Marineland of the Pacific, 1950's
Today is the 7th and last day of "A Day Without You-Know-What".
Marineland was a park that I loved as a kid, but we didn't go there very often; I guess it didn't encourage repeat visits. Once you'd seen leaping porpoises, seals and whales, you pretty much got the picture. However, I like these early views of that park, which was closed in 1987.
This first slide is undated, but I suspect it was taken not too long after the park's 1954 opening (when it was the world's largest Oceanarium). Those bleachers in the background look unfinished (compare them to the third photo). Seals are always good for a few goofy laughs; can you stand on a cylinder and balance a ball on your nose? The view of Palos Verdes is amazing to me, with the undeveloped hillsides that are now covered with very expensive houses.
This photo is from 1957... notice that the seal's stepped podiums are now painted a circusy red with a star. I wonder if Captain Winston knew Professor Keller? Mortal enemies, I'll bet. 
And from May 1958 we see two adorable children getting up-close and personal with a sea lion. Or maybe they are sharing their cigarettes, which is mighty neighborly of them. I'm not so sure I'd want to put my fingers through a chain link fence with a sea lion on the other side... have you seen their teeth? CHOMP! There goes my career as a pianist. And once a seal has tasted man flesh, it's all over.
8 comments:
I assume that escalating real estate values and the emergence of Sea World down San Diego way hastened the demise of this place. Personally, I preferred the seals at Knott’s because you were actually encouraged to buy the small trays of minnows (?) and feed them yourself up close. Also, the San Diego Zoo had the better seal "show" in this kid’s opinion. Nice shots.
Jim: I grew up about a half mile away from M-land, and yes, your reasons for closing are basically correct. The main tank buildings had a grim, institutional look that was impossible to hide. Sea World benefited greatly by being built 20 years later.
The other problem was non-cooperation from adjacent cities. In order to boost attendance EPA reports had to be drafted showing how additional traffic would impact roads. Palos Verdes Estates and San Pedro invariably balked and stalled improvements.
The whole subject of Palos Verdes development depresses me. When I moved there as a kid in 1970 it was beautiful countryside. When I finally left in 2000, it was an expensive, snotty, pretentious clone of Torrance.
mm back, gonna try & ketsup I mean, catch up with the last, I mean past week tonite I mean, night.
hmm Think it probably sez something that what I remember most of Marineland was a small video arcade. Gosh closed in '87... can't be 23 years already...
PS - how ya holdin' up, Maj? Speedy says you barely look hooman and he can tell the withdrawl is really getting to you. ;) Me I'm only slightly discombobulated.
Man, this brings back such fond memories!!!
I'm OK Chiana, however it is difficult when I can sense my reader's annoyance at my "no Disneyland" week!! ;-)
OK .I can take a hint.
One of the biggest disappointments in my life is that I never got to see Marineland of the Pacific! That's what procrastination will get you. I kept thinking, "It will always be there." Well, it's no more . . . thanks to Harcourt, Brace and Jovanich who at the time owned Sea World.
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