The original Stunt Show at Universal Studios Hollywood saw minimal changes over the years. It was initiated around 1964 by a trio of men, including actor and stuntman Stephen "Smiley" Burnette. Initially, the stunts were performed in a simple roped-off area with the public standing to watch, as no designated arena existed.
James B. Winburn, another long-term performer, played all characters from 1974 to 1986 and served as the show's comedian for seven years.
The show gradually evolved into a large-scale attraction with its own outdoor venue. A classic description of the show captures its essence: “Trouble always seems to be brewing at the 'Silver Slipper' saloon. When these cowboys mix it up, you’ll want a front-row seat to watch Hollywood’s best stuntmen navigate quicksand, shotgun blasts, knife fights, bottles breaking over their heads, and thrilling thirty-foot falls. It’s non-stop excitement, laughter, and action at Universal’s famous Stunt Show.”
Samir Kamoun portrayed Charlie Chaplin for many years, delighting audiences as they entered the arena.
In mid-June 1990, the Universal Studios Riot Act Stunt Show debuted, featuring stunt performer Robin Brown as Brett Taylor. Brown also appeared in "The Adventures of Conan" as Kobal Shaw. Following the LA Riots in April 1992, the show was renamed "The Wild, Wild, Wild West Stunt Show."
By January 2002, "The Wild, Wild, Wild West Stunt Show" was performed for the last time. The rise of high-tech thrill rides and theatrical experiences at Universal Studios Hollywood rendered the mix of stunts and comedy obsolete.
Starting in 1999, "The Wild, Wild, Wild West Stunt Show" was billed as the most daring live stunt show, highlighting some of film history’s most dangerous and memorable feats. With Hal Needham of "Smokey and the Bandit" fame as a consultant and Hollywood’s finest stunt performers and horses, the 15-minute action-comedy featured over 100 stunts, including shattering buildings, thunderous gunfights, whirlwind fistfights, crackling bullwhips, breathtaking horseplay, and an explosive finale.
Set in a fictional one-horse town, the show starred Ma Hopper and her sons Cole and Clod, who were determined to prove their stunt skills superior to those of the Universal Western Stunt Team. One notable stunt, the "plank high fall," involved a stuntman hurling himself off a three-story building into sheets of knotty pine wood, replicating a stunt from the early 1900s.
Glenn Randall Sr. and his son Corky, renowned Hollywood trainers whose credits include "Ben Hur," "The Black Stallion," "Silverado," and "Paint Your Wagon," rigorously trained the show's horses. Corky also trained Roy Rogers’ famed sidekick, Trigger.
Unlike daredevils, stunt performers are trained professionals who perform daring acts in films or on television as a career.
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Video footage shot on location at ‪@universalstudioshollywood‬ on June 23, 2024
John Forsythe is seen in this video.
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