S.S. ADMIRAL Book Now Available

With the Fourth of July holiday upon us, I thought this vintage view of the St. Louis levee, taken on July 4, 1966, would be timely. An estimated 500,000 persons are thronging the riverfront for an aerial, water and fireworks show. It appears that a good crowd is aboard the S.S. ADMIRAL in the foreground and, just aft of her are the GOLDENROD SHOWBOAT with the BECKY THATCHER alongside. Moored next to the BECKY is the small excursion boat MISSISSIPPI BELLE, formerly the LAKE QUEEN. In the distance is the Streckfus excursion boat HUCK FINN.

Also presented herewith are images of the ADMIRAL calliope (originally on the Streckfus excursion steamer CAPITOL) taken on May 12, 1962, and a scene of the ADMIRAL at her landing below the Eads Bridge, in August, 1970.

Have a safe and happy "Glorious Fourth" holiday!

Just a note that the newly published ADMIRAL book arrived in my mailbox and it's a dandy! The images from the Post-Dispatch archives are terrific -- especially a big two page spread showing the steamers CAPITOL, SAINT PAUL and J.S. DeLUXE at the St. Louis levee. There are a number of pictures of the ADMIRAL calliope, originally on the Str. CAPITOL, as well as early views of the boat, many interior scenes and snapshots taken on deck during the years the ADMIRAL operated (1940-1979) at St. Louis.

The format of the book is much like Legendary Lady, The Story of the Belle of Louisville, the wonderful historical tome done by Anne Jewell and Capt. Kevin Mullen in 1999, which features numerous contributed remembrances and photos from many passengers and several crew members from four decades.

Rollin' on the River is well worth adding to your river library!

Annie Blum here. I just want to add that the Admiral book was compiled, not authored; it is composed of pictures and story lines from the Post-Dispatch archives plus remembrances and photos sent in by readers of the paper. Apparently the paper got a huge response to the request for pictures and stories. There is nothing we do not already know and there are no footnotes, but I believe that the contributers to this board will enjoy the pictures and the way the book is set up.

Thank you Keith, for letting us know about this book.

Personally, the ADMIRAL book is well worth its price for the many fine photographs (a number of them FULL page) it contains, spanning the boat's career from 1940 to the present, as well as some vintage views of earlier Streckfus boats. My only disappointment is that, unlike the BELLE OF LOUISVILLE book, Legendary Lady, which contains numerous remembrances of many former officers and crew members, this compilation of ADMIRAL memories, with accompanying text by Joe Holleman, has only a few from those who served aboard during the four decades the excursion boat was in operation as a St. Louis icon.

ADMIRAL book

I haven't received my copy yet, and while I'd like crew remembrances, I have so little on the ADMIRAL that whatever this book brings will be welcome. Interior pictures which show the changing times during her 4 decades will be very interesting.

Another new, and very worthwhile, book is Historic Photos of the Gateway Arch by St. Louis native Nini Harris, who has authored eight books about the area. This coffee table style publication contains 199 large black and white photographs from start to finish of the construction of the arch, as well as many views of the early riverfront and the buildings that were razed to create the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. Quite a number of images of the levee are featured, with a two page spread of the ADMIRAL, GOLDENROD SHOWBOAT, BECKY THATCHER and HUCK FINN, all of which show up in numerous other images. The RIVER QUEEN (ex-GORDON C. GREENE) and steam towboat H.S. DOUGLAS, which was a restaurant boat for a brief time, also make appearances.

Another great book for river enthusiasts -- and especially for those of us who recall the St. Louis riverfront of the 1960's-70's era.

Judy, I worked aboard the Admiral in St.Louis when she was both steam and then diesel, for about 8 years....I can tell some stories this nice new book doesn't! I will, If you like I'll share the next time we meet.
Cheers! Capt. Mike W.

Keith, thanks for your comments about the new "Admiral" book. I was solicited to contribute to the book, as were several ex crewmembers, but I declined as I am compiling my own, much more in depth "inside story" of my 8 years aboard as a crewmember of various capacities. Regardless, she was the greatest boat ever of her kind and the mother of many fond memories and of my riverboat career as well!

Capt. Mike W.

Capt. Mike: Glad to hear you are writing of your experiences while serving aboard the ADMIRAL. You are certainly an excellent writer and I look forward to your upcoming book! I have many notes and log books from BELLE and DQ days and hope, someday, to write of those experiences. But, alas, it must wait until retirement!

Thanks and keep up steam!

An article in today's St Louis Post-Dispatch states that the Admiral Casino will not reopen by Monday 28 June 10 as the St Louis gage is 34 ft and still slightly rising. There is no chance of the River falling to Flood Stage (30ft.) by the last day of operation before the State of Missouri Gambling License would be surrendered.

Rather quietly the River has claimed what will probably be the last Career of the Admiral. The last day the boat was open was 18 June 10. The article stated as soon as the River went down enough to gain access crew would begin removing slot machines and furniture. Owning casino company stated that no disposition plans are yet formulated.

On another note the Wall Street Journal edition of 24 June ran an article on the Tribune Company and Sam Zell, who engineered the leveraged buyout of the Tribune Company several years ago. There is opposition by certain creditors to the current Bankruptcy Proceedings proposed settlements. The article states that Zell has resigned and returned to his real estate dealings.

Sound familiar?

Kiss of death

I don't understand high finance, but there ought to be a way to keep Sam Zell from buying anything - its a sure bankruptcy and slow death sentence! Of course, the Zell days of the DQ were pretty good, considering later owners.

Capt. Charlie Fehlig, while pilot on the DQ, regaled us with stories of his days on the Admiral. Too bad he is not alive to give his remembrances. They were fabulous times, way beyond what anyone would expect aboard an excursion steamer. Hopefully that is conveyed in the book.

Interesting! I'm so excited to buy this St. Louis-Post Dispatch. Indeed, I'm looking for a free coloring pages for my daughter. When I will buy this book, I will also buy the free coloring pages.