Southtown Star from Tinley Park, Illinois • 32

THESTAR. ular music shows in the outdoor amphitheater, International Showplace, which was dedicated by comedian Dick Van Dyke in 1978. In the 1980 season, Kings Islands entertainment and attractions department offered such talented roving performers as mimes, magicians, ventriloquists, jugglers and bluegrass musicians, for the first time. Park patrons were so enthusiastic about them they will return in '82. Other entertainment offerings in the last decade have included a lively dolphin sea lion show, an air show with precision skydiving, the popular Clown band, appearances by the Hanna-Barbera characters, special concerts by celebrity performers, and colorful nightly fireworks.

Although the six theme areas of Kings Island have constantly been upgraded through the years, 1982 will see a major renovation and expansion of Hanna-Barbera Land for children, emphasizing kids participation with their parents and grandparents in a host of fun, fantasy attractions. THE NEW AREA will include such delightful additions as a tilt house challenging equilibriums, a giant Tinkertoy-like structure for climbing, an animated tree full of puppets, a Sunday, April 18, 1982 11 fountain with dancing water children can control, and a Hanna-Barbera carousel. The expansion of the area helps celebrate the 25th anniversary of Hanna-Barbera, creators of the marvelous cartoon characters like Scooby Doo and Yogi Bear that have become endeared to youngsters everywhere. A major change in the appearance of International street will take place In 1982 as well. This expansive, magnificent theme area greets Kings Island visitors as they enter the main gate.

In the new season, International street will resemble a spacious European plaza, with stone pavements, concrete seat walls, ornate decorative fencing, numerous shade trees, and beautiful plantings. The interiors of the many shops on International street will be completely renovated and the Spanish building will include a new tobacco emporium. Park souvenirs will also be expanded and many will bear a colorful new rainbow logo. Ten years have passed since the opening of Kings Island, and today it still remains a truly magical palace, where young and old can share total family entertainment together. Kings Island will open to the public on Sun day, April 25.

Daily operation begins Memorial day and continues through Labor day. King's Island i Continued from Page 8) years later, Wild Animal Safari, a 100-acre wildlife preserve where animals roam freely and visitors look from monorail trains. Hundreds of animals from Africa, Asia and North America have fohnd a new home on the preserve and many have reproduced. In the past 10 years, the attractions at Kings Island have multiplied; particularly the thrill rides, which has earned Kings Island the reputation as the roller-coaster innovators in the country. Originally there were two roller coasters; the Racer, the first twin-track wooden coaster in America (which is credited with starting the coaster revolution in the U.S.), and the tamer childrens ride, Scooby Doo (now called Beastie).

IN 1977, the park introduced a steel coaster, the Screamin Demon, the first looping ride in which the train traveled both forwards and backwards. It was in 1979 all records for single track wooden coaster were broken with the introduction of The Beast, designed and constructed by the Kings Island maintenance and rides departments. This awesome coaster covered 35-densely wooded acres in the Rivertown area of the park. It boasted a track, the two longest vertical hills in the world 135 and 141 feet and a breathtaking speed of 64.77 miles per hour. A ride on The Beast lasted four minutes.

Currently the coaster is listed in the 1982 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records as the highest, longest, fastest coaster anywhere. The most recent thrill ride to join Kings Islands continuing list of firsts in coaster history is The Bat, a suspended steel ride designed by ArrowHuss of Scotts Valley, and was introduced in 1981. The tracks are overhead on The Bat and a ride lasts two minutes, at 35 miles per hour. It has no counterpart anywhere in the world. Although Kings Island has always offered a variety of live shows, the parks first permanent theater, the $2 million American Heritage Music hall, opened in 1976, the same year as Americas Bicentennial celebration.

Each season since, major musical productions have been presented there, and 1982 will be no exception. The 10th anniversary at Kings Island will feature an original show entitled Celebration, highlighting some of the best segments from former shows and a spectacular audio-visual presentation about Cincinnati. IN ADDITION, there will be country and pop- v-aicu at uic TWII UIJ VI New Picnic grove at Great America Six Flags i Continued from Page 10 English section, dubbed Britannia Square. This one-and-a-half-acre additions centerpiece is a spinning topsy-turvy thrill ride called the Highland Fling. The 250-foot-tall Sky Chuter was the new addition in 1978.

The parachute drop ride is the worlds tallest thrill ride. During the 10th birthday of the parks development, Six Flags opened JetScream, a single-loop coaster which introduced the second generation of excitement born out of the Screamin Eagle. NUMEROUS restaurants are conveniently lo- becue to pizza are served, as well as such all-American staples as hot dogs, hamburgers and ice cream. The park is a three seasons place. The park's spring, summer and fall operations are continuously reflected in the work of their landscape experts.

Floral and landscape displays of every shape and size create a storybook beauty throughout. More than 2,000 hosts and hostesses are employed by Six Flags during their 140 days of operation, each a high school or college student whose sole job is to provide park guests with one thing quality family entertainment. variety of tempting side dishes, such as potato salad, corn on the cob and baked beans, are included with the picnic feast. To add to the fun, Great America supplies all the equipment and the space needed for volleyball and horseshoe games. The Great America picnic grove package features reduced admission to the park and full enjoyment of Great Americas 130 rides, shows and attractions, as well as use of the picnic grove.

For resevations and further information on the Great America picnic grove package, contact the Region Sales Office, Marriotts Great America, P.O. Box 1776, Gurnee, 111., 60031 or call 244-8100. Marriotts Great America has announced the addition of the new Great America picnic grove, a large, landscaped addition to the park where groups from 100 to more than 3,000 can have a picnic meal. The new picnic grove, with entrances located in the Yankee Harbor and Yukon Territory themed areas, offers groups visiting Great America an exclusive meeting place for fun, games and togetherness while their special picnic meal is prepared for them. Groups may select their meal from an extensive menu of picnic favorites, featuring everything from a hamburger and hot dog combination for under $4, to all the juicy barbecued steaks you can eat for under $13.

A NOW MORE THM EVER VOUR BEST VALUE TO EUROPE ffladelyn (Tlerwln Remembering her on mothers dog Its not too early to think about Mothers day shopping and you might ask, What does Mothers day shopping have to do with a travel column? Well, it so happens these gift suggestions are travel oriented they are also expensive. But because Mom is worth a million, I felt $50,000 more or less shouldnt stand in the way, so here are the ultimate fantasy trips for Mothers day. A chance to break the bank at Monte Carlo. A pledge to give the Casino $50,000 worth of action will result in a trip for Mom on Air Frances Concorde, lavish wining and dining and a chance to hobnob with royalty in return. A family outing on the Orient Express.

The family that plays together, stays together, or so they say. New Orient Express program from Paris to Istanbul for two adults and children, including air fare from New York, is only $44,816. Daily caviar by the spoonful. For mothers with an epicurean bent, a daily two-and-a-half ounce dose of Russian Beluga might be just what the doctor ordered and thats only $28,845 a year. A two-carat flawless diamond (so easy io gift wrap).

Diamonds are such a good buy nowadays that for a mere $49,000 you can give Mom a girls best friend. Take back your mink. If youre cutting corners and your budgets down to $35,000, you can still pick Up a simple little fisher fur coat to keep Mom warm in style. Neatness coants. Let Mother be the first woman on the block to have a 24-carat gold-plated wash basin.

Throw in a set of Louis XV faucets to round out this bonanza. Her mm in fights on Broadway. Although pro- R0UNDTRIP FROM CHICAGO during a Broadway play for Mom is possibly too pretentious, getting her name up in lights is quite affordable. A 30-second animation in lights over Times Square is a bargain at $2,500. Thats it, folks, and all the prices have been verified by Jean Patou, the designer who makes the costliest perfume in the world.

These suggestions came from Patou who has one more to offer Patous Joy in a hand-cut Baccarat crystal flagon for that special day. The cost; $400 an ounce, but then we Moms are worth it AMERICAN AIRLINES will introduce daily nonstop 727 service between Chicago and Denver on April 25 with the morning, midday and late afternoon pattern favored by most business travelers. Also on April 25, American will add a round-trip flight in the Chicago-LaGuardia market. The new flight will allow American to resume nonstop service on the route every hour on the hour between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.

to New York and between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. to Chicago. Theres also a 6:30 a.m. nonstop in each direction.

Two more flights will be added on April 25 when American offers one round-trip flight between Chicago and Indianapolis and Chicago and Syracuse. AIR FRANCE is now offering the lowest airfare available on nonstop flights between Chicago and Paris $778 valid for stays from 14 days to two months and eligible for any of the airline's 747 flights from OHare and Paris new express air terminal, Charles de Gaulle 2. There are no advance purchase requirements. The fare from May 15 through September 14 (high season) will be $876. All Apex fares.

April 1-May 14. 1982. 7-90 day slay (7 60 days Luxembourg). Stopovers permitted in both directions. 14 day advance purchase required.

Seats limited. Ask about our other low cost Normal and Group Fares, too. Icelandair from Chicago to Luxembourg. Luxairor Crossair connecting service to other destinations. Also low cost roundtrfp service to; Zurich $599, Nice $674, Amsterdam $557 Same day one way confirmed reservation; Luxembourg $239, Paris $259.

Frankfurt $219 Besides bargain fares, Icelandair gives you all this: Confirmed reservation. Free wine with dinner, cognac after. Bargain stopover tours of Iceland and Luxembourg. Bargain car rentals from $99week in Luxembourg. Free bus service from Luxembourg to Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Cologne, Bitburg, Mannheim and Wuppertal, Germany and starting May 1 to Kehl, Germany and Basel and Zurich, Switzerland.

Purchase tickets in (7. S. All fares subject to change and government approval. See your travel agent or call 1 800223-5390 for Icelandair reservations. ICELANDAIR NOW MORI THAN (VR YOUR BUT VALUt TO IUR0PI.