Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/18929
NOVEMBER 2010 64 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT : WISE BOOKS IMAGES OF AMERICA RMS QUEEN MARY WRITTEN BY KEVIN HUNTER When it comes to major landmarks and what really says "Long Beach, California" to locals and visitors from around the world, the major landmark star is the Queen Mary. Since settling in the Port of Long Beach in 1967, the Queen Mary has become the face of Long Beach. The one-time ocean liner, cruise ship, floating hotel and even World War II troopship was built in 1930 in Clydebank, Scotland and made its maiden voyage in 1939. The 1,019-square-foot, 81,237 gross ton ship now serves as one of the major tourists' attractions in the city and features a hotel, restaurants and museum. It has hosted everything from national and world dignitaries to meetings, conventions and weddings. It also hosts one of the grandest Fourth of July fireworks show in the state. The Queen Mary has a rich and fascinating history and much of it is documented extensively in photos and detailed captions in Images of America RMS Queen Mary, another book in the Images of America series by authors Suzanne Tarbell Cooper, Frank Cooper, Athene Mihalakis Kovacic, Don Lynch, John Thomas, with most of the photographs supplied by the Queen Mary Archives. This 127-page soft-cover book features 192 photographs and captions and covers the Queen Mary from its very infant stages as a skeleton in Scotland to its final maiden voyage from the Southampton, NY Ocean Terminal to its final resting place in Long Beach. It is said that many shared a great relief that the ship would stand as a great monument to British shipbuilding rather than be sold for scrap. The Queen Mary wore many hats with none more important than its tour of duty as a troopship during World War II. Chapter Six titled "The Grey Ghost" explains how the Queen Mary got its name – for the dull gray paint job it received during the war. It was only one of three ships that made it through the war. Page 82, has an amazing photo of an incredible 15,000 men and a handful of women, packed like sardines on the ship. Part of the caption reads: "Every possible space, including the swimming pool, was filled with tiers of steel and canvass bunks. Men slept in shifts, with their mealtimes designated by red, white, or blue buttons. What may have been the most astounding was how little graffiti they left, with the exception of names carved on the outer rail or penciled on the bottom of drawers. It was a tribute perhaps, to the Queen Mary's beauty and courage." Most of us know the Queen Mary for its style, beauty and elegance, as well as impressive artwork — as it was truly a floating hotel for thousands, including the rich and famous. Chapter Four titled, "Suites, Staterooms and Cabins" shows some of the finer features of the Queen Mary. Included are photos of the cabins, and on page 52 they are described in captions such as this description: "no two rooms were alike, but all of the first class cabins featured a signature use of wood. Suites not only offered more space, but usually more elaborate artwork as well. Rooms and suites were re-decorated whenever necessary to keep up with the changing styles, please a special passenger, or merely to ensure that the furnishing never looked worn." And of course a ship of this stature maintained a legendary passenger list of A-list celebrities as well as the world's most famous dignitaries. Chapter Eight titled "Famous Passengers," features photographs of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and Winston Churchill, who was said to be a "frequent guest," Also highlighted in photographs are actors Spencer Tracy, Mary Pickford, Marlene Dietrich, David Niven, Fred Astaire, Johnny Weissmuller and Bob Hope. A photo of Hope on page 118 said that he made many crossings on the Queen Mary and it provided fodder for his syndicated column, it says: "He described his wartime crossing as so rough 'you would think Hitler was hiding in the hold and they were trying to shake him loose'." The same caption also described that there was a serious tone in Hope's voice regarding the ship, after England's declaration of war. "While passengers spontaneously sang 'God Save the King,' he muttered, 'and the Queen Mary.'" As these exmaples describe only a portion of the history of this great ship, Images of America RMS Queen Mary provides even more great tales and photographs of the history of this legendary ship and serves as an exceptional tour guide for Queen Mary visitors, new and old. n Images of America RMS Queen Mary 128 pgs Arcadia Publishing $21