The curious link between WWII and a mermaid wonderland in rural Florida

Newton Perry’s Revolutionary Underwater Mermaid Theater at Weeki Wachee

In 1946, Newton Perry turned a junk-filled Florida spring into magic.

The Navy man who once trained wartime frogmen cleared old fridges and cars from Weeki Wachee Springs. Next, he rigged up air hoses that let swimmers breathe freely underwater without tanks.

Perry then built a small theater right into the limestone, six feet below the water’s surface. By 1947, his “mermaids” were eating bananas and dancing underwater for stunned crowds.

Later, ABC bought the spring and made it even bigger.

Soon, women from as far as Tokyo lined up to join the now-famous mermaid crew that drew half a million fans yearly. The underwater wonder of Weeki Wachee Springs State Park still dazzles visitors today.

Navy Frogman Perry Learned Underwater Skills During WWII

Newton Perry taught Navy Frogmen how to swim underwater during World War II. These special military swimmers needed training for beach missions in the Pacific.

Perry became really good at underwater breathing tricks while working with them. He figured out ways to help divers stay underwater longer than normal.

His time in the Navy gave him know-how about underwater swimming that most people didn’t have.

The Spring Was a Junkyard When Perry Found It

Perry found Weeki Wachee Spring in 1946 while looking for a business chance. The spring looked awful back then.

Old fridges, rusty beds, and junk cars filled the water. Route 19 was just a tiny two-lane road hardly anyone used.

The area was pure wilderness with dirt roads and no stores for miles. You’d more likely see an alligator or bear than another person back then.

Perry Created a Way to Breathe Underwater Without Tanks

From 1946 to 1947, Perry worked on a big problem: how to breathe underwater without bulky gear. He made a smart system using air hoses linked to a pump on land.

The hoses sent air straight to swimmers, letting them stay underwater for hours. Unlike scuba tanks, these hoses stayed hidden from view.

This new idea let performers look like they lived underwater naturally.

The First Underwater Theater Sat Inside a Rock Wall

Perry built something totally new: a theater inside limestone rock where people watched underwater shows. The small 18-seat room sat six feet below the water.

Viewers looked through glass windows built into the rock. The design used the spring’s clear water that stayed 74 degrees year-round.

Guests sat in the cozy theater and watched shows happening in the natural spring right in front of them.

Local Girls Learned to Smile While Breathing Through Hoses

Perry hired young women who swam well and taught them his special breathing trick. The girls practiced smiling underwater while breathing through hidden air hoses.

They learned to drink soda and eat food underwater as part of their act. The swimmers mastered fancy moves while fighting against the spring’s strong current.

The training was tough – they had to look graceful while handling challenges most swimmers never face.

The Show Opened One Day Before Chuck Yeager Broke the Sound Barrier

Weeki Wachee’s first underwater show opened on October 13, 1947. That same day, the TV show “Kukla, Fran and Ollie” first aired.

Just one day later, Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier in his test plane.

Traffic on Route 19 was so light that whenever the mermaids heard a car coming, they ran out to the road in their swimsuits to wave drivers into the parking lot.

Hollywood Came Calling as the Attraction Grew Famous

By the 1950s, Weeki Wachee became one of America’s most popular tourist spots. The park added flower gardens, jungle boat rides, and an Indian village for visitors.

Hollywood noticed the unique place too. The movie “Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid” filmed there in 1948, with Weeki Wachee mermaids Nancy Tribble and Mary Ann Ziegler doing underwater scenes for actress Ann Blyth.

The mermaids took manners and ballet classes as the shows got fancier.

ABC Television Bought the Spring and Spent Big Money

ABC bought Weeki Wachee in 1959 and put over $1 million into making it better. They built a bigger 400-seat theater 16 feet underwater.

The new place had mechanical lifts, fancy props, and music systems. ABC created full underwater shows that looked like Broadway plays beneath the surface.

The TV company promoted the attraction all over their network, bringing national attention to the Florida spring.

Mermaids Performed Underwater Versions of Classic Stories

The bigger shows under ABC went far beyond simple swimming.

Mermaids performed underwater versions of “Alice in Wonderland,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Snow White,” and “Peter Pan. ” Dance experts created complex routines for the swimmers.

The mermaids wore fancy costumes while managing their underwater breathing.

Each show ran with exact timing matched to music and talking that played through underwater speakers.

Women From Tokyo to Florida Competed for Mermaid Jobs

Young women traveled from across America and as far as Tokyo to try out for mermaid jobs in the 1960s. Weeki Wachee hired 35 professional mermaids who performed in shifts.

The swimmers became famous throughout Florida. They put on underwater football games and picnics that amazed visitors.

Famous people like Elvis Presley, Don Knotts, Esther Williams, and Arthur Godfrey came to see the shows. The mermaids got treated like royalty wherever they went in Florida.

Half a Million People Watched Mermaids Perform Each Year

At its peak, Weeki Wachee packed in half a million visitors annually. The mermaids performed eight shows daily to sold-out crowds.

Some performers lived in special mermaid cottages built behind the attraction. They formed their own tight-knit community dedicated to underwater entertainment.

The tiny city of Weeki Wachee officially incorporated in 1966 with a population of just 5 people.

This put the mermaid attraction on official maps and road signs across Florida, cementing its status as a must-see destination.

Visiting Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Florida

Weeki Wachee Springs State Park at 6131 Commercial Way showcases Newton Perry’s underwater mermaid theater, created using Navy diving techniques from World War II.

The park opens 9am to 5:30pm daily with $13 adult admission ($8 kids 6-12, free under 5). Mermaid shows run at 11am, 1:30pm, and 3pm with first-come seating.

Theater doors open 30 minutes early but close when full. Your ticket includes shows, Buccaneer Bay water park, river cruise, and wildlife presentations.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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