SS CATALINA Reruns In Southern California
MaritimeMatters writer, Shawn Dake will be appearing on a segment of the Huell Howser television program “California’s Gold” on Monday, April 23rd. The program airs at 7:30pm on KCET, Channel 28 in the Los Angeles area. The program provides a wonderful look at the former Great White Steamship s.s. CATALINA as it appeared in 1999 while in a partially sunken state in Ensenda, Mexico. Shawn takes Huell Howser on a tour of the upper decks including the Saloon Deck, Ballroom, Wrigley Suite, aft bar and what remained of the wheelhouse. Numerous historic photographs are interspersed with poignant scenes of the ship in her final days. Updated scenes give a glimpse as to what has happened to the ship since the program originally aired. The last remains of the CATALINA were scrapped in 2010.
This particular program will be aired again on May 23rd also at 7:30pm. On both sets of dates it can also be seen again later that night at 12:30am for any night owls. For readers in Southern California this should be a very enjoyable and nostalgic look back at a steamship that was so much a part of local history.
I was lucky to accompany Shawn to Ensenda in September 2000, we were able to go onboard for a last look. The weekend has been rumoured to be the “raising of CATALINA” but sadly it was never to be, however I was able to get some dramatic last photographs of her.
For more of my maritime images check out this black & white series at www.martincox.com. Or join www.facebook.com/MartinCoxPhotography for information about upcoming exhibitions.
Special thanks to: Shawn Dake and Huell Howser
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Martin
Very nice photo from Shawn, timeless as she seems, even back in 1975. Could almost be today. Her lines are true to a coastal, from either coasts, the bow the trademark.
There is one steamer, not a coastie, she sails from Mystic Ct. The ss SABINO, 30 and 90 minute summer coastal cruies, she is a wood fired steamer. Reachable through mystic.org or steamshipsabino on Google.
I think there may be many ships that sail on the sightseing route elesewhere as well.
Anyone living in NYC or Boston or anywhere in between, this could be a fun take in.
ps
Shes for real, the SABINO, built in Maine in 1907, sold and refurbished several times over the years.
We took a ride on the Sabino while in Mystic, it was great, sat near the the engine. It was just wonderful, the sights, sounds and smell of a real steamer. My son was up on the bow and we had a great time.
I rode on the SS Catalina many, many times from the mid 1960’s through her last passage in 1975. I was young and she old, but still a great steamer. I used to love sitting on the starboard engine room door just to watch all the moving parts. I think that is what got me started in mechanics, wanting to know how all that moving metal worked. It was a sad day when she was scrapped. I strangely wish I had a small piece of her. And the history. All of my family members rode on her, many of whom I never had the pleasure to meet. She was like a portal to the past for me, something I could feel my ancestors on.
Very well said Larry. The CATALINA was a portal to the past, and I never thought the day would come when she wouldn’t be a part of the scene in Los Angeles harbor or at the steamer pier in Avalon. I too used to look in that same engine room door and watch her machinery chug along on those triple-expansion engines. If you’re able to watch the show, you’ll see that some parts of her were saved. Also, thank you Ken for the compliment on the photo.
This show aired in San Diego a week or two ago. It totally bummed me out because I missed the very beginning and had no idea until the end that I was watching a 10 year old show. The ship looked to be in a very restorable condition and I was looking forward to following the raising and restoration, but alas, she’s been gone from existence for 2 years now.
I am so glad I stumbled on this site! I didn’t see the airing of the show in April, but will set my TV for the one at the end of May. My Dad, Charles Beal was the Chief Engineer for close to 30 years and it was always fun for my brothers, sister, and me to go to Catalina. We were able to go into the engine room and I just loved the sights and sounds of those massive engines. My Dad had his own room, so we had a place to hang out. Ah, the memories are numerous!
Janet – I am so glad to see your comment. I had the honor of spending an afternoon with your Dad when he was signing art prints of a painting of the CATALINA that we later sold as a fundraising item. He was a great Chief Engineer and very much a part of the s.s. CATALINA. It would be great if you could post an update on him.
For those readers in Southern California that might be interested, the s.s. CATALINA program I did with Huell Howser for CALIFORNIA’s GOLD airs again this Wednesday, May 23rd at 7:30pm on KCET, Los Angeles area channel 28, and at other times within the state on PBS stations over the coming weeks. It is also on a second time in L.A., May 24th at 12:30am.
@Larry My uncle Fred, (Captain Lloyd ‘Fred’ Fredgren) was the captain of the Catalina until the end of her run in ’75. I would spend the summer with my aunt and uncle in San Pedro and go to Avalon at least once or twice.
I was at a big rummage sale here in Florence Oregon. Walking around looking at all the little treasures, a box of playing cards caught my eye. They were very old, light blue box, it was a slide box, not one that opened at the top and bottom. When I got the box up close, it was from the S.S. Catalina. I was sooooo happy. I have nothing left from my childhood keepsakes. A few weeks later I found an old plate made of bamboo with the Catalina and Avalon on it.
Just wanted to share.
some of you may want to give a listen to “SS Catalina”, a track on John Malcolm Penn’s “Hangtown Fry” CD on Blue Night Records. It brings the old girl back to life, with lyrics about the “Fantail Bar,” and calls her the “Pride of Avalon.” Go to bluenightrecords.com and locate “Hangtown Fry” to hear a clip. Oh heck, even be so bold as to buy the CD, which you can also do at the site. And even more boldly, if you can’t afford the CD, just email me to that effect and I’ll send you an MP3 of the track for free. Just to know you’re smiling when you hear it.
cheers,
Steven Briggs, President
Blue Night Records
bluenightrecords@gmail.com
I never got to personaly experience the S.S. Catalina and so badly wish I could have. My grandfather worked aboard her for several years in the engine room (probably before Misters Nelson and Drake enjoyed the show). My great uncle was once her Chief Engineer. I now pilot my own little white ship to Avalon and love to think about the family history.