The TRAGIC ACCIDENT That ENDED 'FLIPPER' for Good

[@womensarmycorpsveteran2904]

I love the show but I didn’t know about Cathy. It’s heartbreaking & kinda hits home for me. I was kept confined as a child in an abusive foster home after my family was killed in a car accident. I can imagine being all alone with no family or friends in a confined space. I still have flashback nightmares. Good to know that the tragedy came to some good by the trainer. Dolphins are social animals & need their pods. Kinda freaky cuz my name is Cathy.

[@philippesauvie639]

Lassie with fins! Love it! 😂 but it’s true! By the way, I always cried when The Lassie show ended with that mournful whistling tune when I was just a little boy. OMG! I’m crying now! 😩

[@theoneandonlypinkypinky8245]

The Dolphin research center in the Florida Keys has changed alot. They re not captive now. They can swim out of the bay into the ocean and they have tracking so if they get lost they rescue them. Many are born there the rest are rescued. They have not captured dolphins in decades! They stay there because they are fed but swim out during hurricanes so they don't drown in the Bay. They dont keep them in a tank maybe before I was born they did but they keep them in a bay and are not captive. I used to be a member. I did a dolphins swim there years ago. I live in NYC so this was unique for me. They are very friendly and wave hello and good bye even with nobody there to tell them to. I used to watchFlipper as a kid and learned more at the DRC. They rescue sea lions and other aquatic animals as well. I cried alot when that dolphin committed suicide!

[@garycarpenter2980]

How does a dolphin 🐬 comit suicide?

[@kayodephillips5435]

I love this show so much

[@jamesbest2983]

I was down in Florida visiting a cousin easter time in pompano beach- our family’s rented s car snd went doen into the keys aa flipper ( mitzi) pulled me around in a 10 foot aluminum punt- i still have the postcard advertiding flipper and a fold up comb from the gift shop!!

[@mulvey0731]

Flipper used to jump in the end zone of the Miami Dolphins football games when they first started out as a franchise. They had an above ground pool and flipper would do somersaults when they scored. I used to go to games with my father and even got to meet Bob Griese.

[@JohnDoe-oj5it]

Very cool..thanks for sharing 👍

[@katula14]

Cathy isn't the only dolphin who refused to live. And the guy is strange. From one extreme to another. He never thought that she was sad because her human friends whom she used to play with and who trained her, abandoned her, not because she lived in captivity? I find it unbearable. Such sweet animals, sweethearts like cats. That is why they like eachother, both are so loving and friendly. Humans are freaks.

[@memecats5698]

I guess I was young but had no idea what happened to the dolphin committing suicide, that’s horrible.

[@dreamguardian8320]

Indeed😢

[@godetonter4764]

She was trying for years, oddly enough he was depressed because s,he didn't have thumbs and didn't want to be type cast as just another Lassie with Finns. The suicide took years to actually succeed. All the Lassie with Finns formed a suicide cult in honor of their great Dolphin God that not only pilots a spaceship, but has thumbs, he was rumored to wipe out the entire Lassie with Finns with just the power of his thumb he drowned all these Lassies with thumbs. It was really just some bunk LSD that Carrie Grant shared with the Dolphins that convinced them to form a suicide pact to join the Great Dolphin 🐬 with thumbs in his celestial spacecraft

[@ZiddersRooFurry]

@@godetonter4764 What a shitty comment.

[@dreamguardian8320]

@@shanechandler3261 True.

[@keithmichael112]

imagine hearing that as a kid, yeesh

[@californiadreamer8686]

I really don’t remember any of the shows, I was pretty young. I do remember how much I loved watching Flipper. I thought it was a great show, and it made want to see the dolphins in person. I was a big Lassie fan also, I have a soft heart for animals.

[@garycarpenter2980]

I have a soft spot for dolphins and some dogs and I'm really a cat 😸 lover

[@demonicusa.k.a.theblindguy3929]

My favorite episode was when Flipper Took out those sharks by ramming into their stomachs at high speed. I mean I was just a little kid but we lived in Santa Cruz California at the time and Jaws Was the big thing which suddenly made going to the beach terrifying to me. Death by dolphin just seemed so bad-ass.

[@jeffreykabik]

I was going to say the same

[@marcussmith4913]

huh.. I can relate to that. I didnt really watch this show as I was born in the 80s but once in a while it was on certain channels never could forget that theme song.

[@womensarmycorpsveteran2904]

I remember that episode as well. We lived in Redondo Beach.

[@SteveL-qw4rp]

changing the flipper theme song in a jazzy way is like how the garfield and friend's theme was changed badly in it's final season

[@mikecampingforfun5226]

I was born and raised in key largo and I live 50 feet from John Penncamp state park. I was also a cop for 27 years in key largo and my kids (adults now) still live there. I actually swam as a kid in the same water.

[@debbieolandese4912]

That is just too cool!

[@mikecampingforfun5226]

@@debbieolandese4912 I had a good life growing up in the keys

[@debbieolandese4912]

@@mikecampingforfun5226 I've always wanted to visit there but haven't had the opportunity to go yet.

[@mikecampingforfun5226]

@@debbieolandese4912 it's changed so much it's ugly now. To much condo

[@debbieolandese4912]

@@mikecampingforfun5226 I'm so sorry. It's pretty much like that almost everywhere.

[@Jay-vr9ir]

I met the late Frankie Randall , a nice guy he sang the song Flipper .

[@DEEDEEGARRETT1]

Those were the good days of good TV.

[@dreamguardian8320]

Agreed.

[@timothyfirth4809]

Yes

[@womensarmycorpsveteran2904]

Absolutely, that was about the only time we were in the house to watch a special show like flipper. The rest of the time we were outside playing, having adventures, making a fort or clubhouse.

[@Aceman597]

Was good until mid 90s. Then something changed . They took over .

[@southernsass2937]

What great memory we have 🥰

[@brucegibbins3792]

Part of the culture of my country, Aotearoa, are two Dolphin's. There was Opo, living in the sea around Openone and Pelorus Jack who rode the bow waves of boats sailing the Pelorus Sounds of te wai ponamu. A song was recordered and released they called, Opo, the friendly Dolphin. Even now its not uncommon for a school of Dolphins to take shelter in the harbour of, Te-Upoko-o-te-Ika-a-Māui where we live, occasionally a Blue Whale will also call in to visit and shelter from stormy weather out in Cook Strait. The presence in the harbour of Dolphin's and Whales are the cause of much excitement amongst the cities people who drive to places where the hills partially ring the harbour to get a view of these magnificent animals. When once our Anglo ancestors killed these creatures for the products that could be made from Whales and sold after slauteriing them to near extinction, whales returned to safe harbours now where they are protected. Some time ago, a plague of whaling boats from Japan sailed into southern waters in fast killer boats launched from factory ships to slaughter whales for their own domestic consumption. A large protest group of locals and concerned foreign nationals, lead by Green Peace, were instrumental in a cessation of whaling that as of this date has never returned- yet easily could again if we and the concerned peoples of other countries were to ease up in their vigilance. out of and away from the boiling sea of Cook Strait. Historically, the Maori people, tangata whenua of Aotearoa originally from Polynesia, now settled in Aotearoa since the 1300's after migrating down the big blue Pacific Ocean to settle here also killed whales for some of the resources they needed to sustain themselves. The later arrival of mainly Anglo Pakeha viewed killing Whales as a commercial resource, hunting them to near extinction. Now other natural resources and manufactured chemicals have replaced their need to kill Whales.

[@larrycarroll5783]

"Flipper" is one TV show which I shall always cherish,along with such other animal-themed shows as "Lassie","Gentle Ben","Fury","Skippy"and"Wishbone".Larry Carroll

[@ronpettit3200]

I loved that show

[@leonacardenas5552]

I used to watch Flipper. Loved the show. Mom and my sisters, we all took tuners. One tv 📺. When we got a new one , the old B & W went to are bedroom and I’d watch in there! Good O’ days ❤️❤️

[@tomorrow6474]

I am today old to learn the voice of flipper was a kookaburra

[@screamingnighthog7155]

Here is a line from every episode of Flipper: "Flipper! Go get dad!"

[@mikecook4298]

magical times and place that America was! .............. hope we can get back on track , so our dreams and our childrens dreams can be as wonderful as they can possibly be .... God bless America!

[@rhonda7070]

I too loved this show as a child. I'm thankful that now there is education about the trauma of captive wild animals stolen from their families and used for our entertainment.

[@theriddlers4630]

I use to watch this back in the 80s but bless the dolphin who played her and iam 46 Burnley England 🇬🇧 here

[@constancecherry3996]

I remember this Shiw wached when I was a kid

[@wrxstigoabs]

My favorite episode was Coral Fever in Season 2 where Flipper’s sonar capability is temporarily disabled by a bomb explosion and the Ricks stare down the barrel of them maybe having to put Flipper down. By now this was Luke Haloin’s 4th year working with dolphins after the first two Flipper movies and the first season of the TV series so he was very close to the dolphins that played Flipper. In addition to his natural photogenic athletic physique that was prominently on display from even the first movie, Haloin was a superb and seasoned actor appearing in a string of shows in the 1950’s and early 60’s before being cast as Sandy Ricks in 1962. His closeness to the dolphins, his excellent acting skills and his on-camera physical appeal all come together in this episode.

[@perrydowd9285]

I'm surprised the government didn't get the show to use the park's real name. When Skippy was being made in NSW the Australian Federal Govt named the area where they were filming Waratah National Park and declared it an A Class reserve. The land actually belonged to the NSW State Govt, but they were on board because they got the free advertising and tourist dollars. Skippy still draws people to the park nearly 55 years on.

[@douglasgriffiths3534]

I loved watching Skippy the Bush Kangaroo as well. She was cute and smart. (Jan Griffiths).

[@kissyfur001]

This show is older than me but I clearly remember watching it on Tv. Woke up this morning with the theme song in my head lol

[@cassienorman6275]

I was obsessed with Flipper and dolphins as a young child now that I am older I am ashamed of watching the program. I feel guilty that I some how contributed to their suffering. RIP Flipper and Cathy's suffering and ultimate demise is so depressing. End all Marine Parks now and forever.

[@alancrisp1582]

😪 I wish now that I never watched this video. You really know how 🤔 to destroy a wonderful childhood memory. Thanks a lot.......

[@dogfrog9543]

"Ignorance is Bliss" - Cypher 😉

[@rhonda7070]

Yes, reality for captive animals is hugely different than portrayed by their exploiters.

[@douglasgriffiths3534]

I got a Flipper watch for Christmas when I was 8. I still have it, even though it no longer runs. Might have to take it to a watch repair and see what the problem is. Might get it to run again. I watched Flipper all the time as a kid. I love dolphins and whales in general. If there is such a thing as reincarnation, I want to come back as a killer whale. (Jan Griffiths).

[@kjpphotography4764]

Growing up in Miami Florida, got to see alot of Dolphins in my life and seeing repeats of the show in the 80's made me want to own a one.

[@michealamarshall9534]

My most memorable episode of Flipper was the one with Bud & the 'Pirate' Ship. for the main reason being My sisters & I watched the first half of it on our parents old black & white Tv and the second half of the episode in full colour. The new colour TV arrived right in the middle of the episode. I think we missed a bit of it while the delivery guys set it up. Us girl didn't realise just how much we were actually missing on tv until seeing those first moments of full colour TV....Wow.......Flipper looked so much lovelier in colour too...!!!🐬🐬🐳🦈

[@colleenvozella4401]

The show was extremely popular here in Australia 🇦🇺. I loved watching it but of course like many shows using animals we didn't know how the animals ended up on screen or what happened to them after the shows ended. 💗💗💗💗🇦🇺🇦🇺

[@mousetreehouse6833]

I remember I got dolphin fever when I was a kid, and spent many happy hours trying to talk my parents into getting a swimming pool so I could have my own dolphin friend. Of course I knew why, but it was just so much fun nagging my parents, and we were all in on the joshing anyway, so yeah, it was a fun influence 🌴😄🐬

[@genegoodman4053]

I was 6 months old when flipper came out and my mom said it was my first word I watch flipper until up until August 13th

[@genegoodman4053]

At the age of 13

[@SteveL-qw4rp]

flipper is adorable

[@RickBennette]

I watched so many episodes of Flipper, but haven't seen them agan in fifty years. It's hard to remember specific episodes well at my age. I liked the Burt Reynolds in the Sub episode, because later in life, I got to work one on one with Burt. He was a well read, brilliant man in so many ways, and an incredible acting instructor. Of course, I also loved the fact that Flipper was filmed in what would become my home state many years later. I wish I could see the original shows again, but don't know where they play, if at all. I never liked the more modern remakes.

[@ghost-ez2zn]

Growing up in Miami, this show was a huge part of my childhood. We all made Flipper noises in the pool, we could go see the set at the Seaquarium, and we all had a crush on Sandy, it was awesome. Gentle Ben? Not so much.

[@dotsyjmaher]

I LOVED IT...great video, I had no idea it was so popular. I never liked the tail walking , though, it looked dangerous. So heart breaking about the dolphin who killed herself... I think that was the best thing about the show, I certainly really believed the animals LIVED in the wild...I guess kids do want to believe the best.

[@kapes13]

I love Dolphin research center and went there to spend the day with their dolphins and visit! I caught a glimpse of Tursi, Little Bit and Mr. Gipper's girl, who is approaching 49 years old now!!! I will be sure and ask about Cathy when I visit again! Your point about the boys is valid because the boys were acting up during our visit! The most intense part of the visit was spending time with Tursi's boys Pax and Talon, they are super smart and Talon would not take his eyes off my signals, great fun!!! I will go back and ask about Cathy!!!!!

[@kapes13]

Ironically enough, Pax can tail walk as sharp as Mr. Gipper can, but he is the son of Tursi and Rainbow, not Mr. Gipper. But he can tail walk just as good as Mr. Gipper did! :)

[@davidchriscastillo2499]

1 of many of my favorite TV shows.

[@ernestweaver9720]

That brought back a herd of memories. Thank you DYR.

[@bradbrown8759]

I loved this show. I always identified with Tommy Norden. The episode when he and the girl got trapped in the floating boi. Or the Burt Reynolds in his sub one stand out to me. I recall them airing for a few years not long ago, And I enjoyed them all. And they paired it with a new modern flipper which was awful. I think Sandy was in the Coast guard now. it felt like Baywatch. I didn't know they even made it, And I never saw a trace of it again.

[@alanr4447a]

In the first season of the "modern _Flipper"_ TV series it was a grown-up BUD Ricks who was the main adult character. But then hIs character, as well as all other humans except one played by Jessica Alba, were dropped after one season, and the series subsequent format was indeed very much like a kind of _"Baywatch Junior"._ Evan Alba's character lasted only the one additional season.

[@SteveL-qw4rp]

flipper is my favorite anime

[@ImTheDaveman]

Interestingly enough (or oddly enough) while I recall loving to see Flipper on TV as a boy in the 60s - I don't recall a single episode or scene. I got to watch it on our color TV! Thats right! Black AND White! We weren't a well to do family back then - so black and white was good enough. 😁

[@charleydahl2057]

I wore the Flipper costume for Halloween one year.then i use to go around the house intimidating flipper noises.sure it got on every one's nerves .

[@gustavochavarria8161]

When I first met Finizen which it's a Dolphin Pokemon in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, I wanted think of a good dolphin name after I caught it. And I didn't even know that Flipper is based on an old TV show of the same name. I still kept the name by the time I evolve it into Palafin. On the side note, I also got myself a Shiny Finizen and luckily it was female which I called her Flapper. R.I.P. to the OG show though.

[@Angela-ns8ux]

I can't even think now .. poor Kathy

[@TheDunc1]

I remember Flipper and Sandy in a plane which belly lands in the sea and stays afloat. I also recall another dolphin called Toughguy. Clearly much talent went into the show and the movies.

[@KatriceMetaluna]

Was it a fever dream from my childhood or did Gentle Ben once have a crossover with Flipper?

[@maggRose]

I. Loved Flipper ad I still do. 🐬👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🐬😊🐬

[@maggRose]

I long watching Flipper. Oh how I love Flipper🌊🐬👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🐬🐬🌊👏🏼👏🏼💋💋

[@JustinKruger336]

Those 2 cannons must be how the government fights off Cuba lol.

[@Imagodfollower]

I use to love flipper as a kid it was a favorite & a fantastic show. She was very beautiful & so very smart. Never knew flipper was a female til now Television was so much better as a kid. That is so sad & a horrible horrible ending.R.I.P flipper you will always be missed & loved.

[@hyacinth4368]

My brother and I loved Flipper, hated Jackie Gleason! Later, loved Gentle Ben, and always Lassie,from Jeff, to Timmy, and then the park rangers.

[@maggRose]

Dolphins have like a smiling face, they are so cute and adorable .

[@jm7804]

I wasn't around for the first run, but I did watch the reruns. I watched only for Sandy, but I had no idea why at the time. I figured it out later. LOL

[@sheddski2942]

i loved that show matter of fact my first boat was a boston Wailer and to my surprise it was named Flipper from previous owner so i kept it

[@mrs.ericalaurenhornmason3825]

Love the show and love ❤️ the cast💘💜👼🏻✨🐬

[@ronaldmiller2740]

GREAT FLIPPER,, VIDEO!! I DIDNT KNOW FLIPPERS SOUND WAS A BIRD??? HA!!!!! AND DONT CHANGE THAT TUNE THE OLDS THE BEST ....BRIAN KELLY I THINK HES PASSED,,, WHERES THE KIS..???? SAD FOR CATHY ... THANKS!!!!

[@gabrieldjatienza6971]

Burt Reynolds had a guest appearance in the TV series...as a bad guy! He hijacked a mini sub, he fought Flipper, he lost of course ..but he wounded Flipper!

[@joannestealey4482]

I saw the one from the 90s my uncle was an animal coordinator back then & my cousin make a small apperance (the little girl with the white Barrett in her hair)

[@andrefiset3569]

I went to Seaquarium when i was a kid and later notice on the TV show the windows of the tank with guest looking to the underwater scenes being filmed.

[@johnclinete6193]

I cleaned up Miami seaquarium after hurricane Andrew. In the back was a flipper tank that had seen beter days. I found a ball and threw it in the dolphin got it!

[@jackyblue67same10]

I got no flipper merch but I did meet 1 of those young boys that played the son in Flipper he was working at a hotel in Myter Beach south Carolina back in 1988 selling those time share's there .He had given my ex husband & myself a bottle of champagne for looking but when we didn't buy it he took the bottle back lol .

[@skygrl]

OMG sad about Dolphins especially Cathy. What a shame. I loved this show as a kid.

[@starchild7843]

Wonder if that dolphin took her own life was depressed and grieving over those two boys? She missed them and was aware of the show being cancelled Ann also not getting attention as much as she did. That dolphin being trapped like that makes me wonder also if the free willy movie was inspired by they dolphin. Sad 😭 also when I was a kid I remember seeing dolphin safe tuna and really shook me.

[@tombrunila2695]

I liked it, it was aired here in Finland in the mid-late 1960's.

[@donbrynelsen2157]

There was a Flipper model kit made by Revell

[@HeleneLouise]

Sad story. Flipper understood she had been sent to prison. But why? She tried to be a good dolphin.

[@katherineseward7287]

Loved the coloring books.

[@mariecausey7742]

I used to watch flipper it’s a good show!

[@victorcontreras9138]

Flipper was so well liked that I don't think she ever got flipped off by anyone😁

[@bluey-uo9li]

This show shaped my life I wanted to be in the show and now I'm in it everyday dolphins pass by everyday with the tides they even sneak under our boat for fish at night they spend there time exploring and eating along The way what a life I think we'll follow them they seam smarter than us as if they know what there doing, do you

[@alanr4447a]

6:55 The show hardly had to "face off against" other shows on the same network _(I Dream of Jeannie_ and _Get Smart)._ The title of the entire video is basically misleading, anyway, as the "tragic accident" took place well AFTER the show already WAS over. As for why Kathy stayed submerged until she drowned, we have only O'Barry's account to go by. Concerning when an albino dolpihin, "Carolina Snowball", died, O'Barry gave a lot of detail about her medical problems. With Kathy's death, however, he did not say one word about the state of her physical health. For all we KNOW, she may have been in great physical pain, perhaps moreso than psychological "loneliness" or "depression". In fact, a purely psychological explanation doesn't make sense in the face of seeing her "friend", O'Barry, one more time. If anything, that should've lifted her spirits. It makes more sense that seeing her friend one more time was a final comfort before giving in to physical pain.

[@bradfordrusso7480]

I always wondered about possible resentment between actors Luke and Tommy. Luke originated the role (in the 2 feature-length movies). Then they bring in this younger "kid" ... who effectively steals the show. Bud has far more air-time than Sandy. And is the focus of more episodes. I also always wondered why Luke didn't work more on deeper acting skills and body building. He probably could have gotten many more and bigger parts. Than the few measly ones he got after Flipper. I just re-watched my Season 3 DVD set. The final 2 shows are about a young brother and sister who get lost. Their acting and dialogue skills are rank amateur. Stiff and strained. Why weren't they coached and directed a little more?

[@bridgetdavis9752]

My heart is breaking for that dolphin and trainer. 💔

[@johndavis8669]

The 1st time I watched flipper was in reruns in the early 1990s.

[@GregInHouston2]

You missed Flipper from the 90's. The show that introduced us to Jessica Alba and starred a grown up Bud Porter.

[@vimfuego8827]

They could not release Kathy into the wild, she was too disenfranchise from her species to living in the wild with other Dolphins. She gave her life to entertaining humans until it was too much for her and she died on her terms. RIP Kathy

[@philip8624]

I loved an watched this show so much when i was a kid that my dad started calling me Flip as a nik name

[@mwanzafitalpha9827]

10 things to quit for all Strong Men: 1. Caring about what others think 2. Not believing in yourself 3. Not experimenting different ideas / solutions for problems (life&business) 4. Not prioritizing your health 5. Wasting your precious time 6. Wanting something (instead write a plan and work towards it) 7. Chasing meaningless relationships 8. Wasting or draining your energy from beating your meat 🥩 9. Wasting time by scrolling social media 10. Nailbiting/nailpicking habit for good (if you do it - consider stopping it as it makes you mentally weak + affects your confidence and all other areas of your life!) Take it easy and I hope you found one thing helpful in this list.

[@Jeff-bz6jp]

My cousins loved this show. My cousins were dorks.

[@hurithinkbefore1340]

Or Skippy. OMG. What else? Clarence? Mr Ed?

[@hifijohn]

I never knew that dolphins dont make these sounds its the sound of a kookaburra speed up.

[@skullface2694]

Still waiting for a Flipper vs Lassie crossover..

[@jackbusby9602]

I'm in my 60's. Recently I was talking like

[@TSVisits]

Flipper ended tragically because the boys grew up? And in the future, one of the dolphins who played Flipper died by drowning? You did a great job with the video, why ruin it with a misleading title?

[@virginiaconnor8350]

So what happened to Gentle Ben, Clarence the Cross-Eyed Lion and Judy the Chimp?

[@gabrieldjatienza6971]

There was a movie remake that starred Paul Hogan and Elijah Wood!

[@red0953]

Just saying, but I'm pretty sure that spoon was Miami Dolphins (football team) merch. :)

[@geoffmcnew5863]

Didn't the U.S. Navy train them to carry/plant explosives under the hulls of enemy ships? I'm almost certain that the Soviets did. That's REALLY creepy.

[@kerrypitt9789]

I was very young but this does sound familiar, maybe my Parents were discussing it.

[@JohnDoe-oj5it]

Im 72 great show..

[@garyfrancis6193]

Answer at 8:12.

[@jamesyoung4508]

OOH YEAH MY PARENTS AND KANE REMEMBER THIS

[@debbiekock0]

What's the use this fellow had came-up to make Flipper killed itself

[@maggRose]

I love dolphins but they don't deserve getting abused by heartless people that only want to profit from them. Abusive bastards.

[@7.26j5]

Yeah I know by flipper the in the Florida keys

[@davebooshty299]

6:21 1953.

[@gavinkerslake]

the father was a role model for me.