The Gander Airport International Lounge
‘Mrs. Onassis, the powder room is this way…’
Let’s go back to a time in the not-too-distant past when JFK was presiding over Camelot, Mad Men were still earning that nick name, the war was colder than ever and Gander was truly the crossroads of the world.
Let’s go back to the International Lounge at Gander Airport, opened in 1959 in the presence of Prince Philip himself who, no doubt, thought it all a wonder that Herman Miller couches and Italian Terrazzo flooring were here beautifying this far flung outpost of the colonies.
But, dear Prince, at that moment in time, Gander was no outpost. Planes of the day making the transatlantic crossing had to stop in Gander to re-fuel, then continue. That meant everybody stopped in Gander. Everybody.
The kitten heels of Elizabeth Taylor and Jackie O once click-clicked across that terrazzo to place their derrieres in the space-age Charles and Ray Eames chairs that still occupy the ladies washroom. Fidel Castro, Frank Sinatra, John, Paul, George and Ringo, Richard Burton (alone and with Liz), Marlene Dietrich, Kings, Queens, Princes, Wenches and Rogues alike have seen the early-sixties splendor of this incredible lounge.
Today, it is a time-capsule. The planes stopped coming; re-fuelling became unnecessary in the jet age. But there is still so much to love about this place (is it lounge lust?). There is incredible interior design here, everywhere you look. Is this Manhattan or Gander? One could be forgiven for the confusion. Enjoy these pics of one of our favourite places…
