If you've done any research at all on the Titanic, or even if you've just flipped through an article or two about the sinking of the ship, you're probably aware of at least one remarkable coincidence associated with the great tragedy " that fourteen years before the Titanic sank, author Morgan Robertson wrote a novella titled Futility about the largest and grandest ocean liner of it's time " one considered unsinkable because of it's new, water tight compartments " that sank after striking an iceberg. Many passengers lost their lives because the ship did not carry enough lifeboats. The name of this fictional ship? The Titan!
But here's a little known fact you can use to amaze your friends and family. On that fateful last night aboard the Titanic, over 200 Second Class passengers were eagerly holed up in the Second Class dining room. What was keeping these passengers so entertained? Why, a new fangled contraption called a Motion Picture! And what were they watching? What else? "The Poseidon Adventure"!
In 1912, the film industry had just begun producing motion pictures. They were all still silent features and all filmed in black and white. Most were no more than one real long, only lasting for 8 to 10 minutes. But this new form of entertainment captivated audiences everywhere. To show that it was the most luxurious liner on the seven seas, the Titanic carried it's own movie projector and a library of movies.
However, the film industry still had a somewhat unsavory image due to it's Nickleodeon days. The First Class passengers aboard the Titanic were offended by this new form of entertainment. So the films were shown at 11 PM, after the First Class Passengers retired, and only in the Second Class dining room.
The audience of a few hundred Second Class passengers was so enthralled with The Poseidon Adventure - a tale of six passengers and crew members struggling to survive the sinking of their ship " that they either didn't feel the shudder of the ship as it struck the iceberg or they took no notice. In fact, they were so entertained by the movie that it was shown a second time, immediately after the first.
The Poseidon Adventure was an unusually long movie for it's time, and with 2 back to back showings of 53 mnutes each, it was well after 1AM when these Second and Third Class passengers finally returned to the deck. By that time, the few lifeboats that there were had already been launched, most at only partial capacity and occupied by First Class Passengers.
This grim coincidence could explain why barely one third of the Titanic's Second Class Passengers survived while nearly two thirds of the First Class passengers and crew made it to safety. - 29943
But here's a little known fact you can use to amaze your friends and family. On that fateful last night aboard the Titanic, over 200 Second Class passengers were eagerly holed up in the Second Class dining room. What was keeping these passengers so entertained? Why, a new fangled contraption called a Motion Picture! And what were they watching? What else? "The Poseidon Adventure"!
In 1912, the film industry had just begun producing motion pictures. They were all still silent features and all filmed in black and white. Most were no more than one real long, only lasting for 8 to 10 minutes. But this new form of entertainment captivated audiences everywhere. To show that it was the most luxurious liner on the seven seas, the Titanic carried it's own movie projector and a library of movies.
However, the film industry still had a somewhat unsavory image due to it's Nickleodeon days. The First Class passengers aboard the Titanic were offended by this new form of entertainment. So the films were shown at 11 PM, after the First Class Passengers retired, and only in the Second Class dining room.
The audience of a few hundred Second Class passengers was so enthralled with The Poseidon Adventure - a tale of six passengers and crew members struggling to survive the sinking of their ship " that they either didn't feel the shudder of the ship as it struck the iceberg or they took no notice. In fact, they were so entertained by the movie that it was shown a second time, immediately after the first.
The Poseidon Adventure was an unusually long movie for it's time, and with 2 back to back showings of 53 mnutes each, it was well after 1AM when these Second and Third Class passengers finally returned to the deck. By that time, the few lifeboats that there were had already been launched, most at only partial capacity and occupied by First Class Passengers.
This grim coincidence could explain why barely one third of the Titanic's Second Class Passengers survived while nearly two thirds of the First Class passengers and crew made it to safety. - 29943
About the Author:
Are you ready for Doomsday? Don't ignore the warnings! Visit Kal Endar's new blog at 2012 Mayan Predictions for the latest research on The End Of The World!
