| S.S. Catalina returning to L.A. 1960-64(Photographer unknown)
Did you ever ride aboard the S.S. Catalina? If so your day probably started by getting up at the crack of dawn to drive down to the L.A. harbor to the Steamer Terminal. It's overcast, a bit cool, but you are starting to get excited about your trip. You wait through the lines and finally you're on board. Do you sit inside or on top outside? You want to see everything so up to the Promenade Deck you go. Do you remember the sound of the whistle, blowing a warning blast as you neared departure time, saying get on board or be left behind? If you're a veteran of these trips you're prepared, but if this is your first time, you probably jump at first! Leaning against the railing, beneath the smokestack, light mists of water start coming down on you as the whistle blows. Then, finally, you notice the hectic activity down on the dock as the dock hands remove the passenger gangplanks and prepare to untie the ship. There goes the whistle again...a long blast and three short ones. If you had people seeing you off, they're standing near the dock waving Bon Voyage! Slowly you make your way toward the open waters, passing all the shops of the harbor and other ships, and you can't help but wave at them because you're excited about your trip. Now your looking for the occasional seal lying on large buoys or by the lighthouse at the end of the breakwater.
The S.S. Catalina is finally underway, having left the protected waters of the L.A. harbor, and the mainland is getting smaller. The cruise across the channel, which seems to be taking forever, allows you to imagine you are departing on a world cruise. In a sense you are, because your destination is like a world apart from where you're coming from. As you approach Catalina Island, the overcast is breaking apart and the first landmark you can make out is the world famous Casino, with it's grand ballroom and ornate theater. Then the excitement as you near Avalon, it seems as though you have just sailed to a fishing village on the Mediterranean, with the homes clutching to the hillsides. Just as you enter the harbor you notice the sun is out, the air is clear and the waters are calm, unlike while you were out at sea. And you start to notice all the activity, boats coming and going, seaplanes leaving or arriving at the Green Pleasure Pier, and the glass bottom boat Phoenix leaving for the Undersea Gardens. The beaches already look like a giant quilt with all the different beach towels. Is that music you hear? Sounds like horns! And then you see them, the Mariachi Band, standing on the Steamer Pier playing a Mexican serenade for your arrival. You can't wait to get off the ship and explore, but first the dock hands must secure the ship and raise the gangplanks. At that moment you are distracted by a lot of activity on the other side of the ship and you go to investigate. People are lined against the railing throwing coins into the water! What is this, some kind of good luck tradition? Is there a wishing well over there? You finally find a spot to look down and there are dozens of kids treading water, calling up to you "Coin...throw a coin!" Wow! Quickly you get a quarter and toss it down. Several make a dive for it, but only one is able to get to it before it reaches the bottom of the harbor. After a little bit you become aware that people are starting to leave the ship...time to explore or revisit this beautiful town. If you're here for a couple days, you need to claim your luggage, grab a bite at the Busy Bee and make your way to where you're staying. More kids (maybe even the ones who were in the water) are trying to make lunch money by offering to haul your luggage in their little red wagons. If this is a return trip you think to yourself "Ahhhh... it's great to be back!"
If you're in town for just the afternoon, even though you've just left the Steamer, she will be on your mind the whole time, as you suddenly become aware that you only have about 3 1/2 hours to explore before it's time to leave. And you definitely don't want to be far from the ship when that warning blast comes or you may miss the boat! The fortunate who are staying look forward to that sound, for it means far fewer people in town! Every day you notice how the sound of the whistle echoes off the hills of Avalon, kind of like another Chimes Tower in that you know what time it is. Is she coming or leaving? Is it 12:00 or 4:00? And you never forget the sound if some boat should happen to get in her way! The Great White Steamer becomes an integral part of your stay, especially if you want to eat lunch in town. When you hear the whistle of the Steamer coming into Avalon, you hurry down to your favorite watering hole to beat the crowds. Or if you're looking for some entertainment, you wander down to Fountain Plaza to watch all the tourists coming ashore. Leading the greeting committee is the Duke of Catalina, Leo Fishman. Standing in the middle of everything with a microphone, he's serenading the arrivals, sometimes with a band and sometimes with a slide show sing-along. And it's always fun to come back around 4:00 to watch the few people who wait until the last minute running to catch the ship before they lower the gangplank. Sometimes they don't make it! You make a mental note: don't EVER do that!
When you finally have to leave paradise, there is a sad feeling inside you. "Do I really have to leave now?" you ask yourself. You can't wait to come back, especially if you were only here for the day. In that case, you've probably decided that next time you will come for more than a day. But either way, you still have another cruise to look forward to. You climb back aboard the Steamer and make your way back to the Promenade Deck to get the best view of the harbor. Before you know it, the whistle is blowing and your moving. Boy that sure seemed to happen much quicker than when you were leaving L.A. In short order, the town begins to fade from view, back lit by the sun, which is just starting to disappear behind the hills of Avalon. Now you're really wanting to jump ship and swim back, but instead you go down to the Saloon Deck below and walk around. There is a band playing, and Ginger and the Shipmates are singing "Twenty Six Miles Across the Sea". This song now has a whole new meaning, and forevermore when you here it playing on a radio, just the beginning notes will bring you back to your trip! Some people are dancing, which can be funny if the ship is rolling from side to side. And the kids are chasing after Cappy the Clown. Sure is a lot of laughing and loud voices coming from the rear. You make your way to the back and enter the Fantail Lounge full of people trying to make the most of this final chance to party before getting back to the mainland, and perhaps, soothe their sorrow of having to leave Catalina. Anything to make you forget, for a while, that you're journey will be over. You hear some people yelling "Look...dolphins!" You run to the window and catch a glimpse of them playing in the huge wake of this beautiful ship, which makes you want to grab a rubber raft and join them! Suddenly you notice the breakwater going by and you sigh as you realize your trip is nearing its end. All too soon, the ship is alongside the dock, the gangplank is raised and everyone is leaving. You notice, however, that the crowd is much more quiet as they depart, very different from when you disembarked in Avalon. Everyone knows it's time to pop that fantasy bubble and go back to their everyday routines. But you're still thinking about everything you've experienced, no matter if it was for a day or a week. As you leave, you take one last look at the S.S. Catalina and you smile. She's a beauty! And forever more, just the sight of her will stir all these memories and sensations.
The S.S. Catalina first carried passengers to Avalon on June 30th 1924 and provided service to Catalina Island until her final crossing (number 9,807) on September 14th 1975, missing the WWII years (used as troop-transport in San Francisco) and 1968 & 1972 due to labor disputes. In 1985 she was taken to Ensenada, Mexico where she was used as a restaurant and gift shop, which failed. Tied to a mooring in Ensenada Harbor, the vessel began taking on water in 1997 and partially submerged into the mud of the harbor, where she now sits. This historic ship faces the scrap heap unless you fight to save her. Time is not on her side as a crossroad approaches. The Mexican authorities want her removed to build a new marina, not far from the new cruise terminal. How ironic it would be...destroying this once proud cross-channel cruise ship to make way for private yachts, most of whom will be from America! Will you help to pass these memories on to your children, grandchildren, or maybe even your great-grandchildren? Once she is gone, you will have to rely on describing her and looking at pictures. And after you're gone, chances are the memories will soon fade, too! But if she is saved with your help, you can take them on a personal tour, reliving those days. And your memories will be real for them as they stand there seeing and touching for themselves, and they then can pass those memories on to their descendants. Please join this effort, the time has come...the time is now!
The S.S. Catalina needs your help! To pledge your support, go to the Save the Catalina fund web site at:www.SaveTheCatalina.org
Take pride in knowing you made a difference!
The following is a message that was posted on the S.S. Catalina Yahoo & MSN group pages on the Fourth of July weekend. It had been suggested to post a copy of it for all to read:
I want to wish all of you S.S. Catalina supporters a happy and safe Fourth of July. Patriotic days, such as our National birthday, reminds us of our duty to remember and preserve. We must never forget our history and do everything we can to pass it on to future generations. We are likely the last generation that sailed on the Steamer and the first generation is nearly gone. It is up to us to help preserve this small piece. My ties to Catalina Island started with my grandfather sailing on the S.S. Catalina to Avalon for the first time in the 40's, and we've had a presence there ever since. Let your own personal connections be your motivation, don't leave it up to "others" or it will never happen. Make some phone calls or send emails to those within your sphere of influence. You might be surprised of the reaction you'll get, especially when they sense your passion, because genuine, deep down passion cannot be faked, and they will know it. I look forward to the day when the S.S. Catalina has been restored and is open for all to remember their connection to the Great White Steamer, standing on her beautiful wooden decks once again! Keep up the good fight and may God bless America and all America stands for, and may He also keep you all safe in your endeavors to save the lady of Catalina.
Dave "catalinamayer"
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