grove Stories chronicles the evolution of Fire Island as a relatively safe haven for homosexuals and lesbians in the pre-Stonewall era, when even revealing one’s identity to family could land a person in jail. The film benefits from generosity of spirit and the storytelling abilities of a number of interviewees who became regulars on the scene at the titular Cherry Grove community on Fire Island as far back as the 1950s, when rumors of a welcoming bubble-culture of nonstop hedonism, flamboyant entertainment, camaraderie, and supportive straight locals (who appreciated the seasonal tourist dollars) drew increasing numbers of visitors. A veritable mountain of amateur film footage was shot from the postwar years through the ‘60s, ‘70s, and beyond, making very clear not only the open sexuality, but also the good-neighbor policy that instituted protections from police (who eventually did try to bust members of the Cherry Grove community). The interviewees here spin informative and engaging yarns about the old days (Tennessee Williams shows up in a story and snapshot at one point), but what comes across so strongly is how much Fire Island represented a contrast to the larger and often merciless world that existed for gays and lesbians outside its relatively safe confines. Extras include an intro by Fisher, bonus interviews, and a film festival Q&A. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)