Rock and RollerCoaster History Question

[MaxsDad]

I was fortunate enough to unknowingly stumble into a RnR soft opening in my first adult-life trip to WDW in June/July 1999. Didn't know it was back there, or what it was, just some CM motioned to us to come check out this attraction. I was blown away, as I was also fortunate enough to have walked in the alley and get into a limo without ever having seen it launch, much less know it was coming. (Sidenote: I wish it was set up that way all the time so new visitors wouldn't see launch first).

Anyway, I believe I remember seeing old "what's his name" actually go in the studio door and retrieve the Black Les Paul. I have had this memory confirmed on these boards. This has not happened in a long time, as the pre show was changed. So here is my question:

About 3 yrs ago, I was in the preshow with a large crowd. At the part of the script where the manager says something like "Well what do you want me to do?", then there is a pause. On this day, a guest in the crowd yells out, "How about some backstage passes?". Then, Steven Tyler throws up the (hand) and says something like, "Yeah, I like that idea, how 'bout some backstage passes." to the manager.

And finally, the question: Did this use to be a part of the preshow? Was there a CM or recording that yelled this out? It would almost seem that the story had to be written that way. There is a pause, followed by a reference to a statement that is never made.

I thought it was great when he did it. It is a perfect fit. And for the record, I hate it when people talk during preshows. But this just adds to the show. I was not with my family when I heard it, so I never told them about it, and did it myself one time when my wife was with me. Wife was shocked (pardon the pun). Now when we go in, she says, "Don't you say it." So I whisper it to her, but I really think the rest of the people are missing out on a part of the show. Next time you ride, listen for it, or at least listen for the void in the conversation.

 

[elisatonks]

they do sometimes have a CM in there doing the backstage pass speil you are talking of, but it depends on staffing levels for the day. (for example each attraction has positions which are always manned and other which are manned if they have the staffing.)

 

[disneydata]

This never happened as part of the official script. Cast Members are instructed not to talk over the video because it was created to be complete, but there are some who do because they think it's funny.

Also, I think the line he says is "Wait a minute, I love that idea!" where he could be just talking to himself. I'm not positive since it's been a while. Then again, if the infamous hand gesture got through WDI, they could probably get away with almost anything they wanted.

There was someone who played "Chris" the stagehand. All he would do was grab the Les Paul (which is in a locked safe backstage and is actually autographed) and take it out. This was dropped for staffing after a while and later brought back as an occational addition is staffing allowed.

 

[Rob562]

In regard to the "black Les Paul"... There used to be a physical Cast Member in the recording studio room, playing the role of "Chris" (so it could be a CM of either gender) "tidying up" after the recording session. I'm not sure how scripted their actions were as the Guests were entering, but I've only seen them once, back in 1999. THey were coiling a cable or two off to the right-hand side of the room. I've read where another CM liked to grab one of the guitars and pretend to be tuning it.

When the band member (Joe, I think?) in the booth says over the intercom "Chris, can you grab my black Les Paul?" they acknowledge them, grab the black Les from the guitar rack, and exit out through the door in the back right corner of the room.
In the video, at the same time, there's a random crew member who tells the band member "I'll get it for you". That crew member exits off the right side of the screen. A few moments later (during the backstage passes discussion, actually), they reappear on-screen with the black Les Paul and pack it up. I don't recall if the CM used to reappear in the studio without the guitar, but it was intended to look like the CM exited the studio with the guitar, handed it off to the crew member out of view, and then the crew member carried it on-screen.

The position of "Chris" didn't last long, and it was cut from the rotation fairly early on. But the request for the black Les Paul still exists, the crew member still exits off-screen and returns with it, but it's now presumed that he got it from somewhere not in the studio.


As for the backstage passes line, unless it's changed since the last time I rode, the line the manager says is "Well what do expect me to do? Send them all with you?" then Steven says "I like that idea... How about some backstage passes?".

Perhaps you were just missing hearing the "take them all with us?" part of the line, or the person you mentioned in the crowd spoke overtop of the line, and you've just never noticed it since.

Here's the video on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5sMUq5DK5Q
Now that I watch it, there *is* a brief moment of silence between the manager's line and Steven's, but I don't think it was intended for any kind of a shout-out line.

-Rob

 

[WishingOnAStar]

If Disney would allow, I'll volunteer to play Chris every other Saturday. I think that would be fun. Just have to find my leather pants....

 

[PurpleDragon]

The way I've always viewed it is the pause between when the manager says "Well what do expect me to do? Send them all with you?" and Steven Tyler saying "Wait a minute.....I love that idea", is supposed to be him pausing to contemplate the idea before suggesting backstage passes. I would just chalk it up to bad acting more than anything else.

 

[Jerm]

Then again, if the infamous hand gesture got through WDI, they could probably get away with almost anything they wanted.

As far as the infamous hand gesture, I have heard a million different things between it was a sign to his daughter to it was just what he does. You have to think in 98/99 when they were doing all this a certain "comedian" (if you want to call him that) had not even started doing the bit that made that infamous. Yes it might have been something more known by some people, but I know I had never heard or thought about it till after that bit was all the crazy a few years ago. Some people can read in dirty things to anything, but I don't think it really was anything when he did it way back when!

Also can we get Martin to give us the history of RnRc. I know the queue has changed enough times to made my head spin!

 

[stlbobby]

I think Mr. Tyler missed his cue and left an uncomfortable pause. Then when he finally remembered the conversational rhythm was lost.

That's my theory.

I have a question about his hand gesture, was the shocker the shocker in 1999? I was not aware of the meaning until the rise of Dane Cook in the mid-00's. Granted I may just have been oblivious but was it a big deal when the film was shot?

 

[Krack]

I have a question about his hand gesture, was the shocker the shocker in 1999? I was not aware of the meaning until the rise of Dane Cook in the mid-00's. Granted I may just have been oblivious but was it a big deal when the film was shot?

Long before Dane Cook (I want to say early 90s), a high school wrestling team was in trouble for hazing new kids on the team. One of the hazing techniques was referred to as "the shocker" and since it was so absurd (for a variety of reasons), it gained notoriety quickly. It was one of those news stories that was the biggest story around for a week and then fell out of the news broadcasts' flavor of the week.

 

[stlbobby]

Long before Dane Cook (I want to say early 90s), a high school wrestling team was in trouble for hazing new kids on the team. One of the hazing techniques was referred to as "the shocker" and since it was so absurd (for a variety of reasons), it gained notoriety quickly. It was one of those news stories that was the biggest story around for a week and then fell out of the news broadcasts' flavor of the week.

I missed that one. I wasn't on the internet back then, or whatever Al Gore was calling it.

I do know the Shocker has gone international. In Baghdad in 2007 kids would throw it up to us and call out its meaning as we drove by or pose for photos holding it up.

 

[rodserling27]

I, too, cannot stand when people talk during the preshow, but RnRC is the ONLY exception. I love love LOVE to say "How bout some backstage passes!" Also, I love to try and get the crowd into it by saying "YEAH,, ALRIGHT!" etc when they say "You know how much we love our fans!" and then again when their manager says "what do you expect me to do, take them with us?" or whatever. It's so much fun when people actually go along (usually late at night).

Man what a great ride...if I could only be there riiiiiight now....

 

[EpcotServo]

Yep, guests (like me) pose the question in varying degrees of loudness. Last time I was on actually, the Cast Member went over the PA and said it, making it look like Steven was agreeing with him. It's a great trick, made the show feel more real, and everyone who had been on it before laugh. It's not something they are supposed to do though.

And I wish they still did the Chris bit. What's funny is once I needed a quick cheap Halloween costume for a party at Kingdom, so I bought the RNR shirt that says "ROADIE" on the back, grabbed some cables and put on my Backstage Pass. Thought it was a simple idea, and understated, but I never thought that more than once someone would come up to me and say "It's Chris from RNR!" or "Hey Chris, could you grab my Black Les Paul!" Not what I intended, but it worked.
:lol:

 

[MaxsDad]

Thanks everyone.

I like the interactive aspects of the Chris and Passes bits. Wish we could staff for them. But I appreciate the accuracy of the responses folks. Thanks.

If you are out there somewhere, the guy that I first heard do it in August 2007 was an early twenties blonde haired dude that stood head and shoulders above everyone else in the studio. Thanks, man.

 

[loveofamouse]

I remember a CM being inside the "recording studio."

I don't remember, though, the script being the way to OP said it. I remember it the same as everyone else. The manager says something about sending them all with you. Then he says I like that. How about some backstage passes. THen she calls the limo company saying she needs a superstretch and tells the crowd it's in the alley as the band pulls off and leaves her.