Ruling the industry
Ruling the industry

On Independence Day, there's no tradition more loved than fireworks -- those awe- inspiring displays of glittering explosions that force even the most attention-deficit youngster to stop and watch.

These impressive exhibitions don't appear in the sky by magic. A ton of planning, dedication, and passion goes into each and every show -- of which there are more than 14,000 planned for the U.S. throughout the 2011 July 4th week.

So who's behind these mind-blowing spectacles?

From the Olympics and inaugurations to celebrating the nation's birthday, five family-founded companies have ruled the industry for decades. And with a new generation of pyro-technicians in the wings, they'll be making us say ooo and ahhh for a few more years.




Last updated July 01 2011: 12:09 PM ET
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