Chin Chin Ranch

 One of the better known stars of the 1930s was Fred Stone, an actor whose comedic talents as well as singing and dancing activities earned him national and international renown. Stone had the distinction to be the first actor to play The Tin Man in "The Wizard of Oz," which opened in 1902. He appeared in many well-known plays of that era, including "Tip Top," "Chin Chin" and "The Red Mill." Many of his plays ran for several hundred performances and he became one of America's most sought-after stage performers.

In 1912 he bought a house on what is today Clocks Boulevard in Massapequa and purchased a parcel of property northwest of his house, where he built two cottages, a stable, a riding track and polo field.

His friends included many well-known entertainers, who were happy to join him. At various times in the years before, during and after World War I, he played host to Wild Bill Hickok, Annie Oakley, Douglas Fairbanks, Leo Carillo, Tom Mix, Rex Beach, Irene and Vernon Castle and Will Rogers.

The ranch that Stone built was formally opened in 1915 as Chin Chin Ranch, named after the play in which he was performing at the time. It was, in fact, while he was in the Massapequas that Will Rogers suffered an injury that made him a star. He was swimming in Narraskatuck Creek one day and dove off the dock behind Stone's house. It was low tide and Rogers landed on his head, paralyzing his right side. To compensate, he learned to twirl a rope with his left hand and came to rely more on his storytelling abilities than his rope tricks. His knack for a well-turned phrase and for engaging his audiences soon brought him significant fame and fortune.

As for Stone, he sold Chin Chin Ranch in 1925 and divided his time between his house in Forest Hills and a home he purchased in Hollywood, where he expanded his fame through several movie appearances.

 

Sources:

Kirchmann, George. “A Rolling Stone.” Massapequa, NY Patch, Patch, 30 Nov. 2010, patch.com/new-york/massapequa/a-rolling-stone.