George Freedley was an author, educator, director, stage manager, actor, librarian, theatre critic and Curator of the New York Public Library Theatre Collection for many years. He and his partner, Ed Burke, had a house on Sea Walk, Cherry Grove where they summered from the late 1940's through the 1960s. George Freedley was one of the original Board members of the Arts Project of Cherry Grove (APCG) when it began in 1948.

George directed several of the early APCG theatre productions including the 1950 parody, Berthe of a Nation, which included musical numbers, suggestive humor, drag and gender fluidity. In the show, a small group became lost in the fog crossing the Great South Bay. Upon arriving in magical Cherry Grove, Berthe was crowned the Queen. Sharolyn Urso (sister-in-law to the owner of Pat's Restaurant) was seen on stage in this 1950 stage production. Ed Burke was responsible for the book and lyrics of Berthe of a Nation, as well as 'supervision' of this 1950 production.

In 1954 George Freedley wrote an article describing Cherry Grove's theatrical community in the New York newspaper, The Morning Telegraph. He continued on to discuss the significance of Pat's Restaurant, mentioning restaurant owners Pat and Mike Stephani, as well as family members Herbie and Sharolyn Urso, who also worked there. Freedley highlighted some of the restaurant's famous guests, noting that it was a favorite spot for Bertha Belmore, a prominent British comedic actress of stage, film and TV. Freedley mentioned that the gay British poet, dramatist, educator and Pulitzer Prize winner W.H. Auden brought Christopher Isherwood, the gay English- American novelist, to lunch at Pat's Restaurant during this time.

W.H. Auden was known to have had a house on Main Walk in Cherry Grove.

In his article Freedley also noted that another well-known restaurant guest was Hermoine Gingold, the famous English/American stage & film actress.

Freedley wrote that Nancy Noland, an award-winning performer in the 1945 Broadway production Common Ground, performed at Pat's Restaurant when Chef Ernesto would "leave the skillet to render one or another tenor arias at the piano."

Freedley closed his Morning Telegraph article by playfully stating, "...with such a compliment of talent and (staff) efficiency is it any wonder that the world beats its way to Pat and Michael Stephani's door? Pat's Ocean View Restaurant is the hub of Fire Island."

George Freedley on the Cherry Grove Community House and Theater stage.

George Freedley and Ed Burke, 1951, Sea Walk & Bayview Walk. George’s birthday party.

Poster from Grove Production of "Berthe ofa Nation"

Sharolyn Urso (far right) in the Community House, 1950.

Letter from George Freedley to Michael Stephani, co-owner of Pat's Restaurant.

Pat Stephani, co-owner of Pat's Restaurant, 1961.

Ernesto, Chef at Pat's Restaurant.