A Brady reunion at Kings Island
Life in show biz is, after all, a rollercoaster.
Just northeast of Cincinnati, in a town called Mason, there's an amusement park called Kings Island. Opened in 1972, Kings Island has boasted some of the best and most iconic roller coasters in the United States. The Racer, a wooden coaster that opened with the park, is widely regarded as fundamental to the rollercoaster renaissance in the 1970s. While Kings Island may not have the national profile of Busch Gardens or even Six Flags, the park is still in operation today, mainly due to its popularity, as seen in many different sitcoms and shows.
One such show, The Brady Bunch, featured an episode wherein the Brady family visits the amusement park for a day of merriment while the Brady patriarch, Mike, presents some architectural designs for a new park expansion. The designs, though, are misplaced. Hilarity, predictably, ensues. The episode, titled "The Cincinnati Kids," aired barely a year after the park opened. Not only was it an excellent entry into the continued adventures of the Brady clan, but the episode also did a great job of showcasing what made Kings Island such an incredible family destination.
Forty years after that memorable episode aired on TV, three of the original Brady Bunch cast members returned to Kings Island. In 2013, Barry Williams, Christopher Knight and Susan Olsen returned to Mason to hop aboard The Racer once again. The visit was part of a radio contest, wherein listeners were encouraged to call in and participate for the once-in-a-lifetime chance to recreate "The Cincinnati Kids" episode.
"It's been an unbelievable ride," said Barry Williams, TV's Greg Brady. "After all these years, it's still very rewarding. It's family."
Younger siblings Peter and Cindy — er, Christopher Knight and Susan Olsen — shared the sentiment.
"We're still loved," said Susan Olsen, amidst a barrage of autograph — and selfie-seekers. "And it feels good."