This silent, 16mm home movie dates to the 1930s and shows a trip to Cuba aboard the ship RMS Empress of Austalia (ship’s bell can be seen at 1:15). The film begins at sea at :24 with passengers playing games on the deck. RMS Empress of Australia was an ocean liner built in 1913–1919 by Vulcan AG shipyard in Stettin, Germany for the Hamburg America Line. She was refitted for Canadian Pacific Steamships; and the ship – the third of three CP vessels to be named Empress of China – was renamed yet again in 1922 as Empress of Australia.. In trans-Pacific service, the ship garnered fame for her part in rescue efforts at Tokyo following the Great Kantō earthquake of 1923. In trans-Atlantic service, she earned distinction in 1927 by bringing the Prince of Wales from England to the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in Canada. She was honoured to serve as Royal Yacht during the Royal tour of Canada in 1939.

At 1:55, we visit the wheelhouse of the Empress of Australia and passengers pose at the helm. At 2:25 lunch or more likely high tea is served and at 2:34 a steward poses for the camera. At 2:47, our first glimpse of what might be Jamaica’s rugged coastline. (It is possible it is also not Jamaica but for example, the coast of Panama.) At 3;12, the ship comes into port and is greeted by small boats. At 3:29 a young boy passenger looks into the camera. At 3:39, swimmers near the boat hope for coins to be thrown their way. At 6:01 we’re in Jamaica as a sign proclaims “Kingston 13 miles” and “Bog Walk 15 miles”. At 6:10, a dazzling shot out a car window of what might be Kingston streets. At 6:35, passengers pose with local children. At 6:59 we see a rambling, mission-style hotel. Perhaps a viewer will be able to tell us its name. At 7:23 the entrance to Havana Harbor is seen with Morro Castle. At 7:40, the film begins to contain what appear to be commercially produced segments. At 7:50, a single stack ocean liner is seen in Havana harbor. At 7:55 are views of the Cuban capitol building, and at 8:07 a grand hotel. At 8;11 are views of Havana’s downtown, including large edifices. At 8:33, a back street with cars and horse traffic, and traffic directed by a policeman. At 8:57, a church is seen and at 9:11 the USS Maine monument. At 9:25 the Maine monument is shown from a moving car. At 10:00, long shots of a huge cemetery, also shot from a car. At 10:20, a beautiful garden is shown. At 11:07, a warehouse with boxes of what might be rum is shown. At 11:30, palm tree lined streets are shown and beautiful, stately houses. At 11:56 the Grand National Casino / Gran Casino Nacional is seen. At 12:11, another view of Morro Castle and we’re back aboard the RMS Princess of Australia, on our way back to the USA amidst rolling seas. At 13:27, passengers are seen on deck, waving to the camera.

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com