Cover of a small souvenir booklet describing the German luxury liner, the S.S. Imperator, which was commandeered after World War One by the United States to carry our soldiers back to the States. It was renamed the U.S.S. Imperator for a short period of time-the spoils of war. My grandfather was one of the lucky young soldiers to be transported home in luxury. Interestingly the Captain's first name was Casey, not a common name then at all—not that it's all that common now. All photos are clickable to enlarge. The luxurious details are not to be missed, lol!
The Drawing Room of the first-class cabin. I really can't imagine traveling like this aboard ship.
The Winter Garden and Ritz-Carlton restaurant, a far cry from Army rations and Salvation Army Doughnuts!
M Y C O L L E C T I O N — Among the thousands of historical items I have, and I mean that literally not figuratively, is this small softcover booklet for the U.S.S Imperator. This was a German luxury liner, first launched in May 1912 as the S.S Imperator, a contemporary of the Titanic which of course had sunk the month before. Apparently the United States government was granted permission to use this ship at the end of the Great War in 1919 to return troops, nurses and civilians back home. My grandfather was one of the lucky soldiers to have been transported in the lap of luxury for his return home. This ship brought back more than 25,000 people to the States in three cross-Atlantic cruises.
For much more information about the S.S Imperator's history, click over to Wiki, but don't expect any additional interior shots. They don't have any. I should post mine at Wiki, but I'd like the exclusive on them for a while, lol. They also have a bit of misinformation, mentioning Captain Casey as if it was his last name, but as you can see on my scan of the cover, his name was Captain Casey B. Morgan.
For three more photos, including the indoor swimming pool, click on 'Read More" below:
The Ladies Parlor in First-Class. I wonder if the rules were relaxed during the soldier's cruise home?
The Imperator Lounge looks like a set for a Rudolph Valentino movie. Was the Titanic any more luxurious?
The indoor swimming pool. This had to be the height of luxury in 1912 when this ship first set sail. Did the soldiers get to partake of its glistening waters?
This period in history produced the greatest ships the world has even seen - and probably will ever see again. Might as well call them what they were - floating mansions!
ReplyDeleteAirline travel will prevent these majestic oceanliners from ever being developed again.
I've had a lifelong fascination of the Titantic since I read the book "A Night to Remember" when I was 10 or so. Always marveled at the craftsmanship and opulence that was that ship. But you got me with this one Casey, today was the first I had ever heard of the Imperator! Gorgeous in every detail, certainly a rival to the Titanic. You've opened a door for me that I'll have a hard time closing, now i have to find out more. Thanks !
thanks! I've never been on a modern-day cruise, a Carnival line say, but I hear they're more like a floating Motel 6 than the Plaza. I really can't imagine the fine woodworking, and stained glass and furnishings that these early 20th century ships were built with. They're really fascinating, right? I"m glad you enjoyed this post!
ReplyDeleteWe are blessed with early 20th century mansions in Detroit - courtesy of the auto barons that once thrived in this area - and I've seen every one. Not to mention estates I've toured in my travels - the Biltmore and San Simeon being notable - and they are on par with this beautiful ship. Are the days of great workmanship over ?
ReplyDeleteCASEY, I'VE BEEN ON TWO CRUISES. IT WAS WONDERFUL.THE 2ND ONE I DO ADMIT I GOT SEASICK AND SAID, I WOULD NEVER GO AGAIN. GUESS WHAT IF MY KIDS WANTED TO SEND US AGAIN I'D GO. WE HAD A SUITE THE 2ND TIME. LOTS OF ROOM.KIDS PAID FOR ALL. YOU GOT TO LOVE THOSE KIDS. RIGHT? I DON'T REALLY LIKE FANCY BUT IT WAS SO NICE TO HAVE SOMEONE WAIT ON YOU AND JUST SMILE AND ASK YOU IF YOUR ENJOYING YOURSELF. WE DIDN'T DO THE NIGHTLIFE. NOT UP MY ALLEY. I THINK I MIGHT HAVE MISS A GOOD TIME THERE. OH WELL, THE TRIP IT-SELF WAS WORTH EVERY MINUTE.
ReplyDeleteCASEY, HAVE YOU EVER DONE ANYTHING ON A KAISER? MY DAD GOT DRUNK ONE SAT. WAY BACK THEN AND HIS COUSINS' HUSBAND WAS A CAR SALESMEN. HE PICK UP DAD AND TALKED HIM INTO BUYING ONE. MY MOM WAS AROUND THE CORNER COOKING WITH THE LADIES OF THE CHURCH FOR A DINNER AT THE CHURCH THAT NIGHT. ANYWAYS, THE KITCHEN AND HALL WAS DOWNSTAIRS WITH A STAIRCASE GOING UP TO A SIDEDOOR TO COME AND GO. EVERYONE WAS BUSY DOING THEIR THING AND WHO CAME IN THE DOOR AND STOOD THEIR YELLING DOWN THE OPEN STAIRCASE TO MY MOM, GUESS WHO BOUGHT YOU A CAR. COME LOOK. DRUNK AS A SKUNK. MOM COULD HAVE KILLED HIM BUT EVERYONE HAD A GOOD LAUGH OVER THAT FOR YEARS.ALL I CAN REMEMBER IS PUSHING BUTTONS TO WORK SOMETHING I THINK ON THE DASH. MAYBE TO START THE CAR. I DON'T REALLY REMEMBER.
GRANNY
RE Kaiser cars: My dad and his brother both had new Kaisers back in the day! They were the Traveler model, which was an early hatchback. I have photos of them, and they've made some minor appearances in some of my art. I plan on using them larger though. I'll look for the photos and compose a post one of these days. My father/uncle's Kaisers were the first versions, made from 47-50 I believe. The next series was much more dramatically styled by Howard "Dutch" Darrin, and featured a peaked windshield and backlight. My grandmother had a friend that drove a maroon and beige '53 Kaiser Dragon, a top-of-the -ine model until she died in the 1970s. I did some research and that color combination was only made for 3 months in the spring of '53. I would love that car today!
ReplyDeleteIF I REMEMBER THEY DIDN'T STAY IN BUSINESS LONG.
ReplyDeleteGRANNY
Granny: You're right. Kaiser built cars from the late '40s, until 1954. They also built a more expensive version of the Kaiser called the Frazer. The corporation was actually called Kaiser-Frazer, and the 2 men didn't always get along. They started the company with federal tax breaks and loans I believe, after being a very successful wartime manufacturer for the government.
ReplyDeletePX: there is a house in my town, it sort of looks like Cinderella's Castle, and each room has a different rare wood used for the floors and trim. I haven't seen it inside though, so i'm not sure about the workmanship. I know someone else that had a 20,000 square foot home, the 'livingroom' was 4 stories tall with a window wall like an airport. the house was massive and they sold it to an NBA star, but it wasn't well-built! It was really just a huge crappy development home blown all out of proportion. it was definitely a case of quantity over quality.
Damn -- I wrote a whole comment and when I went to check on something in PhantomX's comment I lost it so here goes again.
ReplyDeleteTaking a vanquished country's ocean liners as spoils of war was not uncommon. Several of Germany's were taken after World War I. I think France, Great Britain and the US each got one. At the end of World War II I know that the French Line was given the North German Lloyd line's (I think that's whose it was) Europe which became the Liberte. My cool neighbors (the ones with the Panhards) sailed on it in 1954 and we all went to see it and tour it before they left. It was quite impressive to a 6-year-old!
And just to be curmudgeonly, one of my pet peeves (I have many) is people who refer to ocean liners as cruise ships (not that anyone on here did that). Modern cruise ships could never survive the beating that real ocean liners took on the "Atlantic Ferry" as the crossing from New York to Europe was called in the "olden" days. These new ships are more like floating shopping malls than floating castles or mansions and about as interesting. My partner at the time and I sailed on the QE2 and on the Ocean Breeze (built in 1954 for as the Southern Star for service from Great Britain to Australia and the first fully-air-conditioned liner) and both were wonderful experiences.
Kaiser -- ah Kaiser! If only Henry Kaiser had listened to Joe Frazer and scaled back production for 1950 but the Kaisers never scaled back! And if K-F had put their development money into a V8 engine instead of the Henry J -- things might have been different. Imagine the 51 Kaiser with a V8 engine!
The pushbottons that Granny referred to were, I believe, used to open the doors from the inside, similar to what Lincoln used. A den mother, during my brief Cub Scout career, took us on a field trip to the Weston Cookie factory in a first generation Kaiser. I was more interested in the car than the cookies!
Paul, New York City
Paul: thanks so much, as always, for your well-informed and well-written comment! They're always really appreciated, trust me. I have the best readers!
ReplyDeleteYou have to admit that the QM2 isn't too shabby though: http://www.cunard.com/en-US/Ships/Queen-Mary-2/About-Queen-Mary-2/
ReplyDeleteSlightly off subject, but I remember my first flight, Los Angeles to Honolulu on Pan American Airlines. It was the plane with the lounge in the belly. The flight took only about nine hours, boarded around mid-night, had a snack, a good night's sleep and breakfast in the morning and voila, we were in Honolulu. People actually dressed up to fly. Ah, yes...those were the days my friends.
Thanks for that website, Annie. That made me feel REALLY GOOD about my life, lol. Where is my room service attendant? I'd love someone to walk into my livingroom right now with a tray of canapés and some cocktails, hahaha.
ReplyDeleteI haven't traveled in years, but I was raised to dress for it, just like going anywhere in public really. my grandmother always dressed to go grocery shopping. I haven't flown since the '80s but i always wore a tie when i did, it just seems like you should be on your 'best behavior' and that includes dressing up a bit. But I know that's all gone by the wayside. I can't believe the way I see people dressing in public, it's like they don't own mirrors!
My grandma did the same thing. She always had homemade dresses, but would put on hose and a necklace or pin or brooch. Even when she lived at the nursing home, she was dressed up every day. Now, you see flannel tweetie bird p.j.'s with dirty fuzzy slippers and a dirty sweatshirt of tank top...AHHHHH! I do believe you are right that no one owns mirrors anymore!( I just creeped MYSELF out by writing the flannel p.j. description!!! ICK!)
ReplyDeleteTHANKS PAUL.I'VE HAD THOSE BUTTONS ON MY MIND ALL DAY WONDERING.
ReplyDeleteGRANNY