DECIDED TO TRAVEL SOUTH TO THE COAST.
ANTHONY: BRISTOL, RHODE ISLAND.
A TOWN KNOWN FOR ITS FIERCE FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATIONS AND ITS MARITIME HISTORY.
DRIVING THROUGH TOWN, IT’S HARD TO MISS THE AMERICAS CUP YACHT, AMERICA CUBED, SITTING IN FRONT OF THE MARINE MUSEUM.
THE MUSEUM SITS WHERE THE FAMED MANUFACTURING COMPANY ONCE STOOD AND HOUSES MORE THAN 60 BOATS.
OUT IN BRISTOL HARBOR, PETE SEBRING PICKS UP FRESH OYSTERS FOR TONIGHT’S DINNER.
>> THESE ARE ALL CLEANED AND READY TO GO.
ANTHONY: HE SECURED HIS FIRST COMMERCIAL FISHING LICENSE AT 13 AND KEPT ON GOING.
>> IN MY HEART I’M AN OYSTERMAN.
I HAVE A FARM THAT I BOUGHT IN 2002.
I’VE BEEN FARMING IT FOR 16 OR 17 YEARS NOW.
I GET OUT THERE, USUALLY EIGHT OR NINE HOURS A DAY.
IT IS A 12 MONTH A YEAR JOB.
IT CAN BE NICE AND PLEASANT IN THE SUMMER AND IT CAN BE IS RATHER UNPLEASANT AND NASTY IN THE WINTER.
ANTHONY: IN 2014, HE OPENED BRISTOL OYSTER BAR, A SMALL 37-SEAT RESTAURANT.
>> IT WAS BUILT AS A CUSTOMS HOUSE IN THE 1850’S.
I BUY ALL OF MY OYSTERS FROM RHODE ISLAND GROVES THE SAME DAY THEY COME OUT OF THE WATER.
I’M VERY NICE PRODUCT TO THE CUSTOMER THAT WAY.
ANTHONY: PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER, WHERE ALL ITEMS AT THE RAW BAR ARE JUST $1.
SEBRING LIKES VARIETY ON THE MENU.
TONIGHT’S SPECIAL, DUCK AND PORK BELLY RAMEN.
>> I WANTED TO BE AN OYSTER BAR FIRST AND FOREMOST THAT SERVED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SEAFOOD.
BUT WE ALSO DON’T WANT PEOPLE TO TURN AWAY IF THEY DON’T LIKE SEAFOOD.
IT WAS A LONG PROCESS.
A LOT OF WORK.
IT WAS WORTH IT IN THE LONG RUN.
I’M HAPPY WITH WHAT WE’VE DONE HERE.
ANTHONY: LOOKING OUT, IT’S EASY TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE LATE ACTOR ANTHONY QUINN CHOSE TO SPEND HIS REMAINING YEARS IN BRISTOL.
>> HE WANTED TO LIVE IN NEW ENGLAND.
WE JUST NEVER, NEVER TURNED BACK.
ANTHONY: QUINN MAY BE MOST FAMOUS FOR HIS ROLE IN "ZORBA THE GREEK." WHILE HE WAS AN ACCOMPLISHED ACTOR, TWO ACADEMY AWARDS, HE ALSO GOT A SAYS WILL BE DEMILLE
AWARD, -- CECIL BE DEMILLE AWARD , HE WAS ALSO AN ACCOMPLISHED ARTIST. QUINN’S WIFE, CATHERINE, REMAINS IN BRISTOL WHERE SHE RUNS THE ANTHONY QUINN FOUNDATION.
>> HIS ART HELPED HIS ACTING.
BECAUSE IT HELPED HIM UNDERSTAND PEOPLE.
SO HE TRAVELED AROUND THE WORLD COLLECTING ART, CREATING ART, MEETING PEOPLE, ENGAGING WITH PEOPLE.
>> I HAVE HUNDREDS OF HUNDREDS OF DRAWINGS.
THOSE BECAME INSPIRATIONS FOR PAINTINGS.
FOR SCULPTURES AND MONUMENTAL PIECES THAT HE DID IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES.
HE WOULD PICK UP PIECES OF WOOD FROM THE BEACH, CARVE SCULPTURES ON THOSE PIECES OF WOOD AND THEN HE WOULD TAKE THOSE AND HE WOULD ENLARGE THEM INTO MARBLE AND BRONZE AND WOOD SCULPTURES.
WHAT HE DID AS AN EXERCISE IN KEEPING SANE THEN BECAME A WHOLE WORLD.
ANTHONY: THE ANTHONY QUINN FOUNDATION PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS LOOKING TO FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION IN THE ARTS.
>> WHEN HE WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, HE WAS HELPED BY FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT.
BY ENTERING A CONTEST THAT CHANGED THE COURSE OF HIS LIFE.
AND SO 100 YEARS LATER, IT DOESN’T CHANGE.
YOU ARE IN HIGH SCHOOL, YOU’RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO YOU ARE.
WE TRY TO CATCH THEM IN HIGH SCHOOL.
THEY GO THESE SUMMER INTENSIVE PROGRAMS.
MUSIC, ART.
THEY PICK THE PROGRAMS, THEY HAVE FULL CONTROL OF TELLING US WE JUST HELP THEM FINANCIALLY.
ANTHONY: QUINN ENCOURAGED CREATIVE EGS SPECIAL THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE AND BUILT HIS CAREER THROUGHOUT THAT EXPRESSION.
>> WITHOUT ART, YOUR LIFE IS DIFFERENT.
HOW YOU DO ANYTHING IS HOW DO YOU EVERYTHING.
WHEN YOU DO IT CAREFULLY, WHEN YOU DO IT WITH LOVE, WHEN YOU DO IT WITH PASSION, THAT’S WHAT ART DOES TO PEOPLE.
IT GIVES PEOPLE THAT KIND OF HUMANITY AND PERSONAL TOUCH.
ANTHONY: INSPIRED BY HIS SURROUNDINGS, QUINN CONTINUED TO CREATE ART LATE INTO HIS LIFE.
HIS FINAL WISH WAS TO REMAIN IN BRISTOL FOREVER.
>> THIS PLACE MEANT SO MUCH TO HIM.
SO HIS SPIRIT IS HERE.
HIS ENERGY IS HERE.
HIS CREATIVITY IS HERE.
I THINK YOU FEEL IT.
SOMETIMES A PLACE HAS GREAT ENERGY, AND I THINK THIS PLACE HAS GREAT ENERGY.
SHAYNA: SHAYNA: SHAYNA: APRIL 21 WAS ANTHONY QUINN’S BIRTHDAY.
HE COLLECTED EGGS THAT INSPIRED A LOT OF HIS WORK.
AN UPDATE ON THE BRISTOL OYSTER BAR, IT IS CLOSE DURING THE PANDEMIC BUT THEY HOPE TO REOPEN SOON AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO PURCHASE GIFT CARDS ONLINE.