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THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OCEAN LINER THAT EVER SAILED
A NORMANDIE LUGGAGE TAG
(Picture: Courtesy of THE MIOTTEL COLLECTION - San Francisco)
This is where Dad played mid-morning through lunch. (See upright piano on right side of picture) I guess they had to clear some tables aside to make room for the band.
The Tourist Salon: Where Dad played in the evenings. Note the bandstand and the dance floor. (His Baby Grand Piano on the left side of picture) This picture shows LESS than HALF of the Salon. To the right - there is a staircase leading up to a second level which you cannot see.
I THINK OF ALL THE PLAYING JOBS THAT DAD EVER PERFORMED, AND LOVED THE MOST, and the HIGHLIGHT of his career, had to be playing on the SS NORMANDIE.
Mother said he followed the ship's progress from the very beginning when she was being built. He told my Mother long before the launching, it was his dream to play on that magnificent ship. His dream became a reality when he did play on her (Tourist Class - only a French orchestra leader played First Class) in 1937 and 1939. (One of her last sailings)
He truly fell in love with the NORMANDIE. She was even more spectacular than he had ever hoped for.
At this point of time, he was working for the US government and saved his "vacation" or "annual leave" for these cruises. He played on the NORMANDIE again in 1939...1938 he played on the French Line SS CHAMPLAIN because he was so heavily booked with jobs he could not play on the NORMANDIE when they asked him to play at a certain time for that year. (And one of the dates Normandie wanted him to play was the famous Raymond-Whitcomb Carnival Cruise to Rio in February - a 24 day cruise!)
He was very popular with his orchestra. His music and style were more "up-to-date" and livelier than First Class. Many First Class passengers came "down" to listen and dance to his music. (One First Class passenger told Dad "the orchestra upstairs played too many waltzes.") One of his "fans" was Jack Benny! (see picture) He played to all ages, remembered their names and their requests, and was a hit! This just came natural to him...a warm smile for all and always playing his best with a good orchestra.
Jack Benny and Mary Livingston's Autographs
A SHIPBOARD ROMANCE! This young lady met her husband-to-be while dancing to some "dreamy" music supplied by Dad! The gentleman asked her to dance - it was love at first sight - and the rest is history! A true story! (This picture supplied by a viewer of this website - his great aunt - traveling First Class (Cabin Class) but enjoyed Dad's music)
the song
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