standbyme Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Just recently I was lucky enough to have won a newspaper insert promoting the Grand Opening of the park on eBay. When I aquire something like this half of the fun is sharing it with other people who I know are just as big of nerds as I and will appreciate it! When the seller put it up the starting bid was $9.99...but he had a disclaimer stating he would end the auction early if someone wanted to make a fair offer at any time. Now as a few of the posters on here know I watch eBay pretty closely...and I had never seen one of these listed before so I wondered how high it would go. I thought about making an early offer but eventually just decided to take my chances snipping at the end. Snipping is kinda the ultimate "Catch 22". You hope to get the item as cheap as you can...but you feel like a fool when you go to the trouble of being at the computer when the auction is ending and no one else bids. In this case I was the lone fool at the computer...I got this gem (in my opinion.) for only $9.99! There is no exact date on the insert...but it was printed some time after the "soft opening" weekends. Instead of just posting scans of the whole thing at once I have broken it up into smaller segments. I have done this so that it will be easier to read...plus by stringing it out over a few days it will (hopefully) be a little more fun to comment on. With that said, here are the first few scans: The "cover page". I will probably end up framing this. Whoever wrote this did an excellent job at painting an exciting time. I love the "It's patriotism, in the good, old-fashioned way." line. Lots more to come...and since I have already read it all it seems like it was an amazing 3 days at the park! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ki4evr Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Very cool! Thanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Backlash325 Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Wow! It's not everyday you see this! Thanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CodyDL Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Totally cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markr Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 I was at the grand opening weekend on Sunday, May 27, 1972 with my dad. I was 11 years old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaptorGuy Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 That's awesome! Great memories of the good old days! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
standbyme Posted July 10, 2011 Author Share Posted July 10, 2011 That's quite a few bands! The cynic in me says that the ones from Indiana were chosen to help promote the park there...but I wonder how the one from Pennsylvania ever got on the list? "...pulling their hilarious antics"...that line is SO Hanna Barbera. In hindsight these costumes look pretty bad...especially Fred & Barney...but back then they seemed great. (The biggest Kings Island costume mistake EVER had to be Templeton the rat...that costume looked creepy!) Smooth...neat...those were the days! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldiesmann Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 I also love how she says "out here" - amazing how KI was in the middle of nowhere when it opened (my dad has said that Fields-Ertel was a narrow two-lane country road back then...). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KI FANATIC 37 Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Thats an awesome! Those look so old! Wonder what we would think if we were sent back to that time. I know I would absolutely hate it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 I didn't. I loved 1971 Coney Island of Ohio. I was absolutely livid they tore down the Shooting Star and were moving to bucolic Kings Mills. But I was easily converted once I experienced the grandeur and street theater that was Kings Island. Off with my parents and little brother I went, and we very quickly got happy! Kings Island 1972 or Kings Island 2011? Very different experiences. Even some of the original rides operated far differently back then. I wish I could go back with my family literally to 1972 and Kings Island's opening day. If only *I* could go back, though, honestly I'd give most anything to visit Coney Island of Brooklyn in the early 1900's. I'd also want to have enough of the then current currency to have a good time. Knowing my luck, I'd try to spend a modern non-silver coin and end up as a yegg in the hoosegow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BavarianBeatle Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 I would also love to travel back to a day at KI in 1972! Enchanted Voyage, Antique Cars, Tumblebug, Swan Lake, Scooby Doo, and air time on The Racer....... Oh, yes, and constitutional money!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
standbyme Posted July 11, 2011 Author Share Posted July 11, 2011 This is about the only thing in the flyer that I think the park "over sold". I have helped put up an air balloon several times...interesting yes, exciting no. I wonder if "elderly lady" was a little dissapointed when she read how she was described in the paper? (I will be taking a break for 2 days...more on Thursday.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowman Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 I want to see the "Silly Sousa Marching hobo band"! Also, I remember every character except "Mildew Wolf". What a weird name even for Hannah Barbara. Don't mees with Mildew Wolf, he'll dirty up your bathroom. Great Stuff Standbyme! Thank you for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avatar Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Standbyme I am loving this thread great find and thanks for sharing with us. About the Balloon race thing keep in mind that hot air balloons and balloon races had somewhat of public interest back then everywhere. Due to them needing to use the space between the International Restaurant and the Royal Fountain they need them to hurry the process a bit so they might as well call it a race and possibly give the crowd another reason to take interest. Below is a video my family took of one of the balloon inflation and take off back in the early days of Kings Island opening years. <iframe src="http://www.phanfare.com/embed/1009485-5016838-133033076-e045ec4e309043d8345a1eee4b2f88cd" frameborder="0" height="427" width="640"></iframe> Well Snowman here is some of those members at a bit of a reunion of sorts several years back on Saturday May 24, 2008, they played early in the day of the historical Robbie Knievel jump day. The name did change at some point to call them the Clown Band and many of those played back in 1975. <iframe src="http://www.phanfare.com/embed/1009485-1685809-26385728-ca36db522ac9377024145aeec1ca2406" frameborder="0" height="480" width="640"></iframe> notice the song they played Oh how I wish i could still walk into Kings Island and hear the sound of that band. It just started the day off in fun way. I want to share another picture that i think captures a then and now story about that band. Ok just two i could not decide. OK just one more then I will quit, but man do I MISS THIS BAND and the ATMOSPHERE they provided. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowman Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 ^ That is too crazy Avatar, thank you. How times have changed, imagine the outrage if KI booked a band to play at the entrance named, "Silly Sousa Marching homeless band"! 70's hobo band= hilarity......2011's homeless band=not so funny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
standbyme Posted July 11, 2011 Author Share Posted July 11, 2011 Avatar, Thanks SO much for adding your stuff to the thread! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dieseltech20 Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Very nice thread, thanks for sharing. Also, Stand, thanks for doing the right thing on evil bay. I hate when something I am watching ends up saying "ended early". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
standbyme Posted July 14, 2011 Author Share Posted July 14, 2011 I think this would have been great to see...markr, do you remember seeing this? I'm guessing "that" roller coaster is The Racer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
standbyme Posted July 15, 2011 Author Share Posted July 15, 2011 "Grandma Johnson's Steamboat Fried Chicken" It's hard to believe that having Kenny Rogers for Grad Night would have been considered a good thing...you would have thought there would have been a lot better choices than him/them for the "kids". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 I also love how she says "out here" - amazing how KI was in the middle of nowhere when it opened (my dad has said that Fields-Ertel was a narrow two-lane country road back then...). Also of note... McDonalds was the first fast-food joint to open anywhere near KI. It opened at Fields Ertel which was completely undeveloped at the time. I distinctly recall this McDonalds was "western themed" and the seats at many of the tables were actual saddles that kids could sit on. I recall thinking just how awesome that Mc Donalds was. (Today's coffee-laden, order it anyway you like it ,slow-food McDonalds is as non-awesome as you can get!) Shaggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
74Gibson Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 Thank you for another great thread! I love how the first pic advertises pretty girls everywhere. I wondered how much management paid rose pretty girls lol! Perhaps this has bearing on the bikini top issue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
standbyme Posted July 16, 2011 Author Share Posted July 16, 2011 Compared to some of today's thrill rides these almost seem like family rides. I SO miss Kenton's Cove Keelboat Canal! "...that Broadway show type thing." is a cute line...and the line about his wife's favorite thing to do is shop seems a bit stereotypical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIfan1980 Posted July 16, 2011 Share Posted July 16, 2011 I wonder what today's young thrill seekers would think of the "three of the most thrilling rides in the world" I only wish they had a chance to find out. Riding Bayern Kurve is one of my favorite memories of me and my parents growing up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
standbyme Posted July 17, 2011 Author Share Posted July 17, 2011 And here is the complete 3 day schedule: Notice how they describe the fireworks display slighty different each night. It is also amazing that the human fly performed 5 times. This just tells you how bad the population explosion has gotten since then...I had no idea I was 1 of only 500 kids back then. Well...that's the whole thing...hope you enjoyed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Titan Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 I wish my kindergarten class went to Kings Island. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thunderbeast1968 Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 Thank you for posting, I really enjoyed the pictures. That said, I really miss those days of yesteryear, but I do enjoy the way the park has progressed. Nowadays, I get to bring my boy to the park, and see the excitement on his face. When I was his age, my family would arrive to the park, and we started a tradition of eating LaRosa's Pizza. My favorite still, and a tradition I try to keep up. The Racer was my first major coaster that I ever rode. Still one of my favorite coasters. Flat rides, I wish Kings Island would take Coney Mall, and bring back some classic "flat rides" The Rotor, Bayern Curve, Flying Eagles(not sure of exact ride name, sorry) to name a few. I know these rides are old and hard to find, let alone, hard to maintain. I was at Kennywood, several years ago and rode Bayern Curve, it was opening weekend, we rode it first. The ride operator left us on for two complete ride cycles. I thought the ride will never end, of course we had fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowman Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Times wuz hard for human flies back then, once a day just didn't cut it. Thanks for posting all these clippings. Very cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanna Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Compared to some of today's thrill rides these almost seem like family rides. I SO miss Kenton's Cove Keelboat Canal! "...that Broadway show type thing." is a cute line...and the line about his wife's favorite thing to do is shop seems a bit stereotypical. Oh god, the shoes! I absolutely would not ride the shoes. I'd read in a Weekly World Tabloid that a cable broke in a ride in England, and killed a man. The worst fate I could think of was to die in a shoe. And a wooden shoe at that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIfan73 Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Wonder why Flying Dutchman and Zephyr spin in the opposite direction of WindSeeker... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TombRaiderFTW Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Just wondering... Does anyone know if they mean "Grennon" or "Greenon"? I know a few people who went to a "Greenon" high school in Springfield, but I've never heard of a "Grennon". Regardless, this is by far one of the coolest things I've ever seen related to KI. Thank you so much for sharing, standbyme! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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