In the Roaring Twenties, the Los Angeles Steamship Company (LASSCO) launched its first service on the Los Angeles to San Francisco route and the following year added service to Hawaii to compete with the esteemed Matson Line.

The star of the fleet was the SS City of Los Angeles, a sleek, white and glamorous 580ft vessel with 400 first class cabins and 100 steerage cabins.

Patronised by wealthy tourists and the Hollywood elite – Tarzan actor and athlete Johnny Weissmuller and legendary surfer Duke Kahanamoku entertained guests with their water skills on board - while stars such as William Powell and Carole Lombard traveled on the ship on their honeymoon.

This 1932 Cruise to Nowhere entertainment menu was used on a monthly voyage held during Prohibition when alcohol was allegedly forbidden on board. In reality, cocktail parties were held every night in the ‘library’ that was devoid of books.

Certainly, it seems like the passengers on board had a lot of fun – the original cast of Warner Bros operetta The Desert Song provided some of the musical entertainment. There was a masquerade ball and a costume party where many of the guests dressed in drag. Every night there was dancing to a full orchestra.

A character nicknamed Uncle Remus was Master of Ceremonies.

The City of Los Angeles later was pressed into service for three-month ‘trade missions’ to the Panama Canal.

Due to the worsening American economy (The Depression) LASSCO was eventually taken over by the Matson Line.

It operated as a subsidiary of that company, running a route between San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego, but ceased operations in 1937.