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Kings Island's Shows and Entertainment
- Before the Paramount Story became known as that, it was know as “Tower Gardens.” Prior to that, it was home to the Kings Island Theater, which was a large air filled balloon building. It was the home to an elaborate Sid and Marty Kroft marionette puppet show.
- In the early 1980`s the American Heritage Music Hall was home to a show called “Celebration.” The show featured a live orchestra, a cast of nearly 30 and elaborate automated scenes. Firestone sponsored the show, which drew capacity crowds. The park kept the show for several seasons and even had the cast record it on a LP, which was sold in the park.
- Several celebrities have worked at Kings Island. Carmen Electra of Baywatch was a dancer in a magic show in the early 1990`s. Two members of the band “98 Degrees” were part of a quartet that mingled through the park in the mid-90`s. Ironically, the two were fired by the park.
- Next to the International Showplace used to be an aqua arena/dolphin show, which was known as “Saltwater Circus.”
- 1982 shows included: “Celebration” and “City Rhythm” in the American Heritage Music Hall. “Encore!” and “I believe in Country” in the International Showplace. Also, the “Kings of Komedy,” better known as the Kings Island Clown band paraded around International Street.
- 1983 shows included: “Celebration” and “Rock `N Roll Explosion” in the American Heritage Music Hall. “In concert `83” and “Play Me That Country Music” in the International Showplace and “World Cabaret” in the new Festhaus. Also, the “Kings of Komedy,” better known as the Kings Island Clown band paraded around International Street.
- 1984 shows included: “Gotta Dance” and “Rock `N Roll Explosion” in the American Heritage Music Hall. “In Concert `84,” “The Smurf`s Are Here” and “Country Music Showdown” in the International Showplace. “The Good Old Days Are Back Again” in the Festhaus. Also, the “Kings of Komedy,” better known as the Kings Island Clown band paraded around International Street.
- 1985 shows included: “Gotta Dance” and “Rock `N Roll Explosion” in the American Heritage Music Hall. “Breakaway,” “Song of the Smurfs” and “Cross Country” in the International Showplace. The Festhaus featured “Wunderbar” and “Woodchoppers Ball Revue.” Also, the “Kings of Komedy,” better known as the Kings Island Clown band paraded around International Street.
- 1986 shows included: “Fascinating Rhythm” in the American Heritage Music Hall. The Festhaus featured “Wunderbar” and “Woodchoppers Ball Revue.” “The Curse of Gargamel,” “Breakaway II” and “Deep in the Heart of Country” were showcased in the International Showplace. Also, the “Kings of Komedy,” better known as the Kings Island Clown band paraded around International Street.
- 1987 shows included: “Fantasy” in the American Heritage Music Hall was a musical and dance show. The International Showplace had “Yogi`s Funtastic Machine,” “In Concert `87,” and “Sweet Country Music.” The Festhaus was home to the first ice skating show in park history, “Hot Ice.” And the Kings of Komedy, better known as the Kings Island clown band, paraded around International Street with their crazy antics and music.
- 1992 shows included: The show in the Festhaus was an ice-skating show entitled “Reflections on Ice.” In the American Heritage Music Hall (now the Paramount Theater) “Escapades” was the show, a dance extravaganza.
- 1993 shows included “Lazer Zone: Mission Impossible” in the Paramount Theater.
- 1994 shows included “Game On” in the Festhaus. “Paramount on Ice: Lights Camera Action” and “The Lazer Zone: Time Warp” both in the Paramount Theater
- Shows in 1995 included “Cheers: The Show” in the Festhaus and “Paramount on Ice: Legends” in the Paramount Theater.
- Shows in 2004 included “Graveyard Shift” and the Nickelodeon Celebration Parade debuted.
- Shows in 2005 included “School of Rock: Live in Concert” and the Nickelodeon Celebration Parade returned.
- Shows in 2006 included “School of Rock: Live in Concert” and “MonsterBash” during FearFest.” Also, the Nickelodeon Celebration Parade returned to the park for its third season.
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Comments
Paramount Theater: "Jump, Jive, and Wail" a swing reveue show.
Action Zone Sunt Tower: Action Zone Stunt show. It was a good show but cloged up all of Action Zone.
International Showplace: The animal show. With a live lion and tigger. The female tiger had cubs during the summer.
Back Porch: "Country Karaoke"
Nickelodeon Stage: Kids participaton show that was messy.
Enchanted Theater: Scooby-doo show that took place in a malt shop.
Bandstand: A show that had three or four girls doing a pop revue
It would be great if someone arranged a reunion for all of the folks from the Entertainment Department in the past.
In 1983, the members of the International Showplace Band, plus a few extra musicians and with Rob Pottorf from the IC83 cast as M.C., performed as "The Kings Of Swing" in the FestHaus, usually two nights a week, playing big band music from the 1940s.
Also, one of the two years, we played a Smurf show twice a day (I think it was 1983), but I can't recall the show's name. I recall the stage manager getting exasperated with the cast because they kept saying "The Smurves" instead of "The Smurfs" during the show.
Shout out also to all of the atmo performers, Star Trek actors, the Clown Band, the Characters and guardettes, and everyone else who made the Entertainment department so much fun to work in!
Anyone remember the name of the variety show the department put on for the employees for a couple of years?
Hope you check back to find this post.
I miss the bees and marigold's in the old moat at Showplace. I'm starting to post some old 80s character show pics on Facebook.
To fill in some blanks
Character Shows:
1981 (my first year): Grin and Bear It at Showplace
1982: Yogi's Picnic on HB stage?
1983-1985 (i was working at Disney)
1983: The Smurf's are Here at Showplace
1984: Character show on HB stage?
1985: Yogi's Picnic on HB stage?
1986: The Curse of Gargamel at Showplace
1986: Scooby's Winter Wonderland at American Heritage
1987: Yogi's Funtastic Machine at Showplace
1987: Scooby's Winter Wonderland at American Heritage
1988: Yogi's Great Election at Show Place.
1988: Scooby's Winter Wonderland at American Heritage
1989: Scooby's School Daze at Showplace.
1990: Scooby's Raiders of the Lost Bark at Showplace
cassini@cinci.rr ...
1988 featured Live at the Palace in Heritage Hall, Brand New Beat, Rock Around the Clock, and Yogi's Great Election in Showplace, Summer Rhythms on the Bandstand, and Red Hot 'n Ice in Festhaus.
1989 had Dancin' in the City and Sea Dream in Heritage Hall, The Heart of Rock & Roll, Scooby's School Daze, and Surf's Up in Showplace, Summer Rhythms on the Bandstand, and Fire and Ice in Festhaus.
In 1990: It's Magic was in Heritage Hall, Hot Hits, Scooby Doo and the Lost Bark, and Back to Country were in Showplace, Summer Rhythms was on the Bandstand, and Ice Adventure was featured in Festhaus.
1991: Superstars was in Heritage Hall, In Concert "91, Bedrock All Stars, and American Country appeared in the Showplace, Summer Rhythms was still on the bandstand, and Broadway on Ice was featured in Festhaus.
1992: Escapade was in Heritage Hall, Rock On and Country Livin' were in Showplace, Reflections on Ice showed in Festhaus, Summer Rhythms was still on the bandstand, and Hollyrock Squares and Yogi's Summer Olympics were presented in the new Enchanted Theater, built within the building that once housed the Smurf's Enchanted Voyage Ride.
Prior to the show an announcement was made, "In case of sudden loss of air pressure, lie on your back and blow at the ceiling. Thank you."