Delta Queen departing New Martinsville,West Virginia

August 26,1925 the showboat WaterQueen departed New Martinsville,West Virginia.Hollywood film producers/actors/ along with Gloria Swanson & Her husband left for New York by train that day.the silent film "stage struck" that was filmed here in New Martinsville became a box office hit during those days of old.that ferry landing in New Martinsville was named Stoney lonesome by many towns folks.the still photo is the showboat WaterQueen docked at the ferry landing in 1925 with cast & crew setting up for the production.in the winter of 1939 the Water Queen sank at the mouth of the Kanawa river in Charlestown,West Virginia.the calliope was the only thing rescued by Ray Choisser & played by Him untill His death for the King Brothers Circus.after that a gentleman named Slim Sommers aquired the calliope & sold the whistles only to stockholder E.J.Quimby of the Greenline steamboat company.in 1958 the whistles were mounted on the steamer Delta Queen & are heard to this day.when I shot this video I had no idea that 74 years prior to date on the exact same location,Hollywood made history in Our town.the two queens were even docked facing up river playing the exact calliope whistles 74 years apart.this story even gets better,Gloria Swanson was born 1899 & I shot this video in 1999 where She once stood 74 years ago awaiting to produce this movie.She passed away at the age of 84 & today the day I posted this video on Youtube on the 26th day of August,is the exact same day She left New Martinsville for New York in which marks 84 years to date.the Delta Queen was launched on the Stockton,California river December 12,1925 just 4 months after the silent film "Stage Struck" was filmed in New Martinsville & is pushing towards 84 years old & carrying the Water Queens calliope whistles.both vessels were constructed of wood & powered by steam....this is strange but true facts.truly amazine story.this ferry landing should be protected & restored & designated as a national historic landmark,the amphitheatre project needs to be scrapped because all three of the Queens are drydocked for good & will never return to the rivers as well as the the vintage raceboat regatta program in New Martinsville.Our town is one big toilet bowl,everything keeps getting flushed away.

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Film & Animation

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[riverexplorer]

Great to hear Capt. Gabriel Chengery playing this great steam calliope again! We miss the boat and Capt. Chengery out here on the rivers of America!

[GaryECampbell]

There is aways a spark looming somewhere in congress that may ignite & send the queen ablaze back in gloryland to reunite with Old Man River.

[THEC0DSLAYER]

@GaryECampbell where ws that at

[aknabea]

Dreams of What Used to Be, I am sorry to say!