Ghetto America

BroadwayBill · Post by **BroadwayBill** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 10:41 am

Let me preface this by saying I use the word "ghetto" to denote "rundown, low rent, tacky"... and not in any racial way.

I attended the Great America 30 year show dept. reunion was at Santa Clara GA last weekend and I was so disappointed on how ghetto it's become. Everything seemed a bit dirty, in need of paint, and unorganized. The theme of Great America doesn't exist anymore.

They've turned Yukon Territory into one big Nickelodeon land and slapped weird facades onto the formerly western theme. It looks terrible. Yankee Harbor is just a waterpark and very little remains of the New England fishing village theme. The only areas that look decent are Hometown Square (except the removal of the train depot and train tracks makes it less "homey")

As far as the shows go it's my understanding that Pictorium and Theater Royal have been dark for 5 years. No shows running there. The Grand Music Hall show School of Rock was pretty awful... prerecorded music, bad vocals, and the use of movie clips. The Musical Hall was always billed as "Great America's Showcase of Young Talent"... shows had live orchestras and 18 performers doing Vegas/Broadway style shows. It's sad to see what's running there now.

I hope Cedar Point restores the Great America theme and brings back shows of quality to all the theaters. For a $52 admission price you expect a Disneyland type of experience with a clean park, great rides and shows, and an atmosphere of wholesomeness. The current state of GA is very seedy.

jonrev · Post by **jonrev** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 11:44 am

I know that the Pictorium has been collecting dust for some time now but I never knew that Theatre Royale (or whatever the hell they've renamed it) was closed too.

that_guy · Post by **that_guy** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:27 pm

jonrev wrote:I know that the Pictorium has been collecting dust for some time now but I never knew that Theatre Royale (or whatever the hell they've renamed it) was closed too.

Yep, but they do use it for some random events... such as Dance Days which was like 3 days in late April.

Magic Hate Ball · Post by **Magic Hate Ball** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:28 pm

"Theatre Royale" is Fake for "Theater".

Hopefully CF cleans the park up. They've got the funds to get most of the big rides new coats of paint. Look at Cedar Point, it's clean and friendly and everything is well-kept. PGA is, sadly, not very clean or well-kept. Still friendly, though.

Morgansupertech · Post by **Morgansupertech** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 11:50 pm

1. No pre-recorded music way used at all in School of Rock.
2. The youngsters that you claim lack talent, are right now in 2 well known local rock bands, in Las Vegas STOMP and playwriting and composing in San Francisco. They are very talented.
3. Showtime Theater just got a new sound and lighting system and has been home to Ed Alonso - Misfit of Magic this past year.
4. I work my ass off at work and still find time to pick up any trash I see laying around.