LA’s Own Marineland Podcast Episode 8: “Bubbles’ Friends, Costumed Characters, and Kiva” By Writer and Podcaster Tod Perry
The following is the eighth 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.
On the eighth episode of “LA’s Own Marineland,” covering the years 1981 to 1986, the park finds success by leaning into its strengths as a place where people can get close to marine life in ways they never could before. We also look at Bubbles the pilot whale’s relationships with his dolphin tankmates, and Corky the killer whale has her longest surviving calf.
By the end of 1981, things were looking up at Marineland. Its new owner, Far East Hotels, out of Hong Kong, had a laissez-faire attitude that gave more power to park management over how the park was presented to the public. The new push would put the park’s amazing animals up front, not cartoon characters as it did under Hanna-Barbera’s ownership.
"We created the park to be all about the animals. This wasn't about Hanna-Barbera characters. It was a focus, a very laser-like focus on these wonderful creatures that we had to share with visitors that came to the park,” Linda Malek, Marineland’s Marketing Director from 1979 to 1987, told the podcast.
Hanna-Barbera may have left Marineland, but the park continued to embrace costumed characters. Marineland replaced the cartoon stars with a new, original crew featuring Waddles the Penguin, Shivers the Polar Bear, Kilroy the Killer Whale, Professor Pelican—who would later become Captain Pelican—Admiral Tusk the Walrus, Stinky the Skunk, Sheldon the Shark, Sammy the Sea Lion, and Fubar the Bear.
On June 18, 1982, Corky had her third and longest-surviving calf, a female named Kiva. Unfortunately, Kiva failed to nurse properly, and Corky began to be rough with the calf, pinning her to the bottom of the tank. For the calf’s safety, Marineland moved her to a holding pool with a dolphin. Kiva showed signs of stress after being moved and the next day developed respiratory problems and died. She lived only 46 days.
In 1985, there was a major disturbance in the Killer Whale Coliseum. Corky broke an observation window that sent a third of the tank's 640,000 gallons of water rushing down the zigzag walkway.
On December 26, 1986, Marineland's owners, Far East Hotel and Entertainment Ltd. a division of Warwick International, called together Marineland’s top brass and told them the park was being sold to Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, SeaWorld’s parent company. We’ll soon discover that Harcourt Brace Jovanovich’s promise that it would keep the park open wasn’t to be trusted.
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.
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.
