Season 2, Episode 5: Behind every summer is a community that keeps Fire Island alive. This episode explores the history of the beloved Pines Pantry through the eyes of its iconic Pantry Girls, alongside the volunteer firefighters of The Pines and Cherry Grove who protect the island from fires, hurricanes, beach erosion, and an uncertain future.
Michael Quinn's FELTMAN: WORLD'S FIRST HOT DOG to Return to the Chain Theatre
Michael Quinn's solo show, directed by Peter Michael Marino, traces the true story of Charles Feltman.
By: Chloe Rabinowitz
Feltman's hot dogs dominated Coney Island long before Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs was established. In Michael Quinn's solo show, Feltman: World's First Hot Dog, Quinn brings to life Charles Feltman, the creator of the hot dog. Feltman immigrated to the United States in 1856 at the age of 15 from Germany, beginning his humble rise with a pie pushcart in Coney Island.
Feltman went on to invent what would become an iconic American food: the hot dog. He later opened the Feltman's Ocean Pavilion in Coney Island, which grew into the largest restaurant in the world, capable of serving 10,000 guests at once. At its height, the Pavilion sold as many as 40,000 hot dogs a day.
However, Feltman's was not meant to last and closed in 1954; the land later became Astroland. Feltman: World's First Hot Dog traces the birth of the hot dog alongside playwright/performer Quinn's personal connection to the original brand through his grandfather-an unexpected link that ultimately led the Coney Island native to relaunch the once-legendary brand in 2017 to great success. The show vividly explores the entrepreneurial spirit from the 1800s to the 2000s, capturing the highs and lows of building a business, the joy and strain it brings, and the moment when one must ultimately let it go.
The production runs May 6-10 and June 10-14 at Chain Theatre, bringing to life an overlooked chapter of New York and culinary history.
Feltman: World's First Hot Dog premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2025, where it played to packed houses and received glowing reviews. The production is directed by Peter Michael Marino.
Performances run Wednesday - Thursday at 7pm, Fridays - Saturdays 5:30pm & 7:30pm, and Sundays at 5pm. Running time: 70 minutes. Tickets are $37 and are available now. The Chain Theatre is located at 312 W 36th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY, 10018.
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