Tracked shows and other sources of really lousy audio...

You beat me to it, Pete. And before that wasn't it Eden Musee?

Regardless, I agree it's the wrong space for a live show venue. It's small and narrow. I hit the show in the Jack Aldrich last season for the first time in years, and while the talent was ok, the whole thing seemed so homemade or something. The space itself seems more suited for amature community theatre than professional broadway style productions.

Live shows at Cedar Point have always been kind of small in scale. Until Luminosity came to town, Lil's, Garter, and Centennial were the largest venues, while most other parks featured at least one big hall with plenty of seats, a large stage, and big production values. For years the largest entertainment venue at CP was the Frontiertown Amphitheater for country shows. (if anyone here remembers that place)

So the more I think about that front area of the park the more I can envision big changes. We've predicted changes for the Point Pavilion, right? What if the entire midway row, starting with Hanna's was removed and the area was expanded toward the Marina? I see a Harmony Hall / Festhaus concept for food and entertainment, new retail space, large restrooms, maybe a ride or two, and even a larger state of the art theatre for better productions. Let it be a big new midway plaza with the front gate and Midway Market and Raptor for anchors. Oh, leave the trees and use pretty pavers, ok?

And now I'm veering into the "New for 20??" category, so let me add the new state of the art theatre should surely include a kick-ass sound system.

Pete said:
I believe Jack Aldrich was the Hollywood Wax Museum before becoming the Centennial Theater in 1970.

You are correct. But before that the structure was just a roof for picnics. When I worked in Live E there was a running joke about doing shows in a picnic shelter. Not sure of the timeline on what was what and when but I was always told that it started as a picnic shelter.

Jeff said:
My own story reminds me... do they still have the window on the Luminosity booth? That's obviously a horrible idea.

Last time I was there it was still glass but I believe they finally got an iPad for mixing out in FOH. When Luminosity was installed, Live E wanted a rollup door instead of glass so they could actually hear the mix but those who control the money said no.

I really would love to chime in, but since I am still employed with Cedar Point I really can't. But saying that please let me know where you hear bad audio in the park itself (not in a theater.)

Some of the areas of the park are getting upgrades as we go, but others still have older infrastructure that limit what can be done. But anything put in in the last 3 or 4 years (since Luminosity really) should be sounding LOTS better. There are also some areas that are a known problem but with limited man power and the turn around on spare parts it sometimes takes awhile to fix stuff.

But please let someone know when you hear something blatantly wrong (and others at the park won't agree with someone telling them something is wrong) but how is it supposed to be fixed if no one knows it's broken!

And yes the Jack Aldrich was originally a picnic shelter, you can see the framing and such matches what is in current shelters (and Point Pavilion and Zombie High) which I am pretty sure was all built around the same time. (Though that is not conclusive it's good anecdotal evidence:) )

The only thing I can point to is on the Gemini midway, but that seems to have gotten a bit better since opening. I don't know if any tweaks were made, but the first week or so, the balance just seemed a bit off, and the lower end a bit thin.

I haven't checked it out in a few weeks, but the last time I was there, it was definitely less "cut off your head" and a little more ambient.

I noticed in this thread that someone mentioned Disney uses guys with iPads in the crowd for mixing the audio. Tonight at luminosity there was a guy doing the same thing. I don't know anything about audio mixing and wouldn't have even realized what it was if I didn't read about it here. Just a little rid bit from the Point tonight.

Morté, distorted or blown speakers were heard from Iron Dragon/Corkscrew water area on down to the turn on the resort gate path, we were just leaving at the end of the night and not many people around so we could "hear" the garble well.

Add: Are you guys really saying the Centennial Theatre is a converted picnic shelter?