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Join this channel to get access to perks: Want to learn more about Periscope Film and get access to exclusive swag? Join us on Patreon. Visit Visit our website This silent, untitled color travelog film from 1955 depicts a vacation to different cities in West Florida like St. Petersburg, Naples, and Sarasota. This film features lots of automobiles and fashion typical of late 1950s America as well as many scenes of Florida’s white-sand beaches, golf courses, and lush flora and fauna. The film also includes first-hand footage of famous entertainment spectacles such as Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus and Weeki Wachee Springs Underwater Theater. While the film has no credits, it was likely made by filmmaker Norman Schley, who produced many travel films in this era. Palm trees and blue skies, sign that reads “Beach Club Hotel” (0:08). Exterior, beach front of Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club (closed May 23, 2021) (0:13). Man stands beside hotel and hoists up sail of small sailboat (0:33). Hotel employee greets guests getting out of perhaps 1952 Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe convertible (0:50). White sand beach, clear blue water, crisp white sails of sailboats and bobbing heads of swimmers line the water (1:33). Guests enjoy seaside activities: Shuffleboard, fishing (2:35). Crayton Cove Marina - small boats, water limousine (2:59). Fishing boats, lobster traps at local fisherman wharf (3:10). Naples town from car: Chamber of Commerce building, realtor office, man in cowboy hat on horse, family homes, local public tennis courts (3:41). Lush plants, colorful flowers, flamingos, swans, ducks in pond at Naples Botanical Garden (4:44). Golf course of the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, main couple from film swing most of their golf balls into marina water (6:01). Family hops on small motorized fishing boat at Crayton Cove before heading out into nearby sound - dolphins jump out of water, herons flock to massive trees along water’s edge, other fisherman out on small boats (6:54). Employee of perhaps Naples Zoo lowers hook with fish on it down into pit filled with hungry alligators (12:01). Pink flamingos (13:05). Kids feed sea otters (13:07). Zoo keeper does tricks with gray heron (13:28). Flags wave at Entrance for winter home of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in Sarasota, Florida (14:56). Spectators walk through pen filled with baby and adult elephants; Young boy feeds peanuts into elephant’s trunk (15:42). Tigers inside caged wagon/ RV (16:15). Lioness roams through cage (16:20). Spectators make their way to seats in outdoor arena; Young children pose for photo with clowns (16:27). Show elephants escorted into center of arena and perform tricks; Circus horses performance (16:55). Tigers perform tricks perhaps Tiger Act with Trevor Bale (19:55). Spectators rush out of arena after end of show; 1950s era automobiles exit parking lot (20:34). Newsstand with St. Petersburg Times; Close up of front page (10:54). Three women in pink tiered Rococo-style ball gowns “southern bells” perform at Cypress Gardens; More shots from grounds of gardens of boat riding along canal and visitors walking among lush greenery (21:15). Cypress Gardens Water Ski Show - various acts of water skiers jumping from ramps, skiing in impressive formations while being pulled by motor boat (22:10). Leaving Cypress Gardens cars drive past orange trees lining roadside (23:47). Sign for Weeki Wachee Springs State Park (24:10). Underwater theater; View underwater female performers doing underwater stunts as part of Weeki Wachee Mermaid Show (24:15). St. Petersburg's Recreational Pier seen at end of road; 1950s-era automobiles parked in front (27:54). White sail of sailboat contrasts pink exterior of the Vinoy Park Hotel (28:21). Women and children along pier feed flock of seagulls (28:31). (29:04). (29:30). Miss Pass-A-Grille Deep Sea Fishing Charter Boat pulls into harbor (30:26). The Soreno Hotel (31:38). Snell Isle Golf Club/ Sunset Country Club Moorish-style building (32:00). St. Pete Sunken Gardens: paths lined with bright blossoming flowers (32:50). Shuffleboard courts packed with men and women playing (33:15). Boardwalk and sunbathers along Spa Municipal Beach(33:43). Sunshine Skyway Bridge (34:19). Man test drives 1911 Model T Ford and other early 20th century car models at Horns' Cars of Yesterday, Sarasota Classic Car Museum (34:50). We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit
