I wish I could turn back the Hands of time.. .:-( I went on this ship 1959 through1970. When I was in High school we used to go there on the weekends to dance with the Sailors..I always got Sea sick but it was such great fun..thank you for this Video. Every morning when I get up I see Catalina Island so the Memorys from the Ship are always there.Giselle
We've been taking the Express most of the time since they started. However, still miss the SS Catalina. A lot of fond memories. Don't miss taking the water taxies in the 1950's, however. Thanks for the memories.
So sad. I just returned from Catalina after spending the 4th there. (2013) My memories are fond memories. While in High School, in Long Beach, I spent most of two summers there, (1945 & 46) working as a busboy & "Diving for coins". When that horn blew I was out the door. I was fired almost every day but the owner (John Lazar) always took me back as he needed the help. I wasn't the only one that did that either. I have not been back until now. I dove with Zane Grey's grandson sometimes.
Great Memories. My father was the Announcer on the Great White Steamship, SS Catalina for 30 years. As a child, I would greet the ship while diving for coins in the clear water in Avalon Bay. As you are looking at the Video, you see a picture of him, briefly, 0:58 seconds from the beginning of the Video. His name was Peter L. Adargo, born in Avalon (Tim's Landing) in 1899. Native Island Indian. My grandfather had the early row boat glass bottom boats, the "New York" and the "Chicago."
My dad worked on the SS Catalina as a clown to entertain the little kids in the early 70s. I got to help him with his suitcases as a kid. I remember several trips back and forth to Catalina Island on the Great White Steamship!
Damn the bastards that left this priceless piece of history to rot on the harbor bottom. This priceless piece of history should have been preserved for future generations. Instead she was left to rust, then sold for scrap. What a waste! A tragic end for a beautiful ship.
I RODE HER WHEN I WAS SIX YEARS OLD. NEVER FORGOT IT AND I LOVED THE TRIPLE EXPANSION ENGINE WHICH MY DAD TOOK ME TO SEE. I DO WISH THEY WOULD HAVE RECONDITIONED HER SHE IS NEEDED NOW SINCE DIESEL IS SO EXPENSIVE THE HAVE TO SLOW THESE NEW BOATS DOWN SO NOW IT TAKES JUST A MUCH TIME TO GO TO CATALINA AS IT TOOK THE STEAMER TO DO. LOVED THE SHIP AND THE RIDE RIP USS CATALINA YOU ARE MISSED!!!
I was so sad when I saw Huell's California Gold program on the SS Catalina. Why was she left to rot in the waters of Mexico for a year and a half? Where were the people to keep this from happening to her. Such a waste and lose of history.
She was turned into a salvage barge. She was involved with the salvage operations on the Dominator off Palos verdes in the 1960s when she sank in a storm. Her wreck is still a dive spot off the dominator.
She was neglected and water eventually seeped in through her propellor shaft packings. Boats need their bilges pumped out when they just sit. No one Checked her bilge and she took on too much water and sank in 1997.
