Golden Bear Theatre, originally the Showcase Theatre, is a theater located in High Sierra Territory at Six Flags Magic Mountain. It has a rustic, mountain cabin-esque theme.
History[]
The Showcase Theatre was originally opened along with the Magic Mountain park on May 29, 1971. It was sponsored by 7-Up / Dixi Cola in the 1970s and by Toyota in the early 1980s; it was also briefly known as the Showcase Ampitheatre.[1][2]
In 1993, the all-new High Sierra Territory area opened at Six Flags Magic Mountain, as part of then-parent company Time Warner's plan to introduce new themed lands as well as improve existing ones to make them more cohesive, adding value to the overall park experience. As part of the new area's theme, the former Showcase Theatre was transformed into the Golden Bear Theatre, giving it a new facade to resemble the look of a rustic house in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
For many years in September, the Golden Bear Theatre was home to Hallelujah Jubilee, a music festival of sorts featuring various Christian bands and performers. It was otherwise seldom used during the fall season, except for Fright Fest when the theater hosted the High Sierra Hypnotist. The theater regularly hosted regional cheerleading competitions during the school year.[3]
Closure[]
The theater was closed for good in late 2023 and was razed in February 2024.[4] Subsequent cheerleading competitions were held at the Gearworks Theater.
The former site of the theater will be used for a new launch coaster designed by Vekoma, presently given the project name of "90011" and scheduled to open in 2026.[5][6]
Notable shows[]
- Sonny & Cher (September 2-12, 1971)[1]
- Van Halen (August 1, 1977)[7]
- Bay City Rollers (August 29-30, 1979)
- Missing Persons (Mar. 6, May 22, Oct. 24, 1982)
- Sparks (July 9, Sep. 5, Oct. 30, 1982)[8]
- Huey Lewis and The News (August 28, 1982)
- Bow Wow Wow (April 30, 1983)[9]
- Jane Wiedlin (June 11, 1983)
- Berlin (July 22, 1984)[8]
- Blue Öyster Cult (July 19, 1985)
- Stryper (August 23, 1985)[9]
- TLC x Paperboy (April 17, 1993)
- "Weird Al" Yankovic (September 7, 1996)
- William Hung (June 4, 2004)[10][11]
- Jonas Brothers (June 2, 2007)[12]
- The Aquabats (August 22, 2009)[13]
Fright Fest[]
- High Sierra Hypnotist (1997-2019)
Gallery[]
Exterior[]
Interior[]
Demolition[]
Videos[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 KISS, Sparks, & rock ‘n’ roller coasters: The legendary “Magic Mountain’ theme park of the 1970’s by Doug Jones, Dangerous Minds. 2017-01-11.
- ↑ Variety Show in 7-Up Showcase Theatre by Leon Worden, Santa Clarita Valley History Archives. 2012.
- ↑ Sharp Six Flags West Coast Championship, Sharp International. Accessed 2023-03-09.
- ↑ More DEMOLITION of Golden Bear Theatre!!! | Six Flags Magic Mountain Vlog #33 | 2/2/24 by America's Coaster Network, YouTube. 2024-02-02.
- ↑ Six Flags Magic Mountain gets ready for a new Vekoma coaster by Robert Niles, Theme Park Insider. 2025-01-06.
- ↑ [Magic Mountain] Magic Mountain is getting a Vekoma Thrill Glider coaster (per the lacounty permit site by Stock412, Reddit. 2025-01-06.
- ↑ Van Halen Setlist, Setlist.fm. 1977-08-01.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Magic Mountain Showcase Theatre Concerts, Concert Archives. Accessed 2025-01-17.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Magic Mountain Showcase Theatre Concerts, Concert Archives. Accessed 2025-01-17.
- ↑ Six Flags Magic Mountain : Shows & Events, Six Flags Theme Parks Inc. Archvived 2004-06-03.
- ↑ Hand with Hung by purplemonkey8, LiveJournal. 2004-05-18.
- ↑ Jonas Brothers Setlist, Setlist.fm. 2007-06-02.
- ↑ Golden Bear Theatre, Six Flags Magic Mountain Concerts, Concert Archives. Accessed 2023-03-09.
See also[]
- Carrot Club Theater, smaller open-air children's theater at Six Flags Magic Mountain.
- Full Throttle Plaza, now more often used for live entertainment at Six Flags Magic Mountain.
- Gearworks Theater, an indoor theater at Six Flags Magic Mountain.
External links[]
- Golden Bear Theatre - Six Flags Magic Mountain at Google Street View (2017-09)
- Magic Mountain Showcase Theatre and Golden Bear Theatre at Setlist.fm