This upcoming weekend will be a historic one: It’s the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912.
To commemorate the historical event, The Fabulous Fox Theatre and the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission are presenting “A Titanic Centennial Weekend.” The itinerary comprises three events that will thrust the attendees back to the time the Titanic sailed, during the Edwardian era.
On Friday, April 13, guests will attend a champagne reception with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at Bixby’s Restaurant, located inside the Missouri History Museum. The museum will display an exhibit of Titanic-related artifacts and will offer a viewing of the film “A Night to Remember.” This 1958 film provides a straightforward, stark examination of the sinking of the Titanic, sans fictional subplots and love triangles.
The film viewing costs $10, but a $50 ticket will grant admission to the reception as well as the film viewing.
The main event will take place on Saturday, April 14, in the form of a recreation of “The Last Dinner on the Titanic” at The Fabulous Fox Theatre. Attendees are encouraged to dress in the style of the periods. For men, a waistcoat and necktie will suffice — for women, a large hat and corset are “fitting.”
Guests arriving at the theater will receive a boarding pass and an envelope with the name and historical biography of an actual First Class passenger. Then, they will be greeted by cocktails and hors d’oeuvres typical of the Edwardian era in the theater’s Grand Lobby. All the while, musicians will play music popular in 1912.
Moving to the dinner portion of the night, the luxurious 11-course meal will be served on the stage. The First Class menu and other details have been meticulously researched to replicate the 11-course meal and nine accompanying wines served a century ago.
Between courses, musicians will entertain guests with music played on the ship that night. According to a media release, “Guests will be able to view images of the ship and its passengers and hear stories told by the Titanic’s most notable luminaries about the ship, their personal remembrances, and its courageous passengers and crew.” John Jacob Astor, the “unsinkable” Molly Brown, Benjamin Guggenheim, Captain Edward John Smith and Isadore and Ida Strauss are among these passengers.
The festivity will cost a lump sum of $500 per person. Profits will benefit the Fox Performing Arts Foundation, which, according to the release, “fosters and promotes the performing arts in the St. Louis metropolitan area encouraging audiences of all ages and from all walks of life to discover the joy and wonder of live performances.”
As the grand finale, on Sunday, April 15, the day of the disastrous sinking, a champagne brunch will be held at the Piper Palm House. Though the house has been completely renovated, it retains the title of the oldest standing greenhouse west of the Mississippi River. Located in Tower Grove Park, the exotic plants, coupled with the architectural design — high ceilings and large windows — will resemble the Titanic’s Veranda Café.
Like Saturday’s dinner experience, the champagne brunch served on Sunday will also recreate a First Class menu served on the RMS Titanic. For brunch, the delectable menu includes smoked salmon, lamb chops, sirloin steak, haddock and desserts, among other foods. This event costs $45.
The Fox Theatre and the Convention and Visitors Commission have made great efforts to draw guests from outside of St. Louis to visit the city for the commemorative weekend. Lodging at the 1920s-style The Cheshire, lodging and transportation to and from each event makes visiting the city an easy and convenient reality.
The story of the RMS Titanic would not be a household name if it were not for James Cameron’s 1997 film, “Titanic.” Upon release, “Titanic” captivated audiences in America and abroad, winning 11 Oscars in 1998, including Best Picture, Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Effects and Best Music, Original Dramatic Score.
Amidst lavish, extravagant affairs such as an 11-course dinner and musical serenades, it is all too easy to become engrossed in the culture of an antiqued era. Usually, this would be considered materialistic or excessive.
But when it comes to the RMS Titanic, celebrating the ship’s legacy and remembering April 15, 1912, when more than 1,500 people lost their lives, acknowledging the ship’s wealth and the paradox of the sinking of an “unsinkable ship,” such accommodations should be both acceptable and encouraged.
For more information on “A Titanic Centennial Weekend” events, or to purchase tickets, visit fabulousfox.com.
