122. Seth Porges, Writer and Co-Director of Class Action Park

A poster for the documentary Class Action Park, currently streaming on HBO Max.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

I grew up in the ’80s, and it was a different experience compared to what it’s like for kids now. We rode our bikes all over the city, explored foundations of houses under construction, and had few boundaries. Playgrounds were dangerous injury makers of concrete and metal. That environment sets the backdrop for the documentary Class Action Park, written and co-directed by Seth Porges.

Seth is my guest on this episode of The Tomorrow Society Podcast to talk about the highly entertainment movie and a lot more. Action Park had basically no rules and promised a wilder experience. Located in Vernon, New Jersey, it has built a reputation as the most insane park ever built. In the documentary, Seth looks back at the crazy water slides and other attractions in Action Park. He talks to both employees and guests that were brave enough to take on the dangerous experiences.

What makes Class Action Park more than just nostalgia is the tragic other side of the story. People actually died because the rides weren’t safe, and the community turned a blind eye. Seth talks about balancing the fun with the sad stories of Action Park. He’s also a big theme park fan, and we close the episode by talking about what excites him the industry. I really enjoyed talking with Seth and hope to have him back on the podcast in the future.