West Side Story - why Jets/Sharks?

[whitneym2]

Posted: 5/28/19 at 7:00pm

Hello! 

Does anyone know in West Side Story why they're called the Jets and the Sharks? 

It's never explained in the show and I'm wondering if anyone knows if there is a history or if it's random? 

Thanks! 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/28/19 at 8:31pm

They sound tough?  Tough-ish?

[Charley Kringas Inc]

Posted: 5/28/19 at 8:43pm

When the show was being developed as East Side Story, it was originally about Catholics, which would’ve still been called The Jets, fighting over turf (and the Holocaust) with a Jewish gang called The Emeralds. I feel like that only muddies things, but it’s a good factoid nonetheless.

[BwayLB]

Posted: 5/28/19 at 9:01pm

I think just names

[darquegk]

Posted: 5/28/19 at 9:45pm

Sharks are dangerous and associated with the Atlantic Ocean, hence Puerto Rican gangs.

The Jets are a little more obscure- Riff mentions his “ace men and his rocket men,” because early drafts of the show had the Jets as a space and rocket themed gang. In “Finishing the Hat” he has early lyrics from the space theme. Later revisions had them as wannabe Jazz hipsters, with their oddball slang (still present) intended as verbalizafion of Jazz licks or drumming. Finally they became just street kids, no theming at all.

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 5/28/19 at 9:54pm

Little known story. Arthur Laurents apparently was a huge hockey fan. While he was writing West Side Story, he went to a Winnipeg Jets-San Jose Sharks hockey game and thought the names just sounded perfect for the gangs. By the way, the Sharks ended up winning the game 3-2 on a rebound by Jumbo off a Burnzie slap shot with about 2 minutes left. Joner was sharp in goal.

[whitneym2]

Posted: 5/28/19 at 10:38pm

Wow, so cool UncleCharlie! Thanks for sharing! 

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 5/28/19 at 11:06pm

UncleCharlie said: "Little known story. Arthur Laurents apparently was a huge hockey fan. While he was writing West Side Story, he went to a Winnipeg Jets-San Jose Sharks hockey game..."

UncleCharlie, the stories you tell! 
Of course, the Sharks franchise was created in 1991.

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 5/29/19 at 12:12am

MarkBearSF said: "UncleCharlie, the stories you tell!
Of course, the Sharks franchise was created in 1991."

That might be why the story is little known.

[SharksVsJets]

Posted: 5/29/19 at 12:54am

I have nothing to add.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/29/19 at 3:46am

Aw...how many people is Whitney going to tell this story to, perpetuating it to generations?

[Wee Thomas2]

Posted: 6/4/19 at 6:31am

Hopefully to everyone

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 6/4/19 at 9:09am

"Aw...how many people is Whitney going to tell this story to, perpetuating it to generations?"

lol. "West Side Story" was originally on Broadway in 1957 and there were only 6 NHL teams in 1957. None of the 6 teams were named the "Jets" or the "Sharks" (ha ha). I am going to assume most people would know this story is a joke. 

Updated On: 6/4/19 at 09:09 AM