Colin Dickey discusses the odd story of the sinking of the SS Normandie.
Originally a French luxury cruise ship, the SS Normandie was being retrofitted as a troop transport in New York’s harbor when it caught fire in 1942 and was destroyed. The incident was quickly ruled an accident due to a welding mishap, but the ship’s destruction caused a panic, feeding fears of German saboteurs and domestic terrorism in the middle of World War II. What lies behind both the panic and the official version, however, is a much stranger story involving the US Navy, a longshot plan by bungling mobsters to free Lucky Luciano, and Alfred Hitchcock. Colin will be joined by the always impressive and psychologically stimulating musical group Rats, whose colorful moods and dense orchestrations will contribute to the unique tenor of the evening. We at Machine are betting this is going to be a night to remember.