Topic starter
14/01/2009 1:39 pm
Found these photo's in a recently discovered family album. They're pictures taken aboard the DELTA QUEEN when my family was on vacation in the mid-50's. Talk about "downhome" entertainment, mostly all audience participation...no honky tonk piano, no redhot mommas, no band, no dancers, just folks using themselves for entertainmnet. It was all organized and run by Mary Greene, Jane's sister who was Tom and Letha's oldest daughter. But we looked forward to gathering in the dining room each evening, it was fun, and it didn't cost the Greene Line a dime.
1. Hot Legs contest. That's my dad at the far left..he won.
2. Pass the Match Box. Usually teams of three of couples and they would have to pass the match box to the end of the line without touching it.
3. Find the Lady. Ladies would throw one shoe in the pile and the men would have to grab a shoe, find the owner and put it on her foot.
Yes, it was hoakie, think it would work today?
14/01/2009 2:16 pm
Great photos Jim, from a time now "gone with the wind"! Thanks for sharing them. Mary Lou ("Boots") Brasher, who was hostess on the DQ when Capt. Charlie was master in the early 1950's, always said one of the biggest delights for passengers was the mock wedding ceremony, where a man dressed up as the bride named "Mabel Flapsaddle" and a woman was the groom, with the moniker of "Hercules Headlight", including other passengers dressing up as the wedding party, etc. Passengers also loved doing the "Hokey Pokey". With Harmon Mize at the Hammond organ and Happy Briscoe at the piano, Mary Greene Stewart ably directed the entertainment, and is even featured singing on a 45 rpm recording that was sold in the gift shop.
Yes, to many nowadays it wouldn't be UPscale enough, but it was REAL and FUN!
14/01/2009 4:06 pm
I've got some 45s with Mary doing the vocals, with Happy and Harmon on the keyboards. I'll have to find them and list all the titles, but of course the Hokey Pokey was one, and Down in the PawPaw Patch was another. When I started riding in 1973, they did have the 4 piece Tooker band, but one of the entertainment highlights was the presentation of the Saga of Little Nell, involving 4 or 5 passengers, with Mom Tooker throwing shredded Kleenex as falling snow.... I would have loved to ride the DQ in the 50s and 60s with the Greene family in charge...
14/01/2009 4:44 pm
Great pictures/Fun in the 'old days.'
Steamboating colleagues:
Thanks to Jim for posting along with Judy's and Keith's memories. The photos you all have provided asking for 'photo forensics' terrific lending much to .org on cold winter days. I've some photos here but have to 'fiddle' in mastering how to post directly. In those earlier years Mary Greene was very much involved with the boat, entertainment and other duties with her mother. She made deck chair reservations [White wood with canvas] for the passengers outside of their cabins or wherever they wished to sit.
Another old tradition was the Sunday church service in the dining room. It was general in content out of respect for the various afflilations among the passengers. Chairs were arranged in rows church style. Happy Broscoe, Harmon Mize or Ken Hurst etc. played the piano or big Hammond organ with old selections. If a person of the cloth was among the passengers he/she would be invited to conduct the service. A passenger was also tapped for the Scripture reading. A times a talented passenger would sing a solo. It was a quiet, reflective time with the boat steaming along. If in port many would walk up the hill to one or more churches for local services of their choice. Yes, those were memorable days and as Keith says, "Gone with the wind."
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River.
14/01/2009 5:19 pm
We played the shoe toss game on the Delta Queen as late as 2006. And passing the hula hoop from one end of a line of passengers holding hands to the other end without touching the hoop with hands was hilarious! And those old-fashioned mellerdrammers put on by the passengers, as well as passenger talent shows were always great entertainment. But I'd like to think the few dimes paid to the honky tonk piano players and other musicians was money well spent...
14/01/2009 5:28 pm
Ken Hurst
Dale, there's a name I'm not familiar with - what did Ken Hurst do on the DQ?
14/01/2009 5:54 pm
RE: Ken Hurst/DQ organist:
Hi, Judy and gang:
Ken Hurst was a local guy--I 'think--from here in Cincinnati who played the organ and piano on the DQ. I remember him summer of 1967--possibly year before that too. If he served aboard during the year other that summer I don't recall. I was home on leave from the Navy and took a Kentucky Lake trip before heading back to base. Marty Stouder was also aboard as Hostess. I bought a steamboat book in the boat's concession stand and had a number of personalities aboard sign. Others with L-O-N-G memories here may recall Ken. Yeah, I have to master posting some of these photos directly to the web.
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River.
14/01/2009 6:56 pm
Some things did stay on... we ALWAYS had a Sunday service on the Delta Queen. We obtained permisison from Cody Engle, Sam Zell's DQSC Chairman, to do a real religious service, while being careful to not offend any denomination. A crew member would read a Scripture ( often Lloyd Camel,. Ellie Downen or Big MO) Phyllis Dale, Jazzou and others played the piano, we sang "Amazing Grace" and "Shall We Gather at The River", and a passenger clergy, Steamboatin' Director or I would give a non denominational devotional. A pastor wrote a series based on the river and vessel, adn we did others as well. The service was in the Orleans Room, unless it had to be early due to tours, when it was held in the Texas Chapel. We did this on the other vessels as well, but it was more special on the DQ... especially Easter sunrise service on the Texas bow. Good memories...
15/01/2009 5:10 pm
As a part time musician for most of my life, I have a special sympathy for entertainers on the Delta Queen and elsewhere. Even so, one way to save money would be to eliminate the elaborate shows. One talented man or woman of Jazzou's caliber would serve about as well as five, especially leading the passengers in entertaining themselves. The cost of carrying musicians, dancers, actors, and yes "guest Lecturers" is large. I made three trips, one on each of the boats as an "unpaid" guest lecturer. The rooms I occupied could have earned close to $10,000.00 at published rates. I ate the boat's food. I slept on the boat's linen. A maid swept up the sand and grit I walked into the stateroom and she made my bed. The boat paid my air-fare. Even being overloaded with pride I can categorically state that my lectures were not worth $3,000.00 each. Even at cut-rate deals for repeat passengers, groups, etc., I was grossly overpaid while riding free.
This could also be applied to food service people. I am not saying they did a bad job. I am saying a cafeteria line, while not as elegant, would save thousands of dollars per trip on bedding, food and other living expenses.
On the Gordon C. Greene they had horse-race games, music and paty games led by the members of the crew. A pilot, Captain Bill Dugan, sang almost professionally. Tom Greene played the piano. Hiring Captain Bill Ray would make a pilot-entertainer with no need to train him in either profession.
Cheap? Yes, but doing such things could widen the difference between profit and loss and keep the boat running.