LA’s Lady Has a Birthday - Queen Mary Turns 80

FIRST PERSON-The word “posh” derives from the custom of royalty and nobility sailing from/to Southampton, England residing in different staterooms - Port Out Starboard Home = POSH. This is because they changed staterooms depending on direction. I know because I was there. 

Our bathroom was huge and had beautiful ceramic tile on the floor. The tub was a large Shank with four ceramic water faucet knobs. They were labeled Hot Fresh, Hot Salt, Cold Fresh, and Cold Salt. Fifty-six types of wood veneer were used to build the ship. 

You just knew this was something very special - The RMS Queen Mary. 

Elegance abounds. We never saw wood that needs varnish or brass that needs polishing. Efficiency abounds. I couldn’t find one loose rivet. There are 10,000,000. Water shuts sharp and doors close air tight. Guess this is where the term “ship shape” comes from. 

I worried about being over dressed in a shirt and tie. I found half the passengers were dressed in pin striped suits, French cuffs, Stetson hats, and spats. The ladies were beautifully coiffed in flowing 1940s dresses, gorgeous hats, and tasteful pearls. 

During the war the Queen Mary carried more than three-quarters of a million service personnel two thirds of a million miles. The Nazis put a price of $250,000 on the ship so the course was always zig-zag. Once as she approached England smaller British naval ships joined to escort her to port. On one of the zigs the ship struck the Curacao cruiser. Within five minutes 328 crew members of the Curacao died. The Queen Mary did not help the victims because orders were strict not to slow down or deviate from course. 

We decided on the Promenade restaurant for dinner. A dinner jacket would have been appropriate for the Winston Churchill and Chelsea restaurants. Later found that the choice was excellent. All the restaurants are on the starboard side and overlook the city of Long Beach that is lit up picture perfect at night. The staff wore bow ties and we discussed great wine. I did something I have never done in my life and left a 30 percent tip. 

Later in one of the clubs there was a duo playing some great music. The gal looked just like Marilyn Monroe and played a real mean sax. She sang just like Gladys Knight. The guy played guitar and resembled an older Brad Pitt. He sounded just like Barry White. They gave way to a jazz/Dixie group who played until 1:00 am. Their closing piece was Shoe Fly Pie. Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Nat Cole, Tony Bennett, etc. were broadcast throughout the ship. Regret that we didn’t visit the Comedy club or the Russian sub. 

As a human achievement of almost mythical proportions, the Queen Mary is an icon of engineering and design genius, a symbol of triumph over adversity, and a testimony to our dreams and accomplishments. And, at home in Southern California.

 

(Kay Martin is an author and a CityWatch contributor. His new book, Along for the Ride, is now available. He can be reached at [email protected] )

-cw