The Fish That Made The Nature Coast Famous

The Fish That Made The Nature Coast Famous

By: Ken Marotte, Citrus County Historical Society

A Wartime Fantasy Story

Theodore Pratt was a well-known author who grew up in New York and moved to Florida in the 1930’s   He was a keen observer of the people and remote locations of his adopted home and many of his stories revolved around little known places that are today wistfully called “Old Florida”.  Several of his stories were made into movies, including 1942’s “Juke Girl” starring a young actor named Ronald Reagan.   His colorful descriptions of the area would sometimes lead his avid readers to flock to the sites of his backwater Florida stories.  He lamented that he had a part in “discovering” these locations, because the hordes of tourists would destroy the character of the places that had initially attracted him.

Pratt loved water sports and fishing.  While floating on the surface off the Florida coast, he used a mask and flippers to spend hours watching the interactions of the fish below him.  An idea materialized in his head about the adventures of a man who somehow became transformed into a fish.  The idea for his new book – Mr. Limpet – was born.

In his book, Mr. Limpet was a shy, bookish clerk living in Brooklyn.  Limpet is fascinated with fish and spends hours reading about them.  One day, he falls into the water while watching fish from a pier and is inexplicably turned into one of them.  His only resemblance to his past human life were the spectacles that he continued to wear.   He is able to communicate with the other fish and warns them away when a fisherman’s hook is nearby.

The story was written during the Summer of 1941, which was a few months before America’s entry into World War II.  Pratt was convinced that our country’s involvement in the conflict was imminent.  He included a plot line revealing that Mr. Limpet had the ability to detect Nazi submarines that were hidden in the depths of the ocean.  This skill attracted the notice of Adolf Hitler, who offered Limpet sole possession of any sea he wanted if the bespectacled fish would join the Axis.  The patriotic Limpet spurns Hitler’s advances and collaborates with the United States Navy to rid the sea of the U-Boat menace.  As a reward for his involvement in winning the war, Limpet is commissioned as a Lieutenant.   Along the way, he meets and wins the heart of a “Lady Fish” who becomes his new lifetime partner.

The book was released in 1942 to critical acclaim.  At face level, it was considered as a fantasy, while there were deeper subtexts about the way humans treat each other.   It became a best seller and was the subject of many “reading clubs”.   America’s focus on real wartime events gradually led readers to pursue other material and the Mr. Limpet book faded into relative obscurity.

Mr. Limpet Returns

Warner Brothers obtained the movie rights to the Mr. Limpet story by 1961.  Twenty years after the book’s original publication the name of the enemy and weapons had changed, so the story line had to be adjusted to meet world conditions.  The new plot would require Mr. Limpet to find a Hydrogen Bomb on the bottom of the ocean that was threatening America’s existence.  With development of a screenplay underway, suitable actors needed to be recruited.

The US Navy enthusiastically supported the project.  The cruiser USS Galveston (CL-93) and destroyer Alfred A Cunningham (DD-752) were featured in the movie.

Creation of animation sequences and mixing with live scenes would take another three months after actors had completed their camera work.   The studio claimed this was the first time that live actors were incorporated with animated characters in the same scene.

The Summer of 1962 was one of the most productive periods in Hollywood, including such blockbusters as Hitchcock’s “The Birds”; Elizabeth Taylor’s “Cleopatra”; “Lawrence of Arabia”; “Bye Bye Birdie”; “PT109”; and “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World”.   Mr. Limpet would have plenty of competition and Warner Brothers producers knew they had to make a big splash when the movie was released.

Mr. Limpet Comes to the Nature Coast

Warner Brothers decided that they wanted to use an innovative approach for the movie’s premiere in 1964.  They explored the idea of projecting the film onto a screen that would be located underwater.  This plan would involve overcoming a number of challenges, including finding a clear spring where the movie could be projected with distortion.  After surveying almost 20 sites, they decided to host the premiere at the Weeki Wachee Springs Park.   The clarity of the water was exceptional and there was existing underwater stadium that could accommodate over 500 guests. 

The studio’s premiere coordinators needed a place that could accommodate the stars of the movie, studio staff and hundreds of invited reporters.  They recalled that the Port Paradise resort had hosted Elvis Presley during the filming of “Follow That Dream” recently.  The TV show “Route 66” also used the hotel as a home base when filming an episode in Crystal River.  Arrangements were made for Port Paradise to become the official Mr. Limpet Premiere Headquarters.

Citrus County recognized that the event would bring money into the area and continued good publicity would boost future tourism.  The Board of County Commissioners voted to give the equivalent of $20,000 to the local Chamber of Commerce to promote the county’s tourism program.  The Crystal River Power Squadron offered to take guests on tours of Crystal River.  Local fishing and hunting guides were busy exposing the visitors to the natural attractions of Citrus County.  An expedition to hunt feral hogs was organized in Inglis.  Citrus County Sheriff Deputies provided security for the cast.  The reigning Miss Florida appeared at several events.

The stars of the movie were readily available for interviews and seemed more open to questions in the relaxed Port Paradise environment.  Arthur Godfrey, popular radio and TV star, joined the festivities and entertained attendees with his insider Hollywood stories. 

A 10-minute movie trailer was created featuring the Weeki Wachee and Crystal River areas that was expected to accompany the feature movie at 11,000 theatres across the country. 

The entourage was bused from Crystal River to the Weeki Wachee park.  After a mermaid show, a screen was secured in the spring’s clear water by several husky mermen.  Audience reactions were generally positive and the comedy evidently hit home several times based on laughter that rolled through the viewing area.  Some reporters noted that the film’s Technicolor effects were “washed out” when projected through the water.  Others humorously complained when a real fish took up residence in front of the screen and partially blocked the story.  Warner Brothers had expended the equivalent of $400,000 on the event and were pleased with the positive reactions and publicity that the unusual premiere had generated.

Arthur Godfrey celebrated his 30th anniversary as a radio host.  The staff at Paradise Point brought a cake in recognition of this milestone.

Co-star Andrew Duggan recounted some Hollywood stories that weren’t meant for publication.  Co-star Carole Cook surprised the crowd with her amazing singing skills.   Sammy Fain sat at the piano and played a medley of songs he had composed for the movie as well as a round of tunes from his past Broadway shows and movies.   

All of the attendees reported that they had a good time in our area and returned to write favorable reports about the movie and the hospitality of the people in Citrus County.  One write opined:  “The fantasy is so convincing, I might add, that on an all-day deep sea fishing expedition the next day, it was hard to dispel the thought that “Mr. Limpet” might not pop out of the water at any moment – glasses and all”