OPERATION PETTICOAT Photog For Hire Small-town photographer gets hired by movie production company to take the official photo "stills" during filming. Next thing Ed Swift, Jr., knows, he's rubbing shoulders with Cary Grant, Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh and forming a close friendship with director Blake Edwards. More>> Key West History Magazine Readers: To see the entire collection of Ed Swift's Operation Petticoat photos (as seen in Issue #19,) click here.

ESCAPE FROM HELL ISLAND The product of Key West's homegrown movie industry in the early 1960's, Escape from Hell Island placed three people who couldn't fight off their mutual sexual attractions in the middle of a story of human smuggling. The business side of the movie industry fascinated Key Westers - especially as it came just after the uncertainty of the Cuban Missile Crisis. More>>

CUBA CROSSING The mob, Castro, and a bunch of funky bar denizens on a tropical island. Supposedly, it's the true story of our wonderful Capt. Tony Tarracino - even though KW's former mayor insisted Hollywood had toned his story down to make the movie more believable. Whatever - we don't care - we love him. He and Cuba Crossing can do no wrong. More>>

KEY WEST'S FIRST STAR - GLORIA SWANSON Long before Sadie Thompson, Queen Kelly or Norma Desmond, there was little Gloria Mae Josephine Svensson, who made her stage debut in Key West at the age of twelve in 1911. May we introduce you to Key West's first star? More>>

CARIB GOLD A fascinating story of shrimping, sunken treasure and race relations in Key West that's primarily remembered for its pull-out-all-the-stops world premiere on a steamy night in September of 1956. More>>

TRUE LIES Jamie Lee Curtis is one of Key West's favorite daughters. Ms. Curtis also holds the distinction of appearing in the stories of three different Made in Key West movies. This is the great, action-packed one you'll think of first. More>>

Criss Cross In 1975, a writer named Scott Somers came to Key West to soak up the laid-back atmosphere and perhaps find some inspiration. He stayed at the Eden House on Fleming Street. Sommers wrote a novella that appeared in serialized form in Penthouse Magazine. Hollywood picked it up for a movie and paid Sommers to write the screenplay. Producer Anthea Sylbert decided the property would be perfect for her production partner, Goldie Hawn, and "Chris Productions" was born.More>>

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