Key West — that little island at the end of the Florida Keys, the Last Stop (as some locals call it), was the scene of a screening of Toots last night. Well, not the whole island, just our hostess’ part of it, which was pretty nice. The screening space, variously referred to as Club Carper and the Carper Center, is an open patio framed by contemporary buildings with two large screens, outside seating, and a great dance floor.

There were several seating areas, all outside in the very pleasant, clear evening air; the film, projected from the DVD, looked great, and the sound was fabulous. What a great place to show this film!

There was an invitation only audience of 50 people, many of whom had personal attachments to Toots Shor, to the restaurant, and/or to the events in the film. And the reactions and comments reflected that. In fact, it made me think that this film reflected against that kind of audience had a depth and texture that I had not seen before.

One gentleman of note, who had been involved in the anti-mob campaigns in New York in the 60’s, part of what was the undoing of social web that Toots Restaurant had been part of, had a darker view of events. But in conversation it was clear that those threads had not been neglected in Kristi Jacobson’s film. Another commenter talked about how the restaurant was the center of the show business community, how people had walked over from Broadway or the television studios to meet and talk and do business. A third person’s father had been a sports writer in Washington, DC and had traveled frequently to New York with the family; she had seen first hand how important — and accessible — the sports world was then.

Kristi and Matt came down for the screening. Kristi did the Q&A after the presentation and managed the panel and audience questions afterward. What became apparent is that she has made a very rich film that doesn’t leave out family and social issues a less rigorous film might have avoided. It doesn’t necessarily answer every question, but it doesn’t leave much out, either. It was no wonder that a senior member of the Museum for the City of New York talked to the filmmakers afterward about making TOOTS a part of the Museum’s collection and programming! We’re very proud of Kristi and this film, and we’re very happy to be associated with it.

Oh. I almost forgot. And I get to be interviewed by the film critic for the local newspaper as well as participate in a Sunday talk show on film. How much (additional) fun is that?

PS — Kristi and Matt were last seen headed for a jet ski round-the-island tour!