“Christmas Every Day – The Wonderful Life of Eddie Greene” now available on Youtube

Eddie Greene. [courtesy SeaGrace Visions Productions]

Back in June, a standing room only audience called for an encore at the preview showing of “Christmas Everyday – The Wonderful Life of Eddie Greene” at the Dare County Arts Council.

That was followed by a showing of the final cut at The Pioneer Theatre in Downtown Manteo in September that featured new interviews and changes based on audience response.

Now this story of a man who fell in love with the Outer Banks, and the community that has loved him in return, is available for full viewing on Youtube.

The documentary dropped on Small Business Saturday, a perfect date since Greene may be best known to millions of Outer Banks visitors and residents for co-founding The Island Gallery and Christmas Shop in Manteo in 1967 with Richard Lacerre.

Greene retired after 48 “sparkling” years. But The Christmas Shop lives today with new owners who continue to honor that legacy.

Whether dancing in a national Broadway Tour, serving in the Navy in World War II, or starting multiple businesses, Edward Greene has always worked hard, and worked with vision. And when he has seen needs in his beloved Outer Banks, he has stepped forward.

From the Outer Banks Community Foundation to the Friends of Jockey’s Ridge, it’s hard to find a place where Edward hasn’t given back to the people who have given him some much.

This feature documentary is directed by filmmaker Bryan Jones.

“The Outer Banks loves Eddie because he loved them back, with all his heart. Which is as big as a Christmas tree,” Jones said.

“I made it because one day as I was working in the Christmas Shop, I realized that Edward was a New York Yankee, and a Jewish guy with a Christmas Shop,” Jones said. “And both locals and tourists loved him, not liked, loved. And I did, too,” Jones said.

“And one of the things on his list of 90 things to do was “Make a Documentary.” And that’s what I do. And it became “Tuesdays with Eddie,” Jones said.

The documentary moves from New Rochelle, New York to the Outer Banks of today. Along with stops at the San Francisco School of Ballet, Broadway, The Lost Colony, The Outer Banks Community Foundation and, of course, the many businesses Edward started and the many, many people he’s helped along the way. Edward is a man who has made a difference.

“I can’t imagine my life without the Outer Banks,” Greene said.

And it’s hard to imagine the Outer Banks without Eddie Greene.

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