Florida Memory is administered by the Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services, Bureau of Archives and Records Management. The digitized records on Florida Memory come from the collections of the State Archives of Florida and the special collections of the State Library of Florida.
State Archives of Florida
- ArchivesFlorida.com
- State Archives Online Catalog
- ArchivesFlorida.com
- ArchivesFlorida.com
State Library of Florida
Related Sites
Listen: The Blues ProgramSanta Claus underwater at Weeki Wachee Springs.
Image Number
Date Note
Rights
Collection
Subject Term
Wit and humor
Underwater photography
Springs--Florida--Hernando County--Weeki Wachee
Amusement parks--Florida--Hernando County--Weeki Wachee
Amusements--Florida--Hernando County--Weeki Wachee
Entertainers--Florida--Hernando County--Weeki Wachee
Mermaids
Santa Claus
Synchronized swimmers
Personal Subjects
Physical Description
General Note
Santa, played by Newton Perry, gets a hug from a grateful mermaid, possibly Mary Dwight, who has received a new pair of fins for Christmas.
Newt Perry worked as a performer and promoter for Silver Springs and managed Wakulla Springs before opening Weeki Wachee Springs, famed for its underwater mermaid shows, which Perry designed. He was also instrumental for the filming of MGM's "Tarzan Finds a Son!" (1939), originally titled "Tarzan in Exile", at Silver Springs and "Tarzan's Secret Treasure" (1941) at Wakulla Springs through his friendship with filmmaker Grantland Rice and actor-swimmer Johnny Weissmuller (who played Tarzan). He also influenced Universal Studio's decision to film the "Creature from the Black Lagoon" and its two sequels in Florida (including Wakulla and Silver Springs) as well as the hiring of local swimmer Ricou Browning to portray the Creature. Perry spent much of his later life working as a swimming instructor in Ocala, Florida.
Order Prints
Please select the size and options
Order Scan
Please select the size and options