"Welcome Art and Dick" to the Linkletter Natatorium dedication , 1967

Grimaldi, Matthew F. · October 21, 1967

The photograph is taken in front of the Art Linkletter Natatorium on its dedication day on October 21, 1967, by Matt Grimaldi. People in front of the natatorium are talking to each other or waiting for others. There is a banner hanging on the front wall, saying "Welcome Art & Dick". Art refers to Art Linkletter, a famed TV and Radio personality, the natatorium is named according to him; Dick Kimball is a Professional World Diving champion, coached the University of Michigan diving team and the Olympic diving teams. On that day, Art Linkletter races Charles Silvia, the coach of the Springfield College Swimming team, and beats Silvia. After the race, Dick Kimball performed fancy and clown diving routines. It was Arthur Gordon Linkletter, also known as Art Linkletter, who suggested that the college build a new swimming and diving facility. Art Linkletter was the famed entertainer best known for his TV series "House Party" that ran on CBS from 1952 to 1969. Art Linkletter believed so much in the project that he sold his house for $250,000 and donated the money to the project. Another $250,000 was raised by the student “Work Week” in 1967, where students worked jobs such as trimming hedges or moving telephone poles for donations. Other money was supplied by a federal grant, alumni gifts, and friends of the college. Groundbreaking took place on April 30, 1966. The natatorium had steel arches rising to 45 ft at their peaks. The pool was 169'1'' long and 44' wide, and was 4' deep at the south end and 12'6'' deep at the deep end. With a movable bulkhead that could shorten and lengthen the pool, it was the longest indoor collegiate pool in the Eastern US at that time. The Olympic-sized pool had permanent bleachers that could seat 490 spectators and roll-out bleachers that could seat 510. There were two classrooms with underwater picture windows that allowed coaches and instructors to observe the swimmers. Underwater speakers allowed them to correct swimming technique as they were swimming. There was also a closed circuit television system to further analyze swimming skills. The Art Linkletter Natatorium is still in use today as the main swimming and diving facility on campus, having been incorporated into the new Wellness and Recreation Complex that opened in 2008. Written on back: Matt Grimaldi. Photographer. 242 Kenmore Dr. - Longmeadow, Mass