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| SS United States Conservancy Update |
October 12, 2008
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Dear Conservancy Members and SS United States Supporters:
Greetings! During the past few months, we have seen a tremendous spike in public interest in the SS UNITED STATES, thanks largely to the spring release of the documentary film, SS UNITED STATES: LADY IN WAITING. The SS United States has been featured in a number of media outlets, and the SS United States Conservancy continues to advance our mission of raising public awareness of our national flagship. We recognize that the global economic crisis complicates our efforts to secure a dignified restoration for our national flagship. We continue to explore and develop contingency plans, but these efforts face many hurdles. This is truly an all-hands-on-deck moment for the Big U, and we welcome your suggestions, assistance and support as we chart our forward course.
(photo courtesy of Joan Browning)
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Rave Reviews for the documentary film SS UNITED STATES: LADY IN WAITING
Big Ship Films' fabulous documentary film, SS UNITED STATES: LADY IN WAITING, produced in close collaboration with the SS United States Conservancy has aired on public television stations nationwide. The film has already been shown on 163 analog stations: Analog coverage has now reached almost 72 percent of U.S. households! Digital coverage is close to 90 percent of U.S. television households! According to our presenting station WTTW, Chicago's PBS affiliate, the show has had "great coverage" and "done very well." Some stations have still not yet scheduled the film, but that doesn't mean that they won't ultimately air it. To find out if your local PBS station has added the film in your area, please see PBS Schedules.
The Conservancy organized exciting and well-attended film premieres in Los Angeles, Norfolk and New York City; additional screenings will be held in Philadelphia, Washington DC and Boston - please stay tuned for future event details.
The Premier of SS UNITED STATES: LADY IN WAITING sparked various feature articles and updates, including Rhoda Amon's account of the Conservancy's film premiere event at the Columbia University Club in New York City. To read her August 3 article entitled "Floating ideas to save the SS United States ocean liner" that ran in Newsday on August 3, visit:
http://www.newsday.com/travel/ny-rhodax5782856aug03,0,319480.story
In advance of the airing of SS UNITED STATES: LADY IN WAITING in the Boston area, a local newspaper ran a great profile on the film and its director, Robert Radler, a Boston area native. In case you missed it, the article can be found here:
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/arts/x1816441368/Former-Framingham-mans-film-pays-tribute-to-ocean-liner
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SS UNITED STATES Propeller Moved!
One of the SS UNITED STATES' 34-ton propellers was recently moved atop a 500-foot-long, 8-foot-tall entrance wall at the busy intersection of Warwick and J. Clyde Morris boulevards in Newport News, Virginia. A formal dedication will be held on Tuesday, November 11. The propeller now towers more than 14 feet above ground level and stands at the centerpiece of a new $1.3 million entrance that will greet visitors to the Mariners Museum of Newport News and surrounding park. The propeller was "newly burnished and coated with a protective lacquer film" and took riggers from Hampton Roads Crane & Rigging nearly three hours to rig and lift onto one of the SS UNITED STATES' original 63-foot-long, 100,000-pound propeller shafts. Many vehicles "honked their horns in appreciation" as the riggers "carried out their mammoth work." For more, see:
http://hamptonroads.com/2008/09/propeller-ss-united-states-lowered-new-home
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SS UNITED STATES: LADY IN WAITING to be shown aboard all NCL ships!
The documentary film, SS UNITED STATES: LADY IN WAITING, is in the process of being copied and installed on the closed-circuit television systems aboard all NCL ships! At a recent meeting with SS United States Conservancy board members, NCL CEO Colin Veitch acknowledged that most of NCL's passengers have no idea that NCL is proud owner of the SS UNITED STATES. The SS United States Conservancy is determined to raise public awareness of the SS United States through as many outreach channels as possible and we are very pleased to be collaborating with NCL to widen the audience for SS UNITED STATES: LADY IN WAITING.
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SS UNITED STATES: LADY IN WAITING Gets Domestic DVD Distributor!
 The SS United States Conservancy and Big Ship Films, LLC are very excited to announce that our documentary, SS United States: Lady in Waiting, is now available through Choices, Inc., a Los Angeles based distributor of documentaries, educational films, and other motion picture entertainment. This means that the DVD may now be purchased directly through www.choicesvideo.net (or by calling 1-888-570-5400). With re-designed packaging, the DVD is also currently being offered on Amazon.com, as well as through other outlets. Choices, Inc. specializes in supplying films to schools, libraries, museum gift shops, retail stores, and through catalog and online sales. "The agreement will vastly expand our outreach by making the film more readily available to people just browsing the internet or the aisles of their local video store," said Mark Perry, the film's producer. Choices will also offer a special classroom curriculum related to the ship and the film, and the SS United States Conservancy, along with noted author and educator Elizabeth Fletcher, are collaborating with the distributor to develop these materials. With the holidays approaching, might we humbly suggest you consider buying the DVD as a gift for your history loving friends and family? Or send copies to your representatives and encourage them to view it? We made the film to tell the story of this irreplaceable national treasure and to help raise public awareness... a grass roots effort on the film's behalf could go a long way toward bringing the significance and the plight of the SS United States to an even wider audience. About Choices: Choices, Inc. is a specialty distributor of quality documentaries, educational programming, and feature films. The company believes that documentaries are highly effective teaching tools, and provides both lesson plans and guidebooks as a resource for educators. More information is available online at www.choicesvideo.net.
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SS UNITED STATES to Get "Shout Out" on CBS!
There's a special treat in store for Big U and ocean liner fans on Friday, October 24th, at 8PM on CBS. The SS United States will get a "shout out" during a new episode of the hit series Ghost Whisperer. Jennifer Love Hewitt plays Melinda Gordon, a woman who can see and talk to the dead, each week helping them resolve whatever unfinished business is keeping them earthbound so they can "go into the light." Entitled "Save Our Souls," the episode was penned by Conservancy board member Mark B. Perry, and most of the story was filmed aboard the RMS Queen Mary in Long Beach, California. The show takes place aboard the final voyage of an historic liner on her way to the scrapyard. There are many winks to the liner community and "tips of the hat" to various ocean liner films throughout the ages. Be sure to set your DVRs!
(Right: Jennifer Love Hewitt prepares to rehearse a scene from Ghost Whisperer aboard the RMS Queen Mary in Long Beach, California - photo by Mark Perry.)
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SS United States Windmill Point Collection on New DVD
 The New SS United States DVD, "The SS United States Collection at Windmill Point" is now available for purchsase on www.photoscenics.us and www.photoscenics.net This is a FINAL LOOK at the world's largest private collection of SS United States furnishings and artifacts which have filled the Windmill Point Restaurant, located on the Outer Banks in Nags head, North Carolina for over 20 years. Amassed by Dr. Sarah Forbes, in August 2008 Dr. Forbes graciously allowed PhotoScenics to videotape this vast collection in her now-closed "Windmill Point". This incredible collection is no longer available for public viewing except through this video. While "Windmill Point" is "gone but not forgotten", Dr. Forbes' vast collection will remain intact for posterity through this video. The video is $16.50. You can save $5 by ordering both the "SS United States 1984 Walk-Through" and "The SS United States Collection at Windmill Point" at the same time. As always, a portion of all sales is donated to SSUS websites. Please visit www.photoscenics.us or www.photoscenics.net for more information and to place an order.
(Left: The bell from the SS United States. Image courtesy of Wayne Forth)
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SS United States Conservancy 2007/08 Annual Membership and Fundraising Drive
Later in the fall the Conservancy will once again seek your generous support of our ongoing efforts on behalf of the SS UNITED STATES. New members, supporters, and renewals will be vital to funding our work to save the ship and preserve her legacy. When you receive our mailing, we ask that you give as generously as you can. The SS United States Conservancy is an initiative of the SS United States Preservation Society, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1992. All contributions are fully tax deductible as allowed by law.
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Exciting SS United States Merchandise Available!
 The SS United States Conservancy's wide range of exciting SS United States commemorative merchandise is available for sale through the Conservancy's website, so start your holiday shopping early! To explore our "slop chest" store please visit: http://ssunitedstatesconservancy.org/SSUS/Shop.html
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Thank you so much for your support!
Board of Directors
SS United States Conservancy
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