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77:. In keeping with the tourist-centered economy of Wisconsin Dells, the show operates regardless of rain, and was generally canceled only when weather is dangerous, rather than simply inclement. Despite the fact that the show took place entirely on the lake, Bartlett himself apparently only waterskiied once, on his 70th birthday, 32 years after the show's creation.
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Another setback occurred the first week of July, 2008. Many of Tommy
Bartlett's employees live in trailers on company premises, as most are college students there for summer employment. On Wednesday, July 8, a fire broke out in one of the trailers, damaging four mobile homes on the premises, and
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On June 7, 2008, the
Bartlett show closed when Lake Delton, the body of water where the show takes place, flooded after torrential rains, and two days later, breached the embankment surrounding it, draining the lake almost completely, in particular the area of the show's grandstand.
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In 1978, Tommy
Bartlett named Thomas Diehl president of Tommy Bartlett, Inc. and sold him a 25% stake in the company. Diehl is now the president, general manager, and co-owner of Tommy Bartlett, Inc. He had joined the Bartlett organization in 1967, at the recommendation of
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Even with the land show that was put in place, 2008 show numbers were down almost 90%. The show was improvised with a beached island and by pulling legends like "Sound
Effects Guy"
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The show reopened on
Thursday, June 12, but without its famous water skiers. They, like Lake Delton, were gone for the rest of the 2008 season.
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On
September 16, 2020 the show announced it would permanently close due to financial losses from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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shows. According to the show's official website, over 20 million spectators have seen the show since its creation.
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causing $ 100,000 worth of damage. Tom Diehl was quoted as saying, "another emotional setback for everyone".
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The
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Leaf, N. (June 19, 2006). "Fresh ideas, after 40 years of Dells magic".
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228:"Fire damages homes of Tommy Bartlett employees in Lake Delton"
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Tommy
Bartlett's Water Ski & Jumping Boat Thrill Show
54:. The show was created in 1952 by Wisconsin showman
98:Suspension after the Lake Delton draining in 2008
58:as a traveling group of entertainers, based in
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144:Romell, Rick; Patrick Marley (2008-06-09).
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252:Tommy Bartlett's Thrill Show website
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104:Lake Delton § 2008 draining
169:Torriero, E. A. (2008-06-11).
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203:The Wisconsin State-Journal
201:Associated Press video via
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