(10.3) “Water Brother: the Sid Abbruzzi Story” follows the life of East Coast legend and cultural icon Sid Abbruzzi and his equally iconic Newport surf-and-skate shop. The misfits and enthusiasts who hung out at this club house eventually grew into a devoted community who are simply wild about this guy. Last year’s screening at Fort Adams was sold out. A Q&A with Sid follows Thursday’s screening at the Avon Cinema. From Surfer magazine:
The surfing world is a colorful one with no lack of multi-layered stories to tell. But there has never been one about long-haired godfather-type Italian with a Rhode Island accent – not quite Boston but definitely not New York – over a backdrop of snow-covered cliffs, gritty skate spots, Irish neighborhoods and pumping right-hand points. Like 73-year-old Sid Abbruzzi, aka The Package himself, this story is one of a kind.
As Sid approaches 73, the film captures the final days of Water Brothers Surf & Skate — a fixture in Middletown and Newport for decades — highlighting the impact of its demolition on the local community and the broader surf and skate world. Directed by brothers Charles and Daniel Kinnane, this documentary includes interviews with Tony Hawk, Shepard Fairey, and sports commentator Selema Masekela. From The Newport Daily News:
Water Brothers has served Newport’s surfing and skateboarding enthusiasts for over half a century, getting its start in Abbruzzi’s basement before graduating to a little shack on Atlantic Beach in Middletown.
When he was pushed out of that shack in 1997, Abbruzzi moved into his space on Memorial, and, barring a few relocations over the years, he has stayed at 39½ Memorial Blvd. ever since.
The latest iteration of the Water Brothers shop on Memorial Boulevard was torn down in March of 2023.
Order advance tickets here. Watch trailer here.
The film was first shown down in Newport in August of 2023. The sold-out screening at Fort Adams was packed with people, many of whom were locals connected to Abbruzzi in some way, whether they grew up skating alongside him or shopping at his store. (7.25.24 NDN)
Water Brother, 7pm, Thursday, October 3, Avon Cinema, 260 Thayer Street, (directions)
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I’m pretty sure this was the original on Atlantic Avenue in Middletown.