Titanic Historical Society Commutator 242

THS Commutator No. 242, Summer 3rd Quarter, July to September 2023

Views and Impressions from 55 Years of a THS Membership

It was Walter Lord who introduced me to the then five-year-old T.E.A while he and I were corresponding when I was in high school. His highly acclaimed book, A Night to Remember had captivated me, and, wanting to do a painting of the ship, I was bursting with questions. In his ever kind and patient way he indulged me and suggested I join the group as it would be a
golden opportunity to connect with others who shared my interest.
By Ken Marschall

A 56 Year THS Odyssey

To give some background how my interest began, I was eight years old when my parents literally dragged me to see the 1953 movie Titanic starring Barbara Stanwyck and Clifton Webb. I wasn’t particularly interested in ships, more into Westerns. Later in life my mother said dragging me to see this movie was a very big mistake for I was hooked for the rest of my life. My
grandfather brought me a book by Logan Marshall, Titanic and Great Sea Disasters. From that day on I read every book I could get my hands on.
By Ray Lepien

“I’m shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on here!”* Bruce Ismay clears up the matter-Vintage Vignettes

Recalling the Discovery of Titanic September 1, 1985

Our family jewelry store was closed and, in the quietness, I was cleaning the place and planning to catch up on filing, watch and clock repairs and the chores one can only do without the
interruptions of a normal business day. But the telephone did ring and kept ringing until I finally decided to pick it up and reply. “I am trying to locate anyone from the Titanic Historical Society,” the frenzied voice said. “Well,” I sighed, “You’ve found him.” “I’m a reporter and would like your reaction to the news that the Titanic has been found!” The voice on the phone was excited and I was stunned. “Where did you hear that information?” I asked while trying to gather my thoughts. “Oh, it was just leaked by the London Observer, that the wreck site had been located by people from Woods Hole. Do you have any comment?”
(From Ed Kamuda’s files) By Edward S. Kamuda

Gamblers Board Adriatic II––Vintage Vignettes

Thank You to My Many Friends in the THS

When I was a small boy in the mid-1950s I found a copy of Logan Marshall’s old 1912 Titanic book on my grandmother’s bookshelf and I used to thumb through that volume looking it its
illustrations and text to learn what happened to that ship. Because I had no other sources of information about the ship at that time––I read and re-read my grandmother’s book to satisfy
my curiosity on the subject.
By George Behe

Olympic Experiences a Violent Tremor Vintage Vignettes

Reminiscences of Transatlantic Travellers
Excerpts from Mr. Spedding’s book published in 1926. Beginning as an apprentice in sailing vessels to working his way up to Chief Purser in the Aquitania and many Cunard liners, meeting interesting personalities from government officials, explorers, celebrities, etc., traveling to various countries his ships took him––some of his personal experiences including his observation of the Titanic disaster.
By Charles T. Spedding

The End of International Mercantile Marine––Vintage Vignettes

Thoughts and Reflections on the 60th Anniversary of the Titanic Historical Society

Titanic first came into my life at home on a bookshelf when I was about 8 years old when I read a red hardbound book titled, Sinking of the Titanic and Great Sea Disasters by Logan
Marshall. It captured my imagination. History and ships have always been a primary interest and I borrowed many books from the town library also building wooden ship models to learn
more. My grandfather emigrated from Liverpool in 1911 and my grandmother and my dad, who was 3 years old, followed him in 1912. The Titanic disaster was fresh in their mind and was brought home to me.
By Karen Kamuda

MEMORIES––Looking Back on My Years in the Titanic Historical Society

’ve always enjoyed reading about non-fiction topics. I’d choose one, read as much as I could on it, and move on. In grade school I was fascinated with pirates––real ones like
“Blackbeard” and some French ones whose names I’ve long forgotten. In junior high school I learned of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, and had to read several books on
that in order to be satisfied that I knew enough about it. In high school, after seeing The Poseidon Adventure I decided I wanted to know what real shipwrecks were like so checked a
few books out of the library. One was A Night to Remember by Walter Lord. With that one volume I was hooked. I immediately read it again.
By Don Lynch

Select Merchandise in the Titanic Museum Store

Covers:
The Titanic Commutator has published continually since 1963, 60 years featuring a variety of stories not only about Titanic, Olympic and Britannic but also other White Star ships,
Cunarders, ships in IMMC, passengers, survivors, crew and other noted people, places and disasters. Pictured are a variety of covers through the years