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| THE ARENA |
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For the 1992 season Great Adventure decided to add the Batman Stunt
Arena, the first of its kind in the Six Flags chain.
Six Flags CEO Bob Pittman wanted to go up against
Disney and promote the Six Flags parks as a closer to home alternative.
Knowing that Disney cornered the market in the “cute and cuddly”
department with its endless cast of characters, Six Flags had an edgier
focus using Warner Brothers extensive film library and the Super Hero
characters. Batman was one
of their first choice.
The Arena was built in a corner of the park that had been home to the park's second
set of bumper cars and the Swiss Bob flat ride.
Construction was just in the very beginning stages as the park opened
for the season. The corner of what would become Movietown
had a large construction wall around the site between Freefall and the
restaurants.
The construction area opened to the backstage areas home to the park's
maintenance shops which offered easy access for the construction crews and
vehicles even while the park was open to the public. |
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The new stadium took shape over the course of the spring, with its steel
structure and seats taking shape quickly. The semi-circular
structure featured a steel roof over the audience.
The three entries to the building were created using huge corrugated
steel tubes normally used for culvert construction, set partially into
the ground so wide walkways could be fashioned at the bottom.
These were part of the industrial theme given to the exterior of the
building, looking like giant storm drains.
The bleachers and outer shell of the building took shape while the stage
set with the buildings of Gotham City rose up in the arena. The
exterior was transformed into the Axis Chemical factory, with pipes,
valves and smokestacks with plumes of smoke blowing into the sky above
Gotham City.
In front of the Arena, the walkways were paved with new paving blocks.
At each of the entries, the "chemicals" spilled out onto the walkways,
with painted concrete looking like it was pouring out into the park.
As spring went on the stadium was completed and the show was ready to
make its big debut to the public. |
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The addition of the Batman Stunt Arena transformed this long unnamed
section of the theme park (originally known as Fun Fair) into
Action
Town.
In 1993 the Stunt Show was joined by Batman: The Ride as part of
a further
re-theme of the area of the park into Movietown.
Since the opening of the Stunt Arena in 1992, little of its appearance
has changed. With the changing shows in the Arena, the signs
have been removed and replaced several times, and the Axis Chemical
factory facade has been repainted as the color has faded in the sun and
weather. |
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SHOWS THROUGH THE YEARS |
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1992: |
The Batman Stunt Show |
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“Experience
thrills and chills as Six Flags Great Adventure’s professional stunt
team performs the electrifying exploits of Batman!
See the Dark Knight’s nemesis come alive before your eyes.
Spellbinding stunts will dazzle the little ones, impress the
teens and keep thrill-seekers of all ages on the edge of their seats.”
The first season’s show centered around a movie
shoot as if the acts were being put on for a filming team.
This was dropped in later seasons.
Original features of the show included an elevator
lift inside the windowed building to the right of the Axis smokestack.
Batman entered from the bottom and impressively rose to the top
of the set. The smokestack
itself featured a “human” cannonball effect and made use of a lifesize
dummy to make it look like the Joker shot him out of the stack.
The Batmobile in the first show cost $63,000.
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Click to watch the original
Batman Stunt Show Spectacular:
You must be a registered member to watch the
video, so sign up today.
It's fast, it's easy and best of all it's FREE!
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| 1993: |
The Batman Stunt Show |
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“Join us in Axis Chemical as
the Caped Crusader saves Gotham
City
and Vicki Vail from the clutches of the evil Joker.”
May 22 through September 6
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| 1994: |
The Batman Stunt Show |
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“Join
us in Axis Chemical as the Caped Crusader saves
Gotham
City and Vicki
Vale from the clutches of the evil Joker.
Please Note:
The Batman Stunt Show contains loud
explosions and pyrotechnics which many be unsuitable for very young
children."
May 21 through September 5. |
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| 1995: |
Batman Forever |
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“Join
us as Batman and Robin go face to face with the Riddler and his evil
gang as Gotham
City
is bombarded with helicopter crashes, a new Batmobile to fight crime and
a machine that robs the mind from the citizens of the city.”
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The Stunt Shows were always subject to cancellation in the event of any
precipitation or if the wind was blowing the wrong direction. |
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1996: |
Batman Forever |
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“It’s explosive!
It’s intense!
It’s back!
Join us Batman and Robin go face to face
with the Riddler and his evil gang as they try to capture
Gotham
City.” |
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1997: |
Batman Forever |
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1998: |
Batman Forever |
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“It’s explosive!
It’s intense!
It’s back!
Join us Batman and Robin go face to face
with the Riddler and his evil gang as they try to capture
Gotham
City.”
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1999: |
Gotham City:
Carnival of Chaos |
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Come see our all-new Batman Stunt Show full of thrills and excitement, a
show not to be missed! Caped
crusader Batman foils the Joker’s evil plot in this new, action-packed
stunt show. |
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2000: |
Imperial Warriors of the Qin Dynasty |
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“Celebrating the first unification of China in 200 B.C. the returning
warriors of Emperor Qin Shi Huang Di compete with each other to “show
off” their incredible skills and strength in a quest to earn the hand of
the Emperor’s beautiful daughter.” |
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| 2001: |
No Show This
Season |
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2002: |
No Show This Season |
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| 2003: |
No Show This Season |
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| 2004: |
Batman vs. Catwoman: Catfight |
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“The only show of its kind, based on the DC Comics Superhero Batman, the
show features the Dynamic Duo, Batman and Robin, as they battle to save
Gotham
City from the evil
clutches of Catwoman and The Joker in this all-new, high-voltage
adventure." |
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| 2005: |
Batman vs. Catwoman: Catfight |
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| 2006: |
Various Shows |
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The first of the attractions in the Stunt Arena was the "Backstage
Barnyard"
"This unique and exciting petting zoo features a combination of animals
such as sheep, rabbits, goats, chickens, alpacas and even a miniature
horse.” |
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A real “American Bushman,” Kachunga dares to step into the wet domain of
the alligator and wrestle the giant, 250-pund creature to land, then
educate you on the alligator’s anatomy, history and even provide a rare
look inside its mouth filled with razor sharp teeth.
May 6 to June 28. |
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FrightFest “Special performances as a preview for the Hayride to the
Unknown – ‘Swamp Creature’” |
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| 2007: |
No Shows This Season
Except "Night of Shadows" during
FrightFest |
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The Stunt Arena was closed for the season, with the Fire Flies show
taking place on a stage outside the Arena gates during the regular
season. |
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“Don’t
miss the amazing artistry, pounding percussion and electrifying music
and dance of this dark variety show.” |
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| 2008: |
No Shows This
Season |
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