Pan Am--a name synonymous with glitch, glamour...financial misfortune. For a period of time, it was the face of the sky. It was the aircraft that brought the Beatles to America and was the airliner Stanley Kubrick had in mind when he filmed the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey. Its airplanes, logo and company have appeared in movies as diverse as Blade Runner to National Lampoon's European Vacation. In the Fall of 2011, it will be the basis of the ABC drama "Pan Am" starring Christina Ricci In many ways, the story of Pan Am is the story of America, as the company itself became the representation to the world of America. The story includes monopolies and betrayals, innovation and competition, first class service and terrible losses. The US government aided the company at its outset, and then turned its back on it at its end. Pan Am's demise was tragic, as international forces beyond its control led to a series of mistakes, mismanagement and bad investments, that eventually brought it under. In this in depth essay, author Don Harris tells the story of the rise and fall of the most famous airline in the world.
