Tour the Phantom Theater - 50th Anniversary Archives Kings Island

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Beginning June 4 at Kings Island, the curtain will rise once more for the Maestro and his troupe of ghoulish thespians, who are eager to show off their unearthly talents in a performance of an after-lifetime in Phantom Theater Encore, a live stage show performed in the Kings Island Theater.
Many of our guests will remember the retired Phantom Theater attraction, which operated at Kings Island from 1992 to 2002. It was one of the most popular attractions in the park’s 50-year history, giving a total of 14,133,357 rides.
Audiences of all ages will delight in this spooky, zany, whimsical production that’s filled with music, comedy and mystifying illusions. Download our free mobile app for iPhone and Android for show times.
For those that did not experience Phantom Theater during its years of operation, riders took a journey through an abandoned theater while witnessing the spirits of past performers, stagehands, and Maestro, the former star who presided over this once stately venue.
Entering the theater lobby, the taunting voice of the Maestro warned riders that they were disturbing the silence that had settled within the theater for decades. Unaware of the surprises that awaited them, guests boarded cars that carried them on a journey through hallways, dressing, rehearsal and stage areas where the Maestro would periodically reappear and reaffirm that their intrusion was disturbing the spirits of past performers that inhabited the theater.
Guests encountered the great Houdelini practicing magic tricks as he grabbed the ears of a rabbit in a hat, and this monstrous rabbit with glowing eyes appeared. Along the route, a mummy case sprung open revealing its ancient contents, and a giant rat emerged terrifying a stray cat. Meanwhile, opera singer Hilda Bovine was seen preparing for her performance, and there was the great Garbonzo climbing into a cannon from which he would be shot. In the boiler room, tenders were stoking the fire which emitted an intense heat as the cars neared the flame with one of the characters asking, “How 'bout some heat?” At the end of the ride when guests exited their cars, voices repeated Maestro’s warning that they would not be forgiven for disturbing the spirits, and they’d be back!
R&R Creative Design of Anaheim, CA was responsible for Phantom Theater’s creative concept, and AVG Inc. of Valencia, CA was the supplier of the ride’s 38 animated figures. #kingsisland #phantomtheater #KI50

[@KingsIslandPR]

Did you get to ride Phantom Theater 🎭? Be sure to come to the park and see Phantom Theater Encore in the Kings Island Theater beginning June 4!

[@christianpool]

That ride gave me nightmares I cried on it.

[@garrisonvalentinelli3867]

No thanks. I prefer the ride better.

[@nickperkins8477]

Phantom Theater was great!! It replaced The Smurfs Enchanted Voyage. While I’ll always love the Smurfs ride, I loved Phantom Theater, too.

[@nickperkins8477]

@@christianpool I sympathize with you. I know it would have given me nightmares if I had ridden it extremely young.

[@hometownsuburbangaming]

This is my favorite ride. I miss it. I miss those days when I learned to rollerblade, skateboard, ride a bike, go trick-or-treating, collect the McDonald's Halloween buckets, and going to Kings Island every autumn and summer to climb aboard the dreamlike world of the Phantom Theater. Back then I would get a park map and always head straight for the Phantom. I called it simply The Phantom. I still call it that today. I have a collage and sticker hanging on my bedroom walls currently and I don't plan on quitting collecting anytime soon. It broke my spirit when I learned the park didn't have The Phantom anymore. I am reminded of a Halloween fave movie I also grew up watching (and unto this day), The Goonies, when at the conclusion of the film Mikey Walsh gives a goodbye kiss to the infamous pirate' One Eyed Willy's ship as it drifts aimlessly towards the morning Sun. Goodbye Phantom. I will see you again one day, perhaps not now, but when I make it to the other side of all things. There, in that mysterious beyond, you will find me eating caramel apples and cheese pizza, chilling with my loved ones as we venture through that place---and you can find me there sitting in my buggy with my baby brothers, laughing and awe-afied by the spellbinding Phantom Theater on a crisp autumn day. Thanks for sharing the video and God bless.

[@lollipopsnsugarsmiles4176]

I'd give ANYTHING if this was brought back forever! I rode this ride countless times as a kid. This was the first ride my family and I rode the minute we got to the park!

[@TsukiumisGuy]

I just found out about this almost a year too late. I wish they would bring this back. It was the only Dark Ride Kings Island had.

[@landoflogic107]

I love how they made this POV a lot higher quality by using the original audio files that played during the ride. I wish theme park accounts would do this more often

[@Toonamp]

Great POV. Wished they changed Boo Hill back to Phantom Theatre. Or retheme Action Zone since it has no real theme to a spooky land that would fit with Banshee and The Bat and add an updated version of Phantom Theatre there.

[@CrabOfDoom]

This is such a great idea. There's a big year-round audience for spooky things, and tech advancements would make a new installation a better, longer-lasting move than just re-doing what was originally there. Not many (any?) parks have a whole permanent spooky-themed area, just a few stand-alone attractions. Positive that a lot of people would love it. Haunt could have a kind-of storyline, of the one time of year when the spooky leaks out into everything else.

[@jpcoasters]

That would be amazing. Action Zone just feels like an extension of the parking lot to me so a fresh theme would be great

[@ashleyd.2835]

I agree, great idea!

[@Toonamp]

I think one of the problems with action zone is there’s not much room for anything new without taking out an existing attraction. The only one that I can think of Beyond some of the haunted houses is Congo Falls. Unfortunately rides like those are kind of a dying bleed. There is also the old action theater that’s not be used for much lately.

[@SS-xs1tg]

@@Reality_a_thing Guessing you don't go to the park on weekends. I waited almost 2 hours Saturday for Banshee.

[@orangeyaglad23]

This is by far the best POV of Phantom Theater! I hope they consider bringing the ride back in some way shape or form

[@hauntsandamusements]

Yes please! I’d never say no to another spooky dark ride!

[@drliam0668]

Somebody better start a petition

[@coasterconquest]

This needs to permanently come back to the park!!! I miss this attraction so much!!! Please @kingsisland! You brought back the cars, now we need the Phantom to return!!

[@TheBrian900]

I remember riding this ride when I was 4. I was scared out of my mind, but looking back, I miss it and wish they would bring it back.

[@RomanDiaries]

Oh man, my favorite King's Island ride when I was a kid. What I wouldn't give to be able to experience this one more time.

[@NicholasBeckAlexander]

I hope this ride returns with updated scenes and in a bigger location to add even more special effects!

[@KingsIslandPR]

You’ve got to check out Phantom Theater Encore in the Kings Island Theater when it starts June 4!

[@dill_picklesvr8009]

​@@KingsIslandPR or a better way to put it Revist the phantom theater on June 4

[@kennedy8791]

@@KingsIslandPR BAE IS IT STILL GOING

[@TheRealMtnDewMike]

That line with maestro is so damn cool and has a cool vibe imo

[@kaydoubleu5802]

This video doesn't capture the best part of this ride... the banger air conditioning in the building. This thing was an oasis in the mid-day summer heat. A chilly refuge to stave off heat-stroke. This ride saved the day on so many summer days. o7

[@ahc1780]

i can’t tell you how many HUNDREDS of times i rode Phantom Theater as a kid-teen. i LOVED it. Knew every bit by heart. scooby doo and the haunted castle was a cool update at the time that it happened but it just never it the same way. 20 years later (with the rebrand of boo blaster) it’s run it course.. i’m excited to see the show but would love to have an updated version of the ride.

[@karamartin9128]

I miss this ride. It was always a must ride when we would go

[@ojaftertoothpaste7174]

Greatest ride for a kid afraid of coasters. Thanks, kings island.

[@GrumpleslamAlabaster]

Best ride to cool down on a hot summer afternoon

[@tessendicott]

WOW, this took me straight back to my childhood and a few of my teenage years before it was shut down. It was one of my favorite rides in the park because when it was hot outside, it was still freezing in that theater! 😂 It also takes me back to sitting there when the coal scene comes around and the heat blast hit you. This is great!!! I'm going to go laugh about it with my Mom later!! 😅

[@EnchantressSpiritWhisperer43]

My sister and I loved this!

[@cincinnatipedalsteel4347]

Wow this brings back some memories!!!

[@JoshuaMoore82513]

Loved this ride it's time for kings island to reimage the boo blasters and give us a phantom theater 2.0 make this happen kings island

[@classicamusementparks]

Phantom Theater was the bomb! Brand new ride when the park turned 20!

[@Mcfishmeister]

Love this and can’t wait for Encore! It’d be awesome to see an archive video featuring Adventure Express (early POVs, promo videos, etc.)

[@dill_picklesvr8009]

some say a encore will be held on June 4th

[@ben8509]

Was waiting in line at boo hill with my kids today telling them the memories I had of this ride! BRING IT BACK!!!

[@radioface3306]

Just saw the live show based on this attraction today- it was fun and I recommend you see it.

[@aaronsarchive82]

Excellent footage!!! Wish I could have seen this attraction in person. I listen to the soundtrack every Halloween.

[@Samm18447]

Looks way better than boo blasters

[@marystephensjackson7430]

It's really nice to get to see this again!!!

[@HackAttack88GVO]

I miss this ride so so so much!! Please bring it back, Kings Island!

[@RoseTintMyWorld-cr5zo]

This ride holds such a special place in my heart! It opened a few months before I was born. I was a confirmed scaredy cat as a kid and refused for the longest time to ride it, until finally one day my parents convinced me. I LOVED it and we must have ridden it at least three more times that day alone. I was around 8 or 9 at that point so sadly I didn't get to enjoy it for long. Last year for Halloween I did a costume based on the magician character and it took days to remove the blue makeup. Hoping to see Phantom Theater Encore later this summer!

[@natalieschuetz5700]

“You have come too far. You have seen too much. So says the Centurion!”

[@doctorPuffin]

That is awesome!! It would be so cool if you made this a house for Haunt but revamped it a bit!

[@KingsIslandPR]

Sounds like you’ll love Phantom Theater Encore when it opens June 4 in the Kings Island Theater!

[@doctorPuffin]

@@KingsIslandPR Im sure I will love it!

[@emonerd9795]

I miss this ride so much. I wish they'd get rid of Boo Blaster and bring this back with today's animatronic technology.

[@trealexander4808]

Bring this back!!! This was sooo under rated!

[@LibertyPrime-mc6hp]

Bring it back!

[@johnbalazy9768]

i really wish Kings Island would bring this back even as a dark flat ride

[@jackiehines6063]

Wow love this POV, never seen it this clear!! Thank you!

[@jaimelubin6497]

I miss this ride so much! This was my favorite ride at the park and definitely up there on my favorite theme park rides of all time. I loved how Phantom Theater had some nods to the Haunted Mansion but took the humor and theming in a direction that was all its own. (Plus I only just noticed how similar the music is to the Tales from the Crypt theme, another fave.) It feels like some of Kings Island's historic heart left when this ride did. I hope someday an updated version, or a ride with similar aesthetics/charm, will return to the park.

[@CrabOfDoom]

Wow, all that audio is still right there, in my memory. The statue faces may not have been working that day, but I can still hear them, too.

[@conflict7269]

My favorite ride! I miss it now

[@jwhittle91]

Oh this brings back some awesome memories!!

[@brandondavis5680]

If I had a time machine this would be the first place I would go! Sorry R.I.P. to family and friends, this is the first stop

[@magicnightalex88]

Same!

[@heatherblack9491]

Love this point of view. It's really cool to see one of the first ride throughs with the lights on. It's really neat to not have all the sound effects up to the running stage yet. I can watch this and then the version that was taken so many years later after the ride was already in operation back to back

[@lefty72486]

They missed 2 of my favorite things! 1 where the old man turning the lights on and off says "hey who turned off the lights" thought that was hilarious and 2 in the big scene behind the glass you hear the cannon go off and you can see the guys legs kicking on the other side, they didnt show them ☹️. I like the part where he says "how bout some heat" and we got blasted with heat but they did do my FAVORITE part, the ending, "So you think you escaped did you? You'll be back, you'll be back hahahah". I wish we could go back 😭

[@5MadMovieMakers]

Never knew this existed! So cool!

[@cofcoasters]

I’d love to see Kings Island bring this ride back like how Six Flags Over Texas just got R&R Creative Design to bring back the Speelunker Cave ride

[@magi-frog-films]

Thank you Kings Island! I love you! I haven’t been this excited in a long time

[@KingsIslandPR]

You’ll love Phantom Theater Encore beginning June 4 in the Kings Island Theater!

[@WillyJoeFilms]

@@KingsIslandPR NO WAY YOU REPLIED TO SOME ONES COMMENT!! :D

[@magi-frog-films]

@@KingsIslandPR I will be there!

[@WeTheCoasters]

Oh this hit me right in the childhood. I can't wait for the new show about this ride. I would do anything for this ride to return to the park!-Kyle

[@maryjoaichele5470]

Amazing footage! What an amazing theme!

[@BlackHearts194]

I miss this ride so much brings back memories

[@OfficialSteelNWoodRiders]

Can't wait to watch Phantom Theater Encore! Really miss the ride!

[@ZorchEntertainment]

Please bring this ride back.

[@OvertimeWithSDGuy]

Soooo cool!

[@Potentially-A-Person]

This music is perfect. I’ve been making music for a while and this is expertly designed. Wonderful ride.

[@Darcfoxx101]

Just saw the live show, it was really good, makes me wish this ride was brought back to it’s full glory even more! Even the employees wanted to see this dark ride get another second chance!

[@MrSportsadam]

I remember this ride bring back memory it be awesome to Ride it Again

[@briankelley9279]

Remember this ride as a kid and would be awesome if they brought it back with updated effects. I was so upset when they replaced it. This serves as my petition.

[@Invaderzimheavymetal]

The 30 year old Phantom theater has risen again after 20-year wait

[@timothykaczmarek5871]

This was such an AMAZING attraction and ride. And the Phantom Theater Encore show this past summer was THE BEST

[@BananaBreadAnimations]

This was an incredible trip!! Never was able to ride the Phantom Theater myself but I hope that someday it may make it's way back into the park. Boo Blasters certainly needs an upgrade! I'm sure I wouldn't be alone in being ecstatic to see the ride return once again!

[@TB-gp7kx]

This is the first time I have seen a good quality video of the ride.

[@TJ85234]

Please bring this back!

[@KingsIslandPR]

You’ll have to come see Phantom Theater Encore in the Kings Island Theater beginning June 4!

[@TJ85234]

@@KingsIslandPR we will be there!

[@dratelectasis]

God I loved this ride as a kid in the early 90s. I would go on it over and over again. It's missing the music though on the ride Edit: nevermind, it came on eventually

[@AmusementParkLife]

That's a great POV! I wish I could've ridden it...

[@WillyJoeFilms]

I’m scared of it I would never be able to ride that lol

[@michaelbline4881]

I remember riding this with my mom when I was real young. I still remember the ride operators laughing at me as I was screaming and crying as i exited the ride 😭

[@uss_cushing]

Bring back phantom theater would love to see it return.

[@angelakottner7560]

Bring Phantom theater back I want to see the actual ride in real life😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@djs2356]

I miss it and I wish was still there.

[@thomaskylecreative]

Awesomeness!

[@w.hattery]

I was apart of the generation that started out on The Scooby Doo ride, sorry to say Paramount was the first i knew of Kings Island.

[@TeachingTinyDisciples]

The scariest thing of my childhood 😂

[@eprohoda]

Hiya!!super- nice ~ all the best!Kings,=)

[@josuelrobles6612]

Imagine this ride comes back. I wish enchanted voyage also came back but no one watches Hanna barbera cartoons anymore 💀

[@Sonic-wq2on]

Please bring this back Kings Island!

[@WillyJoeFilms]

The thing I love and hate the most about kings island are the same thing, the screams you here while going to the entrance of the park. It makes it exciting and scary! I love kings island though I’m going tonight! 😁

[@indy6240]

Very cool :))

[@drliam0668]

Pretty sure like 50 of the Views on this video are from me watching it from so many different things, I can't help it, I love it so much, and the show was amazing too

[@nickdixon8115]

when i was a kid i feared this, idk why probably primal but now i am happy its coming back might be getting too old now. but im kinda glad this attraction is comming back

[@Hollowolfjas4014]

4:35 I seem to remember these soldier statues talking, with a dude's face projected onto theirs.. saying stuff like "you have come too far you have seen too much" in a weird voice

[@wesleydraves1281]

I’ve known about the phantom theater for a long time but now I know why boo blasters has that weird entrance

[@CynyMyny21]

When kings island was fun

[@garrisonvalentinelli3867]

“Oh no, curtain call already?” When I first saw this ride, (I wasn’t born back then) I said to myself “what if i can theme my own ride from the phantom theater” I’m making my own ride called “The Maestro Mansion”.

[@RichardJeremyPro]

My childhood 🥹

[@dananderson3077]

The footage is great, but what was the peppers ghost scene? Another question, assuming the area is still there and panes of glass....that be cool to see some pics. Your channel is doing a great job...btw I worked there 1979-1987 with a vendor....great period of time there.

[@TheRealMtnDewMike]

Kings island please bring back phantom theater

[@justme87999]

When I was a child this was my favorite ride. I would ride it over and over again with my cousin. We had the chance to ride it one more time before we left. I really had to pee. My mom told me to hold it and ride, or pee and go home. So I said I'd hold it. Halfway through the ride I peed my pants, told my cousin, and he thought I was joking. I told a worker and they didn't believe me either. So if anyone sat in a wet puddle, I apologize lol.

[@JackCraelandOthers]

I would much rather have this instead of boo blasters

[@Gagaloopony]

This ride scared me to death as a little kid lol

[@ericasutton3147]

I grew up with Scooby Doo and the Haunted Castle. I wasn’t born yet when Phantom Theater was around

[@KubatheChangeling]

Oh my gosh, I actually hated that ride when I was young. My folks drag me in here, cuz they can't leave me alone. It was pretty scary for my poor innocent self. Thank Heavens that Kings Island remodeled it, and turn it into Scooby-Doo's Haunted Castle. Cuz there is nothing scary about that. X3

[@ellieraan272]

While I'm sad that the theatere is gone and will likely never come back, I do enjoy seeing the set peices re-used during haunt. The boiler grate in slaughterhouse and the grim reaper by the calender is the Maestro's skeleton, complete with him still playing the organ. If there's anything else left of the old animatronics otherwise I'd expect they don't look good, the last time they were used as decoration during Haunt they were looking rough

[@KingsIslandPR]

You’ll have to come see Phantom Theater Encore in the Kings Island Theater beginning June 4, you may spot some recognizable props 👀

[@thecrazydisneyparksfanatic921]

I remember being scared of this as a kid

[@JeffRaye]

Best POV, this should come back to K.I.!!!

[@KingsIslandPR]

You’ve got to see Phantom Theater Encore when it opens in the Kings Island Theater June 4!

[@josephandres4390]

IM THERE

[@jacksonpriestap3685]

I see people talking about bringing back this ride, but when we gonna see Cedar Point bring back Pirate Ride?

[@HonduDan]

Yessssssss! I can't wait for the show!

[@BardTheDragonProductions]

I remember when this was themed to Scooby Doo. Planet Snoopy should be changed back to Nickelodeon. i’m not saying anything is wrong with the Snoopy land, it’s just that I found Nickelodeon theming more nostalgic

[@SGobuck]

Hannah Barbera

[@Deadsphere]

Nickelodeon is owned by Paramount, so the chances of it ever being back to that are literally zero

[@susanvaughn8234]

Was this a boat ride thru like the Smurf Ride:Enchanted Voyage? I don’t remember it at all …

[@user-mq5dr1jh5t]

0:55 Rosemary Ashe, is that you? fyi she was the original Carlotta in the original Michael Crawford phantom of the opera

[@amusementvillage]

I really wish the park would bring this Ride back,even if it was a enclosed Flat Ride' version

[@WillyJoeFilms]

The thumbnail is honestly terrifying lol

[@shaniqua.jackson]

🤣🤣🤣 I miss this! Boo blasters has nothing on this.