It seems unthinkable now, but back in the 1970s, dolphins were allowed to swim in Liverpool's swimming baths as part of touring shows.
Bizarrely, in the early 1970s, a number of the city's swimming baths were used to stage a show involving the highly intelligent marine mammals. One 350lb dolphin, naturally named Flipper, was one of the show's big attractions.
These days, such a spectacle would never be allowed. But there's no doubt the 1970s was a completely different era and such shows were commonplace not only in Liverpool but around the UK.
READ MORE: Lost swimming baths loved by kids where you could also see real dolphins
An advertisement for one particular show printed in the Liverpool Echo in 1973, read: "Flipper and his friends are back in the sensational FLORIDA DOLPHIN SHOW! All the way from the USA, the FLORIDA DOLPHIN SHOW is back in Liverpool once again.
"Come and marvel at this world-famous troupe of dolphins as they perform their wonderful tricks. They'll be at William Roberts Baths (Norris Green) from January 29th to February 28th."
The shows themselves started in the 1960s and didn't actually finish touring the country's swimming baths until the 1980s. There were a number of dolphinarium operators in the UK who during the winter period would take some of their animals on tour utilising public swimming pools for performances.
In an article printed in the Liverpool Echo on December 27, 1972, alongside a photograph of one of the performing animals, a journalist wrote: "Taking the plunge in Liverpool's Lister Drive baths is Flipper, one of two 350 lb dolphins who opened Liverpool Corporation's Dolphin Show there yesterday. The show will run twice daily at the baths and five times a day on Saturday and Sunday until January 28, when it moves to the William Roberts Baths, Norris Green.
Adding: "Last year they appeared at Garston baths. Their native home is the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Florida."
When the Liverpool Echo recently ran a story on Norris Green's much missed Broadway swimming baths, readers took to the comments to share their memories of the dolphin shows. On the ECHO website, Scousio said: "I got picked out of the crowd of kids to kiss the dolphin...the dolphin kissed her and spat water at me, LOL."
MiketheRed commented: "I seen the dolphins at Queens drive baths. Only just talking about this the other day and wondered did they change the water in place of sea water?"
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On Facebook, Brenda Ada Foott said: "[We] used to go Broadway baths as a kid (1960's) remember seeing a dolphin show as well but don't remember the year."
Julie Dally commented: "I taught the dolphins to sing 'In My Liverpool Home' when I went to see them with the school when I was about nine."
