Rexone
06-06-2007, 11:42 PM
To bail her out from certain destruction....
Sad story. http://thelog.com/news/newsview.asp?c=215783
A lot of history here. (http://thelog.com/opinion/opinionview.asp?c=215754)
Guest Commentary: It's Been a Hell of a Ride
Thursday, May 31, 2007
On June 30 I'll turn 83, quite an accomplishment for an old broad who grew up in the roaring '20s. Those were exciting years for me and my guests - as I was quite the celebrated lady and a relative of one of America's wealthiest entrepreneurs, William Wrigley Jr. As some of you may have guessed, my name is SS Catalina - 301 ft. of wonderful memories.
Back in the day, I hosted famous Hollywood stars, politicians and even two U.S. presidents. My decks were full of gentlemen wearing coats and ties and ladies in dresses, coats and parasols. The trip to Catalina included a live orchestra, whiskey sours and ballroom dancing. Dolphins and flying fish would skim across my bow and when reaching Avalon, the famous wooden-hulled Miss Catalina speedboats would zip along my port and starboard like teenagers celebrating spring break. Local boys would dive for coins, and residents lined the shore with smiles and welcoming hearts. Yep, those were the good old days.
For 51 glorious years I transported passengers across San Pedro Channel and racked up some impressive statistics. Would you believe I have carried 25 million people? Reportedly more than any other oceangoing ship in history. I was drafted into military service during World War II and from 1942 to 1946, I ferried 820,199 soldiers in San Francisco Bay, more than any other U.S. Army transport.
But to be honest with you, I haven't always been the model citizen. There was a dark day back in 1936 (mind you it was foggy) - when I rammed and sank a 76-ft. yacht. The court found me guilty of excessive speed and cited my whistle blasts as too short. Ship happens.
In 1965 I starred with Doris Day in the film, The Glass Bottom Boat, and in 1966, my decks were the site of a student riot. On Sept. 14, 1975, after 9,807 crossings my engines were cooled for the last time, and my glorious seagoing career came to a quiet end. During my retirement years I was bought and sold several times, persona non grata from L.A. Harbor, moved to Newport, San Diego and Long Beach and finally in 1985, I was anchored off Ensenada, Mexico. In 1988, my then owner, Hymie Singer, converted me into a successful bar and grill, but unfortunately a bad partnership and absconded funds would contribute to my demise. In 1997, I started taking on water through my propeller shaft packings, and for the last 10 lonely years, I lie half sunk in Ensenada Harbor.
I appreciate all of you who have given your time and your money to restore my hull, my decks and my dignity. You gave it your best effort, and I will always be grateful for that - but the truth is my days are numbered and I must finally say so long - it's been a wonderful ride.
Thanks to Shawn J. Drake for the historical facts. Visit http://home.pacbell.net/steamer/CAT1st75.html for further details on SS Catalina's history.
Sad story. http://thelog.com/news/newsview.asp?c=215783
A lot of history here. (http://thelog.com/opinion/opinionview.asp?c=215754)
Guest Commentary: It's Been a Hell of a Ride
Thursday, May 31, 2007
On June 30 I'll turn 83, quite an accomplishment for an old broad who grew up in the roaring '20s. Those were exciting years for me and my guests - as I was quite the celebrated lady and a relative of one of America's wealthiest entrepreneurs, William Wrigley Jr. As some of you may have guessed, my name is SS Catalina - 301 ft. of wonderful memories.
Back in the day, I hosted famous Hollywood stars, politicians and even two U.S. presidents. My decks were full of gentlemen wearing coats and ties and ladies in dresses, coats and parasols. The trip to Catalina included a live orchestra, whiskey sours and ballroom dancing. Dolphins and flying fish would skim across my bow and when reaching Avalon, the famous wooden-hulled Miss Catalina speedboats would zip along my port and starboard like teenagers celebrating spring break. Local boys would dive for coins, and residents lined the shore with smiles and welcoming hearts. Yep, those were the good old days.
For 51 glorious years I transported passengers across San Pedro Channel and racked up some impressive statistics. Would you believe I have carried 25 million people? Reportedly more than any other oceangoing ship in history. I was drafted into military service during World War II and from 1942 to 1946, I ferried 820,199 soldiers in San Francisco Bay, more than any other U.S. Army transport.
But to be honest with you, I haven't always been the model citizen. There was a dark day back in 1936 (mind you it was foggy) - when I rammed and sank a 76-ft. yacht. The court found me guilty of excessive speed and cited my whistle blasts as too short. Ship happens.
In 1965 I starred with Doris Day in the film, The Glass Bottom Boat, and in 1966, my decks were the site of a student riot. On Sept. 14, 1975, after 9,807 crossings my engines were cooled for the last time, and my glorious seagoing career came to a quiet end. During my retirement years I was bought and sold several times, persona non grata from L.A. Harbor, moved to Newport, San Diego and Long Beach and finally in 1985, I was anchored off Ensenada, Mexico. In 1988, my then owner, Hymie Singer, converted me into a successful bar and grill, but unfortunately a bad partnership and absconded funds would contribute to my demise. In 1997, I started taking on water through my propeller shaft packings, and for the last 10 lonely years, I lie half sunk in Ensenada Harbor.
I appreciate all of you who have given your time and your money to restore my hull, my decks and my dignity. You gave it your best effort, and I will always be grateful for that - but the truth is my days are numbered and I must finally say so long - it's been a wonderful ride.
Thanks to Shawn J. Drake for the historical facts. Visit http://home.pacbell.net/steamer/CAT1st75.html for further details on SS Catalina's history.