Topic starter
31/01/2008 3:33 pm
I recently purchased a copy of Philip Graham's "Showboats- The History of an American Institution" on line. From the price and meager description I expected a used paperback. When the book arrived, it proved to be a first printing hardcover. Two things caught my notice. There was a 1962 newspaper clipping of the burning of the showboat Goldenrod that had been in the book so long that the adjacent pages were yellowed from the newsprint, and there was a signature in blue ink below the title on the flyleaf; J. W. Menke. Can someone here tell me how I might verify if this is the signature of Capt. J. W. "Bill" Menke of French's New Sensation and Goldenrod?
31/01/2008 4:07 pm
Hank: Capt. J.W. (Bill) Menke DID autograph a number of copies of Philip Graham's book. I have one of those copies, as well as quite a large collection of memorabilia from the GOLDENROD SHOWBOAT, courtesy of river historian/museum curator Miss Ruth Ferris and Capt. Bill's niece, Mrs. Marcella Harding, who is now 90 years old. Anyway, I have several items bearing Capt. Bill's signature. He died in July, 1968. Let me know if I can be of further assistance. E-mail me at [email protected].
04/02/2008 1:20 pm
Hank: Attached herewith is a picture I took aboard the GOLDENROD SHOWBOAT, in April, 1977, of a large photograph of Capt. J.W. Menke standing near the ticket window aboard the showboat. Miss Ruth Ferris had this enlargement made for her Midship Museum aboard the Str. BECKY THATCHER and a spotlight within the old kleig light used on the GOLDENROD was trained on the picture of Capt. Bill, amidst an exhibit of colorful old showboat posters and a large wooden sign which advertised the old melodrama, "The Convict's Daughter".
Anyway, in the lower corner of the photo is an enlargement of Capt. Menke's autograph, which Ruth obtained from him in 1966 when she created the exhibit. After the museum on the BECKY closed in November, 1970 and was dismantled, the large picture of Capt. Menke went over on the showboat. When the boat was sold and moved to St. Charles, vandals went aboard one night and destroyed the picture, along with other showboat memorabilia.
From this and several other items, I have no doubt that the signature in the book is that of Capt. Bill Menke.
Topic starter
04/02/2008 2:08 pm
Thank you sir. I have enjoyed the book and finding Capt. Menke's signature in it makes it a real treasure. I did not really know much about the showboat business until I read it. I do hope that Goldenrod's ownership is sorted out and a way is found to preserve her. I would love to get up that way to visit her some day. Ohio is an awfully long way from Texas when you can no longer drive. Now that my daughter has her degree she will probably move to another state and I won't even have that excuse to go up there.