From its inception in 1928 through the present day, New York State's Jones Beach reigned as a populist paradise and one of the most common resort destinations in the United States. Conceived and designed by Robert Moses, then the director of the Long Island State Park Commission and one of the most influential architects of the 20th century, the beach infuriated the wealthy and delighted untold numbers of middle and lower-income residents and tourists, with its goal of a seaside utopia for the populace. Now, George P. Pozderec's half-hour documentary Jones Beach: An American Riviera pays homage to this favorite summer locale via a combination of archival footage, vintage photographs, and telling, incisive interviews that trace the resort's history. Eli Wallach narrates. The program originally aired on PBS. |