Pan Am's Flight
to Nowhere Recreates the Golden Age of Travel
Beverly
Cohn
The Pan American Airlines of yesteryear. Photo:
Beverly Cohn
Pilot Anthony Toth spent years
scouring the world for authentic original Pan Am interior parts,
flatware, and vintage uniforms recreating this authentic Pan Am
Boeing 747. Photo: Beverly Cohn
|
ave you ever longed for the good old days when luxury travel was, well,
luxury travel? Back in the day, there were no security lines or body
scanners and whoever accompanied you to the airport, could actually
sit with you at the gate until you were ready to embark. When you walked
onto a Pam Am plane, let's say, you were greeted with lovely,
smiling hostesses who were not being distracted by cell phones and most
cordially escorted you to your seat.
Well folks, if you would like to relive that glorious
time, I have just the spot for you. Air Hollywood, a well-known
motion picture studio specializing in films requiring interior or exterior
shots of airplanes, has launched The Pan Am Experience. A joint
venture of the studio's CEO and Founder Talaat Captan
and Anthony Toth, they have created the interior of a Pan
Am Boeing 747, including First and Clipper Class cabins,
as well as the nostalgic spiral staircase connecting First Class
to the Upper Deck dining room. Toth has spent years scouring
the world for authentic original Pan Am seats, tables, silverware,
dishes, stemware, and serving carts as well as different sections of
the plane and vintage uniforms. The recreation is absolutely perfect
for as you enter the plane, you are immediately catapulted back to that
luxurious time.
The life jacket demonstration by one of the
hostesses was anything but traditional as there was a definite
comic slant to her delivery resulting in lots of laughter from
the passengers. Photo: Beverly Cohn
|
Before boarding the plane for our "flight to nowhere,"
I checked in at the reception desk where tickets cost anywhere between
$200-$300. I was issued a Pan Am Experience Boarding Pass
for flight 811 to Hawaii, Seat 7J in Clipper
Class. The reason for the Hawaii "destination," is that
the airline, which was in business from 1927-December 4, 1991,
would have celebrated 50 years of flights to the island. Commemorating
that event, lovely women, accompanied by a small band playing Hawaiian
music, entertained us with traditional Hula dancing. It is said
that Pam Am set the bar for glamour and sophistication as well
as giving the masses the opportunity to travel. The "waiting room"
is filled with historic memorabilia showcasing the people, places, and
aviation paraphernalia germane to particular eras.
Pre-boarding drinks were served in the boarding area
and soon an announcement was made that Flight 811 to Hawaii
was now boarding First Class passengers. Everyone was elegantly
attired, including some men in black tie and thankfully, for a change,
not a flip-flop or cut off jeans were anywhere to be seen.
Left: The meal service was extra delicious due to
the playful demeanor of the hostesses. Right: Adding to our dining experience
was a fashion show during which the hostesses modeled uniforms from
different decades. Photos: Beverly Cohn
Wearing the traditional native costume, a
graceful Hula dancer glided up and down the aisles. Photo:
Beverly Cohn
|
Escorted to my seat by a beautiful young hostess wearing
a uniform from the 1970s, I was delighted to see that a table
sat between four seats two on each side offering a convenience
of yesteryear. Kicking off the food service, a menu of libations was
distributed which listed 18 choices from sparkling water
and Coca Cola to premium wines, champagne, and specialty drinks
such as Mile High Mai Tai and Pam Am Punch made with fresh
pineapple juice, sour mix, blue curacao liqueur, white rum, and vodka.
Its description ends with "Puts a Puka Puka in your step!
Indeed, a few of those, you'll really be flying high.
Although the dinner recreated authentic food, the taste
was far from what we use to call airplane food, which now actually consists
of a bag of nuts and a beverage. A crisp tossed salad with prawns was
the starter, followed by a delicious, tender Beef Wellington
offered as one of the entrees. During the meal service, with songs from
the Great American Songbook piped in, we were entertained with several
fashion shows in which the hostesses turned into models and strutted
through the different cabins wearing the uniforms that were standard
from decade to decade. After a while, I have to admit that looking through
the window with a fluffy cloud-filled sky painted on the outside, I
began to feel like I was actually on a plane sans the constant roar
of the engines, which, by the way, is available on request. Gone for
this brief walk back in time are all the inconveniences associated with
today's travel.
This gives new meaning to Neil Diamond's Be
lost on a painted sky where the clouds are hung for the poets eye.
Photo: Beverly Cohn
Bev checked out the cockpit to make sure all systems
were go for take off.
Photo: Cary Harrison
Pan Am's jingle was "Pan Am Makes The
Going Great." This experience will make the going lots of fun
and would be a perfect way to celebrate a special occasion such as birthdays,
anniversaries, bachelor or bachelorette parties or just for the plain
or plane fun of it.
Surrounded by literally thousands of boarding passes,
CEO & Founder of Air Hollywood explained some of the other programs
offered at Air Hollywood such as Fear of Flying and Open Sky For Autism.
Photo: Beverly Cohn
It was time to say goodbye to this wonderful crew
who made The Pan Am Experience a hoot and a half. Photo:
Beverly Cohn
For
Scheduling Information:
Air Hollywood
13240 Weidner Street
Pacoima, CA 91331
Phone: 818-890-0444
Other Air Hollywood
Programs:
Fear of Flying
Open Sky For Autism
K-9 Training Program for Air Travel
Related Articles:
Flight
of Culinary Fancy; Flying
in Mint Class Style with JetBlue; Flying
Aboard An Aviation Legend; SWISS
Air Celebrates New Jets
|