Fort Worth Waterpark Preview

The following appeared in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The citation is Scheid, Darrin (1996-07-08). "Dive-In Theater crowd to 'toon in at water park". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Star-Telegram Inc.

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Dive-In Theater crowd to 'toon in at water park

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS - Hey, listen up all you kids who have nothing to do this summer but ask your parents for money and drive your brother crazy.

Do something free for a change and invite those older people to Thursday night's Dive-In Theater at NRH20 Family Water Park.

Beginning at 6:45 p.m., the Cartoon Network will take over the North Richland Hills water park for a night of sneak-preview cartoons, prizes and visits by giant cartoon characters.

Admission is free, but tickets must be obtained in advance at Telephone Warehouse, 6521 Camp Bowie Blvd. in Fort Worth. By yesterday afternoon, the Telephone Warehouse stores in Irving and North Richland Hills had given away their supply.

The food is free and inner tubes will be provided for those who want to lounge in the water. Kids can also have their picture taken with cartoon characters that will roam the park. The photographs are free, too.

About the only thing NRH20 and the Cartoon Network won't do Thursday night is provide rides to the park at 9001 Grapevine Highway. The event will be well worth the drive, said Jack Thompson, the park's marketing specialist.

"If this is anything like last year's show, it will be a really fun night for everybody, not just the kids," Thompson said. "I had people calling even before the park opened this year to find out if this event was going to be held again. We're expecting a lot of people."

On a 9-by-12-foot, rear-projected screen, guests will see five new cartoons and a preview of The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, a new animated series that will debut this summer.

Visitors can watch the show while floating in the pool or lounging along the pool's deck. The Cartoon Network will decorate the park with props and a 40-foot, blowup cartoon character. Two characters will walk around the park to entertain the kids, along with the NRH20's mascot Professor Frogstein.

The Atlanta-based Cartoon Network is operated by Turner Broadcasting System Inc.

The event is part of a national tour that will visit 11 cities until late August, and allows the network to easily reach its market of 6- to 11-year-olds, said Craig McAnsh, senior vice president for marketing.

"Last year, it seemed to be very successful," McAnsh said. "It really is a total 'toons takeover of the park. It's very bright, colorful and a lot of fun. Events like this make total sense under Cartoon Network rules, which means there really are no rules."

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