Creature From the Black Lagoon

This photo was snapped in 1960, five years after a green, scaly fishman terrorized the night-time patrons of the Lobster House Restaurant. The eatery sits at the right-hand side of the picture, and its roof is lit with its name in this view from the Prudential Building. The site is now occupied by the popular River City Brewery.

Here's the Lobster House by day in 1960. Consider how much the Southbank has changed since then. The field to the right of the restaurant, for instance, is now in the vicinity of Friendship Fountain, with its tall plumes of water. Unfortunately, the Lobster House burned in a Christmas season fire in 1962.

Here's the Creature himself in all of his glory. This poster came from his original movie. The first sequel was filmed partially in Jacksonville and partially at Marineland, south of St. Augustine.

alf-man, half-monster? This is Florida native Ricou Browning, a stuntman who played the Creature during underwater shots. The photo was snapped at Wakulla Springs, near Tallahassee, in 1954. Wakulla Springs served as the location for some of the scenes in the original "Creature from the Black Lagoon." In addition to helping bring the Creature to life, Ricou Browning created "Flipper," the beloved TV series. At one time, Browning was a resident of Ocala.

By JaxHistory on November 5, 2013 in Curiousities

MONSTER INVADES JACKSONVILLE! — “Terror is loose in the city!” screamed a movie poster. It happened one night in 1955: The Creature from the Black Lagoon made a River City appearance. The Gill Man lumbered into a crowded waterfront hotspot, plucked a pretty lady from the dance floor, and jumped back into the St. Johns River.

This was pivotal scene for “The Revenge of the Creature,” the first sequel for the sci-fi classic, “The Creature from the Black Lagoon.” Producers shot most of “Revenge” in Florida, and the Jacksonville locations included the Lobster House. This popular Southbank restaurant was located near the south end of the Acosta Bridge. The site is occupied by the River City Brewery. The Lobster House can be clearly seen during the film, as can too the night-time skyline of Jacksonville.

The movie monster may have made a clean getaway, but the real-life actor wasn’t so lucky. One of the men playing the creature, Tom Hennesy, almost drowned! He had to contend with jellyfish, strong currents, a heavy suit, & blinding movie lights.

The movie’s heroine, actress Lori Nelson, starred as the girl the Gillman grabbed. When the scene moved into the water, however, a stuntman in a dress doubled for Nelson. This proved wise, for this stuntman also experienced some difficulties and was assisted from the St. Johns by another performer.

Earlier, a lesser mishap had occurred when movie lights set off the sprinkler system of the Lobster House.

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Creature From the Black Lagoon