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.
Jaws
June 14, 1974
Tom Lee
Edgartown at any price is a bargain compared to friendly Amity.
July 2, 1974
Tom Lee
The rumors about Jaws suddenly turned ugly three weeks ago.
July 12, 1974
Edith Blake
“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.
1988
July 15, 1988
It was 13 years ago that the Vineyard’s place in Hollywood history was assured, and the career of filmmaker Steven Spielberg established, with the making of a movie Jaws.
The best-selling novel turned blockbuster movie is just a memory in the minds of those who were around when it came out. Thirteen years and three Jaws sequels after the original Universal Studios Inc. Film was released and broke all previous box office records (amounting to $130 million in ticket sales through 1987), most agree it is finally safe to go back into the water.
1975
June 27, 1975
It was a night for celebrating. The sky was clear, and the waxing moon was in competition with the stars of the sky, the stars of the screen, and the stars of the Island, and into this perfect setting (or set) went Islanders in best bib and tucker to see the premiere of their very own movie, Jaws.
It had to be a benefit, (these big things always turn into benefits) and it had to be for the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital because that needs more money than other Island organizations.
June 20, 1975
Jaws, a film starring Martha’s Vineyard and a polyurethane shark named Bruce, will have its first showings tonight on the Island which was its birthplace.
Both screenings, in the Island Theatre, Oak Bluffs, at 7 and again at 9:30 p.m., have been sold out for a week to audiences that will total 1,000 and pay premium prices ($10 and $15) to have the wits scared out of them. The showings, sponsored as a benefit by the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital auxiliary, will net some $9,500 to the hospital’s support, said Curtis Collision Jr., director of its sustaining fund.
1974
October 4, 1974
In the words of the movies, Jaws has “wrapped,” struck its sets and stolen away in mammoth trucks. Filming of Peter Benchley’s best-selling novel, Jaws, was started by Universal Studios on the Island May 2, and for the rest of the summer caravans of trucks moved about the Island like nomads, shooting here or there - mostly there - and out at sea where no one could really get a good look at what was happening.
August 16, 1974
Boats since the beginning of time have been built to float, or at least that’s the object, but Universal Studios (which of late does the unusual) has built a boat to sink. It sounds a bit odd, and frankly it looks a bit odd.
August 2, 1974
While Washington has been putting on a continuing spring and summer show, Martha’s Vineyard has had one of its own, and the show is Jaws. Not only has just about every resident been fascinated by what is going on, but nearly half the population has been actively involved.
Therefore, when the Monday night lectures for the benefit of the Old Sculpin Gallery and the Martha’s Vineyard Art Association had a program this week on Jaws, it was a howling success. (The howling was done, unfortunately, by all those who just couldn’t get in).
