(LONG BEACH ISLAND, NJ) -- A new feature-length documentary, We Met at Grossinger's, brings to life the world-famous hospitality phenomenon that flourished mid-century in the Catskill Mountains of New York State, Grossinger's Resort Hotel. Lighthouse International Film Society screens the film on Thursday, March 26, 2026 at the Long Beach Island Foundation of Arts & Science. Showtime is 7:30pm.
Incorporating newly found archival footage, audio recordings, animation and first-hand accounts, the film offers an insider's view of how this property became a hotspot that helped shape Jewish American identity. As a cultural safe haven, celebrities from the world of sports, politics and entertainment came to unwind and rub shoulders with regular folks from every walk of life.
"With a blend of joy, resilience, and community, the film reminds us that our shared stories, marked by laughter and struggle, are vital to understanding who we are and where we come from,” says producer/director Paula Eiselt. “Collaborating with the Grossinger family and uncovering this forgotten history—my own history—has been an act of joyful reclamation. These hotels were more than vacation spots, they were spaces of inclusion and cultural affirmation built in defiance of exclusion.”
At its height of popularity, especially during the first half of the 20th century, Jews had faced systemic barriers for staying at many luxury hotels, joining country clubs or attending universities. So to create a place of their own—for wholesome leisure and family recreation—Grossinger’s Resort became a international destination where comedy, sports, music and lots and lots of fabulous food helped create an atmosphere of pure enjoyment.
Tickets are available for purchase online. Long Beach Island Foundation of Arts & Science is located at 120 Long Beach Blvd in Loveladies, New Jersey. Advance online ticketing strongly recommended.
We Met at Grossinger’s traces the resort's dazzling rise as a favorite enclave of Jewish America to its bittersweet demise due to a changing world and shifting social trends.
SPONSORS: WALLY’S LBI in Surf City, LBI Foundation, Ocean County Cultural & Heritage Commission
The Lighthouse International Film Society is the film festival's sister organization, bringing you cutting-edge, award-winning films all year long.
