1963 Oceanarium, Marineland of the Pacific, Palos Verdes, CA VTG Postcard Posted

Description: GW-54A MARINELAND OF THE PACIFICPalos Verdes, Los Angeles County, Southern CaliforniaThis beautifully landscaped Oceanarium - largest in the world - stands high on a cliff above the Pacific Ocean between Redondo Beach and San Pedro in Southern California. ©MCMLX [1960] George E. Watson, Color Photographer © Oceanarium, Inc.Published and Distributed by "Golden West" Color Card Co., Inc., Los Angeles CAMIRRO-KROME Card by HS Crocker Co., Inc., Los Angeles, CA Postmarked SANTA MONICA, CA AUG 26 1963 5:30 PM Canceled 1954-68 Purple 4c Abraham Lincoln US Postage Stamp______________________ Marineland of the Pacific. Marineland of the Pacific was an oceanarium in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, southwest of Los Angeles. It opened in 1954 and closed abruptly in early 1987 after being sold to the owners of SeaWorld who moved Marineland's prime attraction, Corky the killer whaler, to their own park in San Diego and renamed him Shamu. After sitting vacant for twenty years, the resort was torn down in 2007 and replaced by Terranea Resort. https://digitalcollections.sdsu.edu/do______________________ Marineland of the Pacific was a public oceanarium and tourist attraction located on the Palos Verdes Peninsula coast in Los Angeles County, California. Architect William Pereira designed the main structure. It was also known as Hanna-Barbera's Marineland during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Marineland operated from 1954 until 1987, when it was purchased by the owners of SeaWorld San Diego. The new owners moved the popular killer whales and other animals to their San Diego facility and abruptly closed Marineland. History MarinelandWhen it opened in 1954, one year before Disneyland, Marineland of the Pacific was the world's largest oceanarium. The park was designed by William Pereira, whose work, which included the Transamerica Pyramid, the Los Angeles International Airport, and the Geisel Library helped define the architectural look of mid-20th century California. Marineland was best known for its performing orcas. One tourist guide in 1974 stated, “Entertainment is the first purpose of this well-known Palos Verdes show place. Here’s a rare opportunity to see a ‘killer whale’ leaping 18 feet out of the water to grab a fish from the teeth of its trainer, a dolphin jumping through a fire-ringed hoop, or a sea lion crooning a tune.” Marineland was home to Orky and Corky, two of the most famous orcas on exhibit at any oceanarium at the time. They were the second pair of orcas at the facility with these names; the original "Orky" and "Corky" did not live long in captivity and had no calves. Marineland was also home to the first pilot whales ("Bubbles" and "Bimbo") ever captured for display, as well as dolphins, sea lions, harbor seals, sharks, and a variety of other related sea creatures. Other attractions included the Sky Tower, “a circular elevator ride 344 feet above the sea,” and hourly boat tours of the coastline. Marineland was also noteworthy for its Baja Reef concept, a first-of-its-kind swim-through aquarium featuring “many brightly colored fish.” Visitors could enter the winding aquarium wearing a swim mask and snorkel and swim with the fish and sharks. The tour lasted seven minutes in 1979. Special admission tickets to this attraction cost $4 in 1985 US$5 (equivalent to $10 in 2023). Circa 1979 there was a “new macaw show,” strolling cartoon characters and a “marine animal care center” at the park. ClosingHarcourt Brace Jovanovich (the owner of the SeaWorld theme park group) purchased the facility in December 1986 from a Hong Kong developer. At the time, the park was run down and was just breaking even. Restoration plans were canceled on January 30, 1987 as Harcourt claimed that the park was in more disrepair than expected. Yearly losses of $2 million were projected unless improvements costing $25 million were undertaken. Orky and Corky were moved to SeaWorld's San Diego park a few weeks after the purchase, supposedly for mating. Although Orky died in September 1988, Corky remains alive as of March 2024. Rancho Palos Verdes city council passed an ordinance requiring Harcourt to maintain the park and allow public access to its beach. Although the company had promised to keep Marineland open, it was suddenly closed on February 11, 1987, six weeks after the sale was completed. Harcourt said it received bomb threats after announcing its change of heart, prompting it to lock the gates three weeks before the announced closing. The animals were trucked out in the middle of the night, and the new owners poured concrete into the drains so the park could not be reopened. Many local residents complained about the sudden closure. On March 1, 1987, the company announced that the park would stay closed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marineland_of_the_Pacific

Price: 7.99 USD

Location: Las Vegas, Nevada

End Time: 2024-12-13T19:23:54.000Z

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