Jaws at 50: A Deeper Dive was the museum’s largest undertaking yet. It brought in more than 20,000 visitors from all over the world this summer.
The Martha’s Vineyard Museum’s exhibit celebrating the 50th anniversary of the film Jaws ends this weekend after helping to create a record breaking summer.
Jaws at 50: A Deeper Dive was the museum’s largest undertaking yet. It brought in more than 20,000 visitors from all over the world, according to Cathy Mayone, the museum’s managing director. It opened on May 24 and its last day will be Sept. 7.
“It was a really big summer and I think we can for sure credit Jaws for that,” said Anna Barber, co-curator of the exhibit.
The exhibit brought more visitors to the museum over a three-month period than any previous exhibit accomplished in a full year.
Oak Bluffs police chief Jonathan Searle (who was in the movie) poses with Bruce the shark.
Oak Bluffs police chief Jonathan Searle (who was in the movie) poses with Bruce the shark.
A scaled-down version will continue for the remainder of the year. Titled Jaws at 50: An Island Story, the next exhibit will highlight the Islanders who brought the film to life by building sets, driving boats and acting in the blockbuster.
An Island Story opens Sept. 17 and will have many of the same materials from the larger exhibit, including the original head of Ben Gardner, made famous in one of the movie’s iconic jump scares.
A replica of the “Amity Island Welcomes You” billboard will remain outside the museum, along with the life-size replica of Bruce the Shark’s head, which will move to the barn outside the museum at the end of the year.
“He’s probably been in like 10,000 pictures and I’ve definitely seen a lot of babies in his mouth,” Ms. Barber said.
Ms. Barber said she inspects Bruce’s teeth regularly to see if any are loose. The replica did not lose any teeth this summer, unlike the original Bruce, who would regularly need his menacing smile repaired after his teeth were stolen during filmmaking.
Ms. Barber and co-curator Kate Logue said the responses to the exhibit were overwhelming.
Current exhibit will morph into a smaller show that will continue the rest of the year.
Current exhibit will morph into a smaller show that will continue the rest of the year.
“It’s been wonderful to see everyone really connecting with both the story of Jaws and the place it was filmed,” Ms. Logue said.
Both curators suspected the exhibit would be a hit, but were surprised at just how much traffic it brought to the museum. Eventually, VTA buses had to let passengers off at the Five Corners intersection because the lines were so long.
Ms. Logue said someone got a tattoo of one of the graphics she made for the exhibit, based on a pencil drawing of Bruce by the film’s production designer Joe Alves.
“It’s kind of crazy to me the reach of Jaws and the reach of this exhibit,” Ms. Logue said.
Ms. Barber said her favorite part of the exhibit was a small room where guests could write on slips of paper and post them to a wall, answering the question “when was the first time you saw Jaws?”
She said people would sometimes write on both sides of the paper, describing what they were eating, what they were wearing and who they were with. Some shared how it formed their feelings about swimming in the open ocean.
“That’s a part of the exhibit where people can be a part of that story...and connect with each other,” Ms. Barber said. “I think that is really, for a lot of people, what it’s all about — plugging into this huge network of other Jaws fans from all around the world.”
The museum has a guest book that visitors can sign. During the past three months, the pages are filled with names from the Virgin Islands, Minnesota, Illinois and Oklahoma, some drawing shark fins and others quoting lines from the film.
“It’s definitely been a summer for the books,” Ms. Barber said.
Comments
Congrats on generating 20 K
George Stein OBCongrats on generating 20 K visitors. How many come next year ?
Your comment reflects what a
J Casino FloridaYour comment reflects what a positively optimistic person you are.! Clearly 50 yrs later people are still acknowledging the Magnitude of the movie Jaws. Enjoy your life...but "You're gonna need a Bigger Boat" !
The first time I seen the
STEVEN LEONARD WhitmanThe first time I seen the movie Jaws was at the Wellfleet Drive In Theatre in the summer of 1975.
I was really one with Jaws
Susan New YorkI was really one with Jaws this summer. I saw it in June with my younger brother. It has had a lasting effect on me going in the ocean, but love everything about JAWS.
My father Dr. Robert Boggs a
Robert Boggs Beverly HillsMy father Dr. Robert Boggs a summer resident in 1950s and boat owner in VH owned a harpoon gun exactly like Quint's and sold it to someone on the Vineyard- maybe the same I wonder?
My favorite part was when Roy
Cecilia Martinez CaliforniaMy favorite part was when Roy Scheider gets up quickly. And says were going to need a Bigger Boat.
Did you know that line wasn't
Dawn Belliveau NHDid you know that line wasn't even in the original script? Roy ad libbed it and they kept it.
It's YOU'RE gonna need a
JoeD NHIt's YOU'RE gonna need a bigger boat.
My sister was 21 and I 15
Teresa Faucette Thomasville NCMy sister was 21 and I 15 back in 75. We went to Myrtle Beach saw Jaws midnight show. I WOULD NOT go in the ocean for the rest of the week. Scared the bejesus outta me!
My dad died a while back,last
Katherine MaineMy dad died a while back,last person i watched it with.Taking my son and his gf to imax this wknd was cathartic,i watched it with the 2 most best men alive.
I don't know how to swim and
David Oberman Pawcatuck,CT.I don't know how to swim and that movie is the reason!!!Love the water ,but not what lurks in it!!!! Da..Da..Da..Da..Da...
First time I saw Jaws was in
Karen Watertown MaFirst time I saw Jaws was in 1975 and I was 5 years old! With my parents and 3 siblings and we were on vacation at Hampton Beach,NH. The theater was quiet until “the floating head” scene.. I was sitting on my dad’s lap so I could see better and I jumped and screamed so loudly that I intensified the scene and everyone screamed at the same time lol and our popcorn went flying everywhere.. as well as other people’s.. best movie ever made!! Where’s the original shark now?
I was 12 when my dad took us
Gloria Destefano New yorkI was 12 when my dad took us to our first movie at a drive in JAWS … I was so scared just the music which I hear to this day when I enter the ocean only I my knees lol . That summer I slept with my parents all year .
In 1975 I saw “JAWS” on its
Mark Near Duarte,Ca.In 1975 I saw “JAWS” on its opening weekend. I was in Illinois visiting my father for the summer. I was 13 years old and my brother was 10. The lines were around the block and we had to wait two showings before we could get in. Of course I had never experienced that before. Believe it or not I was an avid movie goer even at that age. I have to confess, I used to mock people who clapped after a movie. I felt it was silly. I thought to myself, the actors couldn’t see or hear you. However, when Brody says, “Smile you S.O.B.” then blows up the shark. I went out of my mind with exhilaration! I was practically doing cartwheels in the isle! Of course at 13 years old it certainly was the greatest movie I had ever seen! I can honestly say at 63 now, it still is. Moreover, I know now, that it is a genuine masterpiece. I recently took a group of twenty people to the theater to celebrate the 50 year anniversary, including my brother. Thank you, Mr. Spielberg for creating a true work of art and giving me one of my greatest childhood memories!
I saw Jaws when I was about 7
Barbara Tetro Staten Island, NYI saw Jaws when I was about 7. I saw it over and over again at the Bainbridge Theater (you would think I lived there). I was too scared to go into the ocean after that. Eventually, I went into the ocean, but not far. I stayed close to shore. I used to have the Jaws game, but my mother threw it out.
I saw jaws at bainbridge
Sonny d New jerseyI saw jaws at bainbridge theater too, the only Barbara. I knew in the Bronx was a girl who looked exactly like Vince Neil ! Was that you ?
While I can appreciate
Gary Demirdjian San DiegoWhile I can appreciate everyones memories of the movie here in the comments, this was a Jaws fest ON MARTHA'S VINEYARD. I mean wow what a privilege it would be to see that exhibit!
To the people at the museum thank you for paying tribute to a modern classic and I only wish I could see all your wonderful Jaws exhibits this year!
I love seeing this in the
Aartje Kamperdijk Spokane ValleyI love seeing this in the political turmoil that's all going on we can still come together for a movie filmed in the '70s. In my opinion one of the greatest movies of all time, Jaws.
I was there on vacation at a
michael marley FreetownI was there on vacation at a family house while they where filming, but I was more concerned about catching blue crabs, but I remember the posting stating that they where looking for extra’s on the beach but I never gave it much thought figuring it was no big deal, boy was I wrong.
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