CELEBRATE THE QUEEN MARY'S 80TH ANNIVERSARY:
Everyone is Invited to Join the Sept. 26 Celebration
Long Beach, CA (September 18, 2014) — The world's most beloved ocean liner turns 80 on September
26 and the public is invited to join a ship-wide celebration. The Queen Mary will open her gangways and
ballrooms, decks and salons, attractions and eateries to a daylong celebration highlighted by a very
special event. There will be no charge for admission to the ship (10:00 AM - 7:00 PM), discounted ship
tours and five dollar parking. The general public — especially Long Beach residents and families — are
encouraged to join the festivities.
Commemorations will include the reading of letters by King George V at the ship's launch on Sept. 26,
1934, and a recent congratulatory message from Queen Elizabeth II on the ship's 80th anniversary. The
Queen Mary will use the anniversary event to announce a groundbreaking initiative, a forward-looking
plan inspired by the ship's eight-decades of public life and overall influence on maritime commerce.
"Celebrating 80 years of global prominence is reason enough to invite the community to share in this
special moment, but there is more news,” said Queen Mary General Manager, John Jenkins. “I will make
an important announcement during the ceremony; an announcement that goes to the very heart of why
this great ship continues to attract so much attention all across the globe. In the meantime, we invite every
Queen Mary visitor past, present and those yet to voyage with us - to come to Long Beach, Friday September 26 to salute the ocean liner that set new maritime standards and won hearts when launched,
and does so still.”
A BIRTHDAY CAKE LIKE NO OTHER: To celebrate the ship's 80th 'birthday', the Queen Mary has
commissioned TV celebrity baker, Jose Barajas to create a grand cake that's worthy of a grand ship.
Weighing almost a quarter ton and measuring over 15 feet long the anniversary cake will be as exact a
replica of the Queen Mary as flour and frosting allows.
Following remarks by attending dignitaries, Commodore Everette Hoard will read the Royal Letters. He
then will then officiate the ceremonial cutting of the Queen Mary's 80th Anniversary Cake.
BACKGROUND: Ship History
The Queen Mary was christened Sept. 26, 1934 at the John Brown Shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland, with
King George V and Queen Mary launching the magnificent ship before a crowd of more than 200,000
spectators. The Queen Mary departed on her maiden voyage over a year later and soon became the
transatlantic crossing vessel of choice for dignitaries, celebrities and those embarking on a new life in
America.
She was born during the Great Depression as Hull 534, and grew into the biggest, fastest and most popular ocean liner in the world. Shipbuilder John Brown & Co. used more than 10 million rivets to construct
the innovative ship whose waterline length of 1,004 feet made her longer than the Eiffel Tower. During
World War II, she halted passenger service to serve as the Allies’ largest and fastest troop carrier. Later,
she reclaimed her place as a world-class ocean liner completing more than 1,100 transatlantic voyages
before retiring to Long Beach in 1967.
Details: http://www.queenmary.com/launch/
BACKGROUND: Pastry Chef
Jose Barajas, recently gained national attention competing on TLC’s reality show, “Next Great Baker.” He
began making cakes - what he calls “edible artwork” - professionally in 2005 after attending the San Diego Culinary School. Cake, he likes to say, is the best canvas he could ask for. Royal icing, butter cream
and fondant are his best mediums. He and the Queen Mary's resident historian, Cmdr. Everette Hoard
have made every effort to duplicate in cake the dimensions and details of the world's most beloved ocean
liner. His creation will allow for over 1000 individual portions to be served Sept. 26 as the
culmination of the anniversary event presentation.
EVENT SCHEDULE:
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4:00 PM - Grand Ballroom Opens to Public
4:15 PM - Welcome Remarks by Commodore Everette Hoard
Remarks by Mayor of Long Beach, Robert Garcia
Presentation of Queen Mary Video by Chris Wilmoth, Director of Marketing
Remarks by John Jenkins, Queen Mary General Manager
Commemoration of 80th Anniversary / Announcement of Queen Mary Initiative
Presentation of Queen Mary Cake by Baker, Jose Barajas
Cutting of First Slice by Mayor Garcia, Jenkins and Hoard
Concluding Remarks by John Jenkins
Invitation to attending public to share a slice of history.
Media Contact:
Johanna Felix
Freeman McCue Public Relations for The Queen Mary
j.felix@freemanmccue.com
860-655-4221