Flipper's 50th Anniversary Brings "A Year Full of Wonder" To Miami Seaquarium®

MIAMI, Dec. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The year was 1964.  The average cost of a new home was $13,000.  Ford Motor Company unveiled their brand new car, the Mustang and a brand new TV show titled "Flipper" captured the hearts and minds of Americans.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131216/FL33945 )

Fast forward five decades and Miami Seaquarium, the original film location of the popular TV series "Flipper," will commemorate the 50^th Anniversary of the television program's first broadcast.  

"Flipper," which first aired on the NBC network in 1964, was an instant hit.  The adventure series featured two brothers, Sandy and Bud, befriended by a bottlenose dolphin, Flipper, and their father Ranger Porter Ricks of Coral Key State Park in Florida.

"Miami Seaquarium is very proud of its association with 'Flipper,' the TV series, which is a classic among TV fans throughout the world," said Andrew Hertz, president and general manager at Miami Seaquarium. "This TV series forever changed our awareness of marine mammals and how we interact with them.  Our goal is to commemorate this momentous anniversary with a year-long celebration with special events, community initiatives and park activities."   

The year-long celebration, tagged "A Year Full of Wonder," will consist of events, activities, initiatives and happenings for the whole family, including:

• New Flipper Dolphin Show
  The new Caribbean themed show, with a new set, music and behaviors will let everyone know what Flipper has been up to in recent years.  While the show demonstrates that Flipper's surroundings may have changed, his core commitment to helping out when there is a need has not.
• New Flipper Splash Area
  In the summer of 2014, the park will unveil a new water play area, located near the Flipper Stadium, designed especially for toddlers. 
• "Flip it Forward, South Florida"
  What is "Flip it Forward?" In the popular TV show Flipper frequently "saved the day" by helping his human companions.  The park will be encouraging everyone to 'Flip It Forward' through random acts of kindness.  www.miamiseaquarium.com/flipitforward  provides details on how everyone can get involved in making South Florida a more caring community.

Miami Seaquarium, South Florida's most popular tourist attraction, is a family-oriented marine-life park open to the public 365 days a year.  The park provides visitors with a greater understanding and appreciation for marine life through shows, presentations and marine-life exhibits.  More information is available at www.miamiseaquarium.com.

SOURCE Miami Seaquarium