From Hollywood To The Hamptons, The Legacy of Jules Munshin

Frank Sinatra, Jules Munshin, and Gene Kelly in a scene from the 1949 musical film *On the Town*

In 1949, a movie starring Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly, and Jules Munshin came out called “On The Town” and took the entire world by storm. The movie is a musical about three fun-loving sailors in the Navy who have 24 hours of shore leave in New York City. It’s an unbelievable film, with incredible dancing, music and hilarious comedy and is a window into 1950’s New York.

For Father’s Day, Saunders & Associates likes to post on their Instagram page pictures of the fathers of their real estate agents. Stephen Munshin, a Hamptons local who had a successful career owning and operating Edible East End Magazine and just began his real estate career in the Hamptons, sent me a photo from the film “On The Town” and said, “The guy standing in the middle next to Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly is my Dad.”

I nearly fell out of my seat, I got so excited. “THAT’S YOUR DAD?”

Stephen smiled, “Yes. He was quite the guy.”

“You look EXACTLY like him!”

“So I’ve been told.”

Stephen then went on to tell me the story of his father. How he was in the army during World War II and acted in army shows, began to work as an actor on Broadway and during that time connected with producers for the movie who felt he would be perfect for the legendary role. “He was part of the fabric of the original, Golden Age of Hollywood. He passed away when I was only 4 years old so I don’t have that many memories of him. But my whole life even up until now I’ve heard about what a great guy he was and how we was a real mensch to a lot of people.”

While Stephen Munshin’s stage is considerably different from his father’s, both careers share a common thread: connecting with people. After a successful career in publishing and food media, Stephen transitioned into real estate, bringing his storytelling skills, local knowledge, and relationship-building abilities to the Hamptons market.

The Munshin family’s story is a uniquely American one. One generation entertained audiences on Broadway and in Hollywood alongside Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra. The next helps families find homes and build new chapters of their lives in one of the world’s most sought-after real estate markets. From the bright lights of MGM studios to the beaches and villages of the Hamptons, the Munshin name continues to leave its mark on New York.