San Francisco watercolor painting by Louis Macoullaird reprinted on S.S. Lurline menu cover, 1967.

My aunt and uncle were world travelers back in the day. They were also supporters of my artistic aspirations as a kid. In 1967, following a luxury ocean cruise on the S.S. Lurline from the California coast through the South Pacific and on to Australia, they gifted me with some of the menus from their evening meals. I appreciated, as did they, that these were no ordinary menu covers but wonderful art reproductions printed on heavy watercolor paper. Fifty years later, I’m still astonished by their quality.

The artist, Louis Macoullaird, born in 1913 in San Francisco, executed many poster designs for the Matson Cruise Lines. He served as a Navy lieutenant in the South Pacific during WWII and was known for his watercolors of the South Seas and San Francisco. Posters and reproductions of Louis Macoullaird’s art are still popular and available online and at various galleries.

Inside menu for May 24, 1967. Check out what’s for dinner on a luxury cruise in the Mad Men era.

Southern California watercolor painting by Louis Macoullaird for on S.S. Lurline menu cover, 1967.

Samoa watercolor painting menu cover.

New Zealand watercolor painting menu cover, 1967.

Australia watercolor painting menu cover, 1967.