Stars Onboard Cunard Ships

Front Cover, Stars Aboard: Celebrities of Yesteryear Who Traveled Cunard Line During the Golden Age of Transatlantic Travel by Elspeth Wills, 2003. GGA Image ID # 2023716b9e

On the Front Cover

A young Elizabeth Taylor is seen on the sports deck of the Queen Mary, where she regularly exercises her pampered pets. She ordered special meals for them from the fish chef.

Synopsis

This book profiles just a few of the celebrities who crossed on the great liners from 1930-1960 -- actors, entertainers, writers, starlets, world leaders and royalty.

Back Cover, Stars Aboard: Celebrities of Yesteryear Who Traveled Cunard Line During the Golden Age of Transatlantic Travel by Elspeth Wills, 2003. GGA Image ID # 202398c166

On the Back Cover

Entertainer Jack Buchanan exchanged his traditional topper and cane for the battered trilby and camera of a New York press photographer.

From the Back Cover

Stars Aboard captures the golden days of transatlantic travel and the remarkable individuals who chose the ultimate way to cross. It was the one time when stars could escape their admiring public and ordinary passengers were treated like stars.

As Cunard only permitted one agency to take photographs on board, celebrities could relax and be themselves while still being the target of a discreet camera lens. When the five day voyage drew to a close and the New York skyline came into view, they prepared once more for the limelight by hugging a life belt or posing romantically against the rail.

Drawing on the Cunard archives, it presents familiar faces in an unusual setting through photographs, some of which have never appeared in public before. It is a history of the mid-20th centuy in a microcosm.

Likable Book, Poor Format Choice

Stars Aboard featured 75 celebrities, including George Burns, Gary Cooper, Judy Garland, Rita Hayworth, Alfred Hitchcock, Bob Hope, Jerry Lewis, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Gregory Peck, Ginger Rogers, Jimmy Stewart, Elizabeth Taylor, and many more are captured in this small book. Each celebrity has a story opposite their photograph. While an interesting book, a large format book would have been better than a 14 cm square book.

Read more about the celebrities featured in this book through the article in Daily Echo, "Three Queens: Cunard Loved by the Rich and Famous."

About the Author

After graduating from St Andrews University in history in 1970, Elspeth Wills has spent her career as a researcher, interpreter, and writer within advertising, marketing, economic development, and visitor attraction environments.

GG Archives Publication Catalog Listing

• Title: Stars Aboard Celebrities of Yesteryear Who Travelled Cunard Line During the Golden Age of Transatlantic Travel By Elspeth Wills
• Publisher: Open Agency, London, UK
• Author: Elspeth Wills
• Associated Name: Cunard Line
• Date of Publication: 2003-11-30
• Format: Hardcover with dust jacket
• Genre: Dictionary
• Subject: Celebrities -- Dictionaries, Entertainers -- Dictionaries, Ships -- Passenger lists -- History -- 20th century
• ISBN: 9780954245122, 0954245121
• Dimensions: 14 x 14 cm
• Weight 299.00 grams
• Page count:158
• Brief: Photos of celebrities aboard with their backgrounds
• Language: English
• Notes: Includes index/listing of celebrities and their reason for notoriety