Category Archives: Docks and Shipping

Cat Fight: Levinson’s The Box 6: Union Disunion

Posted on May 12, 2010 by Christina M. Rau

The ILA, lead by Teddy Gleason, and the International Longshoremen and Warehouseman Union, lead by Harry Bridges, acted like sixteen-year-old girls in a school-year-long battle for who has the best boyfriend.  Seriously.  Levinson’s retelling of the infighting and interfighting within … Continue reading →

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Returning: Shulberg’s “The Waterfront Revisited”

Posted on May 11, 2010 by Christina M. Rau

Ssmith asked, “have you experienced an altered or ‘constructed’ memory of a place that surprised you upon return after a long absence?” during last week’s discussion of David Thelen.  Budd Shulberg is a storyteller; in the film, On The Waterfront, … Continue reading →

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NY Yards Bust: Marc Levinson’s The Box, 5: Battle for NY’s Port

Posted on April 30, 2010 by Christina M. Rau

Though New York City’s piers were inconvenient with main rail connections across the harbor in Jersey and the yards located inland, Levinson points out that they dealt with 1/3 of America’s sea trade.  The advancements by McLean Trucking and the Port … Continue reading →

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Chaotic Docks: Marc Levinson’s The Box, 2: Gridlock On The Docks

Posted on April 29, 2010 by Christina M. Rau

 The 1950s shipping industry should be called Mixed Cargo Chaos.  Longshoremen found themselves having to be brutish in pulling and pushing carbon-black metals and spools and coils while simultaneously having to be sweet in cradling tropical fruit and other sweets … Continue reading →

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