747 Spiral, 1970
A mod stewardess, probably pushing a cart, walks up the red-carpeted aisle while a male passenger, sporting a timeless classic white turtleneck, just stands there. I’m not sure if he’s staring at the gracious tablescape or that hypnotizing spiral staircase leading to and from the second floor. When was the last time you saw a spiral staircase at 35,000 feet?
Speaking of the floor can you believe how much of it there is? Was someone crunching numbers here? Don’t they realize they can fit more seats in that spacious, gracious flying machine? And, for that matter, don’t they realize they don’t need to feed us?
Back in the tasty days of flying food service, they never really served “food,” they served us “airplane food.” It was special and different. Nobody really liked it, but of course we ate it because we were bored, hungry and, lets face it, the presentation was charming. Quaint scale and compartmentalized, airplane food looked like a dressed-up, high-altitude cousin of the TV dinner. Why, all of the sudden, am I craving chicken or beef?
It’s understandable that airlines don’t feed us anymore and why there is so much anxiety associated with flying the friendly skies these days. But I do think some tension and boredom could easily be relieved if the flight attendants would walk up and down the aisle showing off totally fake plastic versions of the in-flight meals used to serve! Not only would that be entertaining it would be educational. And while they’re at it, they can model some vintage stewardess uniforms too. Then flying would be fun for everyone!
Here’s to spiral staircases, stewards and stewardesses, airplane food and YOU!
Charles Phoenix
Los Angeles
August 11, 2010
I got to take a tour of a brand new, silver American Airlines 747 at Ontario International Airport (ONT) around 1970. But in the Spring of 1971, I flew with my parents on one to Dulles International Airport (IAD) outside of Washington, DC. I marveled at the lounge in the tail, as well as the spaceage ‘moving lounges’ at Dulles that took us to the equally spaceage Eero Saarinen designed terminal. I’m still impressed when I fly to Dulles!
Yes kids, flying used to be fun, exciting and comfortable. Airlines actually used to treat people well – they actually gave you food and you actually were not made to feel as if you were about to get shocked with a cattle prod at any moment.
Love it — so groovy and fancy! I remember flying LA to NY with my father in the late 60s and us going upstairs and there was a grand piano in the piano bar! I remember wondering how the heck they got it there — sort of like those magical ships-in-a-bottle contraptions.
You know the only time I ever saw one was in one of those airplane disaster movies and at the time I thought “Is that for real? Do they really have spiral staircases in airplanes?” I bet every gal felt like Kim Novak striding down those stairs.
They had better food in first class n’est-pas?
I have this image in my memory from a magazine or newspaper story. The spiral staircase REALLY impressed me at the time!
These days that staircase would be considered “seating” for 27 passengers!
amazing, I wish those where still around it would put style back into airtravel.
I think it was about 1994 when I got a deal on TWA to fly First Class LAX to Paris, France on two flights. L.A. to New York I was seated UPstairs and served a really wonderful full breakfast on ceramic plates with stainless dinnerware. New York to Paris
my seat was where the table is in the photo the or “Captains Chair” as they called it. I
had an excellent dinner in that seat and another great breakfast before landing. Yes, First Class is a wonderful way to fly (especially on long flights!) The sad part is the N.Y. to Paris portion was on the infamous flight 800 that crashed a month and a half after I returned home. The Boeing 747 is still being built today with upgrades and revisions to make it safer and better than ever. It has been called “The Queen of The Skies” for good reasons.
Growing up I’m Hawaii with all the family on the mainland, my parents have stories of sitting around the piano bar on the PanAm flights, infant/toddler in tow. Love this pic.
What memories. I can remember falling down those stairs too many times, because of too many drinkies, in the bar up stairs. I cannot remember if the Piano Bar (really) was upstairs or behind the staircase.
Loved this and you made me laugh. My father used to say he LOVED airplane food. Probably the only one on the planet. But it was kinda fun to have everything compartmentalized and portioned. And I loved those double decker planes! Ah, the good ole days. Keep ‘em coming. Always a fun part of the day to see your slides!
You do have some vintage airline photos, holding back on me?? Thanks, love this photo. I did buy the book “stewardess”. You would love my new venue. We will be serving all the dinners on airline trays, the wait staff will be wearing retro stewardess and captains outfits. I bought 21 seats from a wrecked 747 plus rolling cartes that are being refitted to serve the “airline dinners” (much higher quality food). I will keep you posted!