“ AQUA FEST ” 1964 AMERICA TV SHOW WEEKI WACHEE SPRINGS & CYPRESS GARDENS FLORIDA XD60744

[@anubisswift]

I like to listen to these while I'm driving because we're never going to have announcers with this degree of composure ever again🍸

[@mikerca]

Yes agreed !

[@AshMc1970]

The exact same auditorium is still there after all these years. The Mermaid shows are still going strong and still filling the park with people coming to see them perform. My Mother recently sold her house on the Weeki Wachee River, where she lived for many years. There are very few homes left on the river that have been grandfathered in, so she was one of the lucky ones. Building homes near the water is now prohibited. I feel very fortunate to have spent time there making happy memories with my mother, son and grandkids. ❤ ❤ ❤

[@bulada3]

I lived up the road off of Route 50 in the 80's and 90's ...the area has definitely changed since then. My father owned J.C. Auto Clinic on Route 50. Went to Weeki Wachee many times and loved the river and all of its beauty.

[@deepbludude4697]

So back in 1979/80 I was working as an apprentice diver we got the gig for doing repair work on some of the structures. Clear water, where mostly we worked in Zero viz the mermaids practicing for their shows. We let them dive some of our equipment, stayed in an old school Florida motel on US19 partied with the mermaids. Man what a blast!

[@elderlypoodle9181]

How fun!!!🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@Driver-UK]

Partied with Mermaids.. What a story 👍

[@barneyfyfe8313]

I saw this as a kid in the 60's in Florida.... a million years ago.

[@dth92301]

Awesome I live about 10 miles south of Weekie Wachee never seen the show but have kayaked the river many times.

[@bulada3]

Grew up around Brooksville in the 80's and 90's and loved going to Weeki Wachee River. My family still lives in the area. The Spring Hill entrance was just completed when we first moved into the area...now it is derelict and overgrown nothingness 😢

[@dth92301]

@@bulada3 they are debating what to with the Spring Hill sign. No final decision if they will replace it with another sign or just tear it down.

[@RMphy89]

Last year I didn’t know who Jack Douglas was. Now, as soon as I see a Jack Douglas film, I’m in. Love this guy.

[@rharris22222]

Wow! At 20:40 is a bit of barefoot water skiing history that you would be hard-pressed to find repeated today. That deepwater start from a sitting position was invented by Dick Pope, Jr., and is MUCH more physically demanding than the modern method of lying back with feet crossed over the ropes while surfing out. Very few people besides DPJ ever managed to do it.

[@rharris22222]

Thinking about it a little more, it was either Dick Pope, Jr. or Randy Rabe. Those two stars were inventing the sport as they competed with each other.

[@tsf5-productions]

My parents, a "first cousin" from Atlanta, and me (age 14...closing in on age 15) had taken about a week's vacation to Florida in June of 1964. Of the several places we visited, Cypress Gardens was one. Dad took a bunch of slide photos of that place. I think he was interested in the water sking show. (Must have been the bathing suit beauties)

[@Top10WizardReviews]

The 60s were definitely the era of water activities. The Beach Boys and surfing in general made sure of it.

[@weewhorobin8202]

I’m pretty sure I saw both of these shows as a kid. I remember the glass bottom boat because we had a picture of it!

[@Ed-shot500]

This is so cool, this place is like 10 min from my house. Its not really a water park these days though, its a state park. They still have the mermaid shows.

[@Acer_Maximinus]

An older b&w version of the waterski show is on mst3000 Teenage Caveman.😂

[@Slv2therhythm]

Weeki Wachee is a Florida State Park now while the former Cypress Gardens is Lego Land Florida. The Banyan tree and Florida pool still exist.

[@tomsimpson5317]

Wish I could go there

[@greghoar9374]

I went there in 1985. I'm Canadian by the way.

[@snowwilliams1]

I feel bad for the Bear, such a small enclosure.

[@Jack-xo2zp]

I wonder where all the guys and gals are now.

[@FVDaudio]

✨✨👏🏻👏🏻

[@HeartsOfDarkness]

Watch A Snatchy

[@DaleC.]

Arent these same waters swarming with gators in 2024?

[@bulada3]

There are all kinds of animals and fish in the area. Lived there for years...saw exactly 1 alligator in all those years.

[@badapple65]

Probably! I went there as a kid and at about 8 years old it ruined it for me they spent so much time huffing off of the oxygen hose. The show would have been better if they simply wore scuba tanks and mouth breathers

[@maxasaurus3008]

Something is off! Ah no British accent!

[@1GirlieGirl]

The good old days, when Florida was glorious, welcoming, and a pleasurable place to live, before it became home to hatred, racism, and regressive laws to exclude everyone who's not a closed minded bigot. Before DeSantis, is what I'm saying. I lived in Florida when the great Bob Graham was Governor. It was a beautiful place back in the 80s.

[@tsf5-productions]

Nothing like ruining a classic documentary with political feelings.

[@joseh3564]

1girl: That's delusional. Do you even realize how many decades ago Bob Graham was Governor?

[@danstinson7687]

I know what you mean. Back when Florida was still Florida...wink wink.

[@JohnChrysostom101]

@1GirlieGirl you are insane the past was everything you hate and more no sane person would have tolerated anything you are into now lol that's why it was beautiful.