June 22, 1940 — The Admiral is ready for a night cruise

The Post-Dispatch recently published a book on the Admiral steamship, a much beloved St. Louis institution from 1940 until around 1980.  Many thousands of people have incredibly fond memories of the boat, and many of our readers sent in photos from their Admiral experiences that were published in Rollin’ on the River.

Post-Dispatch photographers covered the boat’s ups and downs throughout its history.  There are fine photos from staffers throughout the decades, but to me, the most extraordinary photography came from those unknown photographer(s) who documented the first few days of the boat’s operation in June, 1940.

June 22, 1940 — One of the Admiral smoke stacks

They are unknown because (1) the original prints did not have the photographer’s name stamped on the back and (2) the Post-Dispatch did not usually give the photographers a credit line in the newspaper.

 Scott Dine is a former photographer and Director of Photography who retired in 1999 from the Post-Dispatch.  He notes that newspapers not giving credit lines to photographers was part of that era, but he thought the P-D was particularly stingy in that department. 

 “I think that as photography became more important in the newspaper, beginning around 1960, and young photographers came on board asking not what to photograph but asking what the story was about, recognition was given for their creativity.  And the quantity of good work began to increase during that period.“

 I was amazed when I saw these nearly 70-year-old Admiral prints in our library.  The lighting and tonal range of the black and white photos was rich and detailed, the composition careful and deliberate.  From shooting to processing, it was obviously the work of a meticulous  craftsman.

June 22, 1940 — The Captain looks out from the Admiral

 I wanted to know more about who was doing this high quality work in 1940, but the lack of a name made that impossible.  What was their philosophy about photojournalism in those early years?  What did some of their other work look like?  What subjects were they best at? 

June 23, 1940 — Along the rail of the lower deck of new excursion steamer Admiral. Studding the darkness are the lights of Eads Bridge.

 Those answers will probably never be known, but the photographs do live on.    

June 23, 1940 — Moonlight river trip - new boat old story