GALE STORM DIES – STARRED IN “OH SUSANNA” THE FIRST TV SERIES ON A CRUISE SHIP (BEATING OUT LOVE BOAT) – ABOARD AMERICAN PRESIDENT LINE’S SS PRESIDENT WILSON

Gale Storm with ZaSu Pitts in the 1950s TV Series aboard a cruise ship.

Cruise History looks at Gale Storm who starred in a TV series that took place aboard a cruise ship before Love Boat.  She died at the age of 87 on June 27, 2009.

SS PRESIDENT CLEVELAND – Sister ship to the Wilson…

SS Ocean Queen (SS PRESIDENT WILSON) – Cruise ship on the maritime comedy THE GALE STORM SHOW (OH SUSANNA!)/CBS/ABC/1956-60.

The SS Ocean Queen crew included Gale Storm as social director Susanna Pomeroy; Roy Roberts as Captain Simon Huxley; Jimmy Fairfax as ship’s steward Cedric; Rolfe Sedan as ship’s physician Dr. Eugene Reynolds; and ZaSu Pitts as the ship’s hairdresser Elvira/Esmerelda “Nugey” Nugent and Susanna’s close friend (later souvenir shop salesgirl).

Adding to the captain’s frustrations was the ship’s steward, an impish little fellow named Cedric (who went overboard when the series moved to ABC).

In the opening theme, the ship blasts its horn once; the ships’ bell clangs four times; and the show’s title is spelled out by the ship’s nautical flags.

Portions of the series were filmed onboard the real-life trans-Pacific American President liner, the S.S. President Wilson. [Read more...]