Universal's King Kong exhibit destroyed in fire

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Andrew Kidd	Universal's King Kong exhibit destroyed in fire	Lead	[-]
(06/01/08 11:55 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Tags : None From the news article: UNIVERSAL CITY, California - A massive fire raged on a back lot filled with movie sets at Universal Studios early Sunday, spewing thick smoke as it devoured several buildings.... Firefighters told NBC News that the King Kong exhibit building would be a total loss.
ArmandV101		#1	[-]
(06/01/08 1:04 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Andrew Kidd wrote: From the news article: UNIVERSAL CITY, California - A massive fire raged on a back lot filled with movie sets at Universal Studios early Sunday, spewing thick smoke as it devoured several buildings.... Firefighters told NBC News that the King Kong exhibit building would be a total loss. The fire started on the KK building on the roof and it compromised the sprinkler system inside. The fire originated at the New York Street backlot. Armand's Corner of the Net Armand's Rancho del Cielo
Wich2		#2	[-]
(06/01/08 6:19 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Haven't been there in a while; is there a JACKSON Kong exhibit? Since RKO and Paramount released the two KONGS that existed when the original ride was developed, it always struck me as out of place at Uni anyway. I'm more concerned about the vault fire - though they CLAIM there were no one-ofs there. Best, -Craig W.
Count Gamula		#3	[-]
(06/02/08 6:01 PM) Burgomaster Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Universal has had some kind of partial claim on the Kong rights since releasing KING KONG VS GODZILLA and KK ESCAPES. When the '70s version was getting off the ground, for a while Universal and Paramount were competing to see who would remake it. I think one studio has the story rights and the other have remake rights to the original or something. Maybe getting to do the Universal theme park ride was some kind of trade-off for pulling the plug on their version of the movie. Kerry Gammill Last Edited By: Count Gamula 06/02/08 6:04 PM. Edited 1 times.
The Giant Arctic Cuttlefish		#4	[-]
(06/03/08 2:05 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	I think one studio has the story rights and the other have remake rights to the original or something. Maybe getting to do the Universal theme park ride was some kind of trade-off for pulling the plug on their version of the movie. Yep. According to the book King Kong History of a Movie Icon Universal's film was going to be based on the P.D King Kong novel, while Dino's Kong film was going to be an official remake. (He paid RKO $200,000 for the remake rights). In order to get Universal to drop thier Kong film, RKO, Universal and Dino De Laurentis (on behalf of Paramount) worked out a deal. -Universal postpones thier Kong film for at least 18 months. This would allow the Dino film to be the only game in town so to speak. By doing that -Universal would get 9% of Paramounts B.O take. (The film grossed just over $90 million worldwide). -RKO gave Universal some limited merchandising rights to the character. Universal capitalized on this by licencing a video game to Tiger Electronics in 1981, and opening up a Kong ride in 1986. -RKO allowed Dino to use the character for a sequel but it had to be approved by Universal. In other words they could veto any sequel plans that Dino had. This angered Dino and was one of the major reasons it took him so long to get the sequel off the ground. The sequel was eventually made 10 years later by his new company,D.E.G, as King Kong Lives. Universal agreed to the sequel because they thought it would be good promotion for thier upcoming Kong ride which was to open that year. I believe Universal and Dino even co-produced a TV special hosted by Johnathon Winters to promote the upcoming ride and King Kong Lives film.
Wich2		#5	[-]
(06/03/08 10:20 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Thanks, guys. Makes sense now. I knew of Uni's remake plans, but didn't know about the "afterburn." Best, -Craig W.
luisj40		#6	[-]
(06/03/08 3:41 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	The King Kong ride was fun it will be missed by me. Luis
Professor Von X		#7	[-]
(06/10/08 9:20 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	ANOTHER Kong ride I'll never see. Travelled from Ottawa to Florida for a holiday. The only thing I wanted to do other than golf was go to Universal to see the Kong-Frontation ride. Two hours by car, park, walk up to gate, see Kong's picture on sign, getting excited, closer... CLOSED 3 WEEKS FOR REPAIR. YAY. Professor Von X
The Giant Arctic Cuttlefish		#8	[-]
(06/10/08 3:16 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	^ Heh Heh. Well did you at least go on the Jaws ride? That one was my second favourite. But apparently that was one of the major reasons the Kong ride was closed in 2002. It was in constant need of repair, so I wouldn't be surprised if that "Closed 3 weeks for repair" sign was used alot.
Professor Von X		#9	[-]
(06/11/08 11:42 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Oh yeah, the Jaws ride. We got on it, but they started our boat WAY too soon... so we were right behind another boat and got to watch everything happen to them instead of us. Pretty silly. They sent us around again to make up for it, but the suspense was pretty much ruined. The kid who was our "Captain" was damn funny though, trying to act like he (and we) didn't know exactly what was going to happen at any given moment. In fact, the whole Universal experience was very disappointing for someone like me. Walk around a huge backlot... can't actually ENTER any of the buildings, about 6 good rides with a 1/2 hour wait to get on them... no Kong, Jaws ruined, almost no evidence of the Universal Monsters other than a little display case of some posters and lifemasks and a lame danse show aimed at 5-year olds. I was at least hoping to be able to buy rare posters, movies unavailable in Canada, etc. Got a hat. I guess I was VERY naive back then. Professor Von X Last Edited By: Professor Von X 06/11/08 11:46 AM. Edited 1 times.
SparkieGojira		#10	[-]
(06/12/08 10:01 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	So now there are no Kong attractions at any of the Universal Studio parks? Bummer... Say Mr. Cuttle-fish, any relation to The Giant Pacific Octopus from the Planet X board? www.itcamefromplanetx.com

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Universal's King Kong exhibit destroyed in fire

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