Magic City

Magic City

Magic City was an family entertainment center located in Waukegan, Illinois. It is notable among enthusiasts for being one of the few locations to host the New Rock-afire Explosion, a modernized and more technically advanced version of the original 1980's band. 

Technology: This version used smaller animatronics (nicknamed "Mijjins") and featured rotating side stages and synchronized movements patented as Dance-atronics.

Fate: After Magic City closed in 1997, its "New Rock-afire" show was relocated to Odyssey Fun World in Tinley Park, Illinois. 

The 1985 "Magic Stage" Concept: There is also a separate historical link involving a project called the Magic Stage. In November 1985, ShowBiz Pizza Place tested a concept where the Rock-afire Explosion would be rebranded simply as "Magic". 

The Theme: The stage was modified to remove the traditional nature/forest theme in favor of a magic show aesthetic.

Testing: This concept was only a prototype and was tested at a few locations, most notably in Austin and Longview, Texas, but it was never rolled out nationwide.