This story was reported for NBC10 Boston
This year marks the 50th anniversary of “Jaws” — a movie that revolutionized summer blockbusters, ushered in a new era of film and helped to put one of New England’s gems, Martha’s Vineyard, into the national spotlight.
The movie was almost entirely filmed on Martha’s Vineyard in 1974. In “Jaws”, the setting is known as Amity Island, but the similarities to the Vineyard are clear and many landmarks in the film are instantly recognizable to this day.
The movie has retained a massive following five decades later, and has become a piece of island lore in the meantime. It seems like every native Vineyarder has a “Jaws” story to share — whether that’s a relative who was involved in the movie, a memory of Hollywood crews descending onto the island, or something else.
Needless to say, it’s a big summer for Martha’s Vineyard, with plenty in store to mark the special anniversary of the legendary movie.
The big anniversary date is June 20, the day that the movie premiered 50 years ago, but there are events all summer long to commemorate.
“This has been a long time coming,” Deputy Director of the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce Alessandra Hagerty said. “We landed on a series of some really fantastic events that we’re very excited for.”
This Friday, to mark the anniversary date, there will be a free screening of “Jaws at 50: The Definitive Inside Story” at the Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center. The screening of the behind-the-scenes documentary is already sold out, and will be available on streaming next month. The screening will be followed by an after party at the Harbor View Hotel.
On Saturday, the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce is collaborating with Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, with support from Circuit Arts, for a special screening of “Jaws” with the Cape Symphony on hand to play the legendary movie’s score in all its glory. As of Monday, tickets to this event were still available.
“People have always been interested since 1975 when the movie came out to kind of understand the Jaws locations here on the island — we’re pretty synonymous with the fictitious Amity Island,” Director of the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce Erica Ashton said.
Martha’s Vineyard Museum is hosting Amity Homecoming Weekend from June 19 to June 23, featuring live events, exclusive talks and insights into the behind-the-scenes of the iconic movie.
“The ‘Jaws’ community is a strong community; the islanders are a strong community,” museum managing director Cathy Mayone said. “We have a great opportunity to bring both of these communities together to celebrate the anniversary of the film.”
All summer long, Martha’s Vineyard Museum is hosting a special exhibition for the anniversary called “Jaws” at 50: A Deeper Dive.
The exhibition is a step back in time and an incredibly detailed homage to a piece of cinema history. Expect to see relics that were seen in the movie, to meet the islanders who made the film possible and come face-to-face with a replica of Bruce the shark.
“It is our largest exhibit to date, and it’s a really great opportunity for us to tell that story of how Martha’s Vineyard really is front and center in the whole making of the movie,” Mayone said. “And today, when you watch the movie, and you drive all around our island, the sites are still the same.“
The island partnered with app SetJetters to allow people to walk through the island locations where the movie was filmed.
This is just scratching the surface of the celebrations and commemorations happening this year for “Jaws” on Martha’s Vineyard. It feels like everywhere you turn on the island, there are signs and events happening for the movie. Check out the chamber of commerce’s rundown here.
Uncovering hidden ‘Jaws’ lore on the Vineyard — 50 years after movie’s premiere
If you spend some time on Martha’s Vineyard, and talk to some longtime islanders, you’re bound to hear some “Jaws” stories that will blow your mind.
The legendary film — which premiered on the island on June 20, 1975 and filmed there the year prior — has become an undeniable part of Martha’s Vineyard history and culture. The picturesque New England getaway remains unchanged in many ways, so many of the movie’s settings are instantly recognizable even 50 years later.
Five decades later, stories of the film remain clear as day in locals’ minds, too. And with so many islanders involved in the production of the movie, it’s not hard to find Vineyarders with unique ties to “Jaws.”
Jessica Burnham grew up on the island and remembered playing with “Jaws” star Robert Shaw’s children while the movie was filming.
“We played on my grandmother’s farm,” Burnham said. “We played with kittens and ran around fields and played with horses and stuff like that.”
She said she wasn’t featured as an extra in the movie, like many of her friends were, but enjoys the playdate memory with Shaw’s children.
“I guess they were bored, and he was busy, and there was some lapse in something for them to do,” Burnham said. “So somebody asked my uncle if he knew kids who would want to play with them for the day, and he did.”
James Hagerty is another native islander. He is currently serving as town administrator in Edgartown.
Hagerty’s grandfather was Dr. Robert Nevin — a family physician in Edgartown who found himself with a major role in “Jaws” — the medical examiner.
“My family always talks about, he could have gone to Hollywood, he could’ve gone to the big screens to be an acting doctor,” Hagerty said. “But I think he was always happy with just…. Staying in his hometown and being a hometown doctor.”
Hagerty’s family still has the shark shaped belt buckle that Spielberg gave his grandfather for his role in the movie — a rare piece of cinema history and a family heirloom all in one.
Some of the Vineyard “Jaws” lore is more out in the open.
Jeffrey Voorhees moved to the island when he was a child. At 12 years old, he found himself cast in the movie while living in Edgartown. 50 years later, he’s doing the Jawsome bus tour, bringing “Jaws” fanatics all over the island to show them where famous scenes were filmed. He’s got no shortage of stories from the movie.
“Word got out, they’re making a movie – $40 a day to be an extra! And we’re all just little kids, lets go sign up,” Voorhees remembered.
Voorhees ended up with a speaking role, to his surprise, and played Alex Kintner, who was the shark’s second victim. He earned $140 for that role — but the memories are surely priceless to him.