#34 - Gibtown Special Edition #1: Tom Arnold, Phil Wilson & RD Thomas

Episode 34 of the Amusement Warehouse Podcast is a special edition, recorded live from the IISA Trade Show in Gibtown. Our first edition features Tom Arnold, Phil Wilson and R.D. Thomas.

Tom Arnold and his family have been a driving force behind the IISA and the trade show in general. Tom holds the tile of Superintendent Emeritus and he still helps with the planning and set up of the show. Learn in the episode about the trade show, the planning that goes into the presentation, what the club does year-round and how much the club and its related organizations do for the industry, especially those that need assistance.

Phil Wilson was a side show operator for 35 years before transitioning into more specialty attractions, His father built fun houses and back end pieces and Phil entered show business on his own after he purchased a girl into a gorilla show. At one time he had 11 shows he was operating at the Ohio State Fair. After selling his shows, Phil purchased specialty attractions such a a Euro Bungy, a Sling Shot and now a mechanical bull. Learn about Phil’s life in the business and his adventures with shows of the past and present,

R.D. Thomas is the co-owner of Powers and Thomas Midways. R.D. along with Eddie Powers, purchased Swank’s Steel City Shows of Pittsburgh about a decade ago. Both owners grew up on Powers’ Great American Midways, owned by Eddie’s father and R.D.’s father-in-law Corky Powers, Since their purchase of Steel City Shows, Thomas has expanded and updated the show’s ride inventory and added midway amenities and customer service enhancements. The show now plays many events along with Powers’ Great American, including some of the largest shows on the Eastern Seaboard,

Hear what the plans for the future are for Powers and Thomas and what they think of the trade show and the state of the industry.