Feltman: World's First Hot Dog at LTV Studios

LTV Studios is excited to announce a one-night-only performance of “Feltman: World’s First Hot Dog,” an original play written and performed by Michael Quinn and directed by Peter Michael Marino.

Long before sliced bread transformed the American kitchen, a German immigrant named Charles Feltman revolutionized global street food on the shores of 19th-century Coney Island. Arriving in America with little more than a dream, Feltman rose from a humble pie-cart pusher to invent the hot dog in 1867 as a simple, brilliant solution to serve hot sausages cleanly to beachgoers on a roll.

In his play, Quinn, a Coney Island native who returned to stage acting after 25 years working as a teacher, historian, and tour guide, offers a captivating journey through American history, entrepreneurial ambition, and personal reinvention. He inherited Charles Feltman’s recipe from his grandfather and rebuilt the original hotdog brand into a national staple sold in thousands of grocery stores. Feltman’s was even the official hot dog of the Florida Panthers hockey team before Quinn sold his company in 2022.

“This show is part autobiographical, part history, and part fantasy,” Quinn says. ”There are many elements in it that are relevant today, like entrepreneurship and immigration. Hot dogs and amusement parks were invented in Coney Island, and I think people who are from New York appreciate the history.”

The storytelling in “Feltman: World’s First Hot Dog” has been compared to the film “Forrest Gump” for its tour of history and sense of place. In true Coney Island fashion, it’s a roller-coaster of emotion and a reflection of the human experience. In writing it, Quinn tapped into his experiences as an English teacher who taught classic plays from Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams, and others.

Blending humor, heart, and meticulous research, "Feltman: World’s First Hot Dog" pulls back the curtain on a true story that is as delicious as it is dramatic. Quinn regularly performs in New York City and appeared in festivals including the Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 2025; a Hollywood run is slated for December 2026. The July 31 show marks its Long Island premiere. Doors open at 7 p.m.; show time is 7:30.

General Admission tickets cost $40.51; tables seating two guests cost $95.63; and tables seating four guests cost $189.23 (these options include online ticket fee). They can be purchased via Quinn’s official website: https://feltmanworldsfirsthotdog.com/tickets#/productions-view