🦍 BEFORE CGI, THERE WAS THIS KONG! In 1986, Universal Studios Hollywood unleashed a 30-foot-tall, seven-ton animatronic King Kong on unsuspecting Studio Tour guests! The $7 million attraction featured a collapsing helicopter, explosive fire effects, a shaking Brooklyn Bridge, and even banana-scented Kong breath. 🍌 For nearly 22 years, King Kong Encounter was one of the most unforgettable experiences on the Studio Tour, until the attraction was destroyed in the 2008 backlot fire. 🎥 This archival footage comes from a 1989 Adventures in Entertainment production by VideoTours, Inc., offering a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the original attraction. A remarkable achievement in practical effects and themed entertainment engineering. 💬 Did you ever encounter the ORIGINAL Kong? 📼 More Than Memories. Preserving Theme Park History. #KingKong #KingKongEncounter #UniversalStudiosHollywood #StudioTour #ThemeParkHistory @unistudios