Synopsis
This 1964 episode of “America!,” a series of travel films about American sites hosted by Jack Douglas, explores several Florida water attractions: 1) Weeki Wachee Springs aka Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, a Florida attraction north of Tampa known for its mermaid shows with the nickname “America’s Shrine of the Mermaids,” and 2) Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven, Florida. The film begins with a blonde woman in a mermaid tail diving into the spring (1:50); more mermaids, typically 18-25-year-old women, walk on a path. The auditorium for the mermaid shows is shown, which extends 16 feet underground with clear windows (2:14). Mermaids in bathing suits wait in a locker room, then enter the show pool by diving through a chute. (2:28). They use air hoses to breathe. Calamity Jane, a giant clam (3:17) opens to reveal Professor Bubble Trouble, an actor in the show. Mermaids do underwater backflips (4:04). Weeki Wachee was man-made and the depth of the spring is unknown. Mermaids balance on a high wire (5:08). A side paddle wheeler boat, the Congo Belle, floats on the Week Wachee River (5:52) past a shack called Trader’s Landing. White egrets and cypress trees line the river (6:57). The riverboat captain throws slices of bread to raccoons (7:16). Wild boar eat apples. Visitors view black bears and a Florida puma. Back in the auditorium, a mermaid plays a violin underwater (8:54). Mermaids swim by a fiberglass conch shell used as an air chamber or for costume changes (10:05). A…
Uploader's description on archive.org
Details
- Running time
- 24 minutes
- Collection
- Ephemeral Films
Subjects on the Internet Archive
- Brenda Reed
- Jack Douglas
- Weeki Wachee Springs
- Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
- Cypress Gardens
- Winter Haven
- Professor Bubble Trouble
- Congo Belle
- Week Wachee River
- Judy Scott