Dan Rattiner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dan Rattiner
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Rattiner in 2014
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| Born | August 15, 1939 New York City, New York, U.S.
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| Occupation | Journalist, Cartoonist |
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Notable credit(s)
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Dan's Papers |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse(s) | Chris Wasserstein |
Dan Rattiner was born on August 15, 1939. He is an American journalist and also publishes newspapers.
Contents
About Dan Rattiner
Early Life and Learning
Dan Rattiner grew up in Millburn, New Jersey. He went to the University of Rochester and studied English. Later, he studied design at Harvard University. While at Harvard, he wrote for a humor magazine called Gargoyle. He also taught writing at Long Island University for a short time.
Starting Newspapers
When Dan was on summer break from college, he started his first newspaper. It was called the Montauk Pioneer and came out on July 1, 1960. This was in the fishing town of Montauk, New York.
In 1964, Dan worked at The New York Times. A year later, in 1965, he helped start another newspaper called The East Village Other. He also started The Block Island Times in 1970. For six years in the 1990s, Dan had his own radio show. It was called The Hamptons Report and was on WQXR.
Writing and Stories
Dan Rattiner writes many articles each year. He writes about science, humor, sports, and history. In 1975, Time magazine wrote a story about him. They called him the "Hoaxer of the Hamptons" because he liked to create fun myths and legends.
In 1969, Dan wrote an article that helped save the Montauk Lighthouse. The United States Coast Guard had planned to tear it down. His story led to protests and the lighthouse was saved. You can read about this story on montauklighthouse.com.
Starting in 1980, Dan tried to make Dan's Papers bigger. He let other editors start versions of the paper in different places. There were Dan's Papers in Daytona Beach, Maui, Nantucket, and other towns. But only the papers on Long Island and Block Island continued to do well.
In 2008, Stony Brook University started collecting Dan Rattiner's work. They keep his papers, letters, drawings, and writings safe in their library.
Books and Art
Dan Rattiner has written 12 books. One of his books is a memoir called In The Hamptons: My Fifty Years With Farmers, Fishermen, Writers, Artists, Billionaires and Celebrities. It was published in 2008. A part of this book was even printed in Newsday. The New York Times and other newspapers gave it good reviews.
He wrote more memoirs, including The Hamptons Too (2010) and Still in the Hamptons (2012). His fourth memoir, In the Hamptons 4Ever, came out in 2015. He also wrote a history book called Albert Einstein's Summer Vacation in 1980. This book was about Albert Einstein's summer in Southold in 1939. It also talked about a famous letter Einstein wrote to President Roosevelt about atomic energy. In 2021, he wrote a large picture book called Hamptons Private.
Dan Rattiner is also an artist. His drawings and sketches have been in Dan's Papers, Esquire, and other magazines. His art shows the beautiful places and people of Long Island. He has had art shows in galleries in Southampton and Sag Harbor, New York.
Featured in Media
Dan Rattiner has been featured in movies and TV shows. He is in a documentary called King of the Hamptons. This movie first showed at the Hamptons International Film Festival in 2010. He also had a speaking part in the movie Cyclops.
In 2011, Dan was on an episode of HGTV's Selling New York. He was looking for an apartment that would be good for his pet tortoise, Dribble, and his cat. The show followed a real estate agent trying to find the perfect home for Dan and his unique pets.
Personal Life
Dan Rattiner has been married several times. His current wife is Christine Wasserstein. He has four children from his earlier marriages.
