Cruising Elsewhere

Whatever Happened to Wohler Beach?

Cruising Elsewhere: Whatever Happened to Wohler Beach?, Ryan A. White’s 2017 short documentary, resurrects the memory of a nude beach that once drew gay men by the dozens to a stretch of sand along the Russian River, just upstream from Wohler Bridge near Guerneville. Through the 1970s and 1980s, as the surrounding resort town earned its nickname “Fire Island West,” Wohler Beach became one of the region’s best-known gathering spots — a place for sunbathing, swimming, and cruising among the redwoods before an evening at the nearby Rusty Nail. Through oral histories and what the film’s own synopsis calls “spectral pornography,” White’s 13-minute documentary — shot with A.P. Pickle behind the camera alongside the director — pieces together what became of that legendary stretch of river through the memories of those who were there, including Rob Akins, Jack Fritscher, and David Wright. The film premiered June 3, 2017, and screened at Frameline, San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ film festival.

Director: Ryan A. White
Cinematography: A.P. Pickle and Ryan A. White
Stars: Rob Akins, Jack Fritscher, David Wright

Documentary
Run Time: 13 min.
Release: June 3, 2017
IMDB Information