Water show creators since 1928Nearly a century of audiences coming back
1928–2028. The record shows why this show is still worth booking.
Why the history matters
Lasting draw is the return on investment
Most attractions have a short life. Dancing Waters toured for years after its 1953 debut, the Inquirer festival came back for a second year, and Cape Coral ran its show for decades. Every rebooking and every rebuild in the record below shows that people keep coming back. That repeat draw is the strongest argument for buying a show, and it now covers almost 100 years.
The girl in the swirl
A dancer made of water
Otto Przystawik conceived his “Dancing Fountains” as water moving with the music and grace of ballet. The dancer rising from a swirl of colored water carries that idea forward. Her lineage goes back to Otto, and she appears on the Waltzing Waters® letterhead and on today's Liquid Fireworks® logo.
Patents
Patent databases list at least 25 patents and utility models naming Otto Przystawik, across 6 countries (Germany, the US, Canada, France, Britain and Spain), from 1937 to 1970. Gunter Przystawik holds 4 US patents (1975–1990). Michael Przystawik holds 1 US patent (1998) and filed 1 international application in 1992. See the full list in the Archive.
Timeline
- 1928
Berlin, the Resi
Otto Przystawik, the ballroom's house engineer, installs water displays at the Residenz-Casino. Source: Werkbundarchiv, Museum der Dinge.
- 1929
Written up in New York
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle describes mirror balls that open to reveal fountains.
- 1950
A new, bigger Resi show
After World War II, Otto builds a new and larger fountain show at the Resi ballroom in Berlin, accompanying live music. Sources: liquidfireworks.com, About Us; Przystawik family.
- 1952
German Industrial Exhibition, Berlin
“Tanzende Fontänen” is shown at the Deutsche Industrie-Ausstellung. Sources: archive photo caption; Billboard, Jan. 17, 1953.
- 1953
Radio City Music Hall
U.S. debut in January 1953, then the Philadelphia Inquirer Music Festival. Sources: News & Observer, 1984; Philadelphia Inquirer, May 4, 1953.
- 1953–54
Arena tours and fairs
The Hippodrome tour plays Oklahoma City and Houston, then the Rutland Fair in Vermont. Sources: Daily Oklahoman, Houston Chronicle, Northfield News & Advertiser.
- 1956
Wanamaker's, Philadelphia
The Dancing Waters Enchanted Fountain is installed for the store's first holiday light show. Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, 2019 retrospective.
- 1965
Gunter Przystawik moves to Florida
Otto's son Gunter brings the family craft to the United States. Source: liquidfireworks.com, About Us.
- 1958 · 1964
World's Fairs
Brussels and New York. Source: News-Press, Feb. 21, 1967.
- 1966
Cape Coral Gardens, Florida
Waltzing Waters plays a 2½-acre (1 ha) lake with 800 jets and Gunter Przystawik at the console. Sources: Boston Globe and Boca Raton News, 1966.
- 1969
“Largest permanent musical fountain in the Western Hemisphere”
Source: Scranton Times-Tribune, Feb. 9, 1969.
- 1972
Otto Przystawik dies
Otto Przystawik dies on February 12, 1972, in Bruchsal, Germany. Gunter continues the work and names his new shows Waltzing Waters®.
- Today
Liquid Fireworks®
Liquid Fireworks® is the modern evolution of the family's shows, developed under Michael Przystawik. Otto's shows were Dancing Waters; Gunter's were Waltzing Waters®.
- 2016
Edison & Ford Winter Estates
“Waltzing Waters dances again,” with Otto's grandson. Source: The News-Press.
- 2028
Centennial
A hundred years of audiences coming back.
“…great revolving balls made of mirror mosaics, which open and shut, disclosing fountains in the center.”
Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 1929
In the papers
Clippings
An American visitor at the Resi: “great revolving balls made of mirror mosaics, which open and shut, disclosing fountains in the center.”
“Music Fete to Include ‘Dancing Waters,’ Ballet.” A year after the 1953 Inquirer festival, the show was booked again.
From the clippings archive.
From the clippings archive.
Travel section, from the clippings archive.
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