“SUNRISE” The party that inspired “Beach.” 1978
It was 1978 and house parties in the Pines were happening weekly. The housemates of the TV House as it was known wanted to throw one of their own. Fire Island was known for its parties. The housemates of the TV House were all from the world of the creative. Scott Bromley an up and coming architect who had just designed Studio 54 nightclub in NYC, his partner Interior designer Robin Jacobsen, Colin Birch; Design Director for Bonwit Teller, to name a few.
The party would be called “SUNRISE.” It would take place on the beach in front of the TV House. Many of the housemates would be contributing their creative talent making it bigger than the normal house party. As all were inspired Art was being created before their eyes.
Graphic design came to play as the Party Invite used the TV Guide ( a hard copy magazine that showed you weekly programming) as the inspiration…
The Party would begin at Midnight until Sunrise. Hence the Party name.
The plan was to create a Pavilion that would be the centerpiece for the party using bamboo poles and gauze. The dance floor would be made from planks of wood. Sound was provided from two borrowed giant speakers with music on tape by David Bruey from the 10th Floor in NYC.
Fifty dozen chocolate cookies were shipped in from Sullivan Street in NYC.
The signature drink was the Tequila Sunrise made with grapefruit juice. In a sign of the times, orange juice was banned from being used in any cocktail in protest anti-gay Florida spokeswoman Anita Bryant.
In the spirit of “build it and they will come”, they did. All two thousand of them…
After hearing about, and seeing Pines Volunteer Fire Department members Jimmy Meade, Fire Chief Dick Van Brundt, and Clern LaFountaine were convinced with about another Party idea that would create history on Fire Island called “Beach.”
