Tommy Bartlett's Thrill Show

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Tommy Bartlett's Water Ski & Jumping Boat Thrill Show, more commonly known simply as the Tommy Bartlett Show, is a popular tourist attraction in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. The show was originally created in 1952 by Wisconsin showman Tommy Bartlett as a traveling group of entertainers, based in Chicago, Illinois. After changing its base of operations to Wisconsin Dells, the performers continued to tour, performing at World's Fairs and U.S.O. shows. According to the show's official website, over 20 million spectators have seen the show since its creation.

The Wisconsin Dells show is performed between late May and early September on Lake Delton. In keeping with the tourist-centered economy of Wisconsin Dells, the show operates regardless of rain, and will generally only be canceled if weather is actually dangerous rather than simply inclement. Despite the fact that the show takes place entirely on the lake, it is interesting to note that Bartlett himself apparently only waterskiied once, on his 70th birthday, 32 years after the show's creation.

[edit] Suspension after Lake Delton flood, draining

On June 7, 2008, the Bartlett show closed when Lake Delton, the body of water where the show takes place, flooded after torrential rains. Two days later, Lake Delton breached the embankment of County Highway A, creating a new channel around Lake Delton Dam going toward the Wisconsin River. The breach drained the lake almost completely, in particular the area of the show's grandstand. ^[1] On June 10, a spokeswoman for the show said in a Fox News Channel interview that the Bartlett show hoped to resume by the end of the week, but with only the sky and stage portions of the show.