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Water Shows


Diving was first introduced in the official programme at the St. Louis Summer Olympic Games in 1904. It has been an Olympic sport ever since then. It was known as "fancy diving" for the acrobatic stunts performed by divers during the dive.

Water shows were a staple of the midway from the 1910s to the 1950s going by names such as "Water Follies", "Neptune's Garden", "Human Mermaids" and "Aquacade." They were usually family entertainment featuring elements such as high diving, aquatic clowns, and water ballet. Sometimes they were more or less

a girl show. Either way, girls in bathing suits on the bally were sure to bring the people in.



Jack Ray designed a number of water show fronts, including "Aquacade" and "Aqua Frolics", both which featured Canadian diving champion, Alfie Phillips who would go on to produce water shows for Conklin Shows.

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"Aquafrolics" show designed by Jack Ray.
1947-1955
Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
North American Carnival Museum and Archives (NACMA)
Jennifer Walker

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"Aquacade" show at the Canadian National Exhibition. The front was designed by Jack Ray.
1941
Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
North American Carnival Museum and Archives (NACMA)
J.W. (Patty) Conklin
Glenn Charron

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"Maid of the Mist Watercade featuring Lottie Mayers and her Disappearing Water Ballet".
1942-1943
Fair for Britain, Riverdale Park, Toronto, Ontario

Credits:
North American Carnival Museum and Archives (NACMA)

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Painting of a proposed "Watercade" show by midway designer Jack Ray.
1941-1946
Conklin Shows, Frolic-Land
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
North American Carnival Museum and Archives (NACMA)
John C. (Jack) Ray
Jennifer Walker

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"Water Follies" souvenir program from the Canadian National Exhibition.
1938
Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
North American Carnival Museum and Archives (NACMA)
John C. (Jack) Ray
Jennifer Walker

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Painting of a proposed "Aqua" show front by midway designer Jack Ray.
1941-1946
Conklin Shows, Frolic-Land
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
North American Carnival Museum and Archives (NACMA)
John C. (Jack) Ray
Jennifer Walker

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Painting of a proposed "aqua" show by midway designer Jack Ray.
Circa 1947
Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
North American Carnival Museum and Archives (NACMA)
John C. (Jack) Ray
Jennifer Walker

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One of the "Swimcade" show fronts designed by Jack Ray.
1941-1946
Conklin Shows, Frolic-Land
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
North American Carnival Museum and Archives (NACMA)

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"Swimcade" show front designed by Jack Ray.
1941-1946
Conklin Shows, Frolic-Land
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
North American Carnival Museum and Archives (NACMA)

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Painting of a proposed "Scooter Boats" for Belmont Park by midway designer Jack Ray.
1945
Belmont Park, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
North American Carnival Museum and Archives (NACMA)
John C. (Jack) Ray
Jennifer Walker

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Painting of a proposed "aqua" show probably for Belmont Park by midway designer Jack Ray.
1945
Belmont Park, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
North American Carnival Museum and Archives (NACMA)
John C. (Jack) Ray
Jennifer Walker

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Painting of a proposed "Water Follies" show front by midway designer Jack Ray.
1941-1946
Conklin Shows, Frolic-Land
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
North American Carnival Museum and Archives (NACMA)
John C. (Jack) Ray
Jennifer Walker

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"Aqua Frolics" show designed by Jack Ray for the Canadian National Exhibition.
1947
Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
North American Carnival Museum and Archives (NACMA)
Jennifer Walker