QUEEN MARYs 75th Celebration Revisited
On May 27, 2011 The QUEEN MARY celebrated the 75th anniversary of her maiden voyage with hundreds of well-wishers, many locals and some traveling from the UK. Guests in attendance included revelers in period costume, former crew members from the liner’s heyday, past travelers and a group of World War II squadron members who reunited aboard the QUEEN MARY for the first time since she carried them across the North Atlantic during her service days as the “Grey Ghost” in World War II.
Festivities kicked off Friday night during a General Manager’s Champagne Reception and Commemorative Ceremony honoring the QUEEN MARY’s storied past. Proclamations were received from the California Senate and Assembly, County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors, the Long Beach City Council, Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster as well as Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal, who expressed pride in having the QUEEN MARY in Long Beach and the city’s dedication to maintaining the ship’s historic value. Congratulatory letters from the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles and the Cunard and Steamship Historical Societies were also presented.
The Steamship Historical Society of America presented a series of lectures over Friday & Saturday that included topics like the Art Deco Movement and Ocean Liners, Fashion of the Maiden Voyage Era, the SS NORMANDIE and QUEEN MARY’s Maiden Voyage Attempt at the Speed Record. Speakers included notable Hollywood costume couple Shawn and Coleen Crosby and current cruise ship guest lecturers Bruce Vancil, Chris Butler and William Keene.
The merriment continued into the night and throughout the weekend with a Captain’s Dinner inspired by original menu items from the ship’s inaugural cruise in 1936, themed entertainment and fireworks. The weekend also marked the debut of the all-new 75th Anniversary Tour and paranormal Spirit Box Tour – both of which will run through the rest of the year – as well as an art installation featuring 25 winning submissions from the ship’s recent ‘75 Years of Queen Mary Memories’ contest. The installation spotlights short stories written by people whose lives were touched by the ship in some way and will remain on permanent display in the ship’s historic exhibit.
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FANTASTIC !
Fantastic, yes, dissapointing, oh yeah.
everytime I see an old girly liner, or cruise ship, refitted or, in the case of the QM, the furnishings are purely cheap. Look at those god awful chairs at the Captains Dinner. What makes a Grand Salon that?
Not to mention trhe dress code, was this diner at 11:30 am, maybe early bird special.
Sorry, I don’t dig this at all.
Glad she is preserved, but, to be totally preserved to her early glamour.
Knowing a bit about the hospitality business, sure, one can argue, banquet chairs take the wear and tear, however the QM took THOUSANDS did you get it – thousands – of passengers, that danced, kicked, and puked their way
across the Atlantic, not to mention the horrific seas. Abuse was, is the norm on the Atlantic, and eslewhere. Picture the QUUEN MARY 2 fittd out like that. Perish that thought.
What does become a legend most – the look, the feel, the essence that made one great – that makes the legend and, perfect face lifts and youthful tucks, keep the legend alive.
I can’t wait for the SSUS fitted out like TGIF, or, Red Lobster!!!!! NOT.
Kenneth I see your point. Unfortunately long beach did all the damage when they aquired her. They gutted her sold her furnishings , destroyer a major part of the ship for a floating aquarium called the living sea which was never finished. Used to go there weekly when I was a kid. Everything that me or you would find great they ripped out in their throwaway logic. They made the veranda grill into a hot dog stand! But I’m thankful she is still here. The people who restored the Rotterdam did the exact opposite what Long beach did. Long beach should reach into oil money and restore her now she needs help.I still see her twice a year .never tire of looking at her
You get what you pay for. If the Queen had been refurbished in her original style and grace, people would visit, and visit again. No one wants to see banquet chairs that stack and cheap settees that cost $299.00 in odd colors with silver threads running through then ( as I noted aboard REGAL EMPRESS).
Taste is a very personal thing. Some people have it, others are more concerned with turning ship space into venues for making $$$ and more $$$ and they obviously have no taste. What a dastardly despoiled morass they create. Egad.
Article was nice – except – it was a CROSSING NOT A CRUISE. BTW – I have several menus from the round trip voyage!
May she have 75 more! And 75 more, and 75 more…
Yeah, Long Beach destroyed a lot, But I agree with Corey. Better some ship than no ship, plus, this new owner has done more restoration than some of the previous owners. The first owners/converters with their convention space, and propeller box, and hot dog stand.
Are the hot dogs as good as those sold at Costco, in their “food court”? I bet not.
Well they got rid of hot dog stand and thankfully recreated the veranda grill which hosts alot of private parties. In 1967 they were very short sighted . Kind of like changing mount rushmore with the head of bill Clinton . I hope the battleship Iowa is still coming to San Pedro. It might bring more people to queen Mary . Does anyone know what’s happening with the batleship?
Speaking of hot dogs and old queens, there is one fabulous hot-doggery on the QUEEN MARY 2, The Boardwalk, opposite -from the Royal Kennels. Most never find it, its seclution is its best asset, aside from the wonderful pic-nic fare.