LA's Own Marineland: Recent Episodes
Tod Perry
“LA’s Own Marineland” is a 12-part, 10-hour podcast documenting the history of the west coast’s first oceanarium which operated at the tip of Rancho Palos Verdes, just outside of Los Angeles, California, from 1954 to 1987.
The show is hosted, written, and produced by Tod Perry who conducted over 20 hours of exclusive interviews with former employees and those closest to the park. The intimate discussions reveal the wonder of working with such magical animals in an awe-inspiring location and the heartbreak that came with the park’s abrupt closure.
The podcast also features extensive research culled from scholarly journals, newspaper stories, and archival information to bring together the park’s illustrious history.
Marineland was home to many historic events including the first-ever performing pilot whales and the first killer whales born in captivity. It was also a center for research on marine life and home to one of the west coast’s most prominent marine life rescues.
But millions remember it fondly as a place of discovery, fun, and wonder.
It was home to the world’s most popular pair of killer whales, Orky and Corky as well as Bubbles the pilot whale, and countless frolicking dolphins.
It was controversially closed in February 1987 after it was acquired by Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich which owned SeaWorld at the time.
WARNING: If you listen to this podcast while seated in the first five rows you will get wet. You may get soaked.
In the twelfth and final episode of “LA’s Own Marineland,” we’re going to take a look at the park’s legacy and ponder what could have been if things turned out differently. We’ll also follow up on the lives of the animals that were transferred to other parks after Marineland's closure. Finally, we’ll get the last word on the Marineland from those who know it best and loved it most, Marinelanders themselves.
On episode 11 of “LA’s Own Marineland,” we’ll follow the lives of Orky and Corky after they were moved from Marineland to SeaWorld San Diego and discuss the crazy times that followed the opening of the park’s 5-million-gallon Shamu stadium. We’ll also meet James Monaghan, the man who bought Marineland from Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich and hear his plans for a new marine-themed hotel that would incorporate some of the park’s attractions.
On episode 10 of “LA’s Own Marineland,” we’ll discuss the park’s final weeks of operation, efforts to keep it open, and the massive public backlash felt by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. Later, we’ll take a look at HBJ’s disastrous handling of the animal transitions and the heartbreak felt by Marineland’s employees and people in the community after its closure.
On episode 9 of “LA’s Own Marineland,” we discuss the dark days that followed Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich’s purchase of the park, including the night that Orky and Corky were moved to SeaWorld. Plus, one of the craziest nights in the park’s 33-year history comes courtesy of Dave Mulligan.
On the eighth episode of “LA’s Own Marineland,” the park finds success by leaning into its strengths as a place where people can get close to marine life and learn something at the same time. We also take a look at Bubbles the pilot whale’s close relationships with his dolphin tankmates. Later, Corky has her longest-living calf and a mishap in the orca tank sends Marinelanders scrambling.
On the seventh episode of “LA’s Own Marineland,” we’ll follow the park’s attempts to position itself against its competition to the south by adding some exciting new attractions that put people in close contact with marine life. During this period, the park also breaks new ground by focusing on education and rescue efforts.
On the sixth episode of “LA’s Own Marineland, we’ll learn more about Orky and Corky from the Marinelanders who knew them best. We’ll also recount the park’s grand re-opening/re-theming as Hanna-Barbera’s Marineland in 1978.
On our fifth episode of “LA’s Own Marineland” we discuss the brief, but bombastic, Twentieth Century Fox era of the park, led by the king of disaster films, Irwin Allen. Later, we’re going to get into the tanks with some Marineland trainers and learn how they got the animals to do such amazing behaviors. We’ll also revisit one of the park’s greatest joys and tragedies, the birth of Corky’s first calf. Finally, the park goes into battle with two local municipalities over much-needed park improvements.
On our fourth episode of “LA’s Own Marineland,” we’ll enter the 1970s and the new decade brings two new stars to Marineland, Orky and Corky. They would go on to become to most famous pair of killer whales in the world, but that was after a series of long-forgotten orcas passed through the Seaside Stadium. We’ll also discuss how the park’s waning attendance led to it being sold to an iconic LA entertainment company.
On episode three, we’ll discuss how Bimbo the pilot whale’s continuing troubles led Marineland staff to make a tough decision about his future. We’ll also look into the growing business of killer whale capture and retrace the beginnings of one of Marineland’s most iconic landmarks, the sky tower.
On the second episode of “LA’s Own Marineland,” Bubbles the whale makes her debut at the park, turning around its fortunes and making headlines around the world. Later, a potential star attraction is reeled in in the Newport Beach harbor and we’ll meet one of the most beloved Marinelanders, trainer Art Thomas.
In our first episode of the podcast we’ll take a look at how Henry Harris was inspired to build Marineland after the success of Marine Studios in Florida. Later, we’ll follow the exploits of renowned fisherman Frank Brocato, captain of the Geronimo, who bravely amassed the greatest underwater menagerie the world has ever seen. Lastly, […]