I heard from someone that Batman: The Ride at SFGAM was originally going to be called "F5 - The Hurricane" or something along those lines. This would have made perfect sense considering it resides in Yankee Harbor the theme the coaster would have had. More than likely it would have taken over where Tidal Wave left off.
Let's say it wasn't named Batman what do you think the effects would have been on the industry.
Would we have the countless superhero coasters? Interesting.
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BMCOASTER
bmcoaster@wi.rr.com
NOT true at all. The reason I know is that Park VP Jim Wintrode, at the opening of Raging Bull talked of how he came up with the concept of a roller coaster that would allow your feet to dangle below the track, and wanted something to tie into the Batman movies. He approached B&M, and Batman: The Ride was born.
I find it hard to believe that Jim Wintrode came up with the idea of the Inverted coaster.
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BMCOASTER
bmcoaster@wi.rr.com
From what I have heard (note the following is hearsay and will not stand up in court) B:TR was indeed going to be called Hurricane (or some varient thereof). However, since TimeWarner owned Six Flags, they wanted something to tie in with their succesful movie and hence, Batman was chosen. Plus, the Batman themeing isn't really that far off. Gotham City is New York (a Yankee Harbor) and since bats both hang and fly, the name fits for an inverted coaster.
Furthermore, the theming @ SFGAm during those years was random and haphazard at best. The coaster before B:TR- Shockwave, Rolling Thunder & Iron Wolf were all "missplaced" themeing-wise.
Now, if the coaster has been called something else, I really dont know "what" would have happened. Other than it would have been a waste to have access to those characters and not use them. Remember, my only beef with the comic book names is that they havent used MORE of them (why would you NOT call an Impulse coaster The Flash?)
One other thing, B:TR was not the first coaster to have a cartoon theme. There were at least four scooby doo coasters before then (PC, PCW, PKD, PKI-renamed Beastie)
lata,
jeremy
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An SFBrat who is resigned to the fact that the world is filled with Six Flags Haters....it's tragic that they waste their lives like that
It was always Batman. When my brother worked there, I remember in late 91' season, he was telling me about it. It was a shock when it came out.
:) The Gotham City/New York/Yankee Harbour scenario is sort of reaching at straws to fit it into the theming. Yankee Harbour was originally a colonial theme. Batman didn't fight off the redcoats :) If this story is true, its a shame that promoting a cheesy movie won out of true theming.
*** This post was edited by super7 on 6/15/2001. ***
First off, in twenty years of going to the park I was never under the impression that strickly a colonial themed area. Sure, the term "Yankee" may have first been coined then, but hey folks from Great Britian still call us Yanks.
Also, why is it a shame? Batman: The Ride was the *best* themed ride queue to date at its inception. IMO, it was only been surpassed by the Dueling Dragons queue. B:TRs themeing opened up a new dimension to the ride experience. Paramount thought it was a good idea as the very next year they started with the "Top Gun" themes....
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An SFBrat who is resigned to the fact that the world is filled with Six Flags Haters....it's tragic that they waste their lives like that
