Pop Passport: American Summer Vacations in “Jaws, “Shag” and “Dirty Dancing”

Travel through pop culture with Pop Passport, time for summer vacation in the USA through “Jaws”, “Shag” and “Dirty Dancing”

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Now that summer is officially here, let’s revisit some movie classics set on summer vacations. These picks are purposefully nostalgic, with one celebrating a very big (scary) anniversary.

I. Jaws (1975) – Celebrating 50 years!

Director: Steven Spielberg. Only 27 years old at the time, Jaws was Spielberg’s second feature-length film, and it launched his career into superstardom.
Main Characters/actors: Roy Scheider as Chief Martin Brody, Richard Dreyfuss as Matt Hooper, Robert Shaw as Quint, Lorraine Gary as Ellen Brody, Murray Hamilton as Mayor Larry Vaughn
Location: Shot on location in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts as “Amity Island”. Filming took place in Edgartown, Menemsha, and South Beach. Many of the town’s locals were used as extras — including the mayor
Noteworthy: Considered the first summer blockbuster, grossed over $100 million at the U.S. box office, and was one of the first movies with a massive TV marketing campaign leading up to release. Won 3 Academy Awards and was entered the National Film Registry in 2001 for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”
Film Tourism Tip: Today, Martha’s Vineyard offers Jaws walking tours, and spots like the American Legion Memorial Bridge (aka the “Jaws Bridge”) are still popular photo ops.

Fun Facts

The film’s mechanical shark was named “Bruce” (after Spielberg’s lawyer). It constantly malfunctioned in saltwater, causing major delays. Ironically, these malfunctions led Spielberg to show the shark less, which made the suspense even more terrifying and effective.
The beach scenes were filmed on Joseph Sylvia State Beach between Edgartown and Oak Bluffs.
The famous line “You’re gonna need a bigger boat” was ad-libbed by Roy Scheider and became one of the most iconic movie quotes in history.
The movie created such widespread fear of sharks that beach attendance dropped across the U.S. the summer it was released.

II. Dirty Dancing (1987)

Director: Emile Ardolino
Main Characters/actors: Jennifer Grey as Frances “Baby” Houseman, Patrick Swayze as Johnny Castle, Jerry Orbach as Dr. Jake Houseman, Cynthia Rhodes as Penny Johnson, Kelly Bishop as Marjorie Houseman
Locations: Though the film is set in the Catskills, the majority of the filming happened at Mountain Lake Lodge in Pembroke, Virginia. You can still stay there, and they offer themed Dirty Dancing weekends with dance lessons and screenings.
Film Tourism Tip: Mountain Lake Lodge has fully embraced its fame, and you can visit filming spots like Baby’s cabin and the gazebo. They even sell “Nobody puts Baby in a corner” souvenirs.
Surprise Smash Hit: Initially expected to flop; became a cult classic and box office phenomenon. Soundtrack Sales too had sold 32 million copies worldwide—one of the best-selling movie soundtracks of all time.

Fun Facts

Though the film is set in the Catskills, the majority of the filming happened at Mountain Lake Lodge in Pembroke, Virginia. You can still stay there, and they offer themed Dirty Dancing weekends with dance lessons and screenings.
Additional scenes — like the iconic lake lift practice — were filmed at Lake Lure, North Carolina, though the actual lake has since dried up.
Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze had real tension on set, which added chemistry to their performances, even though they reportedly didn’t always get along off-camera.
The final dance scene was shot in one take, and the cast and crew were crying behind the scenes because they knew it was something special.
Swayze co-wrote and performed the hit song “She’s Like the Wind.”

III. Shag (1989)

Director: Zelda Barron
Main Characters/actors: Bridget Fonda, Phoebe Cates, Annabeth Gish, and Page Hannah (sister of Daryl Hannah)
Locations: Filmed in South Carolina, set in Myrtle Beach in the early 1960s. Filmed mostly in and around Charleston, SC, and Folly Beach — not actually Myrtle Beach, though that’s where the movie is set.
Not as big of a movie, but nostalgic fun nonetheless and often compared to movies like Dirty Dancing, Now and Then, and Mermaids for its mix of innocence, rebellion, and female bonding.

Fun Facts:

The title “Shag” refers to the Carolina Shag, a popular beach dance in the region. The movie helped revive interest in the dance, especially among younger generations.
The film was originally supposed to be more dramatic, but rewrites gave it a lighter, nostalgic tone — now it’s considered a cult classic summer flick.
The Pavilion scenes were filmed at the real Pavilion Amusement Park in Myrtle Beach, which sadly closed in 2006. Many fans still seek out vintage signs and photos.