Cherry Grove Community House and Theater (by Michaela Davidovitch)

The Cherry Grove Community House and Theater is a historic LGBTQ+ site located in Suffolk County, New York. More specifically, it is located in the town of Fire Island. This structure is incredibly significant as it established the growth of America’s first gay and lesbian town (3). The house was first created as a community home for the residents of the Cherry Grove hamlet in 1944. Four years later, the Cherry Grove Community House expanded by adding a theater element (4). The House and Theater was later named “the oldest continuously operating gay theater in the U.S.” (2). Then, in 2013, the location was listed on the National Register for Historic Places, making this establishment

one of three LGBTQ+ sites on the registry at the time (2).  Throughout its history, the Cherry Grove Community House and Theater existed as a symbol of self and societal acceptance, community togetherness and development, and welcomed LGBTQ+ individuals into a community.

From its inception, the Cherry Grove Community House was meant to act as a “center of civilization” for the residents of Cherry Grove (2). Eventually, the Community House functioned as a performing arts center as well. The theater held shows that nearly sold out every night. These shows ranged from traditional vaudeville performances to drag shows (5). In some cases, the shows or plays that went on were fundraisers for the community itself, especially since at the time, World War II had just concluded, resulting in a lack of funding (1). At this point it was not only a place for community togetherness, but also a place for the arts. In addition, the theater also welcomed the LGBTQ+ community into the world of performing arts. This was significant as in the 1940’s and 1950’s, the participation of out LGBTQ+ individuals in the theatre arts was frowned upon (5). Having the theater open its arms to diverse individuals allowed for this standard to be eliminated. This aspect drew in gay and lesbian theater lovers from all around out on Fire Island. In addition, the influx of this performing arts crowd influenced the expansion of LGBTQ+ residents in Cherry Grove.

The Cherry Grove Community House and Theater has always strived for unity. This unity was not only between the residents of Cherry Grove itself, but later the gay community as well. It acted as a safe haven for the people of Fire Island, the first LGBTQ+ town in America. The people of this area finally had a place in which they could live freely regardless of sexual orientation. Cherry Grove acted as its own, unique, and individualized town. The dissociation of Cherry Grove from the rest of America offered this freedom to its residents and did not allow for prejudice to enter its doors. Further, during this time of movement to Cherry Grove the McCarthy era was running rampant (6). Having Fire Island as a place to escape the hatred helped to increase the population. As the town began to grow, as did the amount of residences available; further attracting gay communities with its modernist style housing (6).

In Cherry Grove, LGBTQ+ people had a place where they could be part of the government as well. This was incredibly important due to the fact that even today few LGBTQ+ people hold public office. Cherry Grove allowed for this to be possible for its residents, again, regardless of sexual orientation. 

Another significant feature of the Cherry Grove Community House and Theater is that it had its doors open to the LGBTQ+ community before Stonewall (4). The gay community of Cherry Grove flourished prior to the 1969 uprising. The National Register recognizes this as extremely important, as it was a thriving community in the pre-Stonewall era. This is significant, as there was finally a place for LGBTQ+ people to exist without cruelty or judgement from outsiders before the riots took place at the Stonewall Inn. In addition, the nomination on The National Register prior to the Stonewall Riots proves to be impressive.  This is due to the fact that there are years of documentation available on the first LGBTQ+ town in America and Cherry Grove specifically. 

The Cherry Grove Community House and Theater is an important historic LGBTQ+ site for various reasons. Most significantly, it acted as a beacon of safety for those who felt they were not accepted and judged by society. In addition, this establishment was created decades prior to the Stonewall era uprisings. This is significant, as LGBTQ+ people in Cherry Grove were able to find freedom before the riots and the beginning of the gay liberation movement.

Bibliography

1. Eltman, Frank. “Famed Fire Island Gay Resort Community Gains Historic Recognition.” LGBTQ Nation, July 3, 2013. https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2013/07/famed-fire-island-gay-resort-community-gains-historic-recognition/. 

2. Luniewski, Laura. “Great Spaces: Cherry Grove Community House and Theater.” Fire Island News, June 22, 2019. https://fireisland-news.com/great-spaces-cherry-grove-community-house-and-theater/.

3. Luss, Carl. “America's First Gay Town.” Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide 20, no. 6 (2013): 15–19. 

4. National Park Service. “Cherry Grove Community House and Theater (U.S. National Park Service).” National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, August 9, 2018. https://www.nps.gov/places/cherry-grove-community-house-and-theater.htm. 

5. Shafaieh, Charles. “How Fire Island Got Its LGBT Theater Back.” The Daily Beast. The Daily Beast Company, July 1, 2017. https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-fire-island-got-its-lgbt-theatre-back. 

6. Equality Archive.“Fire Island.” Equality Archive, October 12, 2017. http://equalityarchive.com/history/fire-island/.