Cedar Point Removing Good Times Theatre

I won't miss the theater (the fact that they stopped using half of it a while back adds to this feeling) as much as I'll miss all the the trees and vegitation of that area. It was such a shaded and peaceful entrance.

I really like the fact that they're starting work on the 2016 addition now, it shows some serious planning, and that they're probably gonna put what money they saved this year towards a larger addition next year, whatever it may be. As always, I hope it's a dark ride but I'm more than prepared for it not to be.

Thabto said:

Maybe Miley Cyrus can come and ride on the wrecking ball.

I see what you did there ;)

Chuck Wagon said:

Anyone remember when they used to use the pre-show area of the Good Time Theater (then the Imax Theater)? I remember seeing a 5-6 person brass band perform prior to seeing the movie during the early 90's. I'm sure they used it more during the 70's and 80's in its heyday.

I remember them being dressed as crash dummies

TwistedWicker77 said:

I am not sad about this news personally. I'm calling it now: goodbye Turnpike cars, Cadillac cars, and relocation of Calypso; hello to a new ride/coaster that goes through that area and better traffic flow/redone Blue Streak midway.

I love how the go-to speculation is always something about a giant coaster. Can't we just start with something logical like a better space for Luminosity?

^ Yep, Jeff. I don't see them getting a new coaster anytime soon, as much as I'd prefer it over Rougarou. Since they haven't announced another addition, we should expect to see Good Time's site reused for '16. Would they really put in GateKeeper in 2013, Gemini Midway for 2014, do Mantarou for 2015 and put in another coaster in 2016? Not likely. It wouldn't surprise me if they continue to go between large thrill ride and family ride. As much as I dislike the concept, those signs point toward a Triotech investment.

Hmm, now that you mention it, it would be pretty slick to have Luminosity's stage moved to Cedars' site, right up against the Marina. The GTT land would be used to reroute Perimeter Road and stadium seating somewhere in the middle. It's not likely to happen but think about a stage with the backdrop being the water. Moving the stage would likely be relatively inexpensive as it's mostly just truss and utilities. The current location has always felt make-shift and temporary.

I am sad that the end has come for the theatre. I am really wondering what they are up to? I feel like it will be big when it happens....just saying it is fun to wait!!

I did Triotech's demo ride at IAAPA last week. Their tech is really solid, especially the projection on to 3D surfaces. If the right creative story telling is paired with the tech, that's a big deal. Wonderland, now Knott's... I can't imagine that CP isn't next.

I really don't care what they put in - Dark Ride - Coaster - whatever. I really want to see this incorporated with the removal of Cedars, realignment of the perimeter rd and the refreshing of the Blue Streak midway. Lets get rid of the duplicate car rides and have a large clean piece of paper to work with. With that much land in play there could be multiple new rides over several years along with a better stage area for Luminosity.

I'll guess that whatever they do with this space will be in combination with bulldozing Cedars. Maybe some sort of night time entertainment finally? The beer tent behind luminosity where Wildcat was always seemed a bit like a half measure. :)

Thabto said:

Is CP scaling back on live entertainment? This means no more ice shows. Hopefully Midnight Syndicate will be in a new location next year if they return.

Midnight Syndicate was a huge success, which makes them removing this venue even more irritating, they will return to the stage once more, but most likely at another park. At least that's my hope because I would hate to see them scaled down and shoved into a space like the Jack Aldrich.

I am interested in seeing what they mean by "increasing entertainment in the park". GTT was their only large scale indoor venue and I find it hard to believe they could compensate for the loss of it. If anything I hope to see that when the area gets cleared out (Cedars and whatever else they include) they save a section for a new venue. If that was to happen it be great because it would actually be built to be a real theatre so the shows would have more potential from a design standpoint.

When we were in the theater last month I couldn't help but notice that the ceiling had lost 30% of its flat black paint. The seats were 40 years old and it really seamed as the park was not investing any further into this attraction. Looks like a prime piece of real estate that will be reused for something more memorable than what it's used for now,

Jeff said:

TwistedWicker77 said:

I am not sad about this news personally. I'm calling it now: goodbye Turnpike cars, Cadillac cars, and relocation of Calypso; hello to a new ride/coaster that goes through that area and better traffic flow/redone Blue Streak midway.

I love how the go-to speculation is always something about a giant coaster. Can't we just start with something logical like a better space for Luminosity?

I highly doubt they are going to remove a whole show just to add more space for Luminosity. That show has enough space and this space will most likely be used for a future attraction.

Jeff said:

I did Triotech's demo ride at IAAPA last week. Their tech is really solid, especially the projection on to 3D surfaces. If the right creative story telling is paired with the tech, that's a big deal. Wonderland, now Knott's... I can't imagine that CP isn't next.

They're improving the experience for Knott's. The screens are bigger, the resolution is higher than 720p, they're adding physical sets throughout, the ride will be about 3 times longer, the vehicles will be more comfortable than the coaster seats and I'm sure there are other improvments we don't know about. By the time this tech arrives at Cedar Point, it should be perfected.

topthrilldragster4lyf said:

Hmm, now that you mention it, it would be pretty slick to have Luminosity's stage moved to Cedars' site, right up against the Marina. The GTT land would be used to reroute Perimeter Road and stadium seating somewhere in the middle. It's not likely to happen but think about a stage with the backdrop being the water. Moving the stage would likely be relatively inexpensive as it's mostly just truss and utilities. The current location has always felt make-shift and temporary.

They could build something like this:

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5287/5252568443_7ee1e27bd8_z.jpg

It's in City Walk Orlando and I've seen them erect temporary stages (like the current Luminosity stage) for some concerts and live television recording (they have a permanent stage that they use for for small bands and a larger one in USF that they use for large concerts). This way, they have something that looks nice even when a show isn't happening. That said, I have a feeling the road will be closer to the lake and the new attraction will occupy the rest of the area.

Travis Lea said:

When we were in the theater last month I couldn't help but notice that the ceiling had lost 30% of its flat black paint. The seats were 40 years old and it really seamed as the park was not investing any further into this attraction. Looks like a prime piece of real estate that will be reused for something more memorable than what it's used for now,

Sadly that wasn't flat black paint, it was foam insulation. They never bothered to rip it all down or cover it because getting up to the ceiling is quite difficult, even with boom lifts. The venue was old and in need for some serious lovin', but it was still a pretty good space (speaking theatrically). Again, I hope that after the success of Midnight Syndicate, Cedar Fair will look to invest in a new large scale indoor venue for the future (but without as large of a holding theatre) and hopefully with a clearly marked entranceway that actually helps draws people in instead of hiding off to the side behind trees.

topthrilldragster4lyf said:

Thabto said:

coasterJay said:

Why would you think CP is scaling back on live entertainment Thabto?

Because GTT was a major venue.

The blog post says they're doing anything but scaling back Live E. Why should we believe Tony's lying to us?

How about because we are losing the largest, most comfortable theater in the park by a factor of at least 4? Halloween Hullabaloo was a shell of itself in the Palace Theater, & Snoopy on Ice was a great time to watch a show and get out of the heat of summer, where you knew you could always get a seat. I think Tony said what he did to keep the amount of hate mail to a reasonable level, and for no other reason. There are no other venues at the park to pick up the slack to NOT take a major hit to Live-E. Another strolling percussion band won't make up for it on a 90 degree day. And then we get a call by coasterjay to tear out All-Wheels Extreme? Not everyone is looking to stand the entire day!

Rugrats2001 said:

How about because we are losing the largest, most comfortable theater in the park... where you knew you could always get a seat.

A theatre that was, in its glory days, packed, had become a theatre where you could always get a seat.

Maybe that's one of the reasons they've decided to remove the theatre...

I think Tony said what he did to keep the amount of hate mail to a reasonable level, and for no other reason.

Hate mail? Over removing a theatre?

There are no other venues at the park to pick up the slack to NOT take a major hit to Live-E.

Huh. If only it were possible for the park to, I don't know, build other venues.....

noggin said:

Rugrats2001 said:

How about because we are losing the largest, most comfortable theater in the park... where you knew you could always get a seat.

A theatre that was, in its glory days, packed, had become a theatre where you could always get a seat.

Maybe that's one of the reasons they've decided to remove the theatre...

I think Tony said what he did to keep the amount of hate mail to a reasonable level, and for no other reason.

Hate mail? Over removing a theatre?

There are no other venues at the park to pick up the slack to NOT take a major hit to Live-E.

Huh. If only it were possible for the park to, I don't know, build other venues.....

First, yes, just like every organization, they get hate mail for every decision that adversely affects others. There are people who love the ice show, which is something that many never see outside of Cedar Point. People that LOVED Midnight Syndicate there, and that love a cool place to sit for a half hour and recharge. The loss of the theater is the loss of another family attraction.

Second, I can guarantee you that the park will not replace the theater with, I don't know, another theater, any time soon. Certainly not for the upcoming season. The stadium seating was amazing for enjoying live shows without the risk of your view being blocked by a taller than average guest in front of you.

And third, the value of an attraction is not in counting the empty seats, it's in counting the occupied ones.

I'm not saying that, in the end, it's the wrong thing to do. I'm saying that it marks a shift away from the Live-E renaissance that started this summer with the extra midway entertainers and ended with the Midnight Syndicate show.

Rugrats2001 said:

First, yes, just like every organization, they get hate mail for every decision that adversely affects others.

Anyone who is "adversely affected" by something like this needs to reconsider their priorities.

Rugrats2001 said:

Second, I can guarantee you that the park will not replace the theater with, I don't know, another theater, any time soon.

How, exactly, can you guarantee Cedar Point will not have new live entertainment venues added?

And third, the value of an attraction is not in counting the empty seats, it's in counting the occupied ones.

Am I understanding you correctly: it doesn't matter how many seats a theatre/ride/restaurant/what have you has, as long as a few of the seats are occupied? If you have a thousand seat theatre that typically gets 100 guests in the seats, you're going to be looking at the empty seats.

I'm not saying that, in the end, it's the wrong thing to do. I'm saying that it marks a shift away from the Live-E renaissance that started this summer with the extra midway entertainers and ended with the Midnight Syndicate show.

I'm not following the logic. In one season the park experiences a live-E renaissance and destroys the future of live-E in the park? Why would the company invest in a live-E renaissance if their agenda was to tear live-E down?

I'm personally not surprised by this news. I think it's been in the planning stages for some time but just delayed a year or two. Yes, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Cedars follow also.

I've personally enjoyed this theater since its sophomore season and watched great entertainment there including magic shows, singers, etc. in the staging area that some of you remember. The flights and soaring over the Grand Canyon in the IMAX theater are memories that I will miss, but they're just that, memories.

In being realistic, I will admit however that the venue itself is a shell of its former self and has outlived its usefulness. It was originally built to highlight the IMAX screen debuting at the Expo 1974. That was 40 years ago.

I trust that CP management will bring us new and exciting things in this area and keep current and move forward with the times. As everyone wasn't thrilled at the time with the demolitoin of "family related attractions such as Space Spiral and Disaster Transport (myself included), I'm grateful to now have Gatekeeper due to CP's "keeping competitive and with the times" .

"Sometimes what is popular isn't always right, sometimes what is right, isn't always popular."

Looking forward to the future at Cedar Point. Ride on.

Jeff said:Can't we just start with something logical like a better space for Luminosity?

Taking into consideration the land this and the removal of Cedars opens up, I think it would be a crime to put the stage anywhere other than right on the waterfront near the marina. That gives Luminosity something very few parks can offer - a live show right on the water.

Which has me wondering - is there any reason they couldn't light fireworks off on that side of the peninsula?

I hope for no dark ride, I don’t think it is a wise investment with as much else that could be done with the space. Not against there being one someday, just not now, just not there. The Cedars should go, CP shouldn’t burn space on dorms on the Point itself. The road should be pushed out. A true outdoor venue should be developed for the Luminosity style shows and the traffic through that midway made smoother. The Caddies, Turnpike cars and Calypso don’t need to move until there is something to build in their space. The theater however was/is a far more involved demolition better done off-season rather than distract during #145.

Just going to point again down the road. Next year is season #145. We are on the five year clock to #150. I very seriously feel CF has that epic 150 year slated for a big push, one for the history books. And why not? Just the number of the anniversary will draw national attention and leave a buzz about the park for a few years afterward. Surely there will be at least one major new coaster between now and then.