Remembering Sea World of Ohio in the 70s

AURORA, Ohio - Sea World of Ohio was a special place in a special time. It was the only seasonal Sea World park and that created some unique moments, which we wanted to share with some old video.

Shamu and some of the killer whale's aquatic friends would spend summer in Ohio and winter in other Sea World parks. Moving them was a spectacle in and of itself, as you'll see in some of the film clips.

According to Sea World, the Aurora park was the second Sea World built. It opened in 1970. San Diego was first, opening in 1968, and Orlando opened in 1973 and San Antonio, the last of the four, opened in 1988.

But let's get on to the clips, many of them are silent.

We start with Shamu and friends being flown to Hopkins Airport in May, 1972. The theme for the show in 1972 was 'Shamu Goes Hollywood'. The sunglasses on Shamu were a nice touch. I have no idea why a monkey greeted the plane at the airport.

Aurora went Hollywood too as stars were brought in to promote the show.

There was no shot list with these clips, so I'll talk about the stars I recognize with the hope I don't insult anyone by mistaking their indentity. Ruta Lee and Cesar Romero walk in the entrance. Debbie Reynolds then casts her footprints in cement. Ruta Lee again and then Lloyd Bridges.

We go back to Shamu Stadium for some of the Shamu show then on to dry land with a park midway shot.

The next clip is the Sea World staff looking for two missing alligators that have escaped into Geauga Lake. I have another clip I didn't post of the park officials announcing one of the alligators being recovered. I doubt they're still looking the other.

To promote the log rolling show, the next clip shows our intrepid sports reporter and WEWS legend, Nev Chandler, taking on a lumberjack. Not a good idea, Nev. This clip is from September 1977.

We close with Shamu and friends leaving Cleveland for Florida. Although this clip is last to tell our story in the proper timeline, it's actually the oldest of our Sea World clips from September 1971.

Enjoy!