Dan Rattiner
Encyclopedia
Dan Rattiner whose name is pronounced /ra teen er/, is an American journalist and newspaper publisher. He is widely credited with having founded the concept of the free newspaper in 1960.
, where he attended Millburn High School. He graduated from the University of Rochester
with a B. A. English (1961) and attended Harvard Graduate School of Design
.
. In 1965, Rattiner co-founded the Manhattan-based underground newspaper The East Village Other
with Walter Bowart
, Allan Katzman, and John Wilcock
. He also founded The Block Island Times
in 1970. Rattiner hosted a weekly radio show "The Hamptons Report" on WQXR
for six years during the 1990s.
In the 50 years since its founding (1960–2010), Rattiner's grew into Dan's Papers, a free weekly newspaper with editions chronicling the year-round and summer populations of the neighboring communities collectively known as The Hamptons. Dan's Papers has an online presence at danshamptons.com.
Rattiner writes more than 300 articles a year on topics including science, humor, sports, world affairs, architecture, history, and scandal. In 1975, Time
published a feature story about him entitled "Hoaxer of the Hamptons," in which it covered his penchant for creating East End myths and legends. In 1969 he wrote an article which resulted in demonstrations that saved the Montauk Lighthouse from being torn down by the United States Coast Guard
as part of its belt-tightening program, a tale that is featured at montauklighthouse.com. In 2011, Rattiner was sued for libel and defamation in United States district court
for publishing an article in Dan's Papers in 2010 which stated a forensic art expert and his family did jail time and were forgers. The plaintiff sought $2 Million in damages from Rattiner, and in September 2011, Rattiner and the plaintiff reached a settlement, the details and amount of which are undisclosed.
Rattiner has written 12 books, including a memoir In the Hamptons: My Fifty Years With Farmers, Fishermen, Writers, Artists, Billionaires and Celebrities, published by Random House
in 2008. A chapter of the book was reprinted in its entirety in Newsday
. The New York Times
and other publications gave “In the Hamptons” rave reviews and it sold well. It is now available in paperback. The Hamptons Too: Further Encounters With Farmers, Fishermen, Artists, Billionaires, and Celebrities, with a foreword by Alec Baldwin
, was published by the State University of New York Press in May 2010.
Rattiner is also a published cartoonist, whose work has appeared in Esquire
, The Realist
, Saturday Review of Literature and Mclean's in Canada, and whose cartoons have been exhibited at the Tower Gallery in Southampton, New York, and the Winter Tree Gallery in Sag Harbor, New York.
documentary King of the Hamptons prominently features Rattiner. It debuted at the Hamptons International Film Festival
in fall 2010. Rattiner has a speaking role in the movie Cyclops, produced by Roger Corman
and starring Eric Roberts
.
In a segment of "Above and Beyond: Brokers go to great lengths to find the right properties for their clients" in Season 3 of HGTV
's Selling New York (aired 1 September 2011), Rattiner was featured as a client seeking an apartment that would accommodate his tortoise (Drippy) and cat. The broker sought to find an apartment meeting Rattiner's preferences on period, location, and views that would also allow pets—including the exotic kind — and accommodate them in a room of their own.
and Rattiner, conducted at the Hamptons International Film Festival
and carried on YouTube
, Rattiner has been married several times. His fourth wife is Chris Wasserstein. Rattiner is father to four children from his three previous marriages.
Early life and education
Rattiner was born in New York City and raised in Millburn, New JerseyMillburn, New Jersey
Millburn is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 20,149.Millburn Township was created as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 20, 1857, from portions of Springfield Township.Millburn also...
, where he attended Millburn High School. He graduated from the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
with a B. A. English (1961) and attended Harvard Graduate School of Design
Harvard Graduate School of Design
The Harvard Graduate School of Design is a graduate school at Harvard University offering degrees in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Planning and Design.-History:...
.
Publishing
On summer vacation from college, he published the first issue of the Montauk Pioneer on July 1, 1960, in the fishing resort town of Montauk, New YorkMontauk, New York
Montauk [ˈmɒntɒk] is a census-designated place that roughly corresponds to the hamlet with the same name located in the town of East Hampton in Suffolk County, New York, United States on the South Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 3,851 as of 2000...
. In 1965, Rattiner co-founded the Manhattan-based underground newspaper The East Village Other
East Village Other
The East Village Other , was an American underground newspaper in New York City, New York, published biweekly during the 1960s. EVO was among the first countercultural newspapers to emerge, following the Los Angeles Free Press, which had begun publishing a few months earlier...
with Walter Bowart
Walter Bowart
Walter Howard Bowart was an American leader in the counterculture movement of the 1960s, founder and editor of the first underground newspaper in New York City, the East Village Other, and author of the book Operation Mind Control.-Life and career:Born Walter Howard Kirby in Omaha, Nebraska,...
, Allan Katzman, and John Wilcock
John Wilcock
John Wilcock is a British journalist known for his work in the underground press, as well as his travel guide books....
. He also founded The Block Island Times
The Block Island Times
The Block Island Times is an independent weekly newspaper covering the town of New Shoreham, Rhode Island, U.S., coextensive with Block Island...
in 1970. Rattiner hosted a weekly radio show "The Hamptons Report" on WQXR
WQXR-FM
WQXR-FM is an American classical radio station licensed to Newark, New Jersey, and serving the New York City metropolitan area. It is the most-listened-to classical-music station in the United States, with an average quarter-hour audience of 63,000...
for six years during the 1990s.
In the 50 years since its founding (1960–2010), Rattiner's grew into Dan's Papers, a free weekly newspaper with editions chronicling the year-round and summer populations of the neighboring communities collectively known as The Hamptons. Dan's Papers has an online presence at danshamptons.com.
Rattiner writes more than 300 articles a year on topics including science, humor, sports, world affairs, architecture, history, and scandal. In 1975, Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
published a feature story about him entitled "Hoaxer of the Hamptons," in which it covered his penchant for creating East End myths and legends. In 1969 he wrote an article which resulted in demonstrations that saved the Montauk Lighthouse from being torn down by the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
as part of its belt-tightening program, a tale that is featured at montauklighthouse.com. In 2011, Rattiner was sued for libel and defamation in United States district court
United States district court
The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity, and admiralty. There is a United States bankruptcy court associated with each United States...
for publishing an article in Dan's Papers in 2010 which stated a forensic art expert and his family did jail time and were forgers. The plaintiff sought $2 Million in damages from Rattiner, and in September 2011, Rattiner and the plaintiff reached a settlement, the details and amount of which are undisclosed.
Rattiner has written 12 books, including a memoir In the Hamptons: My Fifty Years With Farmers, Fishermen, Writers, Artists, Billionaires and Celebrities, published by Random House
Random House
Random House, Inc. is the largest general-interest trade book publisher in the world. It has been owned since 1998 by the German private media corporation Bertelsmann and has become the umbrella brand for Bertelsmann book publishing. Random House also has a movie production arm, Random House Films,...
in 2008. A chapter of the book was reprinted in its entirety in Newsday
Newsday
Newsday is a daily American newspaper that primarily serves Nassau and Suffolk counties and the New York City borough of Queens on Long Island, although it is sold throughout the New York metropolitan area...
. The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
and other publications gave “In the Hamptons” rave reviews and it sold well. It is now available in paperback. The Hamptons Too: Further Encounters With Farmers, Fishermen, Artists, Billionaires, and Celebrities, with a foreword by Alec Baldwin
Alec Baldwin
Alexander Rae "Alec" Baldwin III is an American actor who has appeared on film, stage, and television.Baldwin first gained recognition through television for his work in the soap opera Knots Landing in the role of Joshua Rush. He was a cast member for two seasons before his character was killed off...
, was published by the State University of New York Press in May 2010.
Rattiner is also a published cartoonist, whose work has appeared in Esquire
Esquire (magazine)
Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
, The Realist
The Realist
The Realist was a pioneering magazine of "social-political-religious criticism and satire," intended as a hybrid of a grown-ups version of Mad and Lyle Stuart's anti-censorship monthly The Independent. Edited and published by Paul Krassner, and often regarded as a milestone in the American...
, Saturday Review of Literature and Mclean's in Canada, and whose cartoons have been exhibited at the Tower Gallery in Southampton, New York, and the Winter Tree Gallery in Sag Harbor, New York.
Media coverage
The Dennis M. LynchDennis M. Lynch
Dennis Michael Lynch is an American entrepreneur and documentary film maker. Currently, he is the Founder and CEO of TV360Media.com, a digital media company claiming to operate one of the world's largest network of independent content creators.-Personal life:Lynch was raised in Hicksville, New...
documentary King of the Hamptons prominently features Rattiner. It debuted at the Hamptons International Film Festival
Hamptons International Film Festival
Hamptons International Film Festival was founded to provide a forum for independent filmmakers from around the world to express their vision. The Festival is traditionally held for five days in mid-October in theatre venues from Montauk to Southampton and attracts roughly 15,000 visitors annually...
in fall 2010. Rattiner has a speaking role in the movie Cyclops, produced by Roger Corman
Roger Corman
Roger William Corman is an American film producer, director and actor. He has mostly worked on low-budget B movies. Some of Corman's work has an established critical reputation, such as his cycle of films adapted from the tales of Edgar Allan Poe, and in 2009 he won an Honorary Academy Award for...
and starring Eric Roberts
Eric Roberts
Eric Anthony Roberts is an American actor. His career began with King of the Gypsies , earning a Golden Globe nomination for best actor debut. He starred as the protagonist in the 1980 dramatisation of Willa Cather's 1905 short story, Paul's Case...
.
In a segment of "Above and Beyond: Brokers go to great lengths to find the right properties for their clients" in Season 3 of HGTV
HGTV
HGTV , is a cable-television network operating in the United States and Canada, broadcasting a variety of home and garden improvement, maintenance, renovation, craft and remodeling shows...
's Selling New York (aired 1 September 2011), Rattiner was featured as a client seeking an apartment that would accommodate his tortoise (Drippy) and cat. The broker sought to find an apartment meeting Rattiner's preferences on period, location, and views that would also allow pets—including the exotic kind — and accommodate them in a room of their own.
Personal life
According to an interview with Dennis M. LynchDennis M. Lynch
Dennis Michael Lynch is an American entrepreneur and documentary film maker. Currently, he is the Founder and CEO of TV360Media.com, a digital media company claiming to operate one of the world's largest network of independent content creators.-Personal life:Lynch was raised in Hicksville, New...
and Rattiner, conducted at the Hamptons International Film Festival
Hamptons International Film Festival
Hamptons International Film Festival was founded to provide a forum for independent filmmakers from around the world to express their vision. The Festival is traditionally held for five days in mid-October in theatre venues from Montauk to Southampton and attracts roughly 15,000 visitors annually...
and carried on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
, Rattiner has been married several times. His fourth wife is Chris Wasserstein. Rattiner is father to four children from his three previous marriages.