Hollywood showboat at Louisville

Jim,, it is very coincidental that you would post this at this time. I'm including a link to a blog by a fellow in Memphis who asked about this boat just the other day! Here is the link: The "Hollywood" Showboat - 1933 | Ask Vance Blog | Memphis Flyer

We can see from what he has that the time would have been early '30's, a tough time to make it in any business.

Jim,

I am gonna take a stab at this one. First off I wish I could see the name of the packet below the showboat...'cause this could lead to a definite date.

My guess is summer of 1930.

I am basing my guess on the following facts in the picture.

The ferryboat landing is gone (because the George Rogers Clark (2nd Street) Bridge is open...it opened in late October of 1929 during the Canalization of the Ohio River Parade), the MAYOR ANDREW BROADDUS has been renovated to the condition she is in today (this was done in early 1928 if I have my dates right), and the AMERICA is docked below her (she burned on the 8th of September 1930).

The HOLLYWOOD had 3 names in her fast paced history. She was built as the AMERICAN in 1911 for Walter Needham in Cincinnati, OH. She was sold to the Thompson brothers in 1916, Sold to Ralph Emerson in 1917, later the same year sold to E.A Price who renamed her COLUMBIA. His son Steve Price operated her until 1928 when she was sold to the Menke Brothers and renamed HOLLYWOOD. She was in winter quarters in the Clark River above Paducah when she was crushed by ice in 1941.

With this information we know it was after 1928 and before 8 September 1930....so we know it within about 20 months give or take a week!

Travis

Travis has diligently "covered the waterfront" with great, historical details of this Louisville levee scene. I dug into my files and found several copies of the same image, one in the form of a "jumbo" post card, issued by Caufield and Shook. I think the packet at the wharfboat above the excursion steamer AMERICA is the JOHN W. HUBBARD. The towboat for the HOLLYWOOD is likely the CROWN HILL or the WENONAH.

I have a big scrapbook of showboat photos and memorabilia, given me by the late Marcella Harding, who was a niece of the Menke brothers. Marcella once told me that she loved to spend her summer vacations from school traveling on the Menke showboats with her uncles, at that time the HOLLYWOOD, captained by Capts. Ben and Charley Menke, and the GOLDENROD, captained by Capt. J.W. "Bill" Menke. Marcella recalled that the HOLLYWOOD often traversed the Cumberland River and one of her favorite stops was Clarksville, Tennessee. What a wonderful way for a youngster to spend the summer!

Thanks to all. Once again, the knowledge of members in this forum is no less than spectacular.

-Jim Herron