Water Ski Show at Cypress Gardens, 1989
Dublin Core
Title
Water Ski Show at Cypress Gardens, 1989
Alternative Title
Cypress Gardens Ski Show
Subject
Winter Haven (Fla.)
Theme parks
Water skiing
Description
The water ski show at Cypress Gardens in June of 1989. Billed as Florida's first commercial tourist theme park, Cypress Gardens opened on January 2, 1936, as a botanical garden planted by Dick Pope, Sr. (1900-1988) and his wife, Julie Pope. Over the years, it became one of the biggest attractions in Florida, known for its water ski shows, lush gardens, and Southern Belles. It also became known as the "Water Ski Capital of the World," because many of the sport's landmark firsts and the over 50 world records broken there. Numerous motion pictures were filmed at the Cypress Gardens, including portions of This is Cinerama, the first feature filmed in the wide-screen format, as well as a string of Esther Williams films and television specials in the 1950s and 1960s.
In the 1950s, young women dressed in the crinolines reminiscent of the Antebellum South. During the American Civil War Centennial, young men dressed in Confederate uniforms would be photographed with the Southern Belles. With the addition of a custom photography boat named Miss Cover Girl in the early 1960s, the park became a popular site for the filming of television commercials. However, Cypress Gardens closed in 2009 and Legoland occupies the former lot at 1 Legoland Way in Winter Haven, Florida.
In the 1950s, young women dressed in the crinolines reminiscent of the Antebellum South. During the American Civil War Centennial, young men dressed in Confederate uniforms would be photographed with the Southern Belles. With the addition of a custom photography boat named Miss Cover Girl in the early 1960s, the park became a popular site for the filming of television commercials. However, Cypress Gardens closed in 2009 and Legoland occupies the former lot at 1 Legoland Way in Winter Haven, Florida.
Creator
Cepero, Nancy Lynn
Source
Original color photographs, June 1989: Private Collection of Nancy Lynn Cepero.
Date Created
ca. 1989-06
Contributor
Cepero, Nancy Lynn
Is Format Of
Digital reproduction of original color photographs, June 1989.
Is Part Of
Winter Haven Collection, Polk County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.
Format
image/jpg
Extent
159 KB
161 KB
150 KB
153 KB
Medium
4 color photographs
Type
Still Image
Coverage
Cypress Gardens, Winter Haven, Florida
Accrual Method
Donation
Mediator
History Teacher
Geography Teacher
Rights Holder
Copyright to this resource is held by Nancy Lynn Cepero and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.
Curator
Cepero, Laura
Digital Collection
External Reference
"Cypress Gardens Adventure Park." Florida Amusement Parks .com. http://www.floridaamusementparks.com/resources/Cypress-Gardens-Adventure-Park.html.
Flekke, Mary M., Sarah E. MacDonald, and Randall M. MacDonald. Cypress Gardens. Charleston, SC: Arcadia, 2006.
Rajtar, Steve. A Guide to Historic Orlando. Charleston, SC: History Press, 2006.
Collection
Citation
Cepero, Nancy Lynn, “Water Ski Show at Cypress Gardens, 1989,” RICHES, accessed December 22, 2024, https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/4467.