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LOS ANGELES TO HAWAII – 1927

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

Menu from the LASSCO STEAMSHIP CALAWAII – Honolulu to Los Angeles crossing in 1927…

Cruise and Liner History: Hollywood to Honolulu -
The Los Angeles Steamship Company’s
Voyages to Hawaii in the Roaring ‘20s

History of the LOS ANGELES STEAMSHIP COMPANY. LASCCO. The Los Angeles Steamship Company or LASSCO was a passenger and freight shipping company based in Los Angeles, California. The company, formed in 1920, initially provided fast passenger service between Los Angeles and San Francisco. In 1921, LASSCO added service to Hawaii in competition with the San Francisco-based Matson Navigation Company using two former North German Lloyd ocean liners that had been in U.S. Navy service during World War I. Despite the sinking of one of the former German liners on her maiden voyage for the company, business in the booming 1920s thrived, and the company continued to add ships and services. The worsening economic conditions in the United States, and the burning of another ship in Hawaii, caused financial problems for the company. After beginning talks in 1930, the Los Angeles Steamship Company was taken over by Matson Navigation on January 1, 1931, but continued to operate as a subsidiary until it ceased operations in 1937.

Carnival Corp’s COSTA CONCORDIA Ship Accident Stirs Thoughts of the ITIALIAN LINE’S ANDREA DORIA.

January 22, 2012 By Michael L. Grace Leave a Comment

Excellent Video on the ANDREA DORIA.

Cruise and Liner History – Carnival Corp’s COSTA CONCORDIA Ship Accident Stirs Thoughts of the ITIALIAN LINE’S ANDREA DORIA.

The world was shocked and astounded to learn of the wreck of the Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia off the Tuscan coast. How could a modern, state-of-the-art passenger vessel have succumbed to such a gross navigational error in well-charted waters, in clear visibility and calm conditions?

Details of the events leading up to the grounding are only starting to be gathered by investigators but seem to point toward inappropriate ship handling on the part of Capt. Francesco Schettino. Far more disturbing, however, are the alleged actions of Schettino after his ship was stricken and determined to be sinking. He stands accused of abandoning ship before many of the 4,200 passengers and crew, leaving them without his leadership and guidance during a life-and-death evacuation process. If the preliminary reports are even half true, these actions should land him squarely in prison.

CUNARD CHRISTMAS 1928

December 26, 2011 By Michael L. Grace

Staff magazine of the Cunard Steamship Company, Christmas 1928

The Cunard Line has a long and fascinating history. It was created in 1839 when Samuel Cunard won the Admiralty’s tender to provide a transatlantic mail service to be carried by steamships between Great Britain and North America. The service was inaugurated in 1840 when the steamship Britannia made the first crossing to Halifax and then Boston.

Cunard’s ‘ocean greyhounds’ soon faced stiff competition from other American, British and especially German companies, who all wanted a share in the profitable business of ferrying mail, European emigrants and wealthy passengers across the Atlantic.

THE WHITE STAR LINE… Video aboard a White Star Liner in the 1930s…

December 22, 2011 By Michael L. Grace

Cruise Line and Liner History – The White Star Line – Video: A Voyage on a White Star Liner circa 1932…

The first company bearing the name White Star Line was founded in Liverpool, England by John Pilkington and Henry Wilson, and focused on the UK–Australia trade, which had increased following the discovery of gold there. The fleet initially consisted of chartered sailing ships, RMS Tayleur, Blue Jacket, White Star, Red Jacket, Ellen, Ben Nevis, Emma, Mermaid and Iowa. The fate of Tayleur, the largest ship of its day, haunted the company for years, for it was wrecked on its maiden voyage to Australia at Lambay Island, near Ireland. The company acquired its first steamship in 1863, the Royal Standard.

The original White Star Line merged with two other small lines, Black Ball and Eagle, to form a conglomerate, the Liverpool, Melbourne and Oriental Steam Navigation Company Limited. This did not prosper and White Star broke away. White Star concentrated on the Liverpool to New York service. Heavy investment in new ships was financed by borrowing, but the company’s bank, the Royal Bank of Liverpool, failed in October 1867. White Star was left with an outstanding debt of £527,000, (£34,029,969 as of 2011), and was forced into bankruptcy.

RMS TITANIC AUCTION – Includes photos of the SS CALIFORNIA

October 6, 2011 By Michael L. Grace Leave a Comment

A historically significant, museum-quality archive of material pertaining to the doomed ocean liner the RMS Titanic will be offered on the first day of a three-day multi-estate sale planned for Oct. 21-23 by Philip Weiss Auctions. The event will be held in the firm’s gallery facility, located at #1 Neil Court in Oceanside, N.Y., starting at 4 p.m. (EST).

“It’s rare when anything Titanic-related comes on the market, and when it does it’s often a minor item,” said Philip Weiss of Philip Weiss Auctions, “but this is an incredible archive that came to us directly from a descendant of John and Nelle Pillsbury Snyder, who were rescued when the Titanic sank on the morning of April 15, 1912. This is sure to generate great interest.”

Included in the archive is a letter written on Titanic stationery (and dated April 10, five days before the sinking); another letter, dated April 18, that talks about the confusion from news sources and the White Star Line (which built the Titanic) at the time of the sinking; and original photos taken from the rescue ship the RMS Carpathia, showing lifeboats headed towards survivors.

(Left: the SS California) Also included will be a group of possibly the only photos in existence of the steamship SS Californian, shown sailing toward the Carpathia in a belated rescue effort. An inquiry at the time revealed the Californian was actually closer to the Titanic than the Carpathia, and even saw the rocket flares indicating a ship in distress, but for a variety of reasons it was slow to respond.

The archive will also boast a wealth of newspaper clippings from the time, numerous family mementos, Titanic history and collectibles.

To learn more about Philip Weiss Auctions and the firm’s calendar of events, to include the upcoming Oct. 21-23 auction, log on to www.WeissAuctions.com.

Filed Under: STEAMSHIP LINES Tagged With: 1920s, blue ribband, Cruise History, CRUISE LINE HISTORY, cruising the past, CUNARD LINE, Cunard White Star, first class, RMS CARPATHIA, RMS TITANIC, SOCIAL HISTORY, SS CALIFORNIA, Titanic

Have you ever wanted to see the Titanic?

August 9, 2011 By Michael L. Grace Leave a Comment

Very detailed video of the SS Keewatin in 1950s…

Touring the SS Keewatin museum today…

Have you ever wanted to see the Titanic?

Although possible at a price these days the wreck would never be like seeing the real working ship unless you went to Michigan where a stunning example of an Edwardian passenger liner floats to this day and can be visited and explored. With an identical engine, grand staircase, luxurious dining saloon, well preserved staterooms and public galleries you can experience Titanic only two hours away from Chicago. There is even a Marconi Room, identical to the one on Titanic.

In 1967 RJ Peterson from Douglas Michigan bought the SS KEEWATIN – an old Edwardian decommissioned passenger ship from the Canadian Pacific Railway Steamship Company and towed it to Lake Kalamazoo. Peterson owned a large marina in the very small lake. As luck would have it, The Corps of Engineers had dredged to 18 feet that summer and it was enough to get the 350-foot, 300-passenger ship into the harbor where it has served as a floating museum for 44 years.

The SS KEEWATIN was built in Govan Scotland in 1907. She took her sea trials in the River Clyde along side the RMS Lusitania, (sunk by a German sub which resulted in the United States joining WWI).

The SS Keewatin sailed to North America and went to work sailing between the tops of the Great Lakes on Superior to a small port just north of Toronto in Canada. From the 1800′s and into the 1950′s many ships plied the inland seas moving freight and people between west and east.

As highways improved, railways proliferated and airplanes filled the skies these behemoths of commerce slowly retired, were scrapped or in some cases sank. By the 1960′s they were essentially gone with an era of elegance and simplicity. Except the KEEWATIN, hidden as a tourist attraction in a small town, on a small lake and fed by a small river.

But now at 104 years old her big story is being told. In 1963 and 1964 a 17-year-old high school student was fortunate enough to get a summer job on the SS Keewatin. The experience changed his life and now as a retired and successful adult he has found that his stage for youthful adventure is alive and well and living in Douglas. Eric Conroy is the youngest surviving crew member from the SS Keewatin and he has written a book about what happened to him in two of his most educational summers.

It is called “A STEAK IN THE DRAWER” and it is great read about the early days of travel and a young man’s experiences’ coming of age. There are lots of pictures and a detailed description of the parts of the ship, the passengers and other crew he had contact with. All proceeds will go toward the SS KEEWATIN Restoration Fund, which this year is focused on rebuilding the Life Boats. For information call (416) 318-7186 or write…SS KEEWATIN MUSEUM PO Box 638 Douglas Michigan 49406 USA.

HISTORY

The SS Keewatin once sailed between Port Arthur / Fort William and Port McNicoll in Ontario, Canada. She carried passengers between these ports for the Canadian Pacific Railway’s Great Lakes Steamship Service. The Keewatin also carried packaged freight goods for the railway at these ports.

The Greatest RMS TITANIC Film – A NIGHT TO REMEMBER.

December 14, 2010 By Michael L. Grace Leave a Comment

Here is the trailer of A NIGHT TO REMEMBER – the greatest RMS Titanic film made.

A Night to Remember is a 1958 docudrama film adaptation of Walter Lord’s book of the same name, recounting the final night of the RMS Titanic. It was adapted by Eric Ambler, directed by Roy Ward Baker, and filmed in the United Kingdom. The production team, supervised by producer William MacQuitty, used blueprints of the ship to accurately create the sets, while Titanic fourth officer Joseph Boxhall and ex-Cunard Commodore Harry Grattidge both worked as technical advisors on the film. The film premiered in the United Kingdom on Tuesday July 1, 1958, and in the United States on Tuesday December 16, 1958.

A Night to Remember won the 1959 “Samuel Goldwyn International Award” for the United Kingdom at the Golden Globe Awards.

It is considered the finest film made about the famous ship.

The Titanic was the largest vessel afloat, and was widely believed to be unsinkable. Her passengers included the cream of American and British society. The story of her sinking is told from the point of view of her passengers and crew, principally second officer, Charles Lightoller (Kenneth More).

Once in the open sea on her maiden voyage, the Titanic receives a number of ice warnings from nearby steamers. Captain Edward J. Smith (Laurence Naismith) is unconcerned and the ship continues on at high speed.

Late on April 14, 1912, a lookout spots an iceberg directly in front of the ship. The ship turns hard to port, but the Titanic collides with the iceberg on its starboard side, opening the first five compartments to the sea, below the waterline. Thomas Andrews (Michael Goodliffe), the ship’s builder, inspects the damage and finds that the ship will soon sink, a bad situation made horrific by the fact the ship does not have sufficient lifeboat capacity for everyone on board.

A distress signal is immediately sent out, and efforts begin to signal a ship (depicted to be the SS Californian) that is seen on the horizon, a mere 10 miles away. But the ship’s radio operator is off duty and he does not hear the distress signal. Fortunately, the radio operator on the Carpathia receives the distress call, understands the emergency and immediately alerts Captain Arthur Rostron (Anthony Bushell) who promptly orders the ship to head to the Titanic at maximum speed.

Captain Smith orders his officers Lightoller and Murdoch to start lowering the lifeboats. Many women and children are reluctant to get in a small, cramped lifeboat, and Murdoch and Lightoller must use force to put them in. Many men try to sneak into the lifeboats, but Lightoller will not allow them. Murdoch, working the other side of the ship, is shown as more accommodating to men. As the stewards struggle to hold back women and children holding third-class tickets (“steerage”), most of the women and children from second and first class climb into the lifeboats and launch away from the ship.

A SAILING COMMEMORATING THE RMS TITANIC VOYAGE

October 6, 2010 By Michael L. Grace Leave a Comment

A grand cruise that will make you part of history.

The voyage…

A SAILING COMMEMORATING THE RMS TITANIC VOYAGE ABOARD THE DELUXE CRUISE-SHIP MS BALMORAL

Click here for full information on the cruise.

British travel firm Miles Morgan Travel are taking reservations for this unique cruise that will commemorate the Titanic’s tragic voyage in April 1912.

Our voyage of a lifetime will sail from Southampton on 8th April 2012 the twelve night cruise on board the MS Balmoral and will follow the RMS Titanic’s original itinerary, passing by Cherbourg on the French coast before calling into the Irish port of Cobh.

From here the ship will sail across the Atlantic, arriving at the Titanic site on April 14th/15th exactly 100 years on from this tragic voyage, where a memorial service will be held to pay tribute to the brave passengers and crew who perished on that fateful night.

The voyage will then continue to Halifax, Nova Scotia, the final resting place of many who were on board, before sailing on to New York, the Titanic’s ultimate planned destination.

Miles Morgan had organized this historic cruise.

This is obviously a unique event and such is the interest in the 100th anniversary of the Titanic it is highly recommended that a booking be made as soon as possible.

A cruise to mark the centenary of the sinking of the Titanic in April 2012 has almost sold out 20 months before its departure date.

Hundreds of people from 24 different countries have booked to travel on the Balmoral, due to set sail from Southampton, England on 8 April 2012 and retrace the liner’s original route.

Relatives of those who lost their lives on the great ship, authors, historians and people who are just fascinated by the Titanic story have already booked their place in history.

The first cruise ever to recreate the fateful voyage has attracted bookings from places including Australia, Canada, the Caribbean, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, South America and the USA.

Jane Allen, from Devon, said: “We’ve booked this once in a lifetime event as we wish to commemorate our relative, Mr Thomas Pears, who died on the Titanic and his story has been a big part of our lives. His widow Edith survived in Lifeboat 8.”

Julie Cox, from Louisiana, USA said: “My great Grandfather had tickets for the Titanic but did not go so the Titanic has been a lifelong interest to me and my family.”

The Balmoral Cruise Liner is operated by Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, whose parent company Harland and Wolff built the Titanic in Belfast. It has been chartered for the event by ABTA-bonded Miles Morgan Travel, which specializes in cruise and luxury holidays.

A line up of ten specialist lectures are now booked for the voyage including author Arthur Cropley, the great-nephew of Charles Herber Lightoller, the 2nd Officer of the Titanic and Senan Molony, political editor of the Irish Daily Mail and author of several respected books about the disaster.

Other speakers include Philip Littlejohn, grandson of Titanic survivor Alexander James Littlejohn and the only Titanic relative to have made the dive to the wreck site. “I am delighted to be part of the cruise to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the maiden voyage of the Titanic. I’m sure my grandfather, a 1st Class Steward on RMS Titanic, would be proud to know his story will be shared with the passengers on the Balmoral. It will be an emotional moment when we are over the wreck site, where I dived in 2001, and where my grandfather left Titanic rowing Lifeboat 13.”

Miles Morgan, managing director of the Titanic Memorial Cruise, said: “The 100th anniversary is such a significant milestone in the history of the Titanic, it has really captured the imagination of people all over the world. We’ve heard stories from guests who are having dresses created by top designers especially for the event and requests from musicians who want to audition to be part of the famous string quartet.”

Organizers of the cruise are ensuring that the food on board will be based on the dishes served in April 1912 and the music and entertainment will reflect the era.

The last remaining twin cabins are available from £3,350 per person and go up to £5,995 for a superior suite for the 12-night cruise including flights back to the UK from New York.

The ship will sail with 1,309 paying passengers, exactly the same number that sailed on the Titanic.

There are still cabins available on the cruise, check here.

Filed Under: Cruise History, Cruise Memorabilia, cruise reviews, CRUISE SHIP REVIEWS, STEAMSHIP LINES Tagged With: CUNARD LINE, Cunard White Star, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, Miles Morgan Travel, MS BALMORAL, RMS TITANIC VOYAGE, Titanic survivor

Titanic’s last hours a ‘nest of confusion’

September 27, 2010 By Michael L. Grace Leave a Comment

A controversial new account of why ‘Titanic’ sank has been met with scepticism by experts, writes FIONOLA MEREDITH

FROM THE moment it sank beneath the north Atlantic, on April 14th, 1912, Titanic has been the object of endless conspiracy theories. There have been claims that the ship sank because the iceberg wasn’t spotted in time, or because a fire was raging in the engine room.

Now a new and controversial account has emerged. Lady Louise Patten, the granddaughter of the most senior surviving officer on the Titanic , Charles Lightoller, claims that the ship had time to miss the iceberg – but the helmsman, Quartermaster Robert Hichens, panicked and turned in the wrong direction. According to Patten, this was down to confusion about the two steering systems in operation at the time: rudder orders for steamships, and tiller orders for sailing ships. “The two systems were the complete opposite of one another. So a command to turn ‘hard a’starboard’ meant turn the wheel right under one system and left under the other.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: STEAMSHIP LINES Tagged With: CUNARD LINE, Cunard White Star, RMS TITANIC, titanic first class

TITANIC HISTORY – THE ONLY EXISTING FILM FOOTAGE OF THE TRAGIC LINER

February 7, 2010 By Michael L. Grace Leave a Comment

TITANIC HISTORY – The history of the RMS Titanic – Cunard History

TITANIC HISTORY – THE ONLY EXISTING FILM FOOTAGE OF THE TRAGIC LINER

PART 1 – EXCELLENT TITANIC DOCUMENTARY

PART 2 – EXCELLENT TITANIC DOCUMENTARY

The history of the RMS Titanic has enthralled the world quite unlike any other shipwreck known to man. A number of books, articles and movies have been made detailed the tragedy of the RMS Titanic. Both the 1950′s version of the Titanic’s sinking, “A Night to Remember’ and the more recent film have been very popular. James Cameron’s 1997 box office hit”Titanic” was so popular with viewers that it succeeded in breaking a number of box office sales records.

The public seems incapable of forgetting the tragic history of the Titanic. Numerous myths and legends have developed over the years since the ship sank on April 15, 1912. Some of the myths are true, and others have simply been derived from the imagination of the numerous people who have become somewhat obsessed with the history of Titanic. In part, some of the tales regarding Titanic history can be contributed to the tales spun by the 705 survivors. It has been speculated that more than one of the survivors ‘embellished’ their personal story. The ‘unsinkable’ Molly Brown is just one of the surviving passengers who are suspected of having added more than a little flair to their tale.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: CREW MEMBERS, Cruise History, CRUISING THE PAST VIDEOS, Titanic, WHITE STAR - CUNARD LINE Tagged With: Cunard White Star, HISTORY TITANIC, RMS TITANIC, Titanic, titanic history

THE WHITE STAR LINE… Video aboard a White Star Liner in the 1930s…

Have you ever wanted to see the Titanic?

The Greatest RMS TITANIC Film – A NIGHT TO REMEMBER.

A SAILING COMMEMORATING THE RMS TITANIC VOYAGE

Titanic’s last hours a ‘nest of confusion’

TITANIC HISTORY – THE ONLY EXISTING FILM FOOTAGE OF THE TRAGIC LINER

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