Olympic's cinema

[Rolf Vonk]

Hello dear people,

I've just found a picture of Olympic's first class lounge/cinema (See the link below). I didn't know Olympic's lounge could be transformated into a cinema. Does anyone have an idea when this was introduced? Could it have been happened in the twenties?

members aol com/_ht_a/kumquatw/olympic/dpi/lounge.jpg

I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

Greetings Rollie

 

[Randy Bryan Bigham]

Rollie,

I would think it was indeed the 1920s when cinemas were installed on shipboard. The teens marked the beginning of world-wide interest in films - the war must have had to do with this; people wishing to escape reality & such - but the boom in vacation travelling would not have come in till the 20s.

So it was probably then that such popular entertainments as movie screenings would have occured to shipping companies who were always ready to meet the demands of the modern traveller - & the average traveller by the 20s would have been a die-hard movie fan, especially the average female traveller who swooned over the likes of Francis X. Bushman and Rudolph Valentino.

Randy

 

[Rolf Vonk]

Hi Randy,

Thanks for your information. I guess you're right. Were the new liners from after WWI fitted with a special cinema? The Olympic class liners didn't have room for it, so that could have been the reason why the lounge was used for it.

Greetings Rollie

 

[Jim Kalafus]

Rollie: It is said that the Normandie (1935) was the first liner to have a theater built aboard her. Quite a nice one, too, to judge by the photos. There may have been earlier ships with projection facilities included in the initial design, but the Normandie most likely had the first complete theater. Jim

 

[Rolf Vonk]

Thanks Jim,

It's surprising me that Normandie (O ship of light!) was the first one with a theater aboard! I have never seen a picture of that theater, but she must have been a beauty according to other parts of the ship.

Greetings Rollie

 

[Jim Kalafus]

Rollie: Yes, the Normandie theater was quite beautiful, to judge from photographs. It was of far more restrained design than most of the First Class interiors, and can be found on the familiar cutaway of the ship just below and astern of the first funnel. If you are interested, there are several photos of it published, and on the internet which are not too hard to find. JIM

 

[Rolf Vonk]

Hi Jim,

Thanks, I shall try to find one. Normandie had a great interior for all the classes aboard. I'm sure she could have concurred with Titanic! The Boiler casings didn't went midships but they split to each side of the ship isn't it? That's the reason why there was so much space for those beautifull areas aboard.

Much greetings Rollie

 

[Michael H. Standart]

While it doesn't have a picture of the theatre, the "Picture History Of The Normandie" by Frank O. Braynard is an absolute must have for the Normandie enthusiast. Over 190 illustrations from the ships construction, her career, and the tragic fire as well as the ship's ultimate scrapping are in this book.

Cordially,
Michael H. Standart

 

[Jim Kalafus]

Rollie: One book you might be able to find, as you are on the Contintent, is Arts Decoratifs A Bord
Des Paquebots Francais 1880/1960 by Louis-Rene Vian(Editions FONMARE, 75, rue Vielle du Temple,75003 PARIS isbn 2-950 7 263-0-5) which is a 300+ page hardcover dealing with virtually EVERY aspect of French Line interiors, from furniture to artwork. The Normandie chapter is the best illustrated I've seen, anywhere, and worth the price of the book just to have. The text IS in French, but is not too difficult to work through. Another you might find is Normandie: Queen of The Seas which is currently out of print but which frequently comes up for sale used. JIM

 

[Rolf Vonk]

Hey guys,

thanks for the tips!

Rollie

 

[Tarn Stephanos]

Olympic would feature movies in the years to follow the war...A screen was set up in the First Class Lounge, as well as the second class Library. Photos of a movie screen in both rooms exists, and I think a nook in the 2nd class Library/Theatre is in the Simon Mills book Titanic in pictures..

question is- what movies did they air on Olympic? Im sure the late 20s 'Atlantic" was a big hit....

regards

Tarn Stephanos

 

[Mark Chirnside]

From what I understand, they just aired the movies of the time; various genres, to keep the interest of as many people as possible.

I think that was also the practice on the 56,000-ton Majestic.

Best,

Mark.

 

[Dave Hudson]

"Im sure the late 20s 'Atlantic" was a big hit...."

It was certainly not viewed aboard Olympic, or any other White Star liner. White Star wrote the film company a letter (which is reproduced in one of those document boxes) that complained about opening old wounds. I'm sure it was boycotted.

David

 

[Becky Czykyski]

Was there a theater in 3rd class?

 

[Mark Chirnside]

Hi Becky!

Was there a theater in 3rd class?

No.

Best regards,

Mark.