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Kids in the Canal Zone
It looks like these kids put on quite the performance! We think these photographs are from an elementary school play at a school somewhere on the Atlantic side of the Canal Zone. Can you help us identify the location of these photos? What do you think this play was about? Were you ever involved in any school performances? What were some popular plays for schoolchildren to perform?
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S.S. Panama: from cruise to transporter of famous art in World War II
On June 13, 1941, before the bombing at Pearl Harbor, the S.S. PANAMA was turned over to the Army Transport Service to carry troops. The ship was renamed the JAMES PARKER in honor of Brigadier General James Parker.
It must have been a sight to see the ship, which was formerly used for transportation and scenic cruises, outfitted for war.
The S.S. PANAMA 
The S.S. ANCON, outfitted for the war. The JAMES PARKER may have looked like this during its tour. The JAMES PARKER made many dangerous and exciting excursions during her service for the U.S. Army, including transporting the Rockettes and other performers to Europe to entertain soldiers and evading enemy submarines several times with troops on board.
We recently discovered while sorting through the collection that the JAMES PARKER brought to New York $80 million worth of artwork that the Germans had stolen from various European countries. Tables were removed in the air conditioned main dining room to store the works. The artworks were taken to the National Art Gallery in Washington, D.C.
After the ship’s final trip in Army Transport Service was made in 1946, the ship was returned to the Panama Railroad Company and resumed the name “PANAMA.”
Did you or anyone you knew serve on this ship during the war? Were you or anyone you knew involved in protecting cultural heritage during the war?
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Champagne Complex
According to this newspaper article from The Panama American, the theatre troupe from the Cristobal Little Theatre brought their production of Leslie Steven’s Champagne Complex to the Fort Gulick Theatre in 1961. This “farce comedy” was directed by John Blennerhassett and was performed by a cast of three, including Ken Blaylock, Patricia Newport, and Dick Diaz. The news article called the play a “spoof on today’s over-analyzed world.”
This performance was part of an effort to revive the activity of the Cristobal Little Theatre since its early years starting in 1932. The profits earned by Champagne Complex were donated to local charities.
Do you remember going to the Cristobal Little Theatre or the Fort Gulick Theatre? Were you or someone you knew involved in local theatre troupes?
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Coco Solo, birthplace of the late Senator John McCain
Today, in honor of the late Sen. John McCain’s funeral services, we’re sharing some photos of Coco Solo from our collections.
Sen. McCain was born in the United States Navy submarine base and naval air station on August 29, 1936 to the naval officer John S. “Jack” McCain Jr. and Roberta (Wright) McCain. His grandfather, John S. “Slew” McCain, was the base commander at Coco Solo when Sen. McCain was born.
The McCain family is well known for their military history. Sen. McCain’s father and grandfather were the first father and son in Navy history to become full admirals. Sen. McCain graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1958 and became a naval aviator. He retired from the Navy as a captain in 1981, moving to Arizona where he entered politics.
Any information or memories about the McCain family you would like to share in the comments section are welcome.
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An Afternoon with Queen Elizabeth II
We find the coolest things while reprocessing the collections! Here is an invitation from the Governor of the Canal Zone for a reception with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in November 1953. Inside the envelope there is also a sheet of “protocol notes” which explain how one should act and speak in the presence of the Queen.
We transcribed these protocol notes:
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November 25, 1953
PROTOCOL NOTES
- The following information may be of interest to guests invited to the reception for Queen Elizabeth II at the Governor’s Residence.
a. The Queen is addressed as “Your Majesty.” During a conversation the term “Madam” is appropriate.
b. The Duke of Edinburgh is addressed as “Your Royal Highness.” During a conversation the term “Sir” is appropriate.
c. The following information concerning presentations is extracted from notes issued by Buckingham Palace:”Her Majesty stands on the right of the Duke of Edinburgh. On Her Majesty’s right stands the host or whoever does the presenting. Guests approach from the right, husbands in front of wives, and the host introduces each by name once only in a voice clear enough for both The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh to hear. Each guest bows or curtseys and shakes hands with Her Majesty and then does the same with His Royal Highness and then passes on. The head of the queue of those to be presented should not be further than 3 yards from the host or whoever is doing the presenting.”d. Individuals being presented should not linger in front of The Queen unless invited to do so. The Queen must always initiate the conversation.e. In regard to ladies’ clothes, short afternoon dresses with hats and gloves are appropriate at the reception. Gloves need not be white and should not be taken off before the wearer is presented to The Queen or the Duke of Edinburgh.
- For additional information, call Mrs. Nadeau at Balboa 3572.
*NOTE: The bow or curtsey is not required for Americans.
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Did you or anyone you knew meet the Queen during her visit?
- The following information may be of interest to guests invited to the reception for Queen Elizabeth II at the Governor’s Residence.
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From the Stacks: Model Planes at the Pool
Check out this summertime find from the collection! It looks like this group of young people is examining a display of model planes beside a community pool.
Do you know what this event may have been? Do you know where this photo might have been taken? Can you identify any of the people in this photo?
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From the Stacks: Lights, Camera, Action!
In this photograph, young girls in costume perform for a camera crew.
Can you identify the people in this photo? Do you know what these girls were performing? Do you know which year this might have been? Where might this have been broadcasted? How did television differ in the Canal Zone from what you would see in the mainland United States?
Make sure to join us for the 2018 Panama Canal Society Reunion in Orlando from June 27 – July 1, 2018, where there will be an exhibit about popular culture in the Panama Canal Zone on display. See more information and register here: https://www.pancanalsociety.org/reunion.html. We hope to see you there!
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From the Stacks: Sack Race
Here we see a mad dash for the finish line in a photo labeled “Margarita MRA sack race.” Can you confirm if “MRA” is the Margarita Recreational Association? What do you know about this group and/or event? What were some other recreational events you attended in the Canal Zone?
Make sure to join us for the 2018 Panama Canal Society Reunion in Orlando from June 27 – July 1, 2018, where there will be an exhibit about popular culture in the Panama Canal Zone on display. See more information and register here: https://www.pancanalsociety.org/reunion.html. We hope to see you there!
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From the Stacks: President William Howard Taft
This photograph is from 27th President of the United States William Howard Taft’s visit to the Canal Zone. Check out the Library of Congress website for videos of Taft’s visit: https://www.loc.gov/item/mp76000111/. This website suggests that the visit was in 1910 and that he spent much of the visit inspecting canal construction.Do you know where in the Canal Zone this picture might be from? Can you remember any other political figures visiting the Canal Zone?
Make sure to join us for the 2018 Panama Canal Society Reunion in Orlando from June 27 – July 1, 2018, where there will be an exhibit about popular culture in the Panama Canal Zone on display. See more information and register here: https://www.pancanalsociety.org/reunion.html. We hope to see you there!
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From the Stacks: Captain’s Dinner on the Panama Line
Here we see a menu from a Captain’s Dinner for the U.S.S. Ancon on June 17, 1951, complete with a watercolor image of the Panama Canal.
.Did you ever attend a special dinner on the Panama Line? How did events like this occur? Was the cruise ship docked for the entirety of the dinner?
Make sure to visit the Albert H. Nahmad Panama Canal Gallery and see Served in the Zone, an exhibit about the cuisine found in the Panama Canal Zone!
