Movie Showing: Aquarena Springs and Ralph the Swimming Pig
Aquarena Springs and Ralph the Swimming Pig
The Documentary of a Texas Treasure
Saturday, August 11th
Texas Music Theater
2pm
Tickets available at the door ($10 adults, $5 kids, Kids under 10 are free)
Learn more about the film on the official website
Those who attend the screening will be treated to bonus video footage documenting the removal of the old submarine theatre in May. This engineering feat required use of the second-largest crane in the southern United States.
The Documentary of a Texas Treasure
Saturday, August 11th
Texas Music Theater
2pm
Tickets available at the door ($10 adults, $5 kids, Kids under 10 are free)
Learn more about the film on the official website
Those who attend the screening will be treated to bonus video footage documenting the removal of the old submarine theatre in May. This engineering feat required use of the second-largest crane in the southern United States.
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Relive the Magic of Aquarena Springsat Aug. 11 Documentary Screening
With the dismantling of the Sky Spiral just a few days ago and the removal of the submarine theatre structures from Spring Lake in late May, little remains of Aquarena Springs Amusement Park, one of the state’s most popular tourist destinations during the last half of the 20th century.
What does remain are memories of the park, where generations of local residents were entertained and visitors to San Marcos came from across the country and around the world.
The public is invited to relive those memories—or experience the magic of Aquarena for the first time—at an Aug. 11 presentation of Bob Phillips’ film, Aquarena Springs and Ralph the Swimming Pig: The Documentary of a Texas Treasure.
The screening, sponsored by the Heritage Association of San Marcos, will begin at 2 p.m. at the Texas Music Theatre on the square in San Marcos (120 East San Antonio Street). Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for teenagers, with no charge for children under 12.
Phillips wrote, edited and produced the documentary a year ago using archival photos, home movies and videos, and interviews he conducted with key figures in Aquarena’s history. Phillips is the son of the late Gene Phillips, who managed Aquarena Springs in the 1970s and ’80s.
Those who remember or have heard tales about Ralph the swimming pig, Glurpo the clown, the “Top Gun” mechanical cowboy, the dancing chicken and piano-playing duck, the Swiss sky ride, Pirates’ Cove, and the alligators that escaped during a flood will be transported back in time via the documentary to hear the stories and see the images of the famous vintage roadside attraction that was Aquarena Springs.
“I have just finished watching the documentary, and I cannot describe what a truly wonderful trip down memory lane it was,” said one fan of the film. “Fantastic, marvelous, remarkable and a whole lot more.” Another viewer added, “I have seen many documentaries on the History and Discovery channels, and this one by far is the best, because of the unique interviews, the superb editing, and the way Mr. Phillips was able to capture the viewers’ emotions, with the introduction of the old 8 mm film reels.”
The documentary was an official selection of the Thin Line Film Festival, the only International film festival in Texas. Copies of the film will be available for sale at the Aug. 11 event.
What does remain are memories of the park, where generations of local residents were entertained and visitors to San Marcos came from across the country and around the world.
The public is invited to relive those memories—or experience the magic of Aquarena for the first time—at an Aug. 11 presentation of Bob Phillips’ film, Aquarena Springs and Ralph the Swimming Pig: The Documentary of a Texas Treasure.
The screening, sponsored by the Heritage Association of San Marcos, will begin at 2 p.m. at the Texas Music Theatre on the square in San Marcos (120 East San Antonio Street). Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for teenagers, with no charge for children under 12.
Phillips wrote, edited and produced the documentary a year ago using archival photos, home movies and videos, and interviews he conducted with key figures in Aquarena’s history. Phillips is the son of the late Gene Phillips, who managed Aquarena Springs in the 1970s and ’80s.
Those who remember or have heard tales about Ralph the swimming pig, Glurpo the clown, the “Top Gun” mechanical cowboy, the dancing chicken and piano-playing duck, the Swiss sky ride, Pirates’ Cove, and the alligators that escaped during a flood will be transported back in time via the documentary to hear the stories and see the images of the famous vintage roadside attraction that was Aquarena Springs.
“I have just finished watching the documentary, and I cannot describe what a truly wonderful trip down memory lane it was,” said one fan of the film. “Fantastic, marvelous, remarkable and a whole lot more.” Another viewer added, “I have seen many documentaries on the History and Discovery channels, and this one by far is the best, because of the unique interviews, the superb editing, and the way Mr. Phillips was able to capture the viewers’ emotions, with the introduction of the old 8 mm film reels.”
The documentary was an official selection of the Thin Line Film Festival, the only International film festival in Texas. Copies of the film will be available for sale at the Aug. 11 event.
