Originally Posted By jonvn So, the story is that they are planning a stunt show in the Big Thunder Ranch area based on the upcoming Lone Ranger movie. This is supposed to be an E ticket type of show. I find that interesting, in that Disney does not have any sort of stunt show, and the Lone Ranger aspect can melt away quickly enough. I am reminded of the Dick Tracy Crimestoppers show from 15 or so years ago. They had big plans for that film, too, and when the movie bombed, the plans were all sort of axed, except for the show that was done on the Videopolis (now Fantasyland Theater) stage. It was OK, but no one cared about the subject matter. Does anyone think the idea of a stunt show would be good? I think it has possibilities, although I'm not sure what sorts of stunts you can do with a western theme. Horse tricks? Would it be like a fancy rodeo?
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Well Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show at Disneyland Paris is a real highlight, and my favorite attraction at that resort, so this one could be pretty awesome. But something tells me Disneylander's won't really take to it that well.
Originally Posted By jonvn Oh, I didn't know they had one in DLP. My guess then would be that it'd be taken whole and lifted to Disneyland. They'll replace Buffalo Bill with the Lone Ranger and that will be the show.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo They may take elements. There are some pretty awesome stunts on horses, with stage coaches, live bluegrass and country music, native american indian dances, and real Buffalo. I love it, and after 18 shows, I still can't get enough. But then again, I also love Moteurs Action which also plays better to Europe than the US. So who knows.
Originally Posted By SFH At one time in the early 90s, a "Young Indiana Jones" stunt show was planned for the northern Frontierland area. Just a point of clarification...Dick Tracy Crimestoppers, I think, was name given to a ride-through concept that would have featured the then-innovative idea of the guests being able to shoot at the villains. It was part of the proposed "Hollywood" themed land between Main Street and Tomorrowland. "Diamond Double Cross" was the Dick Tracy stage show that ran in 1990. It was actually a very popular show. As long as you had seen the ubiquitous marketing for the film, you could easily understand the show. It didn't rely on you having actually seen the film. The show featured professional stage actors. As for the Lone Ranger... it could work. I agree with the idea that a great attraction for Frontierland need not be tied in to a movie, though. SFH
Originally Posted By DlandDug It's a gamble, in my opinion. Universal Hollywood's Western stunt show was a staple attraction for years and years. But audiences fell off, and it was closed a few years ago. As far as I know, the show wasn't even installed in Uni Florida. So the real question in my mind is if Westerns, in general, still resonate with audiences.
Originally Posted By knoxvelour I'm just glad to see some So Cal theme park with a western stunt show. Universal had a darn good one for quite a while.
Originally Posted By jonvn AH, Diamond Double Cross. Maybe that's it. I just remember it getting marketed to death, and when we finally saw it, it was not exactly Fiddler On The Roof, nor playing to full houses. But I usually was there on days when the entire place was dead anyway.
Originally Posted By jonvn "So the real question in my mind is if Westerns, in general, still resonate with audiences." Well, the Alamo did so well for Disney, didn't it? No? Oh. Maverick did ok. But that was just a comedy set in western times. I think a western movie, as just a western movie, isn't going to go over well.
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>...Disney does not have any sort of stunt show...<< I assume you mean Disneyland. There has been an Indiana Jones stunt show at Disney-MGM for years, and of course the Lights! Motors! Action! show in both Paris and Florida. Buffalo Bill's at DLP, I would assume, deals more with dressage and horse tricks. I've never seen it, though. >>I am reminded of the Dick Tracy Crimestoppers show... It was OK, but no one cared about the subject matter.<< Actually, as pointed out above, Diamond Double Cross was quite popular. The staging was quite elaborate, the songs and jokes were well written, and the Breathless Mahoney/Madonna character had quite a following. It is true, though, that ultimately the failure of the film hurt the popularity. >>...I'm not sure what sorts of stunts you can do with a western theme.<< There are actually some fairly formulaic aspects of the Western stunt show. Usually the set up is a crew staging stunts. There will be at least one horse, who does tricks and works with the stunt rider. Lots of gunplay. Rope tricks. Comedy, usually involving a strategically placed horse trough. Universal eventually worked some major pyro into the show. The high point is always the high fall off a building.
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>I think a western movie, as just a western movie, isn't going to go over well.<< I am inclined to agree. Even Will Smith couldn't bring an audience to Wild Wild West. Then again, everyone (including Michael Eisner) predicted that nobody would shell out good money to see a pirate movie these days...
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo DlandDug, Uni Florida, Osaka and Port Adventura all had it too. Now sadly it can only be found in the Spanish Park. And Knott's show is not what it once was.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo BBWS is awesome, here is a good write up of the show: <a href="http://www.dlrpmagic.com/guides/disneyvillage/attractions/buffalobillswildwestshow/" target="_blank">http://www.dlrpmagic.com/guide s/disneyvillage/attractions/buffalobillswildwestshow/</a>
Originally Posted By danyoung >Well, the Alamo did so well for Disney, didn't it?< I didn't see it, but everything I heard about it was that it was a stinker. The genre didn't matter - it was a dog of a movie. A good movie is a good movie. Siverado, Tombstone, Unforgiven - all great movies that did great box office. It's up to Bruckheimer et al to make a good movie. Then everyone can jump on the bandwagon and proclaim the latest age of the Western has begun.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo And don't forget Young Guns as well as Wyatt Earp, also excellent films that did well at the box office. I am quite excited about this movie.
Originally Posted By SFH >>Maybe that's it. I just remember it getting marketed to death, and when we finally saw it, it was not exactly Fiddler On The Roof, nor playing to full houses.<< You're right. But it got a lot of attention/promotion because it was the biggest thing that had been done at that stage to that date. And because the film was being marketed so heavily. Annual passholders (there weren't so many in those days) would regularly line up to see the show and cheer loudly, and talk about the performers by name (not character name). It could have been off-putting to the average guest at times. If there is a Disneyland western-themed stunt show installed, it should go above and beyond because of the history of such shows at Knott's and Universal. Otherwise, it will seem weak. SFH
Originally Posted By jonvn "I didn't see it" You and everyone else on the planet, or just about. "It could have been off-putting to the average guest at times." I had a pass at the time. It was a nice thing to have, too. The park was not crowded on many days. This was when the pass cost a good deal more than it does now. Give admission prices now, I'd say the equivalent would be about $500 today. It's too heavily marketed now and too cheap. Anyway, I agree it'd have to be a pretty spectacular show, or it will come off as a Knott's rip.
Originally Posted By BlueOhanaTerror >>>No? Oh. Maverick did ok. But that was just a comedy set in western times. I think a western movie, as just a western movie, isn't going to go over well.<<< A WELL-MADE Western will do just fine. There are several obvious examples, a few already mentioned, that have done good business in the last decade or so. And there's at least three Westerns, I believe, on their way within the next year. They look to be quality films, none of them dealing with the Lone Ranger.
Originally Posted By BlueOhanaTerror >>>I am inclined to agree. Even Will Smith couldn't bring an audience to Wild Wild West<<< Actually, he did. The movie OPENED just shy of $50 million its first weekend. But no amount of star power could help that movie become a powerhouse. It was just a dud. It's pretty remarkable that grossed over $113 million domestic, considering how poorly it was conceived and executed.
