Fire Island Celebrity history- Jerry Herman
1960’s-1990’s. Broadway composer Jerry Herman loved the Pines so much so that after moving away, he came back time and time again to become a resident three times purchasing homes on both the Ocean and the Bay.
Broadway baby…
Jerry Herman was an American composer and lyricist, known for his work in Broadway musical theater. He composed the scores for the hit Broadway musicals Hello, Dolly!, Mame, and La Cage aux Folles. He was nominated for the Tony Award five times, and won twice, for Hello, Dolly! and La Cage aux Folles.
Jerry Herman
involves himself in the community events, and entertains frequent guests like Angela Lansbury and Carol Channing at his home.
1971. Jerry’s 40th Birthday Party at home ( 159 Oak Walk) with Angela Lansbury.
He supports the community by taking part in events like the Fashion Show, Parties and Benefits.
His Broadway shows include…
1991. Jerry moves to the bay house and entertains friends.
Entertainment critic Rex Reed with Jerry on left and Bob (Rose) Levine above.
Longtime Friend Bob(Rose) Levine remembers:
Jerry Herman told me a story once about growing up in Jersey City. His fun-loving mother would make elaborate costume parties for any occasion. When he came home from school one day, he asked his mother what the occasion was. “It’s today!” she answered, and in time one of his most popular songs from “Mame” would be born. Born on July 10, 1931, Jerry was considered a Broadway genius, alongside such greats as Cole Porter and Irving Berlin, both who also wrote their own music and lyrics. He had six major Broadway hits throughout his long and prolific career. Living in Cherry Grove in the late 1950s, he would accompany us at the piano for rehearsals, or with some singers in our local Cherry Grove Arts Project productions.
It was around then that he was working on his Off Broadway musical revue “Parade,” which opened at The Players Theatre in Greenwich Village in January 1960, produced by Lawrence Kasha, who kept a house in the Pines at that time. “Parade” would become a major Off Broadway hit, featuring Dody Goodman and Charles Nelson Reilly, who both went on to have wonderful careers on Broadway and TV. I watched as his Broadway career started to take off. In 1961, “Milk and Honey” opened at the Martin Beck Theatre and had a decent run. In 1964, “Hello, Dolly” opened at the St. James Theatre, and won 10 Tony Awards that year, including Best Musical.
Jerry bought his first house in Fire Island Pines in 1964, which overlooked the ocean. He later moved to two other houses that overlooked the bay. While living in the Pines, Jerry loved nothing more than hosting elegant dinner and cocktail parties, many of which I attended. Jerry also made history as the first composer-lyricist to have three Broadway shows to reach more than 1,500 performances, including “Hello, Dolly,” which in 1971 became the longest running Broadway musical of its time. Jerry owned a town house on West 11th Street where he hosted a party to commemorate the occasion. I had the pleasure of being invited to that party along with Broadway stars Carol Channing, Ginger Rogers, Larry Kert, David Merrick, and Ethel Merman.
Jerry was hot. His next hit was “Mame” with Angela Lansbury. He then wrote the music and lyrics for “Mack and Mabel,” “The Grand Tour,” and “Dear World.” He made history again on Broadway in 1983 with “La Cage aux Folles.” In 1998, he put together a Broadway revue, “An Evening With Jerry Herman,” starring Lee Roy Reams, Florence Lacey and himself. He wrote songs for many cabaret shows and for television specials.
Jerry lived with his a long-time partner Martin Finkelstein in Key West, until Martin died of AIDS in the mid 1980s. He then lived in Miami for many years with his partner Terry Marler, who now survives him. Our country lost a living national treasure when Jerry Herman died on Dec. 26, 2019, but I also lost a very dear friend. He was generous, friendly, kind, and very unassuming. May his songs, legend, and memories live on forever.
Realtor Jon Wilner remembers:
In the early 1960’s, as Broadway composer and lyricist Jerry Herman, was enjoying his first success, “Milk and Honey” at the Martin Beck Theatre, he decided to leave his rental in Cherry Grove and purchase a hone in Fire Island Pines. And that he did. His original Fire Island Pines homes was at 159 Oak Walk, with a view of the ocean, for the two lots on the ocean, in front of his home, on Ocean Walk, provided a clear and unobstructed view of the ocean. In 1964, “Hello, Dolly!” opened at the St. James and in 1966, “Mame” opened at the Winter Garden. And Jerry would invite Carol Channing and Angela Lansbury , his respective stars of both shows, to be his guests in the Pines. As one sea plane would return Carol, another seaplane would bring Angela. It was the most of glamorous times! Jerry eventually purchased the two lots across from him on the ocean, and then sold them to Shillo Adir, who built what was to be known as “The Banana House”. Jerry sold 159 Oak, and moved to California. But he couldn’t stay away. In the mid to late 1980’s, Jerry returned to his beloved Fire Island Pines, purchasing 227 Bay Walk with the most beautiful of sunset views. It was at this home, that Jerry rehearsed his Broadway musical “Jerry’s Girls” with Ms. Channing, Leslie Uggams and Andrea McArdle, before taking it on a national tour. Jerry also did a magnificent SAGE benefit along with Tommy Tune.
The AIDS epidemic began, and Jerry was losing his friends, but before he sold his Bayfront home, he wrote the music and lyrics for LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, from 227 Bay, and hence, the song ,”Song on the Sand” comes from the lapping of the ripples of the bay. In 1984, Jerry won the Tony Award for Best Score as well as Best Musical. The Friday after the Tony Awards that year, as Jerry arrived on the ferry, along with his partner, Marty Finkelstein, without any rehearsal or planning, the hundreds of people at the Blue Whale tea dance, in unison, began applauding Jerry as he walked by tea. He was our hero, for “I am what I am” solidified his musical to be the new gay anthem for our generation. It was “The Best of Times”. Jerry and Marty were among the guests at the celebrated RIO Party starring Peter Allen and the Rockettes at Gloria DeMann’s incredible AIDS benefit.
Jerry sold his Bayfront property, but returned again a decade later, in the early 1990’s. and purchased the largest piece of residential property in all of Fire Island, at the end of Beach Hill Walk and Bay Walk, in the Pines. He renovated that property that encompasses three lots, built a new pool on the bay, and updated the house itself to all the modern comforts of his newly named “Song on the Sand”. That July, for his birthday, he opened up his home to a giant cocktail party for all the friends and neighbors that he had known for over three decades. That Summer, he also had Carol Channing as his house guest, who enjoyed dancing all night long at the Pavilion. One of Jerry’s neighbors turned to Jerry at the Pavilion, pointing at Carol, and whispered to Jerry, “if he were an inch taller, he could pass for the real Carol Channing”. “Ah” replied Jerry, “this one has had a lot of practice.” Almost no one in the Pavilion that night realized that that was the very real Carol Channing, letting her hair down, literally. To this day, Jerry Herman considers Fire Island Pines as his most cherished of communities that he has ever lived in. In 1993, I had the great pleasure of presenting Jerry in his Rainbow and Stars Revue at our Pines Community House for 3 performances over Labor Day Weekend, also starring Lee Roy Reams and Florence Lacey. I eventually produced that very show on Broadway at the Booth Theatre, entitled: “An Evening with Jerry Herman”. Jerry has returned several times as my houseguest, and carries all the joys of the Pines with him. The piano that Jerry purchased for the former community house, to this day, is in the living room of 227 Bay, then owned by Stephen Sonderberg.
1991 Judge at the Dog Show.
Jerry Herman Memorial 2020.
The Broadway community came out to celebrate the life of Jerry Herman at a memorial concert at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (where two revivals of his Hello, Dolly!, both led by Carol Channing, have played) February 3.
Produced by Michael Feinstein, Herman's goddaughter Jane Dorian, and Herman's husband Terry Marler, the concert commemorated the late composer-lyricist with several of Mr. Herman's former collaborators and stars from some of his most beloved titles, including Bernadette Peters (Hello, Dolly! and Mack and Mabel), Harvey Fierstein (La Cage aux Folles), and recent Hello, Dolly! national tour stars Betty Buckley and John Bolton.
