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On the Nimble Natation of Newt Perry, and Several Spectacular Springs
January 6 was the birthday of swimming promoter and aquatic showman Newt Perry (1908-1987). I wouldn’t claim that I would never write about better known Perrys such as Luke or Kate, but this is definitely a show biz blog that prioritize a guy like Newt by a factor of many years certainly.
Before we dive into Perry’s life (you see what I did there?), this is a case where the setting is as important as the jewel, so a little on that first. Silver Springs, Florida, where Perry made his name, is the site of the largest artesian spring in the world, and the oldest tourist attraction in Florida, going back about 150 years. I bolded all that because those are no small distinctions but they are not at all well known. Perhaps they were renowned back in the day, but the place has been eclipsed many times over as a Florida tourist attraction over the decades, and also harmed by pollution and climate change. Once famed for waters so clear they inspired the first glass-bottom boats, the place is now plagued with algae, and other factors that cloud the waters. And you can see a spectacle like that just about anywhere.
But once, the place was apparently spectacular (and still is, to a lesser extent) and people would take steamboats just to get to it and take the glass bottom boat tours, which were offered beginning in 1878. Gradually other attractions were added in the area, a Jungle Cruise ride, an island stocked with rhesus monkeys, and the Ross Allen Reptile Institute among others. Former Presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Calvin Coolidge were among the distinguished visitors. The Seven Swans (1916), starring Marguerite Clark was the first of many movies shot there.
In 1922, Newt Perry’s family (originally from Georgia) moved to nearby Ocala. His father was a train conductor, and the spot was near the line he worked on. (As we wrote in our recent post, access by train is another reason for the success of the area). Perry became the swimming champ at the local high school (and later at the University of Florida) and was already teaching and coaching when still a teenager.
While clearly a remarkable athlete (he could swim 25 miles, and could hold his breath for close to four minutes) Perry seemed much more interested in spreading knowledge about his healthy activity than competing. His college degrees (he later got an M.A.) were in education. He was a lifeguard, and modeled for the American Red Cross when they shot photos for their water safety manual at Silver Springs. He gave swimming exhibitions. Photographers and movie-makers would come to shoot his underwater antics, which became increasingly impressive. He rode a bicycle underwater. He “tended bar”. Peeled and ate a banana. These stunts were obviously quite different from racing, but he also kept a hand in education, and trained many competitive swimmers, including Olympic medal winners like his nephew Don Schollander.
Perry’s fame spread. He was in a Life magazine layout and a series of newsreel shorts. He assisted with the production of severalTarzan movies in the ’30s as well as the Universal horror classic The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954). Movie stars he helped coach included Johnny Weissmuller, Lloyd Bridges, Gary Cooper, Cary Grant,Gregory Peck, and Jayne Mansfield.
In 1947, Perry established the Weeki Wachee Springs mermaid attraction, which is how I first learned about him. He trained troupes of young ladies to swim underwater in mermaid costumes performing the kinds of stunts he was famous for. There was an above ground arena for viewing, as well, as chambers below the water level with windows so you could see the performers up close. Movies like Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid (1948), and Neptune’s Daughter (1949) were shot there, and the Don Knotts comedy The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964) held its premiere there. It’s still a going concern, and has been featured in several documentary films. In 1950, Perry also helped develop Aquarena Springs, a similar park in San Marcos, Texas which was famous for Ralph, the Swimming Pig. These parks were much imitated throughout the country. The 1966 Frank Tashlin movie The Glass Bottom Boat starring Doris Day et al. is set around a similar attraction at Santa Catalina Island, California, for example.
For related articles see these posts:
For more about show business historyplease consult No Applause, Just Throw Money: The Book That Made Vaudeville Famous.
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