Posted on 06/22/2014 5:47:21 PM PDT by Squawk 8888
The vintage international lounge at the Gander airport in central Newfoundland is a time capsule where Italian marble and designer furniture still exude the faded glamour of world travel.
Its a vast room, its iconic yellow sofas whimsically arranged on a mezzanine overlooking terrazzo floors and sleek blue chairs where VIPs ranging from global leaders to the Beatles once stopped on transatlantic flights.
It was opened by the Queen as a showcase of Canadian modernity in 1959. But the growing costs of preserving this cultural touchstone have raised the prospect that a more practical, smaller terminal will replace it.
We understand and appreciate the historical significance of this airport and this terminal building, said Gary Vey, president and CEO of the Gander International Airport Authority.
Were hopeful that some solution can be found perhaps to maintain it. But we have to be clear that it cant be at the expense of the airport authority because we dont have a mandate for that.
To put it bluntly, were not in the museum business.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.nationalpost.com ...
Thanks Ken....I will enjoy this.
I read ‘The Day the World Came to Town’ and just fell in love with the place and people.
Would hope they’re still as warm and caring as they were 13 years ago.
Canadian rednecks :-)
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(Actually, even late in the propeller airliner era, Gander was obselete by 1957. The Douglas DC-7C Seven Seas and the Lockheed L-1649 Starliner achieved the ability to fly London to New York City westbound year-round.)
The airport terminal at Oaxaca was built of quarried onyx with a thatched roof...
I think the 1950’s were the last decade for good architecture. I don’t think this lounge is a good example, though.
Most of the people in our company were in sales and liked the proximity and night life of midtown Manhattan, complete with very expensive hotel rooms slightly larger than deluxe broom closets.
I was there for actual work and needed a place for real work and rest, so got a spacious room for about half what they paid not far from a short train ride into Midtown. I remember it mainly because the company beancounter questioned me about how I'd paid so little for a hotel in NYC when I turned in my expense report.
I was just chatting with my neighbour today, he told me about how his late mother put up three stranded families in her bungalow. She considered it a break from the routine.
But I bet they don’t fly them across the Atlantic.
No kiddin !
LOL no, the only ocean they fly over is usually under ice.
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