SKEGNESS DOLPHINARIUM: 1972 - 1975

Skegness dolphinarium was a summer seasonal show operated Queens Motel and Entertainment Ltd (Margate Dolphinarium) in conjunction with Skegness Urban Council. The first season started badly with dolphin 'Speedy' having to be returned to Margate as he refused to perform. Two animals were then supplied on loan from Pleasurama for this season. In 1973 the season had a false start with one of the dolphins playing with and breaking in filter inlet pipe that allowed water to empty from the pool. Fortunately, staff arrived to find the animals safely on a 'water'bed' created by the pool liner and they were moved to the companies Margate pool whilst the pool was repaired. The animal returned some weeks later.

The dolphin pool's last summer season was in 1975.
 
Summer Season 1972 - Trainers are John Dineley and Ray Bethley
Summer Season 1973 - Trainers are John Dineley and Ray Bethley
Summer Season 1974
 

SOUTHEND DOLPHINARIUM - 1970 - 1975

Southend-on-Sea dolphinarium was a summer seasonal show operated by the owners of the Margate Dolphinarium. The dolphins were originally displayed in 1970 in the old disused Westcliff-On-Sea swimming pool - the site is now the Westcliff Leisure Centre. When this site was acquired by a developer the owners of the dolphins then constructed a dolphin pool on the sea-front on land leased from Southend Council to the right of Southend Pier on Marine Parade.

The dolphinarium closed in 1975.

NB: A touring dolphin show was presented in the Southend Kursaal Amusement Park's Coronation Dome in 1969 for one summer but this company and it's animals were unrelated to Margate Dolphinarium and it's satellites. This show was operated by an American James Tiebor who was based in Germany and undertook a number of touring dolphin shows in Europe during the late nineteen-sixties and nineteen-seventies.
 

Photos taken at the disused Westciffe On Sea swimming pool that was used for one season prior to the construction of Southend Dolphinarium
Location of the Southend Dolphinarium and press coverage

WEST MIDLANDS SAFARI PARK DOLPHINARIUM: 1975

Margate Dolphinarium operated this seasonal dolphinariums which probably only ran for one summer.
The pool was then used for trained fur seal shows supplied by the safari park.
 

Dolphins just arrived at West Midlands Safari Park.

*Note the covering of lanolin still visual on their bodies to protect their skin during transport*