Aquarama Aquarium Theater of the Sea facts for kids
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| Date opened | December, 1962 |
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| Date closed | 1969 demolished |
| Location | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Privately owned | |
| Industry | Zoo Aquarium |
| Founded | 1962 |
| Founder | 1962 J.D. Levy, Businessman, 1964 George A. Hamid |
| Headquarters | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Aquarama Aquarium Theater of the Sea, often called Aquarama, was a special aquarium and show place in the 1960s. It was located in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Imagine a place where you could see amazing sea creatures and watch exciting water shows all in one spot! Aquarama was near famous sports stadiums and parks, making it a fun destination for families.
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A Look Back: Aquarama's Story
Aquarama was a new idea for entertainment and learning in the 1960s. It mixed an aquarium with a water circus! Its name, "Aqua" (for water) and "arama" (like a panorama or big show), meant you could "see it all" from the sea.
Before Aquarama, Philadelphia had an older aquarium that opened in 1911. It was in an old waterworks building by the Schuylkill River. This old aquarium was very popular for a long time, but it eventually became old and run down. The city couldn't build a new one, so private groups raised money to create Aquarama.
They chose a spot in South Philadelphia that was becoming a big area for sports and fun. This area had once hosted a huge event called the Sesqui-Centennial in 1926. Later, it became home to JFK Stadium and other entertainment spots like a bowling alley and a drive-in movie theater. Aquarama opened its doors in 1962, promising a "Theater of the Sea" experience.
However, after only seven years, people in Philadelphia started to lose interest. Aquarama faced money problems and closed down. The building was taken apart in 1969.
Aquarama's Cool Design
The building was designed by an architect named Erling H. Pedersen. It looked modern, using concrete, steel, and glass to create a cool, ocean-like feeling. The outside had angled panels and wave-shaped covers, showing off its sea theme. The main colors were cream-yellow and green.
The Aquarama had three main parts for visitors to explore:
- Wonders of the Sea: When you walked in, you would see a huge, two-story circular tank holding 155,000 gallons of fresh water! You could walk around a ramp to see many different fish. There were also smaller tanks with exotic fish along the walls. Tropical plants made the area feel like a jungle. You could also find a snack bar and souvenir shop here.
- Theater of the Sea: This was the main show area. It had a large, rectangular "fish bowl" tank that held 150,000 gallons of water. Around it were 13 rows of seats, enough for 1,200 people to watch the amazing water shows.
- Outdoor Sea Pools: Outside, there were several pools where sea animals could live all year. One large saltwater pool, 50 feet wide, was home to whales.
Amazing Animals and Fun Shows
Aquarama was a big hit for family fun in the 1960s. It was like an aquarium and a circus all rolled into one! In 1965, a famous entertainment expert, George A. Hamid, took over to help the struggling business. Scientists also used Aquarama to study marine life, like how dolphins communicate.
Main Plaza: The entrance area had a huge, three-story circular tank. All kinds of fish swam there, along with two giant 300-pound sea turtles! A diver would even swim in the tank and answer questions from the audience. Along the walls, many smaller aquariums showed off exotic fish and other sea creatures, including a porpoise tank.
Aquatic Arena Theater: This was where the exciting shows happened! Porpoises and Pilot Whales named "Willie and Winky" performed. Trained seals would play songs on horns. A funny clown named "Flippy" would pretend to be rescued by dolphins several times a day. Flippy would hang 40 feet above the water, drop toys for the dolphins, and then make a huge splash when he jumped in! Pretty young women would also swim in the tanks, looking like mermaids. Six porpoises, each weighing about 300 pounds, would even do a "Philly Twist" dance! Famous radio and TV hosts like Gene Arnold and Gene Hart often hosted these shows.
Other Fun Areas: There was an outdoor area with open pools for seasonal exhibits. Visitors could walk around and enjoy the displays. After the shows, you could buy souvenirs or watch small animals do tricks in coin-operated booths. Aquarama also hosted parties and teen dances. A movie theater was even built on the grounds to attract more visitors.
Featured Animals:
- Pilot Whales: "Willie and Winky" were the stars! Willie was 12 feet long and weighed one ton. Winky was eight feet long and weighed 600 pounds.
- Porpoises: Six trained porpoises from Florida performed fun tricks and friendly acts.
More Entertainment and Media Moments
In 1967, a 750-seat movie theater called the "Stadium Theater" was added to the Aquarama site. It even had a fast-food hamburger restaurant. There were plans for an ice skating rink, but it was never built. Before Aquarama was torn down, someone wanted to turn the building into a motel with an aquatic theme, but that plan didn't work out.
Aquarama was also a place for radio and TV shows. Gene Hart, who later became the famous "Voice of the Flyers" hockey team, worked there as an announcer. The front plaza was a popular spot for high school proms and weddings. A live teenage dance show, like American Bandstand, was even broadcast from Aquarama on Channel 3, hosted by Ed Hurst. This show used the undersea theme as a cool background. A record album of children's songs, including one called "Percy the Pink Piranha," was also produced there.
See also
de:Philadelphia Aquarium
