On May 14, 1920, F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald signed a lease to rent 244 Compo Road South.
Deej Webb — whose film and book about the famous couple’s wild time in Westport has shined a light on both their literary legacy, and our town’s Jazz Age days (naked swims at Compo Beach!) — wants to make May 14 an annual holiday.
It would be called “Great Gatsby Day.”
F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Photoshopped in front of their Westport home.
The 1980 Staples High School graduate/history teacher/amateur historian is circulating a petition. Citing Westport’s influence on “The Great Gatsby” (and other Fitzgerald novels), it says:
We want to insure that the town celebrates and treasures its connection with the Fitzgeralds and the book.
Furthermore, in times of rapid change we wish to ensure that this town’s marvelous history is not lost.
Webb envisions events at the Westport Historical Society and Westport Library; a tie-in with the Longshore flapper party; a walking tour of Longshore-influenced scenes from “Gatsby” and “The Beautiful and the Damned,” and more.
He’s open to other ideas from the community too.
Maybe another naked swim at Compo?
(To view — and sign — the petition to make May 14 “Great Gatsby Day in Westport,” click here.)