Newt Perry

Newton A. Perry (January 6, 1908 – November 22, 1987) was an American swimmer, attraction promoter, educator and swimming coach.

In order to earn pocket change, he started teaching local residents to swim for twenty-five cents per lesson.

Ray and Davidson invited American sportswriter and short movie producer, Grantland Rice, to vacation in the Ocala area and to be their guest on a tour of Silver Springs.

These films were human interest stories about fifteen minutes in length, which were shown before the featured movies at theaters across the country.

The subjects included different themes like picnics, weddings, school rooms, track meets, night clubs with bands, and bartenders among other story lines.

He worked with several noted actors including Weissmuller, W.C. Fields, Gary Cooper, Cary Grant, Gregory Peck, Jayne Mansfield, Ann Blyth, Lloyd Bridges.

In 1948, Perry spearheaded the development of the Weeki Wachee Springs attraction, and is credited with performing the first underwater shows there.

Dot had signed with the "Water Follies," a local synchronized swimming act, after failing to qualify for the Olympic diving team.

After Perry and Dot's wedding in the fall of 1950, they moved to San Marcos, Texas to develop Aquerena Springs, an underwater attraction similar to Weeki Wachee.

Newton Perry riding a bicycle underwater with Edith Allen Landt at Silver Springs.