Is Tommy Bartlett dead? (Wisconsin Dells: living in, parking, famous)

[scongress1234]

Just wondering....if he has kicked, he's prob rolling over his grave per the
mess that is lake delton....no water show this year, or maybe ever....
and so sad....we saw that so much in the 70's as kids..the pyramid water skiiers and all..and the bumper stickers everywhere...
now, its no more.....sniff sniff

Tommy Bartlett Show & Exploratory

[Bowie]

Since 1998, according to Wikipedia. I knew he had died in the late 90s, since I was living in Wisconsin at the time, but I couldn't recall the year.

[scongress1234]

Originally Posted by Bowie

Since 1998, according to Wikipedia. I knew he had died in the late 90s, since I was living in Wisconsin at the time, but I couldn't recall the year.

How do you like SA? Just curious. Also, I met TB in 1974 at the water show, when it was just a water show. Well, they had this Indian thing too, before it was un PC. He was decent, and signed is autograph...
true story..he had a top 10 hit called mother, or something, and they played it every night with colored fountain sync...and this years before bellagio.........

BTW, those polynesian dancers with the lighted torches were the sh*t!

[Bowie]

Originally Posted by scongress1234

How do you like SA? Just curious.

I like it just fine. This is the one month of the year where, IMO, the weather in Wisconsin trumps the weather in south Texas, so it's an awkward time for me to answer.

Also, I met TB in 1974 at the water show, when it was just a water show. Well, they had this Indian thing too, before it was un PC. He was decent, and signed is autograph...
true story..he had a top 10 hit called mother, or something, and they played it every night with colored fountain sync...and this years before bellagio.........

Tommy was a modern-day P.T. Barnum. He really figured out how to give the people what they wanted. Today his attractions are kind of quaint, but they wear well because of sentimentality and people's love of kitschiness.

I didn't know about the hit single and the fountain. That's some cool trivia.

[scongress1234]

Originally Posted by Bowie

I like it just fine. This is the one month of the year where, IMO, the weather in Wisconsin trumps the weather in south Texas, so it's an awkward time for me to answer.


Tommy was a modern-day P.T. Barnum. He really figured out how to give the people what they wanted. Today his attractions are kind of quaint, but they wear well because of sentimentality and people's love of kitschiness.

I didn't know about the hit single and the fountain. That's some cool trivia.

I might be the only one that remembers it.....i remember my mom saying in the parking lot...hey, thats tommy bartlett, let him sign your program....i remember he looked like ernie hemingway....very distinguished, could have won that key west lookalike contest....and I still remember the announcer saying, at the end of the show......ladies and gentleman, now, the dancing waters will thrill you, and we will hear the famous top ten song, sung by mr bartlett, Mother........I wish I was kidding you..hey, it was the 70's

BTW, here is a link to a wisc dells tourist guidebook from 1963

Fun Galore at Wisconsin Dells!