2012 November |

ITALIAN LINE’S TN MICHELANGELO AND THE STORM: When trans-Atlantic ocean liners were faced with “Hurricane Sandy” weather…

November 27, 2012 By Michael L. Grace Leave a Comment

Italian TV news celebrates vintage newsreel footage of the new TN Michelangelo…

TN Michelangelo was an Italian ocean liner built in 1965 for Italian Line by Ansaldo Shipyards, Genoa. She was one of the last ships to be built primarily for liner service across the North Atlantic. Her sister ship was the TN Raffaello. Although grand in every way, sadly Michelangelo and Raffaello had a relatively short 10 year Trans-Atlantic career, which ended due to three factors, the Jet age, the ever increasing running costs, and the Italian Government withdrawing its financial support. As a rescue attempt, in 1974, Italia Line entered both ships on cruise duties with an occasional Trans-Atlantic voyage. But profits continued to decline, which spelled the end of these two remarkable ships.

THE GREAT LINER AND THE STORM…

On April 12, 1966 the Michelangelo was hit by a massive storm in the mid-Atlantic, with waves up to 20 meters high, they hit the ship, breaking high over the bridge and washing over the open decks. Then a wave so big, it tore a large hole in the forward superstructure. Sadly, this violent experience saw two passengers and one crewmember killed.

Here is Gordon R. Chareeb’s excellent piece on the great ship and the horrifying hurricane thanks to the webstie Maritime Matters.

By Gordon R. Chareeb (Maritime Matters)

The morning fog clung to the surface of lower New York Bay. The sound of distant foghorns, seagulls cawing overhead, and buoy bells clanging in the damp air broke the silence. Slowly standing upriver from the Verrazano Narrows came the great white liner. As her apparition loomed larger out of the shrouding mist it became apparent that the ship had endured a beating at the hand of the merciless North Atlantic.

Her curved forecastle was buckled back, deck railing and bulwarks were torn away from the bow, window casings held makeshift plywood shutters, and a huge white tarpaulin was strung mournfully across the forward facing expanse of her broad superstructure to shield her visceral wounds from the eyes of the world. With her flag at half-mast, the MICHELANGELO stoically steamed up the Hudson River toward her pier at the foot of West 50th Street.

To read more please click here…

Filed Under: ITALIAN LINE, STEAMSHIP LINES

HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT LINES

November 26, 2012 By Michael L. Grace Leave a Comment

HISTORY OF AMERICAN PRESIDENT LINES…

Early History of Oldest Continuously Operating U.S. Steamship Company

The Pacific Mail Steamship Company, predecessor of the American President Companies Ltd., was founded in 1848, two years before the transcontinental railroad was completed; its founding at this time provides American President Companies its claim as the oldest continuously operated steamship company in the United States. The Pacific Mail Steamship Company set out to carry mail from the Isthmus of Panama to the Oregon Territory. In 1867 it began the first regular shipping service between the United States and Asia, carrying passengers, cargo, and mail between the western United States, China, and Japan. The company’s wooden ships, weighing 2,500 gross tons, used steam power to drive paddle wheels set amidships; the paddle wheels were augmented by twin square-rigged masts.

In 1921, the Pacific Mail Steamship Company was acquired by Dollar Steamship Lines, a company founded in the early 1900s by lumberman Robert Dollar, who established a fleet of steam schooners to carry his lumber from mills in northern California and Oregon to cities and railheads in southern and central California.

Dollar Steamship Lines established around-the-world shipping services in 1925 and expanded those services up until 1938 when, staggering under the combined effects of the Great Depression and debts incurred through building its fleet, the company was on the brink of bankruptcy. In 1938 the Federal Maritime Commission arranged a subsidy to keep the company solvent; later that year, the Commission released the company from its debt in return for 90 percent of the Dollar Steamship Lines’ common stock. The services of the Dollar Steamship Lines were considered vital to the United States in light of the rise of fascism in Europe and the Sino-Japanese war in the Far East.

Wartime Government Contracts and Big Changes Through the 1980s

On November 1, 1938, Dollar Steamship Lines’ new board of directors changed its name to American President Lines Ltd.; the name change was due in part to the company’s practice of naming its ships after American presidents. American President Lines’ fleet saw service activity during World War II, as several ships were sold to the U.S. Navy for troop transports and others operated as “Liberty Ships” to transport materiel for the war effort.

After the war the company was involved in a costly and bitter seven-year court battle that resulted in its acquisition in 1952 by Ralph K. Davies, a former executive of Standard Oil of California, who had begun buying shares in American President Lines in 1944. By 1952, Davies owned 11 percent of the outstanding shares of the company, becoming its largest minority shareholder. On October 29, 1952, a group of investors led by Davies outbid two other investor groups, including one led by R. Stanley, a son of Robert Dollar, and paid $18.3 million for the Federal Maritime Commission’s controlling interest in the company. Davies became chairman of American President Lines, a position he held until 1971, and he merged the APL Associates with Natomas Company, a gold-dredging firm that grew to become an oil and gas exploration company and, in 1965, the parent organization of American President Lines.

When Davies took control of the company, APL was a leader in providing cargo and passenger services between the Pacific Northwest of the United States and the Far East and offered around-the-world services for cargo and passengers. The company had recently launched its efforts in intermodal shipping, when it acquired more than 1,000 small shipping containers in 1951. In intermodal shipping, large containers are packed with cargo at its source and moved–by truck, train, or oceangoing vessel–to the cargo’s destination without being unpacked. APL purchased its first partially containerized ships in 1961; 12 years later, fully containerized vessels were entering its fleet.In a retrenchment in the mid-1970s, under the leadership of Chandler Ide–who became head of Natomas Company by succeeding Davies in 1971–APL discontinued its around-the-world freight services and passenger services to concentrate on its Pacific and Indian Ocean lines.

To read more about the history of American President Lines CLICK HERE

Filed Under: AMERICAN PRESIDENT LINES, STEAMSHIP LINES

FILM REVIEW: LINCOLN

November 25, 2012 By Michael L. Grace Leave a Comment

Steven Spielberg’s LINCOLN: Abe is as Wooden as Washington’s Teeth – But Daniel Day-Lewis delivers a presidential performance, and Tommy Lee Jones steals the show

The film is like watching a blade of grass grow.

For all its good intentions and spurts of innovation, though, LINCOLN never really comes alive as living, breathing history. Instead, it too often plays like an audio reading of the Congressional Record, with some unwieldy domestic scenes tossed in for good measure.

Rather than the comprehensive biopic suggested by the title, Lincoln instead focuses on the 16th president’s final days in office, as he works hard to pass an amendment that would outlaw slavery and involuntary servitude. The film tracks every step of this process, showing how Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis) would use any means, some bordering on impeachable, to secure passage. Secretary of State William Seward (David Strathairn) works tirelessly on his behalf, playing devil’s advocate when necessary but always showing his support; also fighting for the cause is the garrulous Representative Thaddeus Stevens (Tommy Lee Jones, chewing the scenery almost as much as he did as Batman Forever’s Two-Face).

Daniel Day-Lewis as the Prez…

The Abraham Lincoln is the oldest operable passenger car in the United States. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This car is named in honor of President Abraham Lincoln and should not be confused with the first private car in America, which was built for President Lincoln as a means to unite the nation after the civil war.

Click her for on the movie LINCOLN – from Rex Reed’s review at the NEW YORK OBSERVER…

Filed Under: PULLMAN, REVIEWS

THE SUPER CHIEF – JANET LEIGH (STAR OF HITCHCOCK’S PSYCHO) DOES FASHION ON “THE TRAIN OF THE STARS”

November 25, 2012 By Michael L. Grace Leave a Comment

SOCIAL HISTORY – - JANET LEIGH, STAR OF ALFRED HITCHCOCK’S PSYCHO, IS READY TO BOARD AND VIRGINIA LEITH, STAR OF “A KISS BEFORE DYING, SHOWS US THE ALL-PULLMAN TRAIN. EVEN THE CHARACTERS FROM “MAD MEN” COULD HAVE BEEN SEEN ON THIS TRAIN IN THE EARLY 1960S.

Virginia Leith, 20th Century Fox star of “A Kiss Before Dying”, did this fun film on the Super Chief – very retro and very 1950s.

All the stars “sailed” abroad the Santa Fe’s All-Pullman deluxe Super Chief between Los Angeles and Chicago. Regular passenger lists would include Janet Leigh, Jimmy Durante, Rosalind Rusell, Zero Mostel, Bing Crosby, Margaret Truman, Gloria Swanson, Alan Ladd, Kirk Douglas, Clark Gabel, Billy Wilder, Joan Crawford and on and on.

Janet Leigh did a major fashion layout aboard the new Super Chief in the 1950s.

(Left: Passengers in the Pleasure Dome Car) The Super Chief was one of the named passenger trains and the flagship of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. It was often referred to as “The Train of the Stars” because of the many celebrities who traveled on the streamliner between Chicago, Illinois and Los Angeles, California.

The Super Chief (assigned train Nos. 17 & 18) was the first Diesel-powered, all-Pullman sleeping car train in America, and it eclipsed the Chief as Santa Fe’s standard bearer. The extra-fare Super Chief-1 commenced its maiden run from Dearborn Station in Chicago on May 12, 1936. Just over a year later, in May, 1937 the much-improved Super Chief-2 traversed the 2,227.3 miles (3,584.5 kilometers) from Los Angeles over recently upgraded tracks in 36 hours and 49 minutes, averaging 60 miles/hour overall, and often reaching 100 miles/hour.

The SUPER CHIEF stops at Albuquerque, New Mexico in the 1960s – half way between the Los Angeles and Chicago. Right in the middle of the “Mad Men” era. Passengers dressed – it was really first class.

From that day forward the Super Chief set a new standard for luxury rail travel in America. With only one set of equipment, the train initially operated but once a week from both Chicago and Los Angeles. However, at the height of its popularity, and with added equipment, the trains of the Super Chief made daily departures from both ends of the line. Adding to the train’s mystique were its gourmet meals and Hollywood clientele.

The SUPER CHIEF dining car was first class – including finger bowls. Excellent cuisine was prepared aboard – from prime steaks to fresh trout to caviar. Tables were covered with starched linen, highly polished silver, specially designed china and glassware. The steward supervised the onboard restaurant and attentive waiters provided top service. There were no microwaves or people in tank-tops.

Direct competitors to the Super Chief during its lifetime were the City of Los Angeles, a streamlined passenger train jointly operated by the Chicago and North Western Railway and the Union Pacific Railroad, and (to a lesser extent) the Golden State, a streamlined passenger train jointly operated by the Rock Island and Southern Pacific railroads. The Santa Fe Super Chief was one of the last passenger trains in the United States to carry an all-Pullman consist; only the Pennsylvania Railroad’s Broadway Limited and the Illinois Central’s Panama Limited survived longer. The train maintained its legendary high level of service until the end of Santa Fe passenger operations on May 1, 1971.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON THE SUPER CHIEF FROM NEW YORK SOCIAL DIARY…

Filed Under: SOCIAL HISTORY Tagged With: cruising the past, TRAIN TRAVEL 1950s, TRAVEL FASHION

CUNARD LINE’S RMS QUEEN ELIZABETH… when getting there was half the fun!

November 13, 2012 By Michael L. Grace Leave a Comment

Excellent video on Cunard Line’s RMS QUEEN ELIZABETH…

Cruise History – The RMS Queen Elizabeth was the second of the two ocean-liners which Cunard had built for the New York service. After lengthy negotiations between Sir Percy Bates, chairman of Cunard, and the Government a formal contract for what was known as job 535 was signed on 6 October 1936. The Treasury agreed to advance £5 million to Cunard and tenders went out for the contract. The contract went to John Brown & Co, builders of the Queen Mary.

Originally the launch of the ship was scheduled for September 1938 but as the time drew near the political situation across Europe had deteriorated. The launch did go ahead on 27 September but King George VI was unable to attend. After this the ship went to be fitted out and the completion date was set for spring 1940 but the outbreak of World War II, on 3 September, meant that the ship would follow a different agenda. Soon the ship was painted grey and its maiden voyage was cancelled. Over the next few months it was realized that the Queen Elizabeth was both a risk and an inconvenience whilst it was berthed on the Clyde. Not only was it at risk from German bombers but also it was occupying a fitting out berth which was urgently required for warship construction. On 3 March 1940 it left its anchorage off Gourock and sailed to New York, arriving on 7 March.

1946 – At precisely two o’clock the 83,000 ton Cunard-White Star Liner “Queen Elizabeth” cast off from her moorings at Southampton and slid slowly from her berth to begin her maiden voyage to New York.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: CUNARD LINE, STEAMSHIP LINES

PRESIDENT TRUMAN’S “WHISTLE-STOP” CAMPAIGN AND THE END OF A TRADITION IN AMERICAN POLITICS.

November 8, 2012 By Michael L. Grace Leave a Comment

Social History: Excellent home footage of President Truman on his campaign train “whistle-stop”…

Rear of train and Sam Wah cafe during during Harry Truman’s Whistle Stop tour. Austin, Texas. – 1948

The “whistle-stop” tour has been a tradition in American politics since the mid-1800s. Politicians travelled the nation by train, stopping to speak to citizens from a platform at the back of their train car. On these tours, candidates spoke to people across the country.

THE 20th CENTURY LIMITED – HISTORY OF THE “RED CARPET” AND A GREAT TRAIN

November 1, 2012 By Michael L. Grace Leave a Comment

RED CARPET TREATMENT STARTED WITH THE 20TH CENTURY LIMITED –TRAIN OF TYCOONS AND STARS THAT RAN NIGHTLY BETWEEN NEW YORK AND CHICAGO

Have you wondered where the much-overused phrase “the red carpet treatment” originated?

It all started with the 20th Century Limited.

It was a “Magic Carpet” high speed overnight Pullman commute between New York and Chicago as pitched in this Time Magazine advertisement.

The “Century” was an express passenger train operated by the New York Central nightly from New York to Chicago. From 1938 until the last run in 1968, passengers walked down a crimson carpet to their waiting cars. This was only done for the departure from New York. Stretching from the observation car to the engine – the football field length rug was specially designed for the Century – thus, the “red carpet treatment” was born.

Travel time was less than sixteen hours each way between the two cities during its streamlined years.

If leaving from New York, you departed at 6 p.m. and arrived the next morning in Chicago at 8:45 a.m. Settling in for the evening, after boarding the Century in downtown Manhattan, you enjoyed cocktails in the observation car, dinner with views of the Hudson, a good night sleep and then with breakfast in bed or in the dining car. Dress was business formal with no room for baseball caps. Standing in line for security, enduring a long cab ride or enduring hours on the tarmac because of bad weather were not included in your first class Pullman fare.

The glamorous departure aboard New York Central’s 20th Century Limited was equal to a sailing on the Queen Mary, Liberte or United States. This was still the only way to “cross the pond” from New York to Europe into the 1950s and Pullman was the only way to travel overnight by train in America.

CLICK HERE TO THE FULL STORY IN THE NEW YORK SOCIAL DIARY…

Filed Under: NEW YORK CENTRAL, SOCIAL HISTORY, STEAMSHIP LINES, STREAMLINERS