If you’ve ever watched the classic comedy film “National Lampoon’s Vacation”, you may remember the scene where the Griswold family rides a roller coaster at an amusement park. This scene is iconic, but did they really ride a roller coaster
First, let’s set the scene. In the movie, the Griswold family takes a cross-country road trip to visit an amusement park called Walley World.
When they arrive, they find that the park is closed for maintenance. Determined to make the best of their vacation, they break into the park and go on various rides.
One of these rides is a wooden roller coaster called “The Screaming Eagle”. In the movie, we see Clark Griswold (played by Chevy Chase) and his son Rusty (played by Anthony Michael Hall) ride this roller coaster together. They scream and yell as the coaster goes up and down steep hills and around tight turns.
So, did they really ride this roller coaster The answer is both yes and no.
On one hand, yes, they did ride a roller coaster. However, it wasn’t actually “The Screaming Eagle”.
In fact, “The Screaming Eagle” is not even located at Walley World (which was actually filmed at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California). The coaster that was used in filming was actually a wooden coaster called “The Coney Island Cyclone” located in Brooklyn, New York.
On the other hand, no, Chevy Chase and Anthony Michael Hall did not actually ride this roller coaster during filming. Instead, their scenes were filmed using green screen technology. This means that they sat on a stationary platform while footage of “The Coney Island Cyclone” was projected behind them.
Despite not actually riding a roller coaster during filming, Chase and Hall’s performances are still memorable and entertaining. Their screams and reactions to the coaster’s twists and turns are part of what makes this scene so iconic.
In conclusion, while it may not have been “The Screaming Eagle” and they may not have actually ridden the coaster, the Griswold family did experience the thrill of a roller coaster in “National Lampoon’s Vacation”. This classic scene is a testament to the power of film and the enduring legacy of Chevy Chase’s comedic talent.