The Sinking of the RMS Titanic and other ships.

[Phil H]

I'm not the only one who recalls it evidently, I found this on the web:

I remember a funny line by Bob Newhart, in which he played the part of an airline pilot. The pilot’s voice was calm and reassuring as it came across the PA system of the plane bound for Honolulu. “Welcome ladies and gentlemen. We hope you sit back and enjoy this flight across the Pacific to beautiful Hawaii.” There was a pause. Then his voice came on again. “We are proud to have our new navigator aboard. This is his first flight.” Another pause. “Ladies and gentlemen, if there is anyone aboard who has ever actually flown to Hawaii, will you please come forward and meet with our navigator. Thanks and enjoy your flight.”

The link is here:

http://mikemilton.org/2010/05/01/purity-of-heart-is-to-seek-one-thing/

[Suzi]

Aagh sure you're right.......As long as it 'er goes up and comes down I don't give a monkeys no asterisks there! ****! missed that one! xx

(As long as nobody says 'Goodnight Old C*** all will be well!) :-))

[Phil H]

I had a record with it on - along with the Driving Instrucor, the man returning a toupee to the department store, and walter raleight trying to decide whether to eat tobacco and smoke potatoes or not!!

That was in the early 70s.

When did you hear the story, exactly?

Sorry to offend - and with respect, there's no need to use the f-word even with asterisks, thank you.

Phil

[Graham]

...the pilot would come out to the passenger area and say something like, "If'n any of you folks ever bin to Cleveland afore, if ya see sumptink ya'll recognise, gimme a yell!"

I think that came from a Bob Newhart monologue.

It could have done, but I don't really care.

Graham

[Phil H]

...the pilot would come out to the passenger area and say something like, "If'n any of you folks ever bin to Cleveland afore, if ya see sumptink ya'll recognise, gimme a yell!"

I think that came from a Bob Newhart monologue.

[Graham]

Bloody hell that's good we're flying Turkish Airlines nest month (aka Buddy Holly Airlines) aaaaagh!

Bon voyage!

When I lived in the USA there was an airline called Ozark Airlines (don't know if it still exists) and the joke was that on a flight to Cleveland, for example, the pilot would come out to the passenger area and say something like, "If'n any of you folks ever bin to Cleveland afore, if ya see sumptink ya'll recognise, gimme a yell!"

Graham

[Suzi]

Bloody hell that's good we're flying Turkish Airlines nest month (aka Buddy Holly Airlines) aaaaagh!

[Graham]

Whooo-hooooo Suze! Talk about a charmed life....?

The father of a friend of a friend was booked aboard a BOAC Comet in the early 1950's (don't know exactly when or even the destination) and the story is that for some unfathomable reason decided very late in the day not to go. In those days airline tickets were mega-expensive, so it must've been a major decision not to use his ticket. Anyway the Comet crashed, no survivors, one of several Comet crashes around that time.

Graham

[Suzi]

Cameron's movie was unspeakably bad (IMHO)
As many here may have heard me rant here before my Grandfather was a Steward on White Star Lines (and OMG the tales he told- can only remember a few 'cos he died when I was eight- but remember them I do!!), sailed on many ships including the Mauritania, the Olympic, The Ophir etc etc before missing his connection with the Titanic having had a 'too relaxing evening' the night before and missing the boat train to join the ship!.... much to my Grandmothe's disgust- mind you she was a very relieved woman a week or so later!!!........same thing happened with The Lusitania different leaving port-different boat train- same reason!!- scary 'eh--------- charmed us!! (so far!!)

[Graham]

Pretty good effort then if you can make the worst movie ever and still have it become the second highest grossing movie of all time! To be succeeded, I might add, only by a film by the very same director!

Says a lot for the movie-going public then, doesn't it? Cameron makes movies for the hard of thinking. The 1950's stiff-upper-lip A Night To Remember was a far better Titanic film, better acted and much more historically accurate. Cameron's special-effects are really about all he has. Avatar is even worse....yes, I'm biased - modern movies are largely rubbish IMHO.

Graham

[Adam Went]

Harry:

There's a Mr. Arthur Bright listed as a Quartermaster on the ship.....and an Able Seaman called Mr. Buley....but you're right, nobody called Butler on the crew list. There was a Mr. Reginald Butler, a 2nd class passenger, but he died in the sinking. So that is a bit of a mystery.....

Graham:

The worst movie of all time.

Pretty good effort then if you can make the worst movie ever and still have it become the second highest grossing movie of all time! To be succeeded, I might add, only by a film by the very same director!

Cheers,
Adam.

[Graham]

James Cameron's Titanic

The worst movie of all time.

Graham

[harry]

Autumn Bermuda 1947.I was on 14 day's army leave on St George island,the main barracks being at Hamilton.In the harbour were two American submarines paying a curtesy visit.They were due to leave the day following a decision by a mate and I,to have a night out on the drink.At the bar we visited,we got into company with an American crewman from one of the subs.Well the night wore on and the drink went down,we became quite friendly and the worse for wear,and on leaving this crewman invited us for a tour of his sub.Whether it was laxity of the guards,or maybe the comings and goings of various invited guests,we got as far as the conning tower,before it must have become apparant that we were not quite the type of visitors that were welcome.I am not exactly clear on what happened next,or what happened to the crew member,but my mate and I were rather roughly handled,taken a short distance away,and in words I wont repeat(I do not swear)
told to leave.Not a little pleased at the way things had turned out,and waiting until we were a safe distance away I shouted,"I hope your f...ing boat sinks"(well I do swear but only at Americans who spoil my night out).
You will have to take my word for the above,it is true,,but what follows can be checked.The next day the two subs left,and clear of the harbour,submerged to carry out manoeuvers,and collided under water.
Luckily there was little damage,and I think no serious injuries.They were able to make it to America.

Would any of you American posters ,If you have time,please check the date of this happening.I would appreciate it as I am interested for a particulr reason.I'm sure it would have been widely reported.

[harry]

About 40 years ago I was a customs officer on duty at a ship in port Adelaide,South Australia.Sometime in the afternoon a frail old fellow in a wheelchair,was left near the gangway of a ship.I got into conversation with him,and asked of his interest in ships.He replied that he had been a quartermaster on the Titanic,and was one of the survivors.I can't remember all that was said,but he did know a great deal about ships,so I believed him.He gave his name as mr Butler.Over the following years he was mentioned several times in the local paper in relation to the ship,and on his death there was a final tribute.

After I retired,I remembered this incident,and made enquires at the State library.I was surprised when I was informed that there was no evidence that he had ever been on the ship,and was nether mentioned as a crew member or a survivor.They knew of the claim but discounted it,and I had been so sure he had been telling the truth.

Now if he had said he had been to Romford.....

[Bob Hinton]

Absent from the roll

I'm absolutely amazed there has been no mention of the Lancastria which was arguably the greatest loss of life at sea of all time.

My father was trying to get on board her when she was bombed, the Luftwaffe then machine gunned the survivors in the water.