In the spring of 1977, a man named B.J. Martin approached the Key West Chamber of Commerce with the idea of making a movie. A movie about Key West­ the Key West he thought was beginning to disappear. The Chamber didn't know what to make of him. There was no Tourist Development Commission, no Key West Business Guild, no other group for him to talk with about his dream. So, he made his dream come true without any outside help.

In 1978, The Key West Picture Show premiered in Key West at the San Carlos (tickets cost $5 each for the fundraiser.) It won three Gold Medals at the Miami International Film Festival. It played every day at the Picture Show movie theatre in the 600 block of Duval Street. It aired nationally on PBS, and has had international showings as well­ it played in Japan! It was an invited participant in the Los Angeles International Film Festival. And soon, it will play every Saturday at Tropic Cinema in Key West­ a little time capsule of Key West as it was in 1977.

In a future issue of Key West History magazine, we'll introduce you to several Key Westers who followed their drams and worked in the movie industry.

Above Left: B. J. Martin, who captured a now-lost Key West world on celluloid.

Above Right: The poster, the ad, the everything for The Key West Picture Show. The oversized conch shell (the symbol of Key West High School) can be seen at Rex Weech Field on Glenn Archer Drive.

Below: Capt. Tony regales the world with his views on sex in the tropics in a scene from Key West Picture Show.