Voting Station

Tommy Bartlett

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TV Personality

The Resume

    (July 11, 1914-September 6, 1998)
    Radio and TV personality, water ski impresario, showman and promoter of Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
    Launched 'Welcome Travelers' for NBC radio, moved to CBS Television becoming the most popular daytime-TV show in America (1947-53)
    Hosted annual Tommy Bartlett Water Ski and Jumping-Boat Show (1952-98)

Why he might be annoying:

    He used billboards and bumper stickers overzealously to make himself (and Wisconsin Dells) household names in the Midwest.
    He donned water skis only once (for his 70th birthday in 1984).
    He was forced to stop knife-throwing routines in 'The Show' after an elderly woman got frightened in 1970.
    The acts he recruits can be rather cheesy at times.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He gave plenty of Midwestern teenagers summer employment opportunities, and not just as water skiers.
    He singlehandedly gave Wisconsin Dells serious name recognition, even if the method was a bit annoying.
    You can't see too many of the acts featured on TV anymore, especially in Act II.

Credit: Iludium Phosdex


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 8 Votes: 37.50% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 5 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 15 Votes: 46.67% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 17 Votes: 70.59% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 10 Votes: 70.0% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 16 Votes: 43.75% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 45 Votes: 73.33% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 26 Votes: 80.77% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 71 Votes: 73.24% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 110 Votes: 75.45% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 171 Votes: 63.16% Annoying
    In 2004, Out of 225 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2003, Out of 496 Votes: 69.76% Annoying
    In 2002, Out of 1112 Votes: 70.77% Annoying