The Vineyard Gazette Media Group celebrated the 50th anniversary of Jaws in 2025 in several exciting ways.
- The Gazette has dug into our photo archives and worked with Islanders, who have rarely seen photos of the making of the movie to create a special commemorative Jaws 50th Commemorative Magazine ↗, now on sale in the Vineyard Gazette online store.
- The Vineyard Gazette printed a special Amity Gazette section on June 20, 2025 with stories about the Islanders who made the movie a success. You can order copies at the Vineyard Gazette online store.
Jaws Memorabilia Auction
An auction of Jaws memorabilia will take place at the Willow Auction House in Lincoln Park, N.J.
The Story of Captain Quint Is a Family Tale
Christopher Shaw Myers, an author who spent most of his life working in tech, has written a book about his uncle, Robert Shaw, who played the salt encrusted shark hunter in the 1975 summer blockbuster Jaws.
Jaws Exhibit Receives Museum Honor
The Martha’s Vineyard Museum received an Excellence Award from the New England Museum Association for its exhibit this summer honoring the 50th anniversary of Jaws.
Order the Jaws 50th Commemorative Magazine
The Vineyard Gazette Media Group proudly presents this commemorative magazine celebrating the 50th anniversary of Jaws. Featuring rare photos, firsthand accounts from Islanders involved in the film, a detailed map of filming locations, and more, this special edition brings the iconic movie’s history to life.
Available Now.
From the Archives
For Jaws, Some Progress — For the 400, an Ice Water Romp
“We’ll go again,” said the assistant director, Tom Joyner, and into the valley of death waded The 400 with cameras to the right of them, and cameras to the left of them. The water was cold, cold, cold, and what sunshine there was was most uncooperative. It was Sunday, the last day of June, and…
Elements, Special Effects Are Jaws Producer’s Foes
The rumors about Jaws suddenly turned ugly three weeks ago. There were no more jokes about sharks being released of the Vineyard — the word was that Jaws was in trouble, even in danger of shutting down, because of horrendous cost overruns. All the whining about the weather from the movie-makers seemed more serious as…
Jaws Producers Find Amity Expensive Town
Edgartown at any price is a bargain compared to friendly Amity. The white wooden houses of the Vineyard are kept just as neatly as those of Jaws’ picturesque resort; the waters are no less beautiful around the Island; even the inhabitants are similar. But somehow Richard D. Zanuck and David Brown, the producers of Jaws,…
From Menemsha to Harthaven Goes the Reel World of Jaws
The movie production of Jaws continues to roam the Island in much the same manner as a touring medicine show, playing in each of the Island’s towns. The early part of last week’s filming was done in the Zinn house on East Chop (supposed to be Chief Brody’s house) where the entire entourage of trucks…
More articles from the archive →
Cast Profiles
A Front Row Seat for Bruce the Shark
In 1974, Susan Murphy and her husband Lynn towed the 25-foot-long mechanical shark for the filming of the movie Jaws.
Before the Film, There Was Jaws the Novel
Fifty years ago, when Wendy Benchley’s late husband Peter Benchley wrote a novel called Jaws, neither had any idea that it would become a phenomenon.
Susan Backlinie Swam Into Film History as First Jaws Victim
Susan Backlinie, who played the doomed skinny dipper Chrissie Watkins in Jaws, died May 11 at 77. The movie was released in 1975 and Ms. Backlinie…
Edith Blake, Vineyard Photographer Who Documented Jaws
Ms. Blake cut a colorful figure in Edgartown society for decades and famously documented the filming of the movie Jaws on Martha’s Vineyard in the summer…
Notice: This is parody content and not actual news stories.
Of Editorial Lessons and Legacies
It is plain to me that I, Harry Meadows, will be recalled as the newspaper editor who, having learned of the killing of a woman swimmer a week before the start of the summer season, told the chief of police: “There won’t be any story about the attack in the Gazette.”
Marine Biologist Recalls Loss and Life Changes
When Dr. Matt Hooper last saw Amity, it was from the deck of the ferry as it sailed toward the mainland. As he remembers it, the day was cloudy and unusually cold for late July.
Selectmen Tax White Shark Merchandise
Amity selectmen announced Thursday a new tax will be imposed on all paraphernalia bearing the image The White Shark. Beginning July 1, all merchants will be required to pay an additional 2 per cent to the town for all items sold with the shark.
Woman Injured Off South Beach; Hospital Cites Boating Accident
Reported sightings of Portuguese man-o-war off the Amity south shore continued last weekend when an off-Island woman came out of the water with “stinging lesions” on her arms and legs.
Real Estate Agents Report Rise in Waterfront Rentals
It looks like real estate agents on Amity will have reason to smile again this summer: rentals for July and August are on pace to top last year’s total of 16 — the highest in almost 30 years.