The Cherry Grove Archives Committee, urging “Save the Past, Make It Last,” displayed some of its collection of historic treasures, illustrating Cherry Grove’s living past, in a terrific show, curated by Lee Sharmat, at the Community House on July 25 and 26.
Wooden signs, bearing the evocative past names of Grove houses, as well as of past businesses, rescued by John Burke and others, were exhibited. Lorraine Michels showed her photos of Cherry Grove’s annual Invasions, many of them collected in her forthcoming book, “The Invasion of The Pines,” subtitled “40 Years of Fun, Frolic & Fantasy, 1976-2015.” Part of the proceeds from its sale will benefit the Arts Project of Cherry Grove. Associated with the Cherry Bowl Volleyball Tournament, since its inception in 1984, and the Cherry Grove Pride Parade, of which he was a founder in 1999, Paul Jablonski brought his collection of memorabilia and Lorraine’s photos of past Cherry Bowls and Prides were displayed at Paul’s table. Costumes, photos, posters, and playbills represented early Arts Project theatrical performances. Joe Feerick showed the fruits of his research into early Miss Fire Island and Mr. Fire Island contests. Diana DiPrima showed her photographs, including of Teri Warren, turned away by John Whyte, from his Blue Whale restaurant in the Pines, for coming there in drag, which inspired Grove crossdressers’ first Invasion of the Pines, its successors still led by Arts Project President Thom “Panzi” Hansen. Fire Island film clips were shown by filmmaker George Lyter. Displays recalled the late Harold Seeley, scene designer extraordinaire, called the Archbishop of Cherry Grove, which was his costume on state occasions; Marge Cozzolino, who ran the Arts Project Casino for many years, and could often be found casting her fishing line into the ocean; and photographer Benay Phillips. There were early photos of longtime couple Bobby “Cobra” Scherffius and Victor Alfieri, together more than 60 years, and of the late Bill Perez, with Wynn “Queen Wynn” Tucker and Peter Romano, who have also left us. Collections of photos and memorabilia that came from Meryl Facterman, original co-owner of Cherry’s, and from late Post Mistress Jeanne Skinner’s family were also there.
The show was well attended and it was a pleasure to see so many Grovites, young and old, embrace their past through this embarrassment of riches.