| Heigh-Ho, Mickey News readers–it's been a long time since my last column, and figured it was time to get crackin', so here's one on the mermaids that used to live in the Submarine Lagoon.
August 1960
August 1960
Undated (shows canvas changing area)
1965
September 1965 (shows mermaid entering changing chamber)
Detail of same shot, showing mermaid
As you can see from these photos, REAL(!) mermaids swam in the submarine lagoon for a brief period. During the 1959 opening ceremonies for the Submarine Voyage, there was a water ballet of mermaids. The mermaids were around for the first year of the subs, then returned for the Tencennial in 1965. Requirements for those auditioning at the Disneyland Hotel were height between 5'4"–5'7", long hair, and must be able to swim! From summer 1965 through summer 1967, the mermaids could be seen for four hours a day on the rocks in the middle of the lagoon. They would wave to guests passing by in Tomorrowland. According to legend, a few overly amorous males apparently swam out to the rocks to meet the mermaids in person. In addition, the chlorine in the lagoon supposedly turned the mermaid's hair green. Mermaids entered the changing room located on the sub dock, wearing a Tiki Room mumu while transitioning from backstage. The cover was added on top of the old service dock so that the public did not see them put on their lower fish half. It included a small air unit for ventilation. Originally it was a canvas covering (visible in the undated photo), then it became a more permanent metal structure.
Well folks, that's it for this column. Many thanks for the positive feedback and suggestions—until next time, see you at Daveland, 24/7! Feel free to email me suggestions for the next column.
Dave
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