These boys, clad in signature jailhouse-striped swimsuits, were part of a group of Astoria kids who called themselves the Aquazanies.
In the 1940s, they regularly put on a diving and comedy show (with props, music, and even animals joining them for some high-dive fun) on Wednesdays nights at Astoria Pool, one of the massive public swimming facilities Robert Moses built in the 1930s.
The group drew big crowds in Depression-era New York, and they had quite a following at different pools around the city.
So what happened to the Aquazanies? According to the Department of Parks & Recreation website, one Aquazany, Ernest Haridopolos, joined the FBI and worked undercover on the French Connection and Abscam cases.
Tags: Abscam, Aquazanies, Astoria Pool, diving show in New York City, Ernest Haridopolos, French Connection, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation
May 3, 2009 at 6:08 pm |
Hello, I am the granddaughter of Nick Haridopolos who is the oldest boy of the Haridopolos family. In this picture, is my grandfather (Nick), not Ernest. Though Ernest did swim in the Astoria pool along with my grandfather; he was not part of the Aquazanies. All six siblings were dove together there, in the group called: The Flying Haridopolos’s. Nick served in the Marines in Okinawa and worked for Grumman. Thanks,
Alexandra
July 11, 2009 at 6:14 pm |
This is a message for Ms. Alexandra Haridopolos. I am an artist living in Astoria. I am interested in speaking or emailing with you to obtain some more information on your grandfather’s swim group. If you should be so inclined, please contact me at your earliest convenience. fusiaenvy@yahoo.com
Many thanks!
Angela
June 22, 2010 at 6:38 pm |
[...] its heyday, the high dive was also used as a stage for performers such as the Aquazanies, a musical, diving, and prop-comedy troupe who regularly performed on Wednesday nights to large [...]