Wild Wild West Stunt Show

History

The original Stunt Show at Universal changed very little over the years. It was first set up by a group of three men around 1965, one of whom was actor and stuntman Stephen Smiley Burnette (pictured right). The early days of the show meant there was no arena to perform in - the stunts were performed in a roped-off area with members of the public standing and watching.

The following stills are taken (with kind permission) from Stephen Burnette's website http://www.smileyburnette.org/Actors/Stephen/Bio.html and show preparations for the show in March 1965. Stephen is wearing white trousers and Hank Colea is wearing grey trousers.

Another long-term actor on the show was James B Winburn, who played all of the characters between 1974 and 1986, and was the comedian of the show for seven years.

The stunt show amphitheatre in 1970. This appears to be in the lower section of the lot, NOT on the Upper Lot where the stunt show spent it's last years.

	The show evolved over the years into a large scale attraction with it's own outdoor venue. "Seems like there's always some kind of trouble brewin' at the "Silver Slipper" saloon. And when these cowboys start mixing it up, you'll want a ring-side seat. Because these cowboys are some of Hollywood's best stunt men, showing you just how they survive quicksand, shotgun blasts, knife fights, bottles being broken over their heads and breathtaking thirty-foot falls. It's non-stop thrills, laughs and runaway action at Universal's famous Stunt Show in the Entertainment Center."   In January 2002 the Wild Wild West Stunt Show was performed for the last time. The addition of more high-technology thrill rides and theatrical experiences meant the mix of stunts and comedy no longer fitted in at Universal Hollywood. The outdoor arena is still in place in case the mood of the times changes and the wild west is welcome once more. In the Universal City Vision Plan (December 2006) the Wild West Stunt Show venue location is shown as a "Central Park" measuring 150' x 200'. If this plan goes through, then the Wild West is gone for good.

The show was renamed many times in it's history:
The Stunt Show
The Wild West Stunt Show
The Riot Act Stunt Show
The Wild Wild West Stunt Show

The Wild West Arena as it stands today
Photo © Universal Studios Hollywood

The Wild West Show stage today
Photo © Universal Studios Hollywood

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