Problematic Roller Coasters - Great American Scream Machine - A Headbanging Mess

Great American Scream Machine was once the world's tallest and fastest looping roller coaster, and actually helped Six Flags Great Adventure climb out of years of decline. The ride was quite rough but its impact was significant for Great Adventure. In this video, I cover Great Adventure's uprise in the 1970s, it's decline in the 1980s, how Scream Machine helped turn the park around, and all of Scream Machine's operational issues.
Check out the ElToroRyan Merch Store!
teespring.com/stores/eltorory...
Follow the channel on Social Media!
Facebook - / eltororyan
Instagram - @ElToroRyan / eltororyan
Twitter - @ElToroRyan / eltororyan
Discord Server - / discord
Channel artwork designed by Casie Jo Johnson! @blockbrakes
Video Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
01:52 - 1970's - Prosperity
04:34 - 1980's - Decline
10:12 - Fixing the Damage
13:29 - Introducing the Great American Scream Machine
17:26 - Scream Machine Opens
20:44 - The Issues
25:03 - Roughness
28:57 - Block Zones
32:25 - 4 Train Operations
33:56 - Scream Machine's Demise
35:17 - Conclusion
www.greatadventurehistory.com is a large part of what made this video possible. The website is one of the most comprehensive websites ever and contains so much information about Six Flags Great Adventure. I highly recommend visiting the website and looking around.
Video Sources:
Great American Scream Machine - • 1989 Six Flags Great A...
Loopyguy - • Great American Scream ...
Loopyguy - • Great American Scream ...
Patricio Grez - • 1991 Great Adventure, ...
NeoCarnage - • The Dana Carvey Show -...
Coaster Jeff - • Batman The Ride at Six...
Coaster Jeff - • Shockwave at Six Flags...
Coaster Jeff - • Great American Scream ...
gainsider - • Great American Scream ...
Ron & Great Adventure History - • Great Adventure Commer...
Matthew B - • Great Adventure 1980
19king14 Film2Video Memories & Services - • 1978 - 6 Flags Great A...
Michael Bowman - • Great Adventure Septem...
robatsea2009 - • Six Flags Great Advent...
GAcoaster - • Shockwave at Six Flags...
GAcoaster - • Great American Scream ...
Chuck D's All-New Classic TV Clubhouse - • Six Flags Great Advent...
Ron - • Six Flags Great Advent...
Ron - • Six Flags Great Advent...
Airtime Thrills Raw Footage - • Ninja at Six Flags Mag...
News 5 Cleveland - • WEWS covers the 1989 o...
Michael Clemens - • Great American Scream ...
pscyclonesteve - • The Great American Scr...
TheClassicSports - • 1989 - Six Flags Great...
Cedar Point - • Corkscrew - Official POV
Jennifer Lovesee-Mast - • Orient Express 1990
Larry Bridges - • MAGIC MOUNTAIN "Shockw...
Menachem Piekarski - • parking lot great amer...
VideofromGeorge - • Shockwave roller coast...
Sean Flaharty - • Medusa Tour - Six Flag...
Billy Olsen - • Kings Island Vortex 19...
Six Flags Great Adventure - • Official Green Lantern...

[@tc6818]

Jus think.... Without the Great American Scream Machine, there might not have been an ElToroRyan -- and the world would never understand block zones. I really enjoyed the history of the park. Great video.

[@johnfoltz8183]

I guess it would be TheVoyageRyan

[@crunchy9093]

For thoes of you who are not familiar with a wooden roller coaster, a wooden roller coaster is a roller coaster constructed completely out of wood

[@NickyD]

this park most likey wold be townhouses without this ride

[@richardwilliams4900]

What's a block zone ?

[@RMCthrills]

@@richardwilliams4900 It’s something on the coaster to do with the safety system on the coaster

[@mdf3530]

29:29 Fans: “Say the line, Ryan!” Ryan: “A block zone is a section of roller coaster that only one train may occupy. At the end of a block. zone is a method to stop a train in case the the next section is still occupied. This is the safety system that prevents roller coaster trains from colliding with one another.” Fans: “YESSSSSSSS!!!!”

[@davidflores5907]

“For those of you that are unfamiliar...”

[@MuhammadIlhamuodd254512]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWjRqH-efqZksNU

[@rcb3000]

We were all waiting for it lol

[@ENCHANTMEN_]

I appreciate that it's there since any given video might be someone's first

[@summoningtheampngusimposter]

LMAOOO

[@notkaywhy]

Baby: F- F- Mother: Oh my gosh! He's about to say his first words! Baby: For those of you who are unfamiliar, a block zone is a section of ride that only one train may occupy. At the end of a block zone is a method to stop a train in case the block zone ahead is still occupied. This is the safety system that prevents roller coaster trains from colliding with one another.

[@coasternerd6883]

Ngl I want this to be my kid’s first words

[@pjdj]

Its the same thing as bismuth and framerules for smb1

[@oreo_6206]

can I draw this

[@joshuavillarreal1359]

9th

[@MrKennyWilliams]

​@@pjdj or UrinatingTree and "Fuck you, Spanos."

[@kapper1965]

ryan, thanks for this very accurate report. in actuality we had 4 people on staff that evening at the haunted castle. 1 person was inside scaring, as you had mentioned. 1 person was working the gate controlling the flow of guest in the attraction. 1 person was at dinner at the time, so we would have had 2 people inside if they weren't on break. I was the 4th employee in the in the position as "rover". as a rover for the evening, my primary reponsibility was to wander the halls, making sure that nobody was hiding and that everything was running smoothly. after I exited the attraction, as part of my roaming loop, I was walking back to the entrance when people were running out the front yelling "the place is on fire" we did have fire effects inside, but I followed their call and went in to see if this was true. we never took these claims without urgency. surprisingly I did encounter the fire very quckly and did my best getting guest out and in the final pass I carried a girl out of the fire. we got out as many as we could and we thought we were all clear, as fire had cutoff any further entry at that point. it wasn't until about 3 in the morning when we found out about the deaths. we all were involved in the court case. if you search my name and haunted castle fire you will see my statements from the court hearing. again. thanks for the coverage.

[@klobiforpresident2254]

Thanks to your comment I decided to actually look into what happened and read the testimony. It is very interesting. Thank you for having commented, I hope others see it too.

[@kapper1965]

@@klobiforpresident2254 there is a lot of misinformation out there about this. there is a 6 part documentary that someone did here on youtube that gets a lot of information, specifically about me, incorrect. if he only did his research and found my testimony, he wouldn’t have had to make up some parts of the story,

[@princessravendiamond4288]

I remember watching a video about the event. I believe it was by Fascinating Horror, but it also could've been Coaster College. I found it interesting and very sad. There could have been more preventative measures, but I understand that it was also a very different time. Thank you for rescuing as many people as you could

[@sleepystars3042]

I just got to tell someone but my dad worked as an emt driver for the park and was actively a part of all the incidents mentioned

[@wildpurple005]

Hero

[@gccentral714]

I was actually on the last train out of the station on scream machine. I won a seat in the online to be on the last train in the last riders event. Honestly I don't care what anyone says I loved this ride and it's always going to be in my top 10. It pains me I'll never get to ride it again.

[@thomasxl200]

That's awesome!

[@gccentral714]

@@thomasxl200 it really was. I got 21 rides over the 2 1/2 hours at the event. It took place after the park closed at 10pm that night. They were all so nice to us during the event. Buffet, cake, silent auction (which I won a poster of gasm being built.) I was row 6 right side seat of the Freedom (red) train. They even gave us an extra lap for the last riders after we all chanted "one more time!!!"

[@MikeR65]

I wasn’t a fan .

[@Starlit43]

My question is would you prefer to have it over jersey devil?

[@gccentral714]

@@Starlit43 unfortunately I didn't make it to SFGADV this season so I didn't get on jersey devil yet but honestly as of right now I'd take scream machine over alot. I'm a sucker for old arrow loopers and this one was the best. (Granted I haven't been on viper at magic mountain yet) but this was an elite coaster for me.

[@birdman5589]

A rollercoaster that was built but never opened?! And we casually mention it and then move on?! I must know more!

[@filanfyretracker]

the fact its was called Jumbo Jet makes wonder if it was related in design to JetStar/StarJet that got thrown into the Atlantic during Sandy from a park on of those piers out on the Jersey Shore.

[@greenberrygk]

I hate when people mention something really interesting and then breeze right past it.

[@Irreve-rsible]

Might not be very much information on it, since that was whenever they opened.

[@guppylipz]

@@filanfyretracker Is that the same JetStar that came from Knoebel's ? Knoebel's had a JetStar that was taken down AS SOON AS I was old enough to ride it! That's all a bummer, really- if Sandy killed it's second life. :(

[@zoomanx9661]

The Jumbo Jet wound up in Coney Island.

[@xtremeentertainmenttv9664]

Still can’t believe that out of all the coasters they could have replaced this with that could have been better and they picked a b&m stand up out of all things 😂

[@RadialGH]

The worst one too

[@TheeGoatPig]

The last time I went on Green Lantern (the only time?) it nearly popped my hip out of the socket.

[@thomasxl200]

I went to great adventure 8 times this year. Rode Green Lantern once. Through the first loop I was like "maybe this isn't as bad as a thought" but as we pulled into the final brakes I was ready to run away.

[@xtremeentertainmenttv9664]

@@thomasxl200 the last time I rode green lantern, which was actually 2 days ago, (I don’t even know why I even got on line) what I had to do was stick my head out the restraint as much as I could, and keep both of my feet as far back as I could to where it was against the back of that wall. While the rest of the train was complaining of deathly ear pains and headaches, I managed to get off with just my legs feeling like jello, still a horrible ride (p.s this trick only works in the front in the back your ears will still get bashed)

[@RadioMuse1]

@@RadialGH My only ride was in the front row so maybe I'm completely off-base but it was fine. Much smoother than Mantis or Iron Wolf (prior to their respective conversions), and more fun/thrilling than Vortex (Carowinds). Standup coasters are an inherently not-fun experience, but I don't understand the unique hate that seems to be directed at Green Lantern specifically.

[@dantc2403]

22:25 Good to know that designing tracks in Roller Coaster Tycoon was not so different from the real thing.

[@SirRobertDole2]

I always thought they did it that way because of limitations in rct. guess not lol.

[@cr128]

It’s really crazy how rapidly Arrow was completely outclassed by B&M and other manufacturers. Arrow’s 80s coasters feel like they are from a totally different era than some coasters which opened only a few years later (in terms of design, they really were). It must have been wild as an enthusiast or even a regular park guest to go from Arrow Megaloopers being the height of coaster technology to the early B&Ms of the 90s.

[@samuelitooooo]

To think that these B&Ms are very solid rides. Where parks are even asking B&M to completely rebuild the same ride from scratch

[@MileHighGrowler]

It is wild. Arrow was never afraid to pioneer and innovate and Ron Toomer seemed genuinely interested in doing so, but they didn't seem to have much desire to innovate their engineering at all. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". Unfortunately, by the time all of their old methods were starting to catch up, I don't think they had the market share to stay in the game. Arrow holds a special place in my heart for their coasters and design, but they're not usually very pleasant to ride and didn't age well at all.

[@bocahdongo7769]

@@samuelitooooo That's honestly the proof of how crazy reliable Hulk was. It run so constantly and reliably, it raked way more miles than expected to be. The all-season park does make Hulk need to run without like winter maintenance.

[@bocahdongo7769]

@@MileHighGrowler Watch the arrow pipeline. It was far too janky than even Togo did on Viper

[@jonathanwpressman]

Were the "corkscrew" coasters of the 70s Arrows?

[@Jcjc-lr4bf]

I’m still heartbroken since it’s removal. It was iconic, classy, and so beautiful. There was nothing better than seeing those towering cherry red loops in the skyline and hearing the squeaks and loud clacks.

[@chrismarshall4523]

Well said

[@thomasxl200]

Let's not forget the beautiful cacophony of an Arrow lift hill...

[@MikeR65]

I didn’t even know it was gone.

[@gamecity360m]

@@MikeR65 pretty sure there are multiple operating coasters named “Great American Scream Machine” in the Six Flags chain

[@mdf3530]

Its sister Shockwave at Great America was just as beautiful with its blue track and white support structure.

[@rickbelden2319]

I love footage of the old guys in suits riding coasters. 😂😂 I know they’re probably park execs or media but it’s like damn dude, you couldn’t wear jeans and a t-shirt to go and demo a coaster for the day?

[@wessparkmon2395]

It was actually a skit from the Dana Carvey Show parodying an ABC News show. Carvey is on the front left, Stephen Colbert is the front right. Two rows behind Colbert is Steve Carell.

[@MikehMike01]

People had class in the past… they would wear a suit just to go to dinner or the movies

[@dashdeception]

I can't understand how the jury never holds the parks responsible for these things. I have watched a bunch of these theme park tragedy videos on KZbin and they always seem to get off. I know this is kind of a different video for your channel but I appreciate the extra information leading up to the focus.

[@JCBro-yg8vd]

I think the five part documentary on The Haunted Castle Fire provides a pretty good explanation for letting Six Flags off the hook. It's the county's biggest employer and they were afraid to throw so many people out of work. The economy was more important than holding people accountable.

[@dashdeception]

@@JCBro-yg8vd yeah that's how it seems to happen but it doesn't really seem like justice the park ignored all those problems brought to their attention and didn't do anything then eight people died

[@chrismarshall4523]

@@JCBro-yg8vd sad but true! Good point!

[@JCBro-yg8vd]

@@dashdeception Agreed. Plus, it was not the Jackson Township Fire Department's job to tell Six Flags their castle was unsafe. Employees had already filed complaints and even staged a walk out, Six Flags refused to listen because they viewed the castle as a backburner attraction despite its popularity.

[@MikeR65]

@@JCBro-yg8vd so you think putting a bunch of people out of work is going to bring those people back??

[@otakuon]

As much as I have a love/hate relationship with Viper at Magic Mountain, many of us will be much sad to see it go when that day finally comes. At this point, I think it survives purely for the sake of nostalgia being it's the last Arrow Mega Looper left and a relic of a bygone era. But quite frankly, given the problems mentioned in this video (namely the roughness of these rides), it's only a matter of time before Six Flags finally pulls the plug and reclaims the real estate. Hopefully we get at least another year or two before that happens.

[@FaceIntoKeyboard]

I remember riding it when I was in 8th grade and it was great. Came back when I was in college and it was stupid painful. Still better than Green Lantern...

[@charles9754]

Lol I would definitely rather Scream Machine than Green Lantern, amen to that. 👍🏾

[@KirbyVacuumCollectorFixer]

@@charles9754 Agreed!

[@auradelpotro5574]

Green Lantern was a whole other level of a painful

[@trolljones4386]

Green lantern is actually good you are just a baby

[@YuukiTakemoto1996]

I rode it in 2002 in first grade. It was kinda painful as years went by, but not GL levels of painful.

[@idigcoasters]

I love how you keep starting these with the commercials that ran on TV for each coaster!!

[@themonkeyjungle871]

28:00 "B&M Roared into the 90's" I see what you did there

[@TonyKimtheamusementparkfan]

Viper is the only Arrow mega looping coaster left, and it is amazing that Six Flags Magic Mountain and S&S are still keeping that coaster alive~~

[@mcstrangelove]

Viper needs some serious help. It is a headache-inducing machine.

[@bryanfuchs1512]

This coaster was featured in a science text book that I used in 6th grade. I remember it well, because all of the photos and description of the ride completely blew my mind. I wish I had a chance to ride it.

[@oreo_6206]

I think you just unearthed a memory because I had a picture of it in my elementary school science textbook

[@SentinelHirsc]

There's always it's slightly bigger clone Viper in California

[@Treadsetter281]

Scream Machine was the first inversion coaster I ever rode and the one that got me into roller coasters. I would definitely trade Green Lantern to have the Scream Machine back but it was awesome to relive it for a bit and find out what actually happened to it!

[@MikeR65]

I was in the haunted maze that burnt down a couple of days before it happened. It makes you think .Ive been going to Great Adventure since it opened in 1974.

[@TPCo0Lz]

I watched Fascinating Horror and he talked about the fire at the haunted house. It was horrible! (The building was very dark, that’s why he used the light)

[@patricktho6546]

but you don't use open fire in a closed space. This is, why it is so dangerous, no matter the othet factors. But Six Flags should have been punished for not following basic fire protection methods.

[@averyeml]

@@patricktho6546 the fire was 100% the fault of whoever decided to use a lighter in a cramped padded hallway. However? I wouldn’t put anything that happened because of the fire on that person because at every step the reason the fire was started (the building was too dark, even for a haunted house) and the reasons people died were the fault of Six Flags. It’s a very tricky and unfortunate situation. I blame the guy, but honestly I imagine living with that guilt is way more of a punishment than they’d ever get in court.

[@TonyKimtheamusementparkfan]

I always love learning about Arrow Dynamics roller coasters. It just shows just how different rides operated during those days, and how Arrow programmed, engineered, built, and ran the rides. I just wish Arrow could have just adopted computer technology quicker than B&M and they could still be around today. They were too late to even adopt that until the mid-1990s, when B&M was dominating at this time, and it took them until the mid- to late-1990s to adopt computer technology to build their rides. But Arrow Dynamics are truly a legend in this industry and hopefully more Arrow coasters are planned for the series. Hopefully you can do Orient Express at Worlds of Fun, as that was another problematic Arrow looping coaster.

[@JTCPingas]

I was probably about 10 years old or maybe a bit younger when I rode Orient Express, and I definitely remember it being a rough coaster.

[@Jason_Maier]

I do recall reading that Ron Toomer would bend paper clips and wire coat hangers when designing his projects. Imagine what he could have done with CAD!

[@Fox_on_a_Rollercoaster]

I always cry a bit inside when an arrow looper gets removed. Call me sic, but I love the rough rides. Smooth rides are nice, don't get me wrong, but man do I love being punched in my kidneys and banging my head a bit on shoulder restrains. Cobra, a small portable coaster in germany for fun fairs is quite a good example. One corcscrew and a 2 helixes nothing more, but the rough ride made it awesome (not an arrow looper though). We never had real Arrow dynamics coasters in germany, so I get even more sad when one more gets removed. The look and sound it makes made it an instant classic, even for me who was never on one.

[@jonny-b4954]

They nostalgia and classic-ness of it all wears of after one ride, haha. They're great, don't get me wrong. But one ride is generally enough for most Arrow loopers. Now, their mine trains and hypers; I can ride multiple times per visit.

[@KirbyVacuumCollectorFixer]

@Der Dude I’m pretty much the same way.

[@TonyKimtheamusementparkfan]

I love the classic feel of an Arrow Dynamics custom looping coaster~ I actually love how old and rough it feels like yourself, and it's something you see less of nowadays. And we can't forget just how ahead of their time Arrow Dynamics was when it came to building innovative roller coasters especially from the 70s and the early 90s.

[@thomasxl200]

Like many I miss this ride, especially given what replaced it (one look at my profile pic should explain why). I rode it a bunch when I was younger and it banged me up but now that I'm older I have a new appreciation for Arrows, mostly cause I figured out how to ride them. Viper at MM is my favorite looper, period, and now I have to travel 3000 miles to get my megalooper fix instead of sauntering down to my home park. Damn shame.

[@thomasxl200]

Granted, I know Viper gets the benefit of great maintenance and a friendly climate. Not sure if Great Adventure would ever get the Scream Machine to run as smooth as Viper does.

[@maddierose7938]

Your attention to detail just amazes me. Well done on this video. I do miss this coaster too. It was my very first when I was 11 years old. Scared the crap out of me at the time.

[@skrounst]

"For those of you unfamiliar..." I always get a smile when I hear this. IMO your block zone merch should have that on the front instead of "AA block zone is..." =]

[@jamesm7517]

Thanks for the history of Great Adventure. I remember riding Scream Machine during coaster festival and they shut the trims off. A rough ride but the g's it pulled in the double loop were insane and I loved it. Although this is no longer my home park I had some great times during my visits.

[@ingej003]

I miss this coaster so much. It didn't beat you up as long as you knew how to ride it correctly. Just hold your head hard to the right, no headbanging. Plus by the late 90's it was practically a walk-on regardless of the park crowds.

[@thomasxl200]

Have you been on Viper? Smoother than the Scream Machine and like GASM was, always a walk on. It's a riot.

[@ingej003]

@@thomasxl200 I have not, but would love to check it out one day. That's at Magic Mountain, correct?

[@chrismarshall4523]

Agreed, i wish i wouldn't haven't avoided it so much and should have just rode it wearing boxing head gear.

[@CoasterMan13Official]

@@thomasxl200 Viper is my favorite steel roller coaster.

[@thomasxl200]

@@CoasterMan13Official It's my favorite looper!

[@ETicketAttractions]

I worked at SFGAm in 2001 on Iron Wolf and went back into the park to ride V2 (the new ride that year) and Shockwave every night. Man am I glad I did. The hop after the first loop you mentioned was so amazing actually. Then those double blackout loops… and honestly I couldn’t have faulted the ride except for the turn into the mid-course brake… which you had to seriously brace for because it was BRUTAL even in the last car. I rode GASM at one point, but I found it much less wild for whatever reason… Shockwave reigns supreme in the afterlife ❤️‍🔥🙌❤️‍🔥

[@CoasterCollege]

Love the discussion about 4 train shockwave and sending trains with one still on the lift. Gemini is still able to send trains with the lift occupied and Magnum was able to do the same before 1990. I think a lot of arrows were designed like that back in the day, truly incredible stuff.

[@KeithFox]

Arrow, a bunch of math dropouts. I love how their trains sat lower in the track, but that's all I love about it. Those things are complete disasters of transitions that cause headbangs.

[@jonny-b4954]

Yeah, that is a really cool design feature of their trains. You're sitting next to the wheels instead of on top of them generally.

[@KeithFox]

@Arrow Dynamics Inc. Nice attitude. I have designed coasters before but didn't make it down to the convention to try to sell it to any company. I'll give props to one person, Alan Shilke.

[@CEWThree]

Great Adventure: "We've made sure all our structures are equipped with sprinklers now!" Everyone: "Neat! Wait... *now*?"

[@LeJeanZone]

I love Arrow looping coasters!! Although I’ve never been on Shockwave or Great American Scream Machine, I’ve ridden Viper at Six Flags Magic Mountain plenty of times. I remember when these 3 looping coasters were the largest in the world. This is a great video!!

[@mjbudziak]

As my first looping coaster, this coaster will always hold a place in my heart. That being said, I remember even as a 7 year old (almost 30+ years ago!) that the coaster was pretty rough!

[@AdamSmith-gs2dv]

The Sarajevo Bobsled is actually still going, it's at the Great Escape in Queensbury NY and is called Alpine Bobsled. Also TGE is my home park and I NEVER knew the trains were made by B&M

[@brianmacdonald7297]

Wow, thanks for the walk down memory lane with the history of the park as well as the coaster. I'm old enough to have attended Great Adventure starting in the early 80s, and I remember the disastrous haunted house fire, and the years when the park wasn't considered safe. I also remember riding Scream Machine in its first or second season, and thinking it was fun and smooth. What did I know? I hadn't ridden a B&M yet. I also remember riding in 2008, and it was a walk-on, like you said, and really not comfortable at all. But having ridden Viper at SFMM recently, I think I'd rather have Scream Machine than Green Lantern.

[@gamecity360m]

Your next problematic coasters video should be Firechaser Express! It’s so unique with 2 switch tracks, a drive tyre launch out of the station and a backwards one with effects!

[@ultraman5168]

I feel like Scream Machine was my first real coaster. The world may have passed her by but she'll always be a diamond in my eye. Rest in peace ol' girl.

[@rcb3000]

Ryan You have no idea how much I love and appreciate this video. I was a huge Arrow Looper fan myself. Always used to build them mostly in RollerCoaster Tycoon games. SFGAd is my home park and I used to LOVE even just looking at Scream Machine growing up. When I was finally both tall enough and brave enough to ride big people roller coasters at 11, I rode Batman then my first ever ride on Scream Machine at night. Never complained about the roughness. It is a classic and will always have a place in my heart. I even have the keychain on my car keys. I had just turned 17 when it closed and I kid you not I shed a tear. Pointing out the greatness of this roller coaster in this video means so much to me. Sounds corny, but every time I get on line for Green Lantern I still say Great American Scream Machine was better! Lol thank you for this Ryan. This really means a lot!! And yes I am now well familiar with what a block zone is lol.

[@JamieLyn8279]

Scream Machine was my very first roller coaster experience in 1989 when my dad took me for my 10th birthday. We got on the first car and since I was just a little girl and this was my very first roller coaster, I did not realize the importance of bracing your head, not that I think it would have matterd now that I saw this video. My poor little head banged right to left, and I clearly remember it going forward. I swear my forehead hit my chest at least it felt that way and I've described it as such to this day. Although I didn't have the greatest experience, it was still a memorable one and it wasn't my last.

[@InfiniteCS]

Never rode Scream Machine but I did get to ride Shockwave, the transition to the mid course breakrun hurt so bad. I was surprised when I rode Viper a decade later how much better that was.

[@gojewla]

Shockwave ruined my sunglasses.

[@DAOzz83]

Shock Wave skinned my elbow!

[@-abacchus]

Love all these *Problematic Roller Coaster* videos and appreciate the amount of research that must go in them. Will you be doing any of these from overseas..? _Smiler @ Alton Towers, anyone..?_

[@reputation8383]

I would absolutely LOVE for El Toro Ryan to do a series on some of the Alton Towers coasters. Smiler, Thirteen, Nemesis...all classic problematic rollercoasters (and Nemesis is my absolute fave in the world)

[@eisvekdhecaksidtbevesksjnw9761]

I had completely forgotten about the Dana Carvey Show before watching this. Now I'm gonna watch those 8 great episodes again. Thanks.

[@LexieAnneCole]

just in time for my lunch break 🤩

[@seanm7785]

This was the first looping coaster I ever went on. My dad rode it with me and I can still remember what it was like.

[@NAOT4R]

I unironically miss this ride. Of the Arrow loopers I have been on it really didn't feel that violently rough, and it was always really cool to look at.

[@KIorio809]

Solid one dude. The run of GrAdv coasters in that 80s into 90s era is really interesting. All these weird one offs. Scream Machine was legit. It was such a better park in that era. You always find info I've never heard before. 4 train Shockwave!? ... the independent sourcing aspect of the chain. I always wondered the relationship between buying Ultra Twister then the similar Viper 10 years later when no one else fell for those models. Like someone at GrAdv had a strong relationship TOGO that spanned multiple failed spiral coaster prototypes?! Also they looked at Mr. Freeze concept and was like "yeah our 4 million attendance # we need two..."

[@Isaiah-xi3lu]

I absolutely love the “Problematic Rollercoaster” series! I got so excited when I saw this was up haha. Keep up the great work! 🤙🏼

[@Chillguy99]

Spectacular work on this one! I love when coaster videos spend the time to go through amusement park history that is relevant to whatever coaster is being discussed. Also, as an Arrow fanboy who grew up 15 minutes away from Shockwave...this was just nostalgia heaven, lol. And I surprisingly learned a few things as well. Shockwave is (in my highly subjective opinion) the greatest Arrow Looper for a few reasons: It's height, speed, and length as well as for the precise mistakes you mentioned in it's construction which drastically improved the ride experience. I can confirm that I never once heard, saw or felt the trim brakes activate after the first loop and unless there was a block zone conflict the train never came to a full stop like Great American Scream Machine and Viper. This allowed the 2nd half of the ride to still have some fun hangtime but also be much more forceful since it traversed the batwing and corkscrews with considerably more speed. This created what is to this day one of the most intense roller coasters I have ever ridden. I was later disappointed when I got on GASM and Viper-I still loved both of them but they were not the epic ride that Shockwave was. Thank you very much for making this video. I was devastated when we lost Shockwave but I was also tremendously sad to see GASM and Vortex get scrapped...none of these rides should have been scrapped! Really hope ACE gives Viper landmark status to attempt to preserve it. Great Adventure's coaster lineup when I visited in 2007 was absolutely amazing. Nitro and Medusa were both awesome. GASM, Rolling Thunder and Batman and Robin: The Chiller were all still there. Kingda Ka had opened in 2005 and best of all El Toro had just opened in 2006 (which completely blew me and my brother away). After riding all their coasters that day it never crossed my mind that they would remove so many of them as their lineup was 2nd only to Cedar Point. But anyway went off on a tangent, lol, excellent video!

[@TheeGoatPig]

Recently, this last year or so, I have heard a few people describe the Scream Machine as rough. This must have been due to wear on the coaster over the years, as I went on it the first few years after it opened and never found it to be anything other than enjoyable.

[@thomasxl200]

Definitely got worse over age. I used to ride it with my dad all the time and as the ride got older my father began to skip it, he couldn't take it anymore.

[@alexkitner5356]

It wasn't glassy smooth but was good for the time, Rolling thunder was rough, Scream Machine was a little loose if anything...

[@chrismarshall4523]

Oh heck yeah it was rough on day 1. There used to be a sign that said no earrings, (which i clearly remember employees enforcing) because when your head would bash side to side, the backs and posts would impale peoples necks when their ears slammed in to the shoulder harness.

[@rulerofeden]

I've been craving a new Problematic Coasters video, thanks Ryan! Love hearing about everything Six Flags

[@pyro-millie5533]

As an engineer, I seriously appreciate you going over the mechanical and programming details that go into these rides!! Very cool!

[@cobraninetysix3883]

I road this one the first season and many times after. My all time favorite.

[@firstflowerinspace]

Gosh just imagine a world where Arrow had adopted computer engineering practices… what would their track look like today Would S&S have branched into the coaster industry in the way it has or would it just be known for its launches? Would Intamin have competition for most intense transitions? Would B&M have more competition for hypers? Would inversions have maintained their popularity???

[@Mister_Brown]

look at tennesse tornado at dollywood for what arrow with cad looks like.

[@bocahdongo7769]

It will be just RMC but steel. They will toe-to-toe against Intamin instead.

[@stot2614]

My first major roller coaster experience thanks to my sister Marie who got me to go on it. I liked this coaster so much after the first time that I rode a second time and was hooked into the roller coaster world for many years until my second cousin almost killed that interest as we would go on countless coasters at Universal Studios Florida in 2008 including riding The Mummy in every row consecutively in one day... But I did come back to coasters since. Thanks for covering my most missed coaster experience, ElToroRyan! :D

[@GamerBen87]

Such good memories of GASM. When my friends and I would spend all summer there in high school, we would check out the crazy long lines of Batman The Ride, Batman the Chiller, and Medusa, and resort to riding GASM, Rolling Thunder, and Viper all day. You may not have gotten beat up in the late 90s by the gangs anymore, but the coasters got you!

[@reg1m0nz83]

another great vid. the history of great adventure is so interesting. id heard about a lot of these incidents individually, but never realized they were all back to back to back. what a disaster, and what a comeback. i wonder how many iconic coasters we wouldn't have without this monster. the tidbit about its theming is interesting too. when i hear the name Great American Scream Machine, i think of this giant coaster of legend, and when i hear the name Ninja i think of some of the least notable arrow coasters. the only of these mega loopers ive gotten to ride is Viper and its one of my favorites. but looking through history, Viper is on the same path its siblings have been on before their closures. thats gonna be a sad day for sure

[@stevenstice6683]

What I hope would happen is Magic Mountain hires Chance-Morgan to redo Viper similarly to what they did to Steel Phantom.

[@Lsalyer91]

Yes!!! Love your videos man keep up the great work

[@VinceHere98]

I miss this ride so much. I only got to ride this one once in 2010, just weeks before its closure. I was hoping to get another ride out of it in 2011, but then I heard the news about its closure. I had mourned the loss of such an amazing coaster. Even though it was quite rough, I still enjoyed it. I didn’t even get to say goodbye as I only rode this once. I just wish this ride lasted a bit longer so it would be replaced with something more popular, like a B&M Wing coaster. From what I’ve heard, Great Adventure wasn’t Six Flags’ first choice when it came to relocating Chang. They actually had planned to relocate it to Great America. If they actually went with that plan, it would’ve spent a few years there in its original form as a Stand-up coaster before being converted into a floorless. And Scream Machine would’ve spent a few more years in operation (probably until 2014 or 2015) before being replaced with a B&M Wing coaster. The reason I believe that a Wing coaster could’ve been Scream Machine’s original replacement was because around the time Chang had reopened as Green Lantern in SFGAdv in 2011, the Wing model was the newest coaster at the time, as the first one, Raptor, opened in Gardaland in Italy that same year. More wing coasters such X-Flight at SFGAm in Illinois, The Swarm at Thorpe Park in Britain, Gatekeeper at Cedar Point in Ohio, etc. opened in the following years of 2012 and 2013 proving the new coaster type as an absolute success.

[@KirbyVacuumCollectorFixer]

I honestly wish this route was the way things happened. Instead of how it actually turned out.

[@ganggang2206]

FAM I am sincerely speechless at your wealth of knowledge in a world that caught me by surprise, your passion for rollercoasters is evident and your intensive research is apparent yet your storytelling makes it intriguing, thanks for a consumable and informative introduction into BTS rollercoasters

[@happyyad]

Really enjoy your explanations of block zones, and history of roller coasters.

[@pzk5349]

Your documentaries are amazing. Really love the professionalism in these which I believe will make them last the test of time.

[@goldenrod8861]

I loved the Scream Machine. In it's day it was a marvel. Lost count of the times I rode it but it was open and running upon my every visit, great ride. I'm still trying to get my 24th ride on Jersey Devil but it's always broken.

[@earthdog7900]

I loved Great American Scream Machine. I rode it during the first season during High School Physicist day. It was the first looping roller coaster I enjoyed. If was really cool to look sideways and watch the park skyline flip as I rode.

[@ayanadixon4763]

I've ridden Chang several times at Kentucky Kingdom. I never knew what happened to it until now. I would love to see a video dedicated to relocated coasters.

[@lumindoesvideos]

Ah yes, Shockwave's bigger, somehow less problematic brother. Still a beautiful old coaster and I can only imagine how making a 90s Arrow Coaster that big was problematic.

[@retrokev7824]

Hell yes!! Mad long ago, when I discovered, and subsequently became addicted to your channel lol I made a comment about how I wish you would do an episode on the American Scream Machine and it finally happened! Im a NJ Six Flags local and ASM was my very first real coaster and first inverted coaster. I got to ride it twice before it was no more and Im very grateful I got that opportunity. It was an awesome experience for me

[@djthrock30]

At 4:36, I totally wish you could've said, "Incidents and accidents, hints and allegations." HA

[@KirbyVacuumCollectorFixer]

I really would’ve loved to ride this. I kinda hate that they replaced it with a B&M Stand Up, a relocated one at that. I feel they should’ve replaced it with something more worthy. But that’s my opinion. I am also a huge Arrow Looper Fan. Kings Island is my home park. So when they announced Vortex’s removal in late 2019, I was devastated. I’m very glad I went on it’s last day and got my last rides in. As well as get a track piece. I really hope to visit Magic Mountain in Valencia someday. So I can ride Viper.

[@collinparsons3363]

I think Six Flags, having just come out of bankruptcy wanted a cheap, easy way to replace it with another major coaster. So they relocated Chang from Kentucky Kingdom which had shut down the year prior.

[@Mister_Brown]

definitely go ride viper, it's an amazing ride and runs great (or did a couple years ago), the trains on these megaloopers with the big handles are also much better than the ones on every other arrow, i don't understand why they didn't use them more often. also go ride tennessee tornado if you want the ultimate in arrow looping

[@KirbyVacuumCollectorFixer]

@@Mister_Brown I definitely intend to! Fingers crossed I can go sometime soon. And yes, I rode Tennessee Tornado a while back. I love it!!

[@rickr8173]

Viper is a painful experience. But it holds a special place in my heart. It came out just as I came of age (or rather, size) to go to Six Flags and it was a big deal for me.

[@KirbyVacuumCollectorFixer]

@@rickr8173 That’s really cool actually! I have no doubt that it was such a huge deal back in the 90s. I’ve heard a lot about it being painful. But then yet again, lots of people said the same thing about Vortex and I didn’t find it to be that painful. Maybe Viper will be the same way for me? I hope so, but regardless, I really would love to ride it. I really hope it lives to be 40. But if not, so be it. If they ever announce it’s removal before I get to go, I’m getting a plane ticket and flying down to Valencia immediately.

[@charles9754]

I'm so happy I was able to ride this piece of history! Great video Ryan, keep doing what your doin man!!

[@psychopompinc.646]

I never got to ride GASM, but I got to ride Shock Wave when it was new and Viper is at my current home park continuing the legacy. I will forever be an Arrow-stan, especially for my mega-loopers. Viper still runs well and consistently and hopefully becomes an ACE landmark.

[@cookieaddictions]

I'm going down the rabbit hole of this channel. Great Adventure is my home park so it's nice to hear about coasters I've been on even though I can no longer handle them. I remember Great American Scream Machine as being extremely uncomfortable due to the way your head would bang back and forth against the headrest.

[@BluesCoasters]

Once again, another outstanding one from Ryan!

[@wallmart3743]

This was a head banger, it was as bad as ultra twister and Batman and robin the escape… this was my home park growing up, good old freehold!!

[@MikeR65]

Batman and Robin was far worse IMO.

[@YuukiTakemoto1996]

Same. And it's Batman & Robin: The Chiller. You're confusing it with Superman: The Escape at Magic Mountain.

[@tyizzle80]

I Just happened to stumble on one of your videos a couple of days ago and ever since I've been watching your videos like crazy..I'm hooked already. This is such fresh and unique content that I never seen on KZbin before. And how you combine the actual science, with the storytelling and the history is just really cool. I know for sure that this has to be your passion. The best type of education is to be engaged and have fun while you're learning and that's what you provide with your content. Just the magnitude of collaboration and calculations that goes into these roller coasters is up there with the some of the best architecture in my opinion.

[@idwolfshow1727]

Love the long format videos. This is fascinating 😀

[@acidalex420]

Yas watching your documentaries is like the highlight of my week, :)

[@RyGuyRy]

20:03 PROOF white boys be the ones who was really out here drill dancing waaayy before the boogie down. 😯🤔 haha. Having said that the amount of info and effort you put into these videos is nothing short of someone who is truly passionate about something. You deserves millions of subs just off how much time and information is provided. Having been a NJ resident my entire life in Monmouth County, we hit up Six Flags alot and a ton more once i got my Motorcycle license at 18, as it was the norm to take a ride there weekly with our season passes which we always had. Looking back it was cool to have experienced all the changes and new rides as the years want on and see the differences. Back in grammar school i started riding these types of coasters after giving Viper a try(upon scooping it out it seemed like a really quick ride, if i didnt like it then atleast its over before i know i thought. I wound up getting addicted like most lol). Scream Machine as having rid it so many times(yknow those rainy/stormy days but with no lightning or super early mornings where they let you ride back to back to back 😏). Indeed I too remember how aggressive and head banging that ride really was. My rides were from 93' - until closed, ill never forget how LONG that hill climb was which helped crank up the anxiety upon first ride! by the 50th we were taking bowl hits on the way up and laughing our asses off! 😶‍🌫🤪 lol). We used to joke about how bad it banged you up (and Rolling Thunder!). I remember when we were first riding Scream Machine as young kids and how we quickly realized DO NOT bury your head down to the ground(as some do in panic/fear of the drop) bc your head would LITERALLY stay slammed down like that until those first 3 loops were over. You couldnt really fight it the downforce was strong, and your absolutely right i used to look at the top of the loops and think "why are they so tight?". Which is why i enjoyed Green Lanterns first long drawn out loop!. Funny thing about it is i grew up to be a Local 40 Ironworker(Manhattan) myself, started at 19, 20years this November. Grandfather, Father and 3 Uncles so im 3rd generation. Which is why i love watching these videos bc you show some of the building and hard work that is involved. EPIC content. tyty

[@gutreaction8523]

TY for making this video! This was my first inverted rollercoaster I went on and although many people hatted it, I loved it and still miss it!

[@shaynak745]

GASM was such a great ride for the time!! I’ll never forget getting up to the station and reading a sign that said that earrings weren’t allowed. I had six piercings in each ear so needless to say, I had to scramble to get them off before boarding.

[@shaynak745]

Of course after riding it, I realized why they had those signs!! A lot of head banging back and forth but still such a great ride.

[@coasterjim]

I have got an idea for a problematic rollercoaster episode, cannibal at lagoon. I am not sure if this one is problematic, but it would be interesting to learn about the block zones.

[@bradpetralia7567]

Never got to ride this as it was torn down before my first time there, but could you make a vid on the velocicoaster? It's one of the best rides I've been on in a while. It's newer than the Hagrid ride and consistently has shorter times and doesn't break down as much.

[@hungerforhorror]

I was lucky enough to get to ride this couple times. I thought it was great and really wasn't that rough at all. Many coasters today owe this one a debt of gratitude.

[@wscheets1600]

I never went to great adventure until kingdaka was built. I was born in 93. And live in Massachusetts. My home park was six flags new England. Previously riverside park. I knew about the scream machine due to playing roller coaster tycoon as a child fanatically addicted to coasters and how they work and riding them. This was awesome video. Thanks for upload! We had Superman. Which was an amazing steel coaster. Non looping. But super fun and fast. Used to be voted best steel coaster in country multiple years. It was amazing coaster. Still exists. Super smooth.

[@ericstone8343]

It was rough, but Shock Wave was one of my favorite coasters. At the end, it rarely had a line, so prob a good call replacing it. Even though I much prefer Shock Wave to its replacement, Superman.

[@alexkitner5356]

I believe the fire was also the point where they added an on-site fire brigade. My parents wouldn't let us go until the mid-90s between the violence and accidents but IMHO the Golden age was around 1995 with a great mix of old and new. Scream machine, Batman, Free fall, Rolling Thunder, manageable ride waits for solid rides instead of hours for intense but short coasters. Had a time when it was drizzling so nobody was there but we had no school and season passes and were able to ride Batman and Scream Machine as fast as we could exit and reenter the ride. Probably got more than 50 rides in one day, maybe 100...

[@YuukiTakemoto1996]

Golden Age was 2002-03. Superman, The Chiller, Viper, Freefall, Movietown Water Effect, Musik Express, Autobahn, Medusa... yessss!!

[@metsfan5161]

The fire department was formed in 1973, beginning operation before the park opened. They were actually the first career fire department in Jackson. They are still there today, responding to fire and first aid calls on and off SFGA property.

[@nathanbonawitz6002]

I enjoy your history and analysis for each "problematic coaster." This series is one of the best for in-depth coaster content, especially for up-and-coming engineers (such as myself). Keep up the good work.

[@bradleynoe3400]

That was awesome. Very well done and enjoyable to watch. Thank you for putting that together.

[@danporter2345]

Great vid (as usual.) Have you done one on Drachen Fire yet? Because you should if you haven't. It's one of my more prized unique credits, and the one that really turned me into an enthusiast after I learned of its premature demise (I wanted to ride them all after hearing it would never open again and realizing I had what would become a rare credit as time moved forward.)

[@ElToroRyan]

I hope to cover Drachen fire next! I wanted this video to be a lead into that one

[@danporter2345]

@@ElToroRyan Sweet!! Can't wait for that one. Love your channel. You're the best!

[@alissabartozzi8013]

The scream machine was rough, but epic

[@pens6564]

Amazing video!! I'm just beggining in this world of rollercoasters and history of great theme parks! Very interessting bro!

[@darkridedan1]

I never felt GASM was “janky.” I rode it daily in 2002 during the ride’s mid-life. Riding GASM simply requiring a quick roll of the neck, which became less noticeable the more you rode it. You were essentially making a slight turn while looping. If you were riding nearby Looping Starship, keeping your neck stiff and straight would make sense. However, keeping your neck loose was the ideal way we found to ride a looping coaster. GASM was enjoyable and far smoother than most arrow multi-loopers I rode, most notably Anaconda and Vortex. I felt the transition into Medusa’s mid-course was far more rough than any transition in GASM. It would cause the harnesses to smack my head or snap my neck every time. GASM sure sent the park on a mostly right direction. Nothing was more sad than the (lack of) summer crowds in 1988. Every ride was a walk on, and we often had the walkways to ourselves. Unfortunately, far too many looping coasters followed, with Skull Mountain and Nitro breaking the mold.

[@cadesaucemusic7370]

Honestly I wish that I had the chance to ride the Great American Scream Machine; as a SFMM native with Viper as my #2 fav ride (i'd say tied w/ X2 for #1 but that's a hot take lmao), I can only imagine how fun it would feel to ride the slightly jankier transitions on Scream Machine, not to mention the even crazier transitions found on Shockwave. Arrows are a special breed and I will always dedicate time whenever visiting an amusement park to ride one lol

[@daniscool8]

How long did it take you to make this video? You put so much hard work into your videos I can’t imagine how long this took to make

[@TheKurtsPlaceChannel]

Very nicely put together video and very entertaining as well. I loved the Great American Scream Machine as well. Thanks for posting this.

[@christopherconte27]

would much rather have this back than Green Lantern. I dont care how rough and head banging SM was its 10x better than the ball breaking Lantern. Watching this vid and seeing all the old rides like Freefall, bobsled, starship, lightning loops brings me back. Loved those rides.

[@Mister_Brown]

i never get the people who complain about their balls on standups, the whole point is you should be standing up not sitting on the "seat", bend your legs a bit next time you ride one while the restraints lock and as long as you can keep standing you'll be fine and get to enjoy one of the most intense b&m coasters ever made, also the only standup with ejector airtime

[@daegaskins3340]

love your shit bruh! if you can do some Dorney Park in allentown PA joints that would be lovvveee 😅

[@samueltrayter3643]

at a certain point they shoulda just stopped opening this place on easter sunday

[@michaelchenault3774]

Another great video. Your "Problematic" series of videos are my favorite on your channel. It's interesting to see the risks and eventual mistakes the amusement park industry was willing to take back in the day. I really enjoyed this video being a fan of the old Arrow mega loopers. With Kings Island being my hometown park Vortex was always a favorite of mine as a kid/teenager. Keep up the great work with the channel!

[@MartysBetterGaming]

35:00 Shame Scream Machine isn't there anymore, because Green Lantern is usually a skip for me when I'm at Great Adventure. You mention the headbanging, but honestly, I hadn't noticed because the ride is such a pain to the family jewels.