Queen Mary/Cruise Terminal
Jack Wrather made a fortune in the oil fields of Texas. After serving in WWII, he moved to California, convinced that Hollywood was poised for huge post-war growth. As head of Wrather Corporation, he produced films, bought radio and TV stations and had interests in Capitol Records and Muzak, Inc.. Branching into real estate, Wrather funded the construction of the Disneyland Hotel. In September 1980, Wrather Corporation signed a 66-year lease for the rights to manage the Queen Mary, berthed in Long Beach harbor. He spent more than $25 million to restore the ship and turned her former stateroom cabins into hotel accommodations. In 1981, as a favor to his longtime friend Howard Hughes, Jack saved the “Spruce Goose” from demolition, giving it a new home next to the Queen Mary in the world’s largest, free-span geodesic dome. It is now used by Carnival as a cruise terminal.
Long Beach, Los Angeles County
Photographers: John Bare, Kurt Bayless