Applying

A typed stock letter sent to Becky Young in 1972 alongside an application for a position as a mermaid. The letter is typed on Weeki Wachee letterhead, which has an image of two performers in a pose underwater as the background. Signed by the Mermaid Supervisor Genie Young, the letter thanks applicants for their interest in the position and gives an overview of the job description and pay schedule. The letter ends asking applicants to send the application and a photograph of themselves back to Genie Young.

A typed note on card stock the size of a business card sent to Rebecca Young from Weeki Wachee Springs, requesting her to come by for an interview. Text reads, "Rebecca: Come up as soon as you can for water test and pre-employment interview." The name of person who sent the note is obscured.

Barbara Wynns talked about her experience applying and receiving the same stock letter Becky Young received: "I finally got through to somebody who knew somebody who knew somebody counties away that worked on the railroad with my dad. I got the post office number and I sent him a letter: 'You just gotta’ hire me, please, please.' So I got the formal letter back: 'Please contact us when you are old enough.' And I had picked it up at the post office and I just come running into the house. My mamma had a house full of people having a meeting. And literally knocked a guy down... And she’s going: 'Calm down. Calm down.' 'No, look I got hired. I'm a mermaid! I'm a mermaid!' And, of course, I hadn't. I had to have the interview but there was a connection now."

Hand-written note admitting Becky Young into Weeki Wachee Springs for Interview

A courtesy admission ticket to Weeki Wachee Springs, good for one free viewing of an underwater show. The ticket was given to Rebecca Young (then Rebecca Stalhart) on the day of her pre-employment interview and water test, February 20, 1973. Rebecca was interviewing for a position as mermaid.

Becky Young described the interview process as being similar to any other job interview, but with one major difference: "At that time, you would have an interview like you would have with any job and you would interview with the mermaid supervisor, who at the time was Genie Young, and talk about different aspects of your work history. Of your life. Just as you would for any other applicant. And then you would have the water test. And the water test at that time was just one on one. And so I got in the water and she asked me to do a few things, turning forward in the water, turning backwards in the water, just to see if I had a feel for where I was in the water at all times. So it was also like a mini training session."