First Class Smoking Room

Rich autumnal views made this one of the most attractive of the twelve public room for First Class passengers. Two-tone leather chairs and sofas covered in hand-woven fabric invited relaxation and gave the feeling of a club atmosphere. The chairs and sofas were grouped invitingly around tables along either side of the ship and bracketed the entrance. The room’s primary focus was a curved central wall that greeted inbound arrivals through the forward entry. Mounted on this wall was a huge Mercator projection of the continents, showing variations of time zones at different longitudes. Decorated by famed sculptor William King, whose works were in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Philadelphia Museum, King banded the time zones together with bronze lines.

Two ways aft on either side of the mural led to the back rows of the theater. The two passages ascended a flight of six steps to achieve the level of the sloped theater floor. On the starboard side between the smoking room and theater was the Tobacco Shop and Shopping Center. On the port side passage was a service bar and the men’s bathroom. A women’s bathroom was on the same side, but on the forward end of the lounge.

First and Cabin Class Theater

This delightful theater seated 352 and had capability for limited stage productions as well as showing films. Though the stage was too small for the handling of elaborate scenery, it was suitable for smaller productions. The theater came with complete equipment and lighting for stage shows too. Hand-woven stage curtains with their gay pompons in brilliant colors against a rich, deep blue background created a festive atmosphere. Designed and woven by Dorothy Liebes, it was meant to evoke a medieval jester’s cap and bells. She described it as "a sort of mysterious dark royal blue on black, with blue metal for accent." The upholstery on the

seats were a deep sea-green with great polka dots of the same color, but in a different weave. Vertical paneled walls assured good acoustics while thick carpeting and molded-for-comfort chairs enhanced the pleasure of viewing pre-release films daily. In order to achieve the downward slope like shore theaters, a deck was built atop a deck.

The Promenade Deck

The Promenade Deck, being fully glass enclosed, was spacious enough for passengers to relax and enjoy deck activities in all weather. Though it was enclosed, it wasn’t climate controlled. In pleasant weather, the windows would be open to let in the sea air. Along the ceiling hung signs indicating the numbered location of boat stations. Along the inner bulkhead, mounted up high, were electronic annunciator alarms while on the outer bulkhead were speakers for announcements. Both the alarms and speaker boxes are still mounted on the Promenade. At the aft end, the lockers that open onto the deck on the port and starboard sides were in reality deck pantries where bouillon, tea, and other beverages were distributed.