First off, let me say that I know the quality of these pictures leave a LOT to be desired. I have been "sitting on these" for about 4 years and decided that I might as well share them because as bad as they are I haven't seen some of the things pictured in them posted yet. I purchased these on Ebay. When I received them I was dissapointed in the quality, and out of about 40-50 slides that I received, these were the only "tolerable" ones. Anyway, with that said, here are some photos that were supposedly taken in 1974. (I hope you get a little enjoyment out of them.)

http://www.putfile.com/standbyme/images/133163

Great pics, thanks for sharing.

I agree, I thought they were really good.

Thanks so much for posting...kinda nice to go back in time once in a while The quality is not as bad as I thought....surprisingly, that is the type of quality of most of the pics I have from that era (not of KI but vacations in general).

Brings Back Memories.

Its always great to see how much the park has grown over the years.

I don't think the quality was that bad at all. I really enjoyed looking at them. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Yep, they were great...and yes, they bring back memories.

The International Resturaunt was open year round? Wow kindof a cool idea to eat over everything in the dead of winter or right before the park was about to open.

Yep...it was. And at one time, it did quite a healthy business the year around.

It was actually a VERY good restaurant, especially before Paramount came on the scene.

Actually, ALL the food in the park was much, much better prior to Paramount. It seemed there was little they couldn't do a little cheaper, while charging more. From freshly made funnel cakes becoming frozen, to fresh made fries also becoming frozen, to chargrill burgers disappearing, to outside grilled meats going bye-bye, it seemed all that happened on the food service scene during the Paramount days was cost cutting.

Sigh.

Do you guys remember when Kings Island had Pasquale's Pizza?

Yep...it was. And at one time, it did quite a healthy business the year around.

It was actually a VERY good restaurant, especially before Paramount came on the scene.

Actually, ALL the food in the park was much, much better prior to Paramount. It seemed there was little they couldn't do a little cheaper, while charging more. From freshly made funnel cakes becoming frozen, to fresh made fries also becoming frozen, to chargrill burgers disappearing, to outside grilled meats going bye-bye, it seemed all that happened on the food service scene during the Paramount days was cost cutting.

Sigh.

IR in the off season was quite nice. Yes, they always did do a hopping business.

Pre-Paramount there was quite a pride that was taken in the food.

Bakery had actual bakers that would come in at 5am to start making desserts and pasteries for the Bakery and for all the restaurants through out the park. Commisary prepared everything from fresh fruit, to straberry's, to corn dog batter, to lemon quench.

Very little food was pre-packaged and even less was frozen.

Them were the days.

Maybe we'll get em back.

Thanks a lot for posting...

IR in the off season was quite nice. Yes, they always did do a hopping business.

Pre-Paramount there was quite a pride that was taken in the food.

Bakery had actual bakers that would come in at 5am to start making desserts and pasteries for the Bakery and for all the restaurants through out the park. Commisary prepared everything from fresh fruit, to straberry's, to corn dog batter, to lemon quench.

Very little food was pre-packaged and even less was frozen.

Them were the days.

Maybe we'll get em back.

Unfortunately, not if CF's food service in all their other parks in any indication. (Although, hand-dipped corn dogs have made a return at KI, so I'll give them props for that...)

I think the best food at any park chain is Busch. The food at Busch Gardens and Seaworld is pretty good, but the meals I had at Discovery Cove were hands down the best food I've ever had in any park.

Fantastic!

Always good to see these kind of pics no matter the quality. I am always interested in early KI photos. Since we can't have those quality days back its like getting a few fleeting pieces to the puzzle.

how much did they cost, on ebay?

When I bought these 4 years ago it was not as common for a person to be able to scan a slide, so I bought them "blind". The auction just said something like 50 amateur slides of Kings Island 1974. By the time shipping was added I paid about $30.00 for them...I wasn't the only "fool" who was bidding!

By the way, I tried for another batch of early amateur slides about 2 weeks ago on Ebay. (They were REALLY nice looking judging by the samples that they showed.) I was outbid at around $40.00 I was wondering, did anyone who posts here win those?

IR in the off season was quite nice. Yes, they always did do a hopping business.

Pre-Paramount there was quite a pride that was taken in the food.

Bakery had actual bakers that would come in at 5am to start making desserts and pasteries for the Bakery and for all the restaurants through out the park. Commisary prepared everything from fresh fruit, to straberry's, to corn dog batter, to lemon quench.

Very little food was pre-packaged and even less was frozen.

Them were the days.

Maybe we'll get em back.

Unfortunately, not if CF's food service in all their other parks in any indication. (Although, hand-dipped corn dogs have made a return at KI, so I'll give them props for that...)

I think the best food at any park chain is Busch. The food at Busch Gardens and Seaworld is pretty good, but the meals I had at Discovery Cove were hands down the best food I've ever had in any park.

I'm sure I've probably posted it before, but the Busch parks are why we have Festhaus at Kings Island. The Busch parks use their Festhaus to regulate food service operations based upon attendance. ie - They can close any given stand in the park based upon attendance and still have every product the park has to offer in the Festhaus.

Kings Island used a modified version of this, but it was still sucessful.

When Festhaus opened - It instantly competed with the profits of Bier Gardens, Pot Works, Columbia Palace and Burger Bistro.

and Woofer... if I am not mistaken, the Festhaus is near-exact to a simlar building at Busch Gardens Williamsburg... or Europe (whatever they are calling it).

and Woofer... if I am not mistaken, the Festhaus is near-exact to a simlar building at Busch Gardens Williamsburg... or Europe (whatever they are calling it).

And actually the kitchens in the Festhaus Europa and Festhaus Kings Island are almost identicle.

The only difference is that Europa runs a good deal of their commisary out of Festhaus as well.

Whereas the "Festhaus" concept works well thematically at BGE and KI, I always wondered why they went with that theme at BGT (or, BGA I guess it is now...) Seems like the same practical concept with a "Casablanca Market" theme (or similar) would fit into that park better.

A nit-picky criticism, I realize...

Whereas the "Festhaus" concept works well thematically at BGE and KI, I always wondered why they went with that theme at BGT (or, BGA I guess it is now...) Seems like the same practical concept with a "Casablanca Market" theme (or similar) would fit into that park better.

A nit-picky criticism, I realize...

That's a criticizim that BGA has heard a lot.

I suppose it's because there were so many different colonies in Africa that they felt they could get away with the same theme.

Ya just ain't lived until ya spent an hour before closing time flipping benches in Festhaus or turning chairs in Columbia Palace.

been there, done that.

When I bought these 4 years ago it was not as common for a person to be able to scan a slide, so I bought them "blind". The auction just said something like 50 amateur slides of Kings Island 1974. By the time shipping was added I paid about $30.00 for them...I wasn't the only "fool" who was bidding!

By the way, I tried for another batch of early amateur slides about 2 weeks ago on Ebay. (They were REALLY nice looking judging by the samples that they showed.) I was outbid at around $40.00 I was wondering, did anyone who posts here win those?

I bid on these slides as well- and lost.

Yep...it was. And at one time, it did quite a healthy business the year around.

It was actually a VERY good restaurant, especially before Paramount came on the scene.

Actually, ALL the food in the park was much, much better prior to Paramount. It seemed there was little they couldn't do a little cheaper, while charging more. From freshly made funnel cakes becoming frozen, to fresh made fries also becoming frozen, to chargrill burgers disappearing, to outside grilled meats going bye-bye, it seemed all that happened on the food service scene during the Paramount days was cost cutting.

Sigh.

IR in the off season was quite nice. Yes, they always did do a hopping business.

Pre-Paramount there was quite a pride that was taken in the food.

Bakery had actual bakers that would come in at 5am to start making desserts and pasteries for the Bakery and for all the restaurants through out the park. Commisary prepared everything from fresh fruit, to straberry's, to corn dog batter, to lemon quench.

Very little food was pre-packaged and even less was frozen.

Them were the days.

Maybe we'll get em back.

was it as expensive $$

was it as expensive $$

Funny, how KECO used to do it was that they based prices to be comparable with what certain meals would be set at local restaurants.

I bid on these slides as well- and lost.

I notice that you use The Enchanted Voyage as your avatar. In the auction that we are talking about, the picture that they showed of The Enchanted Voyage was the main reason I wanted those slides...it really brought back memories seeing how you waited in line to board the boats, I had forgotten just how it was after all these years. I hope whoever did win them will put them on the internet someday.

I bid on these slides as well- and lost.

I notice that you use The Enchanted Voyage as your avatar. In the auction that we are talking about, the picture that they showed of The Enchanted Voyage was the main reason I wanted those slides...it really brought back memories seeing how you waited in line to board the boats, I had forgotten just how it was after all these years. I hope whoever did win them will put them on the internet someday.

That is why I bid on them as well.

I hope to some day find footage (sound preferably) from the begining of the ride to the end. There is a clip on YouTube that shows E.V. but it is barely watchable- hard to make things out. The song exists here.

The youtube clips are

,

, and

.