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| Earhart portrait printed in the Syracuse American on December 6 1936. Courtesy of Fulton History |
Amelia Earhart was a national celebrity, galvanizing support in a similar way that race car drivers do today. The public watched intently as she set world records, broke down barriers and challenged social conventions both in the air and on the ground. She also excelled outside of the cockpit; she co-founded National Airways (later known as North-East Airlines); penned several books; and became a notable orator; according to Mary Lovell, Earhart delivered a total of 136 speeches and lectures in 1936 alone.
Earhart was a frequent user of New York airports, although her years of flying preceded both LaGuardia and JFK. Rather, Newark was her regional airport of choice, which is unsurprising given that it was the first and only commercial airport in the area at the time. However, she would also later fly into the Floyd Bennett Airfield and practice at the Glenn H Curtiss, which LaGuardia replaced in 1939.
Earhart and her accomplishments were constantly the focus of media attention, and understandably so. A poll conducted by NYU journalism students in 1935 cited Eleanor Roosevelt and Amelia Earhart as the best-known women in the world; a finding that makes sense given that Earhart’s name was featured in the papers on an almost weekly basis. Not only was Earhart one of the few female pilots in the industry, but she was also able to compete with her male counterparts – often setting records for both genders.
In 1935 Earhart set the record for the first solo flight (male or female) direct from Mexico City to Newark, which she completed in just over 14 hours. Although nowadays a fourteen-hour flight from Mexico City to Newark might set the record for most inefficient flight ever, it was seriously fast for the time. New Yorkers were delighted by the feat, so much so that between 10 and 15 thousand spectators crowded the airport in celebration of her arrival. The happy crowd picked up Earhart outside her plane and carried her on their shoulders to the official reception committee. However, not everyone was thrilled by the public show of enthusiasm; her husband referred to the greeting as “the most disgraceful scene that I have ever witnessed,” (although we’re inclined to believe that it wasn't).
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| The Herald Statesman reports on Earhart's flight to Newark on May 8, 1935 Courtesy of Fulton History |
Earhart was a frequent user of New York airports, although her years of flying preceded both LaGuardia and JFK. Rather, Newark was her regional airport of choice, which is unsurprising given that it was the first and only commercial airport in the area at the time. However, she would also later fly into the Floyd Bennett Airfield and practice at the Glenn H Curtiss, which LaGuardia replaced in 1939.
Earhart and her accomplishments were constantly the focus of media attention, and understandably so. A poll conducted by NYU journalism students in 1935 cited Eleanor Roosevelt and Amelia Earhart as the best-known women in the world; a finding that makes sense given that Earhart’s name was featured in the papers on an almost weekly basis. Not only was Earhart one of the few female pilots in the industry, but she was also able to compete with her male counterparts – often setting records for both genders.
In 1935 Earhart set the record for the first solo flight (male or female) direct from Mexico City to Newark, which she completed in just over 14 hours. Although nowadays a fourteen-hour flight from Mexico City to Newark might set the record for most inefficient flight ever, it was seriously fast for the time. New Yorkers were delighted by the feat, so much so that between 10 and 15 thousand spectators crowded the airport in celebration of her arrival. The happy crowd picked up Earhart outside her plane and carried her on their shoulders to the official reception committee. However, not everyone was thrilled by the public show of enthusiasm; her husband referred to the greeting as “the most disgraceful scene that I have ever witnessed,” (although we’re inclined to believe that it wasn't).
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| Earhart was greeted with similar enthusiasm after her 1932 arrival in Newark. Photo: Citizen Advertiser June 24 1932. Courtesy of Fulton History. |
The press was fascinated by her marriage, frequently reporting on the messages sent between Earhart and her husband, George “GP” Putnam, during her lengthy journeys. On one occasion, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle published an article entitled, “Amelia’s husband knew ‘She’d do it’” in reference to her 1937 flight to Honolulu from Oakland. This was the first leg of her round-the-world flight, which she completed in 15 hours and 47 minutes – a world record. Putnam claimed, “I knew she’d make it easily,” (although the reporter did note that GP had stayed up nearly all night in order to receive messages from her plane.) Furthermore, Earhart made the controversial decision to retain her maiden name once married, a decision which was flagrantly disregarded by the New York Times, who opted to refer to her as Mrs. Putnam. In fairness, her husband was often referred to as Mr. Earhart, so safe to say it wasn't personal.
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