Greg May worked as an aquarist at SeaWorld from 1975 – 1977. That’s where he met Barbara Walters from ABC News. He recounts this memory about Ms. Walters:
“Barbara Walters wanted to watch me feed the sharks. She thought it would make a great publicity shot if her little girl would help me. The child was terrified! Later that day, Ms. Walters received a kiss from Shamu.”
Greg resigned from Sea World and went into television in 1977.
From 1977 – 1983 Greg May was Program Director for Cablevision (now BrightHouse) where he launched his own celebrity interview show called ‘Central Florida Spotlight’.
From 1983 – 1990 Mr. May worked for WFTV Channel 9. Today, he is a licensed real estate agent and free lance writer, with a soon to be published book.
Mr. May describes some of the photographs from his collection included here on Orlando Memory:
“In the photos you see me with Dennis Quaid (when he was filming JAWS 3D at Sea World), Lawrence Welk, Delta Burke and Kirby ‘Sky King’ Grant. Mr. Grant was tragically killed in an auto accident when all of Orlando media were driving in a convoy over to the Cape to see one of the launches.”
In this photo, we see Greg May with Kirby Grant who played “Sky King” in the television series of the same name. Greg interviewed Kirby for his Cablevision (now Brighthouse) program “Central Florida Spotlight.”
“Mr. Grant was tragically killed in an auto accident when all of Orlando media were driving in a convoy over to the Cape to see one of the launches.”
In addition, there are photographs with Arnold Palmer, Helen Piekin of the Orlando Sentinel, Dave Madden, The Amazing Kreskin, Colleen Zenk of “As The World Turns,” Richard Simmons, and my favorites a roller skating penguin and a water skiing Chimpanzee!
There is also a touching and beautiful photograph of Dawn Brancheau with a Pacific bottlenose dolphin, Pacific black whale, and an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin from the “New Friends” show at the San Diego Sea World marine park from May 1987.
Special thanks to Orlando resident Greg May for sharing his personal photograph collection and his memories!
PERUSE all the photos below under Attachments.
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Greg May with "The Amazing Kreskin"
Greg May with "The Amazing Kreskin" at Tupperware Convention Center Orlando. Greg interviewed Kreskin for his Cablevision (now Brighthouse) program "C...
Greg May with Dave Madden, "John Wain" and Delta Burke
Greg May with Dave Madden, "John Wain" and Delta Burke. Greg interviewed the trio for his Cablevision (now Brighthouse) program "Central Florida...
Greg May at SeaWorld's Shark Encounter 1977
Greg May at SeaWorld's Shark Encounter 1977
Greg May at Marineland of Florida 1980
Greg May at Marineland of Florida 1980.
Greg May with Lawrence Welk and Helen Peikin 1979
Greg May with Lawrence Welk and Helen Peikin of The Orlando Sentinel at the Tupperware Convention Center 1979. Greg interviewed Lawrence Welk...
Greg May meets Barbara Walters at SeaWorld
Greg May meets Barbara Walters at SeaWorld. "Barbara Walters wanted to watch me feed the sharks. She thought it would make a great...
Greg May with Dennis Quaid during filming of 'Jaws 3D' at Sea World 1980
Greg May with Dennis Quaid during filming of 'Jaws 3D' at SeaWorld 1980. Greg interviewed Dennis on his Cablevision (now Brighthouse) program...
Greg May with Arnold Palmer.
Greg May with Arnold Palmer. Greg interviewed Arnold for his Cablevision (now Brighthouse) program "Central Florida Spotlight."
Greg May with Kirby Grant "Sky King"
Greg May with Kirby Grant who played "Sky King" in the television series of the same name. Greg interviewed Kirby Grant for his...
Greg May with Colleen Zenk of 'As The World Turns'
Greg May with Colleen Zenk of 'As The World Turns.' Greg interviewed Colleen for his Cablevision (now Brighthouse) program "Central Florida Spotlight."
Greg May with chimpanzee 'friend' from Circus World.
Greg May with chimpanzee 'friend' from Circus World.
Greg May with Richard Simmons
Greg May with Richard Simmons. Greg interviewed Richard Simmons for his Cablevision (now Brighthouse) program "Central Florida Spotlight."
Amazon fresh water dolphin at Marineland
Amazon fresh water dolphin at Marineland. From the personal photograph collection of Greg May.
Risso's dolphin at Marineland
Risso's dolphin at Marineland. From the personal photograph collection of Greg May.
Risso's dolphin and spotted dolphin at Marineland
Risso's dolphin and spotted dolphin at Marineland. From the personal photograph collection of Greg May.
Marineland of Florida resort
Marineland of Florida resort. From the personal photograph collection of Greg May.
Marineland of Florida Resort - Ocean view
Marineland of Florida Resort. From the personal photograph collection of Greg May. PRESS INFORMATION taped to back of photo: Unique in d...
Marineland of Florida - Play Port
Marineland of Florida - Play Port. From the personal photograph collection of Greg May. PRESS information taped to back of photo: The latest addition...
Marineland - Aquarius Theater
Marineland Aquarius Theatre. From the personal photograph collection of Greg May. PRESS INFORMATION taped to back of photo: SEA DREAM (by MLF Producti...
Baby dolphin at Marineland
Baby dolphin at Marineland. From the personal photograph collection of Greg May.
Marineland of Florida in the 1970s
Marineland of Florida in the 1970s. From the personal photograph collection of Greg May.
World of the Sea Aquarium at SeaWorld Orlando
World of the Sea Aquarium at SeaWorld Orlando. Greg May worked as an AQUARIST at SeaWorld from 1975 - 1977. PRESS INFORMATION taped...
Pacific whiteside dolphins at SeaWorld Orlando
Photo from the personal collection of Greg May is a Pacific whiteside dolphins at SeaWorld Orlando. Greg May worked as an AQUARIST at...
Shamu at SeaWorld
Greg May worked as an AQUARIST at SeaWorld from 1975 - 1977. This photo of Shamu is from his personal photograph collection.
Sea lion performing in "Ding-A-Ling Bros. Circus"
Greg May worked as an AQUARIST at SeaWorld from 1975 - 1977. Mr. May resigned from SeaWorld and went into television in...
Roller skating penguin at SeaWorld
Greg May worked as an AQUARIST at SeaWorld from 1975 - 1977. Mr. May resigned from SeaWorld and went into television in...
Dolphin pulling water skiing chimp at SeaWorld
Greg May worked as an AQUARIST at SeaWorld from 1975 - 1977. Mr. May resigned from SeaWorld and went into television in...
SeaWorld Orlando 1973
Aerial view of SeaWorld Orlando 1973. From the personal photograph collection of Greg May. Greg May was an Aquarist at SeaWorld from 1975-1977....
George Millay, SeaWorld President
Photograph of George Millay, SeaWorld President, from the personal photograph collection of Greg May. Greg May was an Aquarist at SeaWorld Orlando from...
Beluga whale and false killer whales at SeaWorld
Beluga whale and false killer whales at SeaWorld. Photo from the personal photograph collection of Greg May. Greg May was an Aquarist at...
Back flipping Shamu at SeaWorld
Back flipping Shamu at SeaWorld from the photograph collection of Greg May. Greg May was an Aquarist at SeaWorld Orlando from 1975-1977. He...
Dawn Brancheau with "New Friends" at SeaWorld San Diego
Photograph of the late Dawn Brancheau interacting with "New Friends" at SeaWorld San Diego. From the photograph collection of Greg May. Mr. May...
Florida bottlenose dolphin - SeaWorld Orlando
Florida bottlenose dolphin - SeaWorld Orlando. From the photograph collection of Greg May. Mr. May was an aquarist at SeaWorld from 1975-1977. He...
SeaWorld Orlando - Park layout
SeaWorld Orlando - Park layout from the photograph collection of Greg May. Mr. May was an aquarist at SeaWorld Orlando from 1975-1977. He...
Great American High Diving Team at Marineland
Great American High Diving Team at Marineland. From the photograph collection of Greg May.
Sand tiger shark at SeaWorld
Sand tiger shark at SeaWorld. From the photograph collection of Greg May. Mr. May was an aquarist at SeaWorld Orlando from 1977-1977. He...
Pelican recovering at SeaWorld Orlando
Injured pelican recovering at SeaWorld Orlando. From the photograph collection of Greg May. Mr. May was an aquarist at SeaWorld from 1975-1977. He...
Greg. I miss you so much. Janet
Greetings Janet! Thank you for visiting Orlando Memory and leaving a message for Greg. We would love to know what became of Gregg. He was such an interesting, kind and gregarious individual! We met him at the library and encouraged him to allow us to create a post on him for Orlando Memory. If you ever get in touch with him, please ask him to reach out. We’d love to know what he is doing now. THE ORLANDO MEMORY TEAM
I remember that guy from junior high!! I missed seeing you in all these TV interviews though!! Thanks for sharing!
Greetings! Thank you for visiting Orlando Memory and commenting on Greg May’s post. Greg used to visit us at the library back in 2014. He shared amazing stories about all his experiences, so when he said he had photos, we asked if we could create a post on his career. We haven’t seen Greg in years, but with his talents, he must be doing something exciting! ORLANDO MEMORY TEAM
Greg, thanks for the amazing photos of Sea World, Marineland and all the actors and actresses and celebrities who are no longer with us. Your photos bring back so many memories of watching “Sky King”, “Designing Women”, and “The Lawrence Welk Show” and family vacations to Marineland in St. Augustine when I was a kid; and trips to Sea World and Circus World with my own kids. Thanks again for sharing these amazing photos and memories.