Martha’s Vineyard

We all remember the 1976 classic Jaws, directed by Steven Spielberg. Let’s have a look at the location where the film was shot.

The shooting of the film was done at Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts in the US. This place became Amity Island and as you may remember a site for a series of bloody shark attacks.

Martha’s Vineyard is an island and part of the state of Massachusetts.  It is located in Dukes County, which is also home to the famous islands of Norman, Elizabeth and Cuttyhunk islands.  The island is traditionally a popular summer holiday colony and one can reach the place only via air and boat.  The talking point of the place is that even though it is not accessible by road, the population has increased tremendously since the 60s’and as a result the property prices are considered to be around 96% above the national average.  Secondly, the cost of living is very high on the island and the Martha’s Vineyard Commission estimates the island to have a 60% higher cost of living vis-à-vis the national average.

The Martha’s Vineyard island is broken into six major towns.  The towns are Tisbury, Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, West Tisbury, Chilmark and Aquinnah.  The Martha’s Vineyard Transit Authority provides a mass transit bus service to the islanders throughout the year.

The old whaling town of Edgartown is a popular beach and summer sailing town and is full of 18th and 19th century homes.  Important structures here include the well-maintained whaling captains’ homes and a number of historic churches.  The film was shot here.

Some other popular landmarks of the town include the Edgartown Lighthouse, Edgartown Harbor, and the Whaling church, Katama, Katama Airfield, Chappaquiddick, the Dyke Bridge and the Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary.

During the shooting of the movie, some of the shark scenes were a nightmare to perform as the mechanical shark wasn’t functioning properly as per the expect movie. ations.  For the record, let’s have the facts about some ever so popular scenes from the movie.   Let’s start with the attack on the Kinter boy, which took place at the Joseph Sylvia state beach.  The Sengekontacket Pond was in the limelight as it hosted the shooting of the scene where Brody’s son first encountered the shark.

Martha’s Vineyard is a wonderful place to enjoy a holiday.  The island has a laid-back environment.  The place has an abundance of beautiful and clean beaches, fish shacks and you will find a lot of people travel around the place on mopeds.  Fishing is also a popular activity on the island.  The island has been visited by high profile guests in the past and the near future will see more and more celebrities visit the place.  There are reports that Chelsea Chilton is likely to tie the knot on this very island and the near future could see the visits of the Obamas.

Some popular annual events include the annual Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby, the Aquinnah Music Festival, the Chilmark Road Race and Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival and Cinema Circus.