The following is the seventh article in a 12-part series covering “LA’s Own Marineland,” a podcast documentary on the history of the oceanarium produced, written, and hosted by writer-podcaster Tod Perry. The first article in the series, “The Birth of Marineland,” which takes a behind-the-scenes look at the show’s genesis and production, can be read here.

Episode 7 of the podcast covers the park’s history from 1979 through 1981. It focuses on the park's attempts to position itself against SeaWorld in San Diego by adding exciting new attractions that put people in close contact with marine life. During this period, the park also broke new ground by focusing on education and rescue efforts.

By 1979, the park’s reimagining as Hanna-Barbera's Marineland was in full swing. Shows were updated for the new era with Bubbles the pilot whale headlining the Seaweed Center for Finny Studies, and sea lions performed at Huckleberry Hound’s Sea Lion Pirate Training School. Fred Flintstone and Yogi Bear, when not mingling with guests, were showcased in a musical, “Singing to the World.”

The park’s animal presentations took on a more cinematic flair as well.

"Marineland was the first aquatic park to put themes behind their shows. For a long time, it was all about showing the behaviors the animals can do," Live Events director Jim Roope shared with the podcast. “Tim Desmond had the idea to write a script around these behaviors and turn it into sort of a show. And so Marineland was the very first one—not sacrificing the natural beauty of what these animals can do in the wild—to weave a theme around everything and make it more entertaining."

The success of the Family Adventure Swim ushered in a shift towards more immersive marine experiences. By far, the most groundbreaking new attraction was the Baja Reef. For a few extra dollars, guests could put on a wetsuit, fins, snorkel, and goggles and swim through an 80-yard maze of kelp and coral, mimicking the Baja California Peninsula. Baja Reef was truly a one-of-a-kind experience, boasting 1,000 fish including nurse sharks.

During this time, Marineland’s new Marine Mammal Care Center allowed visitors to interact with veterinarian staff taking care of rescued marine mammals. In 1980, the center partnered with Unocal, rebranding as the Unocal Marine Animal Care Center, taking care of an average of 360 sick or injured animals annually.

In 1981, Taft Broadcasting and Kroger Company revealed plans to sell Marineland to Far East Hotels and Entertainment, Ltd. But, as you’ll see in future episodes, this was a positive step for the park because Far East hotels laisses faire management style gave its employees and management greater control.

Before you listen to the show, there is one warning: If you listen to this podcast while seated in the first five rows of the Killer Whale Coliseum, you will get wet. You may get soaked.

Subscribe to “LA’s Own Marineland" on the following platforms: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Podcasts, or Pandora. Learn more about the show at MarinelandPodcast.com.

You can also listen to the show on YouTube:

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