Newt Perry carrying Nancy Tribble wearing her tail - Tampa, Florida

Title

• Newt Perry carrying Nancy Tribble wearing her tail - Tampa, Florida

Image Number

• N043516

Year

• 1948

Date Note

• Photographed in 1948 during the promotion of "Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid".

Series Title

• General: General collection

General Note

• 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 Weismuller (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.



General Note

• Note from sleeve: Swimming/underwater diving coach Newton Perry carries Weekiwachee Springs 'mermaid' Nancy Tribble (later Benda) to a glass tank during a promotion of 'Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid'."

Title of Work

• Mr Peabody and the mermaid (Motion picture)

Physical Description

• 1 photonegative - b&w - 4 x 5 in.

Subject Term

• Motion picture actors and actresses
• Synchronized swimming--Coaching

Geographic Term

• Tampa (Fla.)
• Hillsborough County (Fla.)

Personal Subject

• Perry, Newton, 1908-1987.
• Tribble, Nancy.

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