Rollerblading on the SS United States Promenade Deck

[HarryEverdeen98]

you can do that???

[EtecGear]

I would crap my pants if i was Rollerblading in the ship and that music started playing.

[cybermarsactual]

Your fruit booting a national icon. Cease and desist....Commie.

[ElInmortal68]

This Oceanliner needs to be restored and transferred to the US Government as the New Presidential Ocean Liner and this is the only way this beautiful ocean liner will be saved from the scrapyard. Because our President dont have an Ocean Liner that I know of. Our President have an Air Force One and I believe our president got to have an Ocean Liner.

[richskis]

I had no idea she was still in existence. A friend of mine worked on her many years ago. He would have loved to see her restored and not scrapped.

[LadyRider2007]

My parents came over on this ship! See the story: Gertrude kerschner's Life Story at LadyRider2007 - thank you! :)

[bvgus]

The soundtrack fits perfectly with your skateboarding in and out of her promenades and rooms ! Love it !

[Nuthin141]

@ 2:03, lil Birdy :3

[windstorm1000]

My gosh! What happened to all her beautiful furnishings?! And will they be restored?

[gemini16th]

The "Big U" was a fantastic & special ship(the largest liner ever built in the U.S.). The interior decor was a bit on the "severe" side(as was most 1950's design): scant ornament, modern art works- but with over one hundred different colors of paint delineating the various public rooms & cabins- another '50's decorating innovation(the first-class observation lounge featured an emerald green carpet & blue seating). The result was a very relaxing and confortable enviroment for passengers.

[jvarela965]

Song is the Percy Faith Orchestera " Brazil "

[TheLegoboy1997]

@jvarela965 Actually, this is the Alfred Menconi Orchestra (SS United States Meyer Davis Orchestra). Recorded 1959.

[captainofthetitanic]

i was so impressed with this and i have one question. what did it smell like in there?

[Jakethesnake1281]

Only wish they could do the same for the SS America

[XVIIIMCMLXXXVIII]

You lucky bastard !!!!!

[thetitanicisdead]

@galloway62042009 AWESOME!!!!! Are they going to re-fit her and sail her again !?!? :D

[galloway62042009]

Seriously I cant belive how Clean and Empty it is

[thetitanicisdead]

Is she going to be sold for scrap metal or is she going to be saved

[galloway62042009]

@thetitanicisdead Apparently Someone donated 5.somthing Million to save it THIS year :D

[windstorm1000]

@galloway62042009 that ship has a guardian angel. She will need several more. We need a couple of old ship loving millionaries to get aboard and start forking over some cash for her refurbishing.

[MrJuicyHamburger]

will they refurbish the interior and make it like new

[MrWill1985]

I noticed the SS United States gated off when I was up in Philly on Monday. I took plenty of pics with my digital camera.

[robbiedexterno1]

Thank you for this clip! You would think this liner would be brought back into service with original 50's decor as an alternative to these modern monstrocities!

Transatlantic all the way ! X

[chunckychimpmunk]

awesome video, what's the name of the song you used

[rrbillig]

@chunckychimpmunk The song is a very famous one, named "Brazil"; in this case, it was recorded by another orchestra that played on the SSUS. You can find it on the album "Let's Dance On Board The S.S. United States" ... you can find it on Amazon or iTunes.

[MrJuicyHamburger]

what happened to all the furniture

[champsinger]

was i dark upstairs?

[virgiliofi]

what is the name of the song???

[gbowne1]

Two different ships the SS American Star and the other ship SS United States. There is also the SS America. Tell us who built them and when.

[hop208]

@gbowne1 The SS America was renamed the SS American Star.

[gbowne1]

@hop208 Ok.. thats more like what I was thinking. Just wasn't completely sure. 

[DFDalton1962]

Doesn't appear there's anything worth saving about this stripped out hulk. If they don't have any of the original interiors, what historic value does it have? It would cost a fortune to reproduce what was there originally and they'd never recoup the costs. It's a lost cause, unfortunately.

[trainmanauxl1]

@DFDalton1962 HISTORIC VALUE?! DUDE that ship is The US's flag ship, and its STILL the fastest in the would, even after retirment! Its a ship worth saving like the Queen Mary.

[pwbuehler]

I was just onboard for last night's lighting of her stacks by artist Robert Wogan in celebration of the SS US Conservancy raising enough money to purchase her from the current over and save her from the scrapyard.

[77LincolnContinental]

LOL when it got dark you got the hell out of there great vid

[pwbuehler]

@77LincolnContinental Thanks and yes, I was heading into the movie theater down a sloped floor in the dark... I made a quick turnaround!

[eebola1701]

@pwbuehler I saw Doris Day on the big screen in that theater....1966, thanks for the video

[man12345mn]

@77LincolnContinental hey you went on this ship what is it like

[patlee6]

@77LincolnContinental I saw the propellers from this great ship on wooden cradles at Fort Eustis on the banks of the James river VA, twenty years ago.Don`t know why they were there but they had SS United States chalked on them. We drove onto the camp to view the old reserve fleet ships and these props were near the Office. To conserve this old lady will cost Millions!!!! Its just an empty shell. Is there the money around these days for such a project? Great shame.

[DuskbatRabbit]

sureal

[hedablinka]

Great choice of music for this romp! From what's left there doesn't seem to be much elegance afloat.

[Titan752]

I own a lifejacket from the "Big U".

[pancreasmen]

They say she's COMPLETELY gutted, but she's in great shape for her age!!! Hope she steams again... wait... SHE WILL!!!!!!!!!

[gemini16th]

Like the R.M.S. Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA, it must be haunted! Just think of all the rich & famous personalities of the time that traveled on it: John Wayne, Joan Crawford, Jimmy Stewart, Jackie Gleason, The Kennedy's, Bob Hope- and on and on!

[Sarasdad91]

This is so cool. Now we know kinda what she looks like inside. I guess all the furnishings are gone.

[TheLegoboy1997]

I didn't know the ship had an aviary!

Good thing got out of there quickly.

That bird almost had you cornered!

[Abricialio]

I have contacted the White House with a long message, I hope they get involved to save this ship!

[alexanderdanas08]

i want a counter strike map of this!

[JDSFLA]

This is really cool to zip around so quickly. As a young boy I crossed the Atlantic on her twice and have many photos and memories of that time. Loved gala nights when everyone dressed gowns and black tie, also the horse races in the ballroom (done with small wooden horses).

[BlueEyedCubTN]

I got to see her from a distance in 2008. I almost caused an accident on the Walt Whitman Bridge going to Jersey. I looked over my shoulder to change lanes and there she was! In my mad dash across town trying to get to a job appointment, I completely forgot that she was moored in Philly. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough time for me to even snap a picture of her, even on the way back to Philly. I was only there for three days, all filled with work.

[gemini16th]

Testing my "Big U" interiors knowledge here- Main Stairway at 0:28; 1st class Ballroom at 0:34; "Navajo" cocktail lounge at 0:43; 1st class smoke room at 0:50(again at 1:00); 1st class privt. dining rm. at 1:10; 2nd main stairs at 1:40; 1st class Observation Lounge at 1:44(other side at 2:00)- it's a blurr after that!

[gemini16th]

2nd class theater at 2:17 (it was actually an enclosed space in the center of the first class Observation Lounge, forward on Promenade deck). I assume original entrance was from the 2nd/3rd class public room at front of the ship, below the bridge.

[gemini16th]

Cool music- sounds like the band music from the same 1950's era of the ship. Do you know the tune & the band playing?

[virgiliofi]

@gemini16th did you ever found out the name of the song???

[gemini16th]

@virgiliofi Not yet, but I do know the band that sailed with the ship was called "The Meyer Davis Orchestra". I believe it may be one of their recordings from the '50's.

[Yarxia]

How in the world did you get on the ship? don't you have to do some wierd things or get paperwork or somthing?

[pwbuehler]

The builder's daughter introduced me to the previous owner about 10 years ago. I was invited back when they filmed the documentary "Lady in Waiting," which is a great film on the ship if you haven't seen it.

[Yarxia]

@pwbuehler Yes I have seen it, considering I'm with the SS United States Foundation. You are a lucky person, cuz I Live in the Southwest.

[thehoff1982]

amazing footage man! until they do something constructive with this piece of history, i guess we have to rely on loonies like you to get us these amazing pics! nice one!!!

[legomaxmania]

restore dont wait till she is like her sister the american star

[TheVirtualSkipper]

Is this even allowed?

[pwbuehler]

The ship is well guarded, so there's no chance of sneaking on - I was there with permission of the then-owner to photograph.

[tacoma2317]

@pwbuehler I have been in to that place several times to pick up loads of paper rolls. It's actually not very hard at all to get in to see the ship from the outside you just have to go through a security guard. If you go there when there are not so many trucks coming in and out they might let you go and and look at it. But to get on the ship is a completely different story. You will need a bridge or a crane to lift you on to it. how did you actually get on the ship?

[broadcast9999]

There's a chain link fence stopping you from approaching the boat, but the fence has a door. The door, she's a left open sometimes...

[jhstealth]

howd you get into the dock? Id be happy with just getting into the dock just to look at it closer. Id love to get a photoshoot of my car by it too but i dobut i could make that happen.

[broadcast9999]

For god sakes, open this 'time capsule' up to the public, ten bucks to board, rope out a self guided path and put up some lights where it's dark and barricade/weld anything that that is dangerous. Have the path include some deep probes to: the bilge, the anchor locker, the prop shafts, and lookout tower (crows nest). I bet the ship could earn $100k per year from people like me who like to savor the atmosphere of really old stuff as much as seeing a truly amazing ship up close.

[broadcast9999]

How the heck did you get aboard her? A few years ago I attempted to approach her, I got 10 ft from a tiny shack near the bow I was nabbed by the nephew of the owner (??) and told to take off. But then he lightened up and we had a really nice conversation. I hinted I would pay cash to go aboard but he was steadfast and that was as close as I ever got. A few weeks later I discovered my best friend had crossed the Atlantic aboard her in the mid 60's. So how did you get aboard?

[jhstealth]

Wow your lucky, i moved here a couple monts ago and Ive wanted to go on that soo bad ever since. it looks soo awsome sitting there.

[91jayd]

America should wake up and think that our history made us what we are today and that a little piece of that beautiful history should be saved and that is the

S.S united states

[zeemeerminnengek]

Haha! This is cool! Nice way to make a video of the inside! I really hope they are going to restore here. Just look at her! Just a bit of paint, some fixing and new furnutere and she is ready to sail again! If I had the money, I would buy her in a sec!

[76TomD]

Looks like she's in great shape.. ready to be refitted!

[c9ari]

Thank you for show this I have been wanting to see inside her.

[DerAdventurer]

Absolutely superb! Watercolours of Brazil(the song to anyone who unknowns it) gives a special touch to this marvellous Ocean Liner it is the SS United States. I still hope America wakes up and saves the iconic figures which raised its greatness and built its spirit.

Thanks for sharing.

[DevonMScott]

Delightful!

[LateNightCable]

I never expected to see a video of someone skating through the Big U, I have to say it's the most original thing I've seen on Youtube. Great job and choice of music!

I like to think that she will be an "easy fix" as she was always a fairly sparsely fitted vessel, and all metal. Stay with us Big U, you're still beautiful!

[coreyteen13]

Well now, WHEN they restore her to service, she'll have a clean slate for interior workings.

[DIAPERGRAVY52]

how do people get one this thing with their video camera's throw a rope and climb???

[firestar124]

Of course not, they do have ramps to get on her you know...: P

[DIAPERGRAVY52]

i wouldn't trust them,i'd use my rope..lol

[ManWhoLovesTheMary]

I thought the interiors on this video looked a little more intact than quite a number of recent (and by recent I mean 2005) photos of her I've seen on the Internet. I do so desperatly want to go on her even in this unstable state. What a ghostly experience it would be...

[titanicboss]

dosent look as bad as it dose on the outside it looks in good nick on the inside

[USAwrestling31]

i got up and danced lol hope they restore her

[RMSAquitania]

You combined two things that were part of my chilhood - rollerskating and ocean liners. I would love to have done this on my blades, which I miss after moving to Britain. I own some memorabilia from her have built the 1/600 and 1/350 scales of The Big U and could easily see how we could bring her back to glory. She is in great shape, despite being denuded, and the proenade is still lovely to look at. I applaud your efforts to help preserve her and love your choice of "Brazil."

[CobraMarty]

I guess you know your way around the ship. Seems so big.

I would love to come onboard and see how it looks like... Woulc be fascinating and interesting Is there ANYTHING at all.. A single spec of the interior left?

[homeric9]

What a thing to be able to do! I followed your path via my deckplans..I noticed at 1:12 you stopped at the entrance to the First Class Restaurant. I had heard there is a small strip of something from the original decorative element left. Has the galley been ripped out from there as well?

[BCraven04]

How is it that you were able to go onboard?

[pwbuehler]

This video was done during one of many visits starting in 1999, when I was given permission by Edward Cantor to photograph. I was introduced by Laura Bachko, whose father Nicholas Bachko was the lead engineer during the ship's construction. I also went onboard during the filming of the documentary "Lady in Waiting," when I was there to help my friend Robert Wogan with his lighting of the stacks.

[Purecen]

It is still a beautiful ship. I wish that the City of Philadelphia would buy it, as Long Beach bought the Queen Mary. Then it could be turned into a beautiful hotel on the Delaware River. As far as I know, it was built for speed and still holds the Blue Ribbon for the fastest trans-Atlantic crossing.

[thehefercow]

NO! The Queen Mary has a horrible fate! Haven't you seen how they have torn everything in that ship apart?! Just look at the Ghosts and legends tour, smashed furniture everywhere! Engines removed! She is stuck! I hear that the big U is still operateable. It would be awful to have her like the Queen Mary.

[BCraven04]

thehefercow-

Haha yeah but there is nothing TO smash on the Big U anymore

[thehefercow]

lol well you got that right! but i was talking about if she were to be restored.

[carsmasher]

That looked like fun! The Big U still looks like she's in really good shape.

[shipgeek]

This is the coolest thing ever! You rock!

[Nonniegirl4Ever]

I envy you....you had a chance to rollerblade through the ship!:) Not many people can even go on her or let's say near her. Seeing this is like a virtual tour of what the ship is today. I felt as if I went along with you. It is very sad to see the Big U's interiors gutted out, but everyday I have hope for her, that she may live on and not suffer the fate like her other running mates. Thank you for sharing this clip. It meant a lot to me.