Meet Tennessee Williams This Season

Ernest Hemingway only lived in Key West for eight years, but most folks know where to find the Hemingway House and his favorite bars. But what do Key West residents and tourists know about Tennessee Williams, who lived in town for over 30 years?

To the literary world, Williams is an equally famous and prodigious writer; not of wars, macho conquests and fishing trips, but of complex family relationships, conflicting emotions and love. Still…how many tourists or local residents even know where Williams’ house is located?

Hint: it is in midtown and has red shutters.  Currently a private home, the owners have tried to keep the place looking much as it did in 1983, at  the time of the playwright’s  untimely death at age 71.

Locals and tourists alike can now become better acquainted with Williams, thanks to Dennis Beaver, a long time Key West resident who has created a permanent exhibit of the famous 20th century playwright’s life in Williams’ beloved southernmost city.

“The Tennessee Williams Key West Exhibit” occupies a spacious 700 sq ft gallery space at 513 Truman Street (near Duval). The exhibit opened officially in 2012 and includes: a documentary of the playwright’s life; a showcase filled with  playbills of the author’s award-winning works from leading theaters around the world;  posters of numerous Key West theater productions of his plays;  giclees  of Williams’ art work;  news stories documenting the mystery surrounding his death in New York City three decades ago; photographs of the author’s social and literary life in Key West, along with one of Williams with President Kennedy; others with movie stars  of  the era and  images of Williams on location in  Key West in 1956 during the filming of  The Rose Tatoo, adapted from Williams’  play of the same name,  with Anna Magnani and Burt Lancaster.

The exhibit also includes space dedicated to the love of William’s life, Frank Merlo, his partner and personal secretary from 1948 until Merlo’s early death from lung cancer in 1963, and photographs of opening night at the Tennessee Williams Theater on Stock Island in 1977.

So while remembering the bravado of Papa Hemingway while in Key West, also take time to learn more about Tennessee Williams by visiting this permanent exhibit. You are sure to come away with a much greater appreciation for the Key West literary scene of the 1950’s -1980’s, when Tennessee Williams was happily writing much of his best work, celebrating his bountiful life in paradise, and putting sleepy Key West on the map.

Also plan now to help celebrate Tennessee Williams’ life on his 104th birthday, Wednesday March 26, at the Truman Street Exhibit. 

The Tennessee Williams Exhibit at 513 Truman Street is open 7 days a week, from 9AM – 4 PM. Admission is free. For more information contact Dennis Beaver, producer and curator, at [email protected] or call 305 294 3121.