Show building
Encyclopedia
Show building is the name often given to various enclosed structures at theme parks that contain attractions such as rides or entertainment shows. The exteriors of such buildings may be themed on some or all sides, but their hidden "backstage" areas are normally very utilitarian, resembling warehouse
s or sound stage
s.
Unthemed areas of show buildings typically have simple, practical walls topped off by flat roof
s. Doors allow employees to enter and exit the building and, in the case of an emergency or temporary ride shutdown, can provide escape routes for the guests. One or more ladders and/or stairwells are often installed for roof access, and sometimes for access to scenes or backstage rooms that are located above ground level. Louver
s, downspouts, electrical cables, and artificial lighting (often wall packs) are common sights as well.
Techniques for hiding these industrial nature of these buildings from the eyes of park guests vary. The most common ways include planting foliage to obstruct the views, adding themed exteriors to the visible areas, painting visible surfaces with colors that camouflage with the surroundings, and adding mounds of earth (berm
s) or solid walls between the guests and the buildings. They may also be built partially or completely below ground level. Disneyland, for instance, contains many show buildings, some of which are disguised on all sides. One example is the building containing Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
, Peter Pan's Flight
, and Alice in Wonderland
, which features themed facades of castle walls and a quaint European village. On the other hand, attractions such as the Haunted Mansion take an entirely different approach. Most of that experience takes place within a green show building hidden backstage, with a berm hiding it from the visible themed "mansion", which is connected to the show building via an underground passage. All of the Disney theme parks
make use of similar techniques to some extent.
Some theme parks take less rigorous approaches. Universal Studios Hollywood
hides many of its show buildings in the same fashion, but other buildings, such as the one housing Revenge of the Mummy
, are allowed to remain (as a whole or in part) as real-world examples of utilitarian sound stages. Some establishments may make no attempt at hiding show buildings from the eyes of guests and/or people outside the property, usually due to the cost involved, preexisting space limitations, and/or lack of interest in hiding the structures. For instance, all the buildings of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
are clearly visible from Beach Street, which passes directly behind them. Similarly, the show building at Knott's Berry Farm
that formerly contained Kingdom of the Dinosaurs is clearly visible from Western Avenue, just a few yards away.
Warehouse
A warehouse is a commercial building for storage of goods. Warehouses are used by manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, transport businesses, customs, etc. They are usually large plain buildings in industrial areas of cities and towns. They usually have loading docks to load and unload...
s or sound stage
Sound stage
In common usage, a sound stage is a soundproof, hangar-like structure, building, or room, used for the production of theatrical filmmaking and television production, usually located on a secure movie studio property.-Overview:...
s.
Unthemed areas of show buildings typically have simple, practical walls topped off by flat roof
Flat roof
A flat roof is a type of covering of a building. In contrast to the sloped form of a roof, a flat roof is horizontal or nearly horizontal. Materials that cover flat roofs typically allow the water to run off freely from a very slight inclination....
s. Doors allow employees to enter and exit the building and, in the case of an emergency or temporary ride shutdown, can provide escape routes for the guests. One or more ladders and/or stairwells are often installed for roof access, and sometimes for access to scenes or backstage rooms that are located above ground level. Louver
Louver
A louver or louvre , from the French l'ouvert; "the open one") is a window, blind or shutter with horizontal slats that are angled to admit light and air, but to keep out rain, direct sunshine, and noise...
s, downspouts, electrical cables, and artificial lighting (often wall packs) are common sights as well.
Techniques for hiding these industrial nature of these buildings from the eyes of park guests vary. The most common ways include planting foliage to obstruct the views, adding themed exteriors to the visible areas, painting visible surfaces with colors that camouflage with the surroundings, and adding mounds of earth (berm
Berm
A berm is a level space, shelf, or raised barrier separating two areas. Berm originates in the Middle Dutch and German berme and came into usage in English via French.- History :...
s) or solid walls between the guests and the buildings. They may also be built partially or completely below ground level. Disneyland, for instance, contains many show buildings, some of which are disguised on all sides. One example is the building containing Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride is a dark ride at Disneyland Park. It is one of the few remaining attractions that was operational on the park's opening day in 1955. The ride's story is based on Disney's adaptation of The Wind in the Willows, one of the two segments of the film The Adventures of Ichabod and...
, Peter Pan's Flight
Peter Pan's Flight
Peter Pan's Flight is a suspended dark ride at the Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Park theme parks. Located in Fantasyland, it is one of the few remaining attractions that was operational on Disneyland's opening day in 1955...
, and Alice in Wonderland
Alice in Wonderland (Disneyland attraction)
Alice in Wonderland is a dark ride in Fantasyland at Disneyland park. Based on the animated Disney adaptation of the same name, the attraction resides next to a second ride, the Mad Tea Party, based on a scene in that same adaptation...
, which features themed facades of castle walls and a quaint European village. On the other hand, attractions such as the Haunted Mansion take an entirely different approach. Most of that experience takes place within a green show building hidden backstage, with a berm hiding it from the visible themed "mansion", which is connected to the show building via an underground passage. All of the Disney theme parks
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is the segment of The Walt Disney Company that conceives, builds, and manages the company's theme parks and holiday resorts, as well as a variety of additional family-oriented leisure enterprises...
make use of similar techniques to some extent.
Some theme parks take less rigorous approaches. Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood is a movie studio and theme park in the unincorporated Universal City community of Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is one of the oldest and most famous Hollywood movie studios still in use...
hides many of its show buildings in the same fashion, but other buildings, such as the one housing Revenge of the Mummy
Revenge of the Mummy (Hollywood)
Revenge of the Mummy is an indoor steel/dark ride roller coaster featured at the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park. The roller coaster is based upon the popular Mummy movie franchise directed by Stephen Sommers and Rob Cohen. The ride opened on June 25, 2004 and was built by Premier Rides. The...
, are allowed to remain (as a whole or in part) as real-world examples of utilitarian sound stages. Some establishments may make no attempt at hiding show buildings from the eyes of guests and/or people outside the property, usually due to the cost involved, preexisting space limitations, and/or lack of interest in hiding the structures. For instance, all the buildings of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is an oceanfront amusement park in Santa Cruz, California. Founded in 1907, it is California's oldest surviving amusement park and one of the few seaside parks on the West Coast of the United States.- Overview :...
are clearly visible from Beach Street, which passes directly behind them. Similarly, the show building at Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm is a theme park in Buena Park, California, now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, and a line of jams, jellies, preserves, and other specialty food, now part of The J. M. Smucker Company based in Placentia, California....
that formerly contained Kingdom of the Dinosaurs is clearly visible from Western Avenue, just a few yards away.