John Ringling North knew that every season was vital to the circus to open its season at New York’s Madison Square Gardens, not only because of the big box office but because of the national media attention. Opening night would always benefit a charity with stars such as Marylyn Monroe, ... Read More »
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ZIM LINE – Israel’s Passenger and Cruise company in the 1950s and 1960s
Zim Lines began passenger service connecting Israel with Mediterranean ports began after the State of Israel was established in 1948 and for 20 years they operated an excellent sea transportation fleet of ships In the early 1950s, Zim became a member of the North Atlantic Passenger Conference and bought Home ... Read More »
Throwback Thursday – Elvis Presley on the train from New York to Memphis in 1956.
“Elvis who?” Photographer Alfred Wertheimer recalls uttering that very question in early 1956. A publicist from RCA Victor Records had contacted him, asking if he was available to photograph a young singer named Elvis Presley. “I’d never heard of the man,” Wertheimer told TIME Magazine in an article 40 ... Read More »
CLASSIC LINER MS Angelina Lauro
MS Oranje, later known as MS Angelina Lauro, was a passenger liner, a wartime hospital ship, and finally a cruise ship that was lost while being towed for scrap. She sank in a storm in the mid-Pacific, on 24 September 1979. The ship underwent 25 years’ service as MS Oranje, ... Read More »
History of the GRACE LINE – Part 1- One of America’s great passenger ship fleets
In the mid-1800s, the Irish-born Gracmid-1800ss, William Russell, and Michael established a commercial and shipping business in Callao, the port of Lima, Peru. They prospered, especially in the exporting of guano from the Chincha Islands to the United States, where this fertilizer was in considerable demand. Excellent 16mm Silent home ... Read More »
Throwback Thursday – Mid-Century – 1950s “Psycho” Star Janet Leigh aboard the Santa Fe streamliner SUPER CHIEF
Star of Alfred Hitchcock’s PSYCHO, Janet Leigh is ready to board the famous SUPER CHIEF and Virginia Leith, star of A KISS BEFORE DYING shows us the all-Pullman train during the 1950s in a promotional film. Even the characters from TV’s MAD MEN may have been aboard the train all ... Read More »
Cary Grant’s other REX – The gambling boat off Santa Monica, California – Part 2
Film star of stars Cary Grant sailed on the great liner German liner S.S. Rex when crossing the pond but gambled on board the “Rex” just off the Santa Monica pier. Besides the fabulous Italian ocean liner, S.S. REX launched in 1931; there was another S.S. REX. The far lesser ... Read More »
Anthony Cornero’s premier gambling ship off Santa Monica was the SS REX – Part 1
Anthony Cornero’s premier gambling ship was the SS Rex, which could accommodate over 2,000 gamblers who sailed in a shore boat from the Santa Monica, California pier. It carried a crew of 350, including waiters and waitresses, gourmet chefs, a full orchestra, and gunmen. Video clip of the Rex gambling ... Read More »
Mid-Century Liners: The M/V Aureol – Liverpool to West Africa
Elder Dempster Lines was one of the UK’s largest shipping companies, and during its 150-year history, it operated more than 500 ships. Based in the historic port of Liverpool it was the major shipping line to serve West Africa. As well as its cargo ships, the Elder Dempster Lines operated ... Read More »
Anchored: Will Philly be stuck with the SS United States forever?
The former American luxury liner was supposed to be docked In Philadelphia for 21 days; it’s been almost 21 years. Is time running out for the famous ocean liner? The SS United States is a luxury passenger liner built in 1952 for United States Lines. It was designed by American ... Read More »