THE QUEEN MARY TURNS 80 — LONG LIVE THE QUEEN
More than a ship, she remains a symbol of the Golden Age of Ocean Liners
Long Beach, CA (September 17, 2014) — The venerable Queen Mary celebrates her 80th anniversary on Sept. 26, 2014. In her heyday, she was known for elegance and grandeur — her
salt-water baths and high tea at four; her exotic woods and elaborate murals; her silver trolleys
of Yorkshire pudding and film stars strolling the Promenade Deck.
The Queen Mary was always more than a ship – she was a magnificent symbol of the 20th Century and the Golden Age of Ocean Liners.
It’s hard to believe that a ship of such luxury could be born in the Great Depression, but she was
— on the banks of the River Clyde in Scotland. Shipbuilders hammered more than 10 million
rivets to construct her hull which, at 1,004 feet long, made her longer than the Eiffel Tower and
nearly as long as the Empire State Building.
King George V and Queen Mary christened the mighty ship Sept. 26, 1934, before a crowd of
more than 200,000 spectators at the John Brown Shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland.
Nearly two years later, the Queen Mary departed on her maiden voyage from Southampton,
England, to New York City carrying 1,742 passengers and 1,186 crew. Cabin-class fare ran
£53.15 or about $86, and tourist-class fare ran £8.10 or about $13.
She immediately caught the world’s attention as the biggest, fastest and most popular ocean
liner in the world.
For the rich and famous, she was the place to be seen.
In her heyday, she carried the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Clark Gable, Greta Garbo, and actress
Frances Day, who traveled with her own live chickens for the freshest of eggs.
Bob Hope told jokes in the First Class Lounge. Douglas Fairbanks Jr. danced in the Verandah
Grill. And songwriter Cole Porter give impromptu performances in the Queen’s Salon, where the
high society mingled each night.
The Duke and Duchess of Windsor were frequent guests as was British Prime Minister Winston
Churchill who sailed under the alias “Colonel Warden.”
So accommodating was the ship staff that if a first-class passenger didn’t like the color scheme
of her room, it could be changed in 24 hours.
Each trip, the Mary carried 20 tons of meat, 50,000 pounds of potatoes and 70,000 eggs. Her
storage cellars cradled 10,000 bottles wine, 40,000 bottles of beer and 5,000 bottles of spirits,
along with 5,000 cigars and 20,000 packs of cigarettes.
A typical dinner menu included: Choux-fleurs Portugaise; Pate de Foie sur Croute; and Braised
Smoked Ox Tongue Florentine.
Such extravagances ended abruptly in September, 1939, however, with the onset of World War
II. The grandest ocean liner in the world was painted battleship grey, and converted into the Allies’ biggest and fastest troop carrier. Over the next five years, she carried more than 810,000
troops into battle.
Toward end of war, the patriotic Queen Mary served as a hospital ship for wounded servicemen. She returned the first victorious U.S. combat troops home and then made 13 more trips to
deliver 20,000 of their European war brides and children home too.
In 1947, she was refitted in her original style and resumed service as the world’s grandest luxury liner — bigger and better than ever.
Once again, she was the preferred travel choice of kings, queens, film stars, politicians, officials
and businessmen. Many came just for the parties.
“There was champagne flowing, balloons flying, bouquets of flowers,” recalls former first-class
waiter Ralph Rushton. “It was all posh dress, mink coats, high-heeled shoes.”
Each week, the Mary carried 2,000 passengers across the Atlantic, making the years 1947 to
1957 her most profitable ever. By 1962, however, the Golden Age of ocean liners had given way
to air travel. A new era had begun.
In 1967, after making more than 1,000 transatlantic voyages, she retired, making one last farewell voyage around Cape Horn to Long Beach, which bought her for $3.4 million.
Now, as she celebrates her 80th anniversary, she remains a living landmark, drawing more than
1 million visitors each year to walk her decks and relive the glory of the world’s grandest ocean
liner.
About the Queen Mary
Located in the Port of Long Beach, the Queen Mary features a rich maritime history, authentic
Art Deco décor, and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and Long Beach city skyline. At the
time of her maiden voyage in May of 1936, she was considered the grandest ocean liner ever
built. The Queen Mary features award-winning restaurants, historical attractions, numerous
special event salons and 346 staterooms.
Media Contact:
Johanna Felix
Freeman McCue Public Relations for The Queen Mary
j.felix@freemanmccue.com
860-655-4221
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