Older DQ video

Hi, Bruno. You are correct that one of the paddlewheel shots is of the NATCHEZ, as is the calliope. Also, the audio clip of the "calliope" is actually of a band organ, not any steam calliope, though the video is the NATCHEZ.

The video was shot in the late 1970's; if I had to guess a specific year, I would say 1979. The small vents on the front of the pilothouse (to help vent steam out of the Officer's Quarters bathrooms) were installed in the lay-up of 1978 or '79, not sure which. This was an idea of either Art Leontas or Tom Moffatt. The stack was black with the big wide yellow stripe, bordered by two 1 1/2 in stripes, and the "DQ" was at that time red. Capt. Jim Blum and I painted the stack a very dark green with 3 gold stripes in 1979 or 80. I still maintain they ruined the lines of the boat when the new hull was put on, though I know it was a great thing from a safety and practical standpoint, but I think the boat looked better with the flared guards. They also ruined the sheer at the stern when the new hull was put on. So, the video had to have been shot in 1979 or 1980.

Thanks, Bob.

I guess I didn't realize the funnel ventilators were still on the boat that late...

Heard from another dot.orger that, as you say, the calliope shots are not of the DQ. As I suspected...thanks again, if you have been reading this forum since before dirt was old, you know I love this stuff...

Well, it finally finished downloading overnight here, so I just got my first look. Bob pretty well covered the waterfront with his posting - I'd just add that the overhead view of the paddlewheel was also of the NATCHEZ, not the DQ. That was Lee Lanier in the cap playing the NATCHEZ calliope. Its funny how little things, like the vents Bob pointed out, allow us to pinpoint almost exactly the year a pix was taken of the DQ. I'm sure if we saw a bit more, it could be narrowed down even more than '79 or '80. One of the time indicators is all the US flags flying on the roof. There were only 2 plus the company flag in '78, and I see 4 per side in my Carter trip pix, so that started in 1979. If you see pix with the big blue Voyages to America banner on the Sundeck stern railing, that was up from '73-'78. Lexie painted the red DELTA QUEEN name on the engine room bulkhead in '75, so if you see a pix with both the banner and the painted name, it is from '75-'78, for instance. As to the funnels, the two on the main deck bow were removed first. I believe those are the ones on Capt. Wagner's memorial in New Richmond. He died in '79. I think the Texas Deck ones were removed in the '84 renovations - Bob or Jim??