24.1.12

Resorts at Sea: January 2012

Last time I wrote about finding images of these mid-century artworks I’m trying to catalog in situ. While the following is nowhere near what I need, it’s a very good start.
On the left, the wall sculpture is Jose de Rivera's En Route. On the right, is Eric Mose's
mural depicting economic patterns in South America. Both in public spaces
Moore-McCormack's Argentina (shown below) following her 1948 refit.
The images are clearly from Moore-McCormack’s Argentina as I have found them described in publications; and those publications have contained grainy black and white photos. Some didn’t quite know what to make of these radical and modern interiors. What’s striking for me is the interiors as compared to her exterior, which was unchanged since being built in the late 1920s. (With the exception of going from two stacks to one.) You cannot judge a book by its cover.

On the left is Irene Lagorio's 70,000 piece mural Galaxy. On the right is Louis Macouillard's
Sailing Craft of the Pacific. Both from American President Line's President Roosevelt of 1962.
The President Roosevelt pics are from a 1962 brochure, printed shortly after entering service. The opening text reads as follows:

“This is a multi-million dollar American resort hotel. It has spacious air-conditioned rooms – all with private bath. It has luxurious lounges and intimate bars. It features one of the world’s finest cuisines, and a supper club for after-dinner dancing. It has a heated swimming pool, outdoor recreation areas, sun decks, game courts and card rooms. It has room service, hospital, laundry service, barber shop and beauty salon. It has everything you look for in a first class American vacation spot. And you can take it with you to the Orient and back!”

It may not be prose that would sell now, what with some ships having zip lines and outdoor amphitheatres and outdoor movies and who mentions air-conditioning anymore? (Although I did find reference of outdoor movies on some Grace Line ships introduced after World War II. They don’t meet the overall criteria of this project, but I can see a sidebar.) But the above text gives a little more credibility for my working title, and allows me to breathe a little easier.

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