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King Kong Encounter

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This article is about the former Universal Studios Hollywood attraction. For other attractions, see King Kong amusement park attractions.
King Kong Encounter
Photograph from Universal Studios Hollywood's publicity department.
Universal Studios Hollywood
AreaUpper Lot, Studio Tour
StatusDestroyed
Opening dateJune 14, 1986
Closing dateJune 1, 2008 (see 2008 Universal Studios fire)
Replaced byKing Kong: 360 3-D
Ride statistics
ThemeKing Kong
Duration5
Other namesKing Kong: Kongfrontation
- King Kong: The Ride

King Kong (better known as King Kong Encounter and also known as Kongfrontation during opening and King Kong: The Ride) was an attraction formerly part of the Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles. The attraction was based on the 1976 King Kong film and served as a basis for a stand-alone Kongfrontation, a former attraction at Universal Studios Florida. The scene, located amongst the New York Street backlot sets in the heart of the studios, was destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire and was replaced by King Kong: 360 3-D, which was opened on July 1, 2010.[1]

Summary

The show began as the tour tram entered the soundstage into a world of New York City where they stopped in front of an apartment building facade. Guests watched a breaking news report about Kong's rampage on television monitors located inside of the building's windows showing live coverage of the destruction and it showed footage from ABC News, anchored by Sander Vanocur, of King Kong on the loose in the city. The giant ape was destroying the city, including throwing two elevated trains off the platforms of the rail track. New York City Police Department (NYPD) authorities could do nothing to stop him who was heading towards the Brooklyn Bridge.

A news chopper that carried reporter Kelly King (Sheree J. Wilson) was circling overhead and covering the story when Kong suddenly swatted at the chopper, causing it to come crashing down from above and exploding only a few feet away from the tram. As the tram rounded a corner, it drove out onto the Brooklyn Bridge, putting guests at eye-level with the giant animatronic ape. An NYPD helicopter fired upon Kong to protect the tram, but this enraged the beast who then shook the bridge and ripped the suspension bridge cables apart in an attempt to grab the tram. Miraculously, guests managed to escape the clutches of Kong as the tram exited the soundstage just in the nick of time.

Mechanics and inspirations

Kong animatronic's head, 2006.

The 7-ton, 30-foot-tall Kong figure in the attraction was the largest and most complex animatronic figure in existence for many years. Kong was designed by legendary Disney Imagineer Bob Gurr. The detailing was so rich that Kong even had banana-scented breath. The attraction broke new ground and paved the way for the complex themed attractions of today and was the inspiration behind the former Kongfrontation attraction at Universal Studios Florida. The Kong sequence was also featured in the film The Wizard starring Fred Savage and Christian Slater.[2]

History

Universal Studios Tour began building its $7-million, computer-controlled, 30-foot animated King Kong in December 1985 to be housed in his own lower-lot studio that duplicated Lower East Side New York.[3] The attraction opened on June 14, 1986 and was completely destroyed by a fire in the early morning of June 1, 2008.[4] As of June 3, 2008 Universal Studios Officials had stated that the experience would not be rebuilt, but would instead be replaced by a new contemporary attraction. This had caused outrage among fans of the giant ape, which prompted Universal's decision to bring Kong back to the tour in the form of an all new 3D film experience. Following the loss of Kong, the Earthquake tour scene is featured more often in Universal Studios Hollywood promotional materials and the Collapsing Bridge tour scene was reopened.

Timeline of the attraction

  • 1933 – King Kong (Merian C. Cooper) is released with Willis O’Brien as special effects chief technician.
  • 1976 – King Kong (John Guillermin) is released, and provides the inspiration for this attraction.
  • 1984 – Work starts on the attraction at Landmark Entertainment
  • October 1985 – Sequoia Creative starts work on the Kong figure.[5].
  • March 18 1986 – Attraction previews at Universal Studios, Hollywood
  • June 14th 1986 – Public opening at Universal Studios, Hollywood
  • Late 1986 – MCA (Universal’s parent company) takes control of WOR-TV in Secaucus, New Jersey and renames it WWOR-TV.
  • Early 1987 - Kelly's voice is being dubbed by Tress MacNeille
  • Feb 1st 1990 – News video footage re-made with WWOR news anchor Rolland Smith at the station's studios in Secaucus.
  • 1990 – Attraction opens as Kongfrontation at Universal Studios Florida.
  • September 8, 2002 – Kongfrontation closes in Florida to make room for their version of Revenge of the Mummy dark ride.
  • 2005 – King Kong (Peter Jackson) is released.
  • June 1 2008 – The entire King Kong attraction destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire. Only the outer walls of the show building remained. A few days later, they had been demolished too.
  • July 1, 2010 – The entire King Kong Encounter attraction was replaced with King Kong: 360 3-D.

References

  1. ^ "King Kong 360 3D Opens in Universal Studios Hollywood". 2010-06-29.
  2. ^ Dead Central Tours the Upcoming King Kong 360 3D Ride
  3. ^ Wilson, John M. (December 22, 1985). "Monkey Breath". CA-Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 35. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  4. ^ Universal Studios reopens after fire - Movies - nbcnews.com
  5. ^ "MCA INK, 1986 - King Kong by John McMasters" (PDF). thestudiotour.com. 1986.
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