Matson Lines wine and bar list
Maker
Matson Lines
(American, founded 1882)
Artist
Frank Macintosh
(American, 1901 - 1985)
Datebefore 1988
Object number00003569
NameBooklet
MediumInk on paper
DimensionsOverall: 2 x 260 x 202 mm, 0.05 kg
ClassificationsEphemera
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionMatson Lines wine and bar list with a cover image by Frank Macintosh list depicting people dancing and preparing food.
The interior is inscribed, 'Wine and Bar List, Sea Use Only. Matson Lines, the Oceanic Steamship Company'. HistoryMatson Line's passenger services originally specialised in luxury cruises to Hawaii ands later expanded throughout the Pacific and Australia. They promoted the experience of an 'exotic' voyage ' and carried this atmosphere throughout their ships, down to the onboard facilities such as the 'Polynesian Club' or 'Outrigger Bar'. In 1927 Matson Lines extended their reach into the luxury Hawaiian market by building the
Royal Hawaiian hotel. They were now able to cater to passengers at sea and during their stay at Waikiki.
As part of their branding, Matson Line, like many other shipping lines of the era, commissioned artists to design menus, murals and posters to capture the glamour of the voyage. Menus such as this bar list, were designed as souvenirs for passengers, pieces of art and memory to take home with them. One artist working for Matson Line was Frank Macintosh and his highly stylized and colorful images became synonymous with Matson Line's promotion of Hawaii as a holiday destination.
1950-1980
