Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Jane Goodall: Close Sea World
Story hereFrom the article:
SeaWorld has come under fire for its treatment of killer whales, or orcas, after the sharply critical documentary "Blackfish" aired in theaters in the summer of 2013 and on CNN in the fall of that year.
Goodall points out that whales and dolphins communicate with sonar-like sound waves. Keeping them confined in tanks means those sound waves bounce off of the walls and echo back, creating what she called an "acoustical hell" for the animals.
22 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
I can barely stand to think about it. 
Marineland of the Pacific
Marineland of the Pacific was a public oceanarium and tourist attraction located on the Palos Verdes Peninsula coast in Los Angeles County, California, USA. Architect William Pereira designed the main structure. It was also known as Hanna-Barbera's Marineland during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Marineland operated from 1954 until 1987, when it was purchased by the owners of SeaWorld San Diego. The new owners moved the popular killer whales and other animals to their San Diego facility and abruptly closed Marineland.
Marineland
When it opened in 1954, one year before Disneyland, Marineland of the Pacific was the world's largest oceanarium. The park was designed by William Pereira whose work, which included the Transamerica Pyramid, the Los Angeles International Airport, and the Geisel Library helped define the architectural look of mid-20th century California. Marineland was best known for its performing orcas or "killer whales". It was also noteworthy for its Baja Reef concept, a first-of-its-kind swim-through aquarium featuring a wide array of sea life. Visitors could enter the winding aquarium wearing a swim mask and snorkel and swim with the fish and sharks. Marineland also contained educational and research facilities in addition to its unique entertainment structures.
Marineland was home to Orky and Corky, two of the most famous orcas on exhibit at any oceanarium at the time. They should not be confused with the original "Orky" and "Corky", which did not live long in captivity and had no calves. Marineland was also home to the first pilot whale ("Bubbles"
ever captured for display,[2] as well as dolphins, sea lions, harbor seals, sharks, and a variety of other related sea creatures.
Closing
Pilot Whale & Dolphin Show, August, 1962
After Harcourt Brace Jovanovich (the owner of the SeaWorld ocean park family) purchased the facility in 1987, Orky and Corky were moved to SeaWorld's San Diego park, where Corky was given the new name of "Shamu". Although the company had promised to keep Marineland open, it was suddenly closed in February 1987, six weeks after the sale was completed. The animals were trucked out in the middle of the night, and the new owners poured concrete into the drains so the park could not be re-opened. Many local residents complained about the sudden closure.
link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marineland_of_the_Pacific
My recollection at time was Marineland was in decline and needed an upgrade. Because of the decline, attendance was also down.
People were hoping that the new owners (Sea World) would make improvements and continue running the park. After the park was closed there were news reports that the facility would be made into a wildlife sanctuary which was need at the time. Sea World quietly and quickly did away with that promise.
Blog: Why Did Marineland Close?
Maureen Megowan, a Realtor with Remax Estate Properties, provides an article in a series titled "South Bay History."
Blog: Why Did Marineland Close?
Maureen Megowan, a Realtor with Remax Estate Properties, provides an article in a series titled "South Bay History."
By Maureen Megowan (Open Post) May 8, 2013
Blog: Why Did Marineland Close?
Marineland of the Pacific, which opened in 1954, for many years provided the primary tourist attraction in Rancho Palos Verdes. The attractions of Marineland included the 320-foot Skytower soaring into the blue ocean-side sky at the park's entrance, the splashy acrobatics of Orky and Corky the killer whales, Bubbles the pilot whale, and snorkeling the curved, faux-rocky recesses of Baja Reef amid rainbows of tropical fish. Marineland was only the second oceanarium in the United States when it opened to the public Aug. 28, 1954.
In 1986,Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, the publishing giant which then owned Sea World in San Diego, was in the process of rapidly expanding the Sea World enterprise throughout the nation, and was in desperate need of proven, successful breeding pairs of killer whales in order to supply their new Sea World locations with their headline act, "Shamu, the killer whale." Harcourt had been denied a permit to capture additional killer whales in the wild and was therefore limited to acquiring killer whales already in captivity. Harcourt approached the owners of Marineland which was then struggling financially, with an offer to purchase their star attractions, Corky and Orky, who had proven to be a successful breeding pair of killer whales. The owners of Marineland were unwilling to part with them, and instead offered to sell the entire Marineland park.
In public testimony to the City Council of Rancho Palos Verdes, company officials stated that their intentions in acquiring the park were to renovate and keep the park open. They really only wanted Orky and Corky, however, and planned to shut the park down and to immediately sell the land to an Arizona developer, and quickly did so after closing the park. Harcourt completed their purchase of the park in late 1986, and within a few weeks after the purchase, moved Corky and Orky to their Sea World Park in San Diego in the middle of the night without any prior notice to the public, and closed Marineland, claiming that the park was going to cost more money to renovate than they originally estimated.
Unfortunately, Orky, the male, died two years later in 1988; however, Corky is still alive (she is now believed to be about 40 years old and the oldest of the seven killer whales in San Diego) and performing daily at Sea World in San Diego. She gave birth to seven calves, however all died soon after birth, with the oldest living only for 46 days.
link: http://patch.com/california/palosverdes/bp--what-really-happened-when-they-closed-marineland
Marineland of the Pacific | Abandoned Places
Marineland of the Pacific was a public oceanarium and tourist attraction located on the Palos Verdes Peninsula coast in Los Angeles County, California, USA. Architect William Pereira designed the main structure. It was also known as Hanna-Barbera's Marineland during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Marineland operated from 1954 until 1987, when it was purchased by the owners of SeaWorld, San Diego. The new owners moved the popular killer whales and other animals to their San Diego facility and abruptly closed Marineland.
Marineland of the Pacific was loved by many. It is surely missed. Share your thoughts and stories in the comments below.
When it opened in 1954, one year before Disneyland, Marineland of the Pacific was the world's largest oceanarium. Many considered it California's first major theme park. Marineland was best known for its performing Orcas or "killer whales". It was also noteworthy for its Baja Reef concept, a first-of-its-kind swim-through aquarium featuring a wide array of sea life. Visitors could enter the winding aquarium wearing a swim mask and snorkel and swim with the fishes and sharks. Marineland also contained educational and research facilities, in addition to its unique entertainment structures.
For safety reasons, all of the tanks were torn down after closing in 1987, however many of the buildings and the famous Sky Tower remained. It is always interesting when a building or whole tourist attraction is left behind, many times, the objects in it are also left. So many things that could be of use, like a brand new l shaped computer desk or two. Even appliances, tables, chairs, other desks and furnishings. Sometimes its like they literally just left and never came back.
In early 2006, two small temporary sales offices replaced the abandoned gas station at the park entrance and the large concrete sign along Palos Verdes Drive South (with a tower resembling a whale's tail) was altered to feature the Terranea logo and artist's rendering of the resort. In July 2007, principal construction work on Terranea Resort commenced, starting with the demolition of the remains of Marineland. The Resort opened in 2009.
link: http://www.moderndayruins.com/2008/01/marineland-of-pacific.html
There are many interesting pictures at the above link...
Marineland of the Pacific was a public oceanarium and tourist attraction located on the Palos Verdes Peninsula coast in Los Angeles County, California, USA. Architect William Pereira designed the main structure. It was also known as Hanna-Barbera's Marineland during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Marineland operated from 1954 until 1987, when it was purchased by the owners of SeaWorld San Diego. The new owners moved the popular killer whales and other animals to their San Diego facility and abruptly closed Marineland.
Marineland
When it opened in 1954, one year before Disneyland, Marineland of the Pacific was the world's largest oceanarium. The park was designed by William Pereira whose work, which included the Transamerica Pyramid, the Los Angeles International Airport, and the Geisel Library helped define the architectural look of mid-20th century California. Marineland was best known for its performing orcas or "killer whales". It was also noteworthy for its Baja Reef concept, a first-of-its-kind swim-through aquarium featuring a wide array of sea life. Visitors could enter the winding aquarium wearing a swim mask and snorkel and swim with the fish and sharks. Marineland also contained educational and research facilities in addition to its unique entertainment structures.
Marineland was home to Orky and Corky, two of the most famous orcas on exhibit at any oceanarium at the time. They should not be confused with the original "Orky" and "Corky", which did not live long in captivity and had no calves. Marineland was also home to the first pilot whale ("Bubbles"
ever captured for display,[2] as well as dolphins, sea lions, harbor seals, sharks, and a variety of other related sea creatures.
Closing
Pilot Whale & Dolphin Show, August, 1962
After Harcourt Brace Jovanovich (the owner of the SeaWorld ocean park family) purchased the facility in 1987, Orky and Corky were moved to SeaWorld's San Diego park, where Corky was given the new name of "Shamu". Although the company had promised to keep Marineland open, it was suddenly closed in February 1987, six weeks after the sale was completed. The animals were trucked out in the middle of the night, and the new owners poured concrete into the drains so the park could not be re-opened. Many local residents complained about the sudden closure.
link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marineland_of_the_Pacific
My recollection at time was Marineland was in decline and needed an upgrade. Because of the decline, attendance was also down.
People were hoping that the new owners (Sea World) would make improvements and continue running the park. After the park was closed there were news reports that the facility would be made into a wildlife sanctuary which was need at the time. Sea World quietly and quickly did away with that promise.
Blog: Why Did Marineland Close?
Maureen Megowan, a Realtor with Remax Estate Properties, provides an article in a series titled "South Bay History."
Blog: Why Did Marineland Close?
Maureen Megowan, a Realtor with Remax Estate Properties, provides an article in a series titled "South Bay History."
By Maureen Megowan (Open Post) May 8, 2013
Blog: Why Did Marineland Close?
Marineland of the Pacific, which opened in 1954, for many years provided the primary tourist attraction in Rancho Palos Verdes. The attractions of Marineland included the 320-foot Skytower soaring into the blue ocean-side sky at the park's entrance, the splashy acrobatics of Orky and Corky the killer whales, Bubbles the pilot whale, and snorkeling the curved, faux-rocky recesses of Baja Reef amid rainbows of tropical fish. Marineland was only the second oceanarium in the United States when it opened to the public Aug. 28, 1954.
In 1986,Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, the publishing giant which then owned Sea World in San Diego, was in the process of rapidly expanding the Sea World enterprise throughout the nation, and was in desperate need of proven, successful breeding pairs of killer whales in order to supply their new Sea World locations with their headline act, "Shamu, the killer whale." Harcourt had been denied a permit to capture additional killer whales in the wild and was therefore limited to acquiring killer whales already in captivity. Harcourt approached the owners of Marineland which was then struggling financially, with an offer to purchase their star attractions, Corky and Orky, who had proven to be a successful breeding pair of killer whales. The owners of Marineland were unwilling to part with them, and instead offered to sell the entire Marineland park.
In public testimony to the City Council of Rancho Palos Verdes, company officials stated that their intentions in acquiring the park were to renovate and keep the park open. They really only wanted Orky and Corky, however, and planned to shut the park down and to immediately sell the land to an Arizona developer, and quickly did so after closing the park. Harcourt completed their purchase of the park in late 1986, and within a few weeks after the purchase, moved Corky and Orky to their Sea World Park in San Diego in the middle of the night without any prior notice to the public, and closed Marineland, claiming that the park was going to cost more money to renovate than they originally estimated.
Unfortunately, Orky, the male, died two years later in 1988; however, Corky is still alive (she is now believed to be about 40 years old and the oldest of the seven killer whales in San Diego) and performing daily at Sea World in San Diego. She gave birth to seven calves, however all died soon after birth, with the oldest living only for 46 days.
link: http://patch.com/california/palosverdes/bp--what-really-happened-when-they-closed-marineland
Marineland of the Pacific | Abandoned Places
Marineland of the Pacific was a public oceanarium and tourist attraction located on the Palos Verdes Peninsula coast in Los Angeles County, California, USA. Architect William Pereira designed the main structure. It was also known as Hanna-Barbera's Marineland during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Marineland operated from 1954 until 1987, when it was purchased by the owners of SeaWorld, San Diego. The new owners moved the popular killer whales and other animals to their San Diego facility and abruptly closed Marineland.
Marineland of the Pacific was loved by many. It is surely missed. Share your thoughts and stories in the comments below.
When it opened in 1954, one year before Disneyland, Marineland of the Pacific was the world's largest oceanarium. Many considered it California's first major theme park. Marineland was best known for its performing Orcas or "killer whales". It was also noteworthy for its Baja Reef concept, a first-of-its-kind swim-through aquarium featuring a wide array of sea life. Visitors could enter the winding aquarium wearing a swim mask and snorkel and swim with the fishes and sharks. Marineland also contained educational and research facilities, in addition to its unique entertainment structures.
For safety reasons, all of the tanks were torn down after closing in 1987, however many of the buildings and the famous Sky Tower remained. It is always interesting when a building or whole tourist attraction is left behind, many times, the objects in it are also left. So many things that could be of use, like a brand new l shaped computer desk or two. Even appliances, tables, chairs, other desks and furnishings. Sometimes its like they literally just left and never came back.
In early 2006, two small temporary sales offices replaced the abandoned gas station at the park entrance and the large concrete sign along Palos Verdes Drive South (with a tower resembling a whale's tail) was altered to feature the Terranea logo and artist's rendering of the resort. In July 2007, principal construction work on Terranea Resort commenced, starting with the demolition of the remains of Marineland. The Resort opened in 2009.
link: http://www.moderndayruins.com/2008/01/marineland-of-pacific.html
There are many interesting pictures at the above link...
