Dating to 1949, this amateur film by John Lomen “Holiday in Europe” shows a trans-Atlantic trip aboard the famed liner RMS Queen Mary. The trip starts at New York’s East River, the Atlantic crossing and the start of a vacation in England including scenes in Shoreham-by-Sea and at Stratford-on-Avon. This film was shot shortly after the merger between Cunard and White Star Line in 1947. At the time, CWS was the largest Atlantic passenger line operating 12 ships from the UK to the US and Canada. Aside from the ship, the film’s star and leading lady is a woman who we imagine must be Mrs. John Lomen. She is seen at the opening of the film flipping through travel brochures. The film captures the crossing as well as fashion and recreation of the era; women wear light blouses, long dresses and men wear suits, slacks and button downs. Viewers get a glimpse at various modes of water transit and historic sights in England including the Staten Island Ferry, Hoboken Terminal, Nab Tower, Pier 7, Tyne tugboats and English castles. Later sections provide a look at Winchester Cathedral and Christ Church at Oxford.

RMS Queen Mary sailed from 1936 to 1967. Her fame landed her a berth in Long Beach, where she has served as a tourist attraction, hotel and convention space. She remains on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

00:00 Title card, presented by John Lomen The blonde woman, presumably Mrs. John Lomen, sifts through travel brochures (:44) from the Thomas Cook & Son Travel Agency founded by Thomas Cook in 1841. White papers (:55), passports (1:02) and tickets for the Cunard-White Star Line (1:08) follow. RMS Queen Mary arrives (1:09). U.S. flags dangle from travelers hands (1:17). The Captain’s wrist fold behind his back on the ship deck and a seafarer steps up from below. (Note: In 1947, the captain of the RMS Queen Mary was Commodore Sir C. Ivan Thompson, who took command on February 15th of that year. ) (1:40). Moran tugboats push the ship out to the channel (1:43). (Note: Cunard maintained a long standing relationship with Moran Towing Corporation. Moran tugboats regularly assisting in docking and maneuvering actions.) The liner moves into Hudson waters, with views of the Empire State Building (1:56) and grain elevators at Pier 7 (2:11). (Note: Pier 7 remains the largest and last great grain elevator built by a railroad company in the port of NYC.) Passengers view skyscrapers from the East River (2:27). The Hoboken terminal (2:57); known as the Erie Lackawanna Railway until 1968. The Staten Island ferry chugs by (3:07). The leading lady kicks back a smile in personal shots with Ellis Island (3:28) and Lady Liberty aka Statue of Liberty in background (3:36). Blue swaths of the sea surround lounging guests on the ship deck (3:57). Shots pan up for the twin funnels (4:05). The bobbed blonde reads the paper, relaxed ankles crossed (4:16). Guests play deck tennis (4:49). She reappears in evening wear; pink shoulder padded suit for dinner on the ship (5:27). Sun shots show lifeboats and davits (5:39). Nab Tower stands (6:07) near Shoreham-by-Sea. (The Nab Tower was originally part of a plan for anti-submarine protection during WWI and later used to replace a lightship off the Isle of Wight). Tugboat (6:20) and ship hands climbing ropes (6:27) for the crow’s nest (6:29). Humber Bridge crossing the River Humber (7:51), twin red funnel Tyne tugboats (8:20) and NAAFI, Forum 5 in Fareham follow (8:37). Travelers tour King Alfred Statue in Winchester (8:53), Winchester Cathedral (9:12) and Christ Church in Oxford (9:47) with Tom Tower designed by Christopher Wren in 1681 (9:54). The end of the film shows the Supreme Court of England (10:49), King’s College Chapel in Cambridge (11:02), Shakespeare’s birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon (11:50), Anne Hathaway’s Cottage (12:33), Gower Memorial (13:30), Maidenhead Bridge over the River Thames (1336), Warwick (13:44) and Kenilworth castle (15:13).

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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