The Forum Amphitheater was added to the Europa section of the park as one of the park's first expansion projects in its second season, 1974. Designed by Randall Duell & Associates, and constructed by J.E. Dunn (the same two companies responsible for the design and building of the park the year before) The Forum was designed to seat 4,100 spectators, along with additional grass seating on the hillside behind it. The Forum would host innumerable concerts over its over two decades hosting the concert series, a partial listing of concerts and performers can be found below. A common question that is asked is why the Concert Series was discontinued. Though it is not entirely known why a partial answer is that when Mamba was built it became virtually impossible to bring the larger concert buses and rigs to the theater. The Forum is still an existing attraction at Worlds of Fun, however it was re-named from Forum to Heart of America Theater in 1999 due to the addition of Coasters Diner. Over the last two decades it has been used for various other shows including such as the Summer Spectacular from 1997 until 2002, an attempted re-boot of the concert series in 2008 and 2009 and All Wheel Sports in 2014 and 2015. Forum Concert Series(incomplete) Schedule from 1974 - 1997This schedule is mostly complete, however there are a few years I am missing the show names, or they may be incomplete. If you should be able to help please e-mail me at jlovesee@sbcglobal.net. I appreciate any help in completing the schedule in full. 1974:Inaugurated June 16th: Jeannie C Riley (Harper Valley PTA) and with the Red River Symphony and the Plainesman June 17: Jean Sheppard, Benny Burchfield and the Second Fiddles and the venturequiest Grover Ruwe June 18: Bobby Bare and Barbara Fairchild June 19: LeRoy Van Dyke and the Auctioneers, Susan Haney, Comedian Clem Appleknocker, Ben Smothers and the Stoney Mountain Cloggers June 21: Grand Ole' Opry stars Kitty Wells, Bobby Wright, and the Tennesse Mountain Boys Band June 28: Jose Feliciano July 4: Kenny Rogers and the First Edition July 5: Rick Nelson and Stone Canyon Band July 6: Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods July 7: Lou Rawls July 21: Mac Davis July 26: KUDL Date Nite: Morningstar and Diamond Jim Aug. 9: Paul Revere & The Raiders with Mark Lindsay Aug. 11: De Franco Family Aug. 30: Barbara Mandrell & David Houston Sept. 1: Donna Fargo Sept. 2: Loretta Lynn (relocated to Tivoli due to weather) Sept. 14: Jim Stafford, Dave Loggins Sept. 22: David Bromberg/Jimmie Spheeris Sept. 29: Bobby Goldsboro 1975:The Magical Adventures of Captain Ben Everywhere, 30 min hocus locus show three times daily at the ForumApril 19 & 20: Righteous Brothers April 26: Blue Swede (Hooked on a Feeling) May 9: Brownsville Station (grad night) May 10: Hues Corporation (Rock the Boat) May 16: (grad night) May 24-26: Roy Clark May 31-June 7: Carrie McDowell, 11 years old, on the Johnny Carson Show and Liberace in las vegas June 8: Ray Stevens June 14: Chuck Berry June 22: Earl Scruggs June 29: Bill Cosby July 4: Ray Stevens, Bobby Goldsboro, Donna Fargo, Jose Feliciano, Jim Stafford Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods July 5: Rick Nelson July 6: BJ Thomas July 12: Jose Feliciano July 13-18: Roscoe the Clown Circus July 19 & 20: Doc Severinsen July 25: The Monkees Show July 27: Bobby Vinton Aug. 2: Blood, Sweat and Tears Aug. 8: Captain and Tennille Aug. 10: Donna Fargo Aug. 16: Neil Sedaka Aug. 24: Jim Stafford Aug. 30-31: Bobby Goldsboro Sept. 13: Anne Murray Sept. 14: Mexican Holiday celebration Mexican Independence Day, featuring Antonio Velasquez and Elena Mario, Mariachi San Luis and Ballet Longoria Sept. 28: Johnny Rivers 1976:May 7: Eric Carmen (Grad Nights)May 29-31: Rick Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band June 5 & 6: Captain and Tennille June 12 & 13: Four Tops (Campers Holiday Weekend) June 18: Rhythm Heritage June 26 & 27: The Great Golden Hits of the Monkees Show (Dolenz, Jones, Boyce and Hart) Eric Carman and Rick Nelson (Spring) July 3-5: Roy Clark, with Leroy Van Dyke and Buck Trent July 18: Bobby Vinton July 25: Pat Boone July 30: Barbi Benton Aug. 8: Ray Stevens Aug. 15: Three Dog Night Aug. 17: Celebrity Night with Sonny Bono and Flash Cadillac Aug. 21: The England Bandand John Ford Coley Aug. 29: Del Shannon Gary U.S. Bonds and Danny and the Juniors Sept. 4-6: Fifth Dimension (Age of Aquarius) Sept. 12: Tom T Hall Sept. 19: Ozark Mountain Daredevils Sept. 26: Lynn Anderson 1977:May 6: Head East (Grad Night)May 14: Christian youth concert May 28 & 29: Bill Cosby June 4 & 5: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band June 12: Firefall June 17: HOT June 18: Mid-America Arm Wresting Championship June 25 & 26: Freddy Fender July 2 & 3: Billy Davis Jr and Marilyn McCoo (previously with 5th Dimension) July 17: Starbuck and Hamilton, Joe Frank & Dennison July 23: Sonny James & Johnny Paycheck July 24: Johnny Duncan and Moe Bandy July 31: The Spinners Aug 5: Mary MacGregor Aug 7: Ray Charles & the Raelettes Aug 21: England Dan and John Ford Aug 27 & 28: amateur talent from the midwest can participate in a show complete with Hollywood emcee and "The Gong" Sept. 3 & 4: "Welcome back Kotter" Gabe Kaplan Sept. 5, Jerry Falwell (rally), Church day at Worlds of Fun (labor day tradition) with Dr Jerry Falwell Sept. 17: Starland Vocal Band (goodtime music jamboree) Sept. 18: Rick Nelson Sept. 25: The Lettermans 1978:May 5: Grad NightMay 27-29: The Lettermen June 24 & 25: Crystal Gayle June 30: Don Williams July 1-3: Rick Nelson & The Stone Canyon Band (July 1, 2, 3) July 14: The Spinners July 16: Kenny Rogers July 22-30: Three-Ring Circus Aug. 2: Ronnie Milsap Aug. 5-6: Sylvers Aug. 12-13: Frankie Valli Aug. 17 & 18: Oak Ridge Boys Aug. 26: Ronnie Milsap Sept. 2 & 3: England Dan & John Ford Coley Sept. 9: Bobby Vinton Sept. 10: Bobby Goldsboro Sept. 16: International Championship of the World Professional Armwrestling association Sept. 17: Ray Stevens Sept. 23: Samantha Sang Sept. 24: Eddie Rabbitt Frankie Vallie (unknown date) 1979:May 4 (Grad Night): ExileMay 26-28: Bill Cosby June 1: Nigel Olsson June 3-17: Three Ring Circus/Firestone Circus Days June 23 & 24: Hudson Brothers June 30 & July 1: Johnny Paycheck July 8: Super Stars Day July 14 & 15: Soap Opera Festival July 22: Rick Nelson July 25: Suzi Quatro July 27: Larry Gatlin July 28 & 29: Hudson Brothers Aug. 1: England Dan & John Ford Coley Aug. 4 & 5: Willie Aames Aug. 10: Dave & Sugar Aug. 12: Oak Ridge Boys Aug. 15: Sister Sledge Aug. 24: Bell & James Aug 25: Leif Garrett Sept. 1-3: Ronnie Milsap Sept. 8 & 9: Eddie Rabbitt Sept 29: World Pro Armwrestling Championships (WPAA) Oct. 6: Missouri Oct. 7: Michael Stanley Band Oct. 13: Stillwater Oct. 14: Flash Cadillac Oct. 20: Jay Ferguson Oct. 21: Flying Burrito Brothers 1980:April 26 & 27: Willie AamesMay 2: Squeeze/Missouri/Starcastle (Grad Night) May 9: Orleans (Grand Night) May 18: Leif Garrett May 24 - 26: Oak Ridge Boys May 31 & June 1: Toto June 6: G.Q. June 7 & 8: Andrae Crouch and the Disciples June 13-15: The Amazing Kreskin June 18-27: Firestone Circus June 28 & 29: The Letterman July 2: Dave & Sugar July 5 & 6: The Dirt Band July 12 & 13: Rick Nelson July 16: The Unknown Comic July 19 & 20: Conway Twitty July 26 & 27: The Lennon Sisters July 30: Air Supply Aug. 1: Kool & The Gang Aug. 2: Daryl Hall & John Oates (Hall & Oates) Aug. 6: Jerry Jeff Walker Aug. 8: Rita Coolidge Aug. 16 & 17: Bill Cosby Aug. 22: Rupert Holmes (If you like Pina Colodas) Sept. 6 & 7: Imperials & Sharretts Sept. 13 & 14: Eddie Rabbitt 1981:May 3: Dave & SugarMay 8: Grad Night May 23 & 24: John Schneider May 30 & 31: Kreskin(mentalist) June 5-14: Three Ring Circus June 19: Gary U.S. Bonds June 26: Terri Gibbs June 27 & 28: The Lennon Sisters July 4: Tom T Hall July 5: Don McLean July 10: Jan Dean July 11: Tammy Wynette July 12: Ray Price July 16: Jan and Dean July 18 & 19: Suzanne Somers July 26: Shalamar and The Whispers July 29: Johnny Rodriguez July 31: Peaches and Herb Aug. 1 & 2: Kris Kristofferson Aug. 5: Tierra Aug 12. Gallagher Aug. 16: Jerry Reed Aug. 19: Air Force Academy Band Aug. 28 & 29: The Pointer Sisters Aug 30: Leo Sayer Sept 5 & 6: Conway Twitty Sept 12: Professional Arm Wresting Championship Sept. 26 & 27: Juice Newton 1982:May 2: Bertie HigginsMay 7: Quarterflash (Grad Night) May 22 & 23: Tony Geary and Kia Shriner (General Hospital) May 29 & 30: Rich Little June 4: The Spinners June 5 & 6: Johnny Cash June 9: Amazing Kristin (George Kreage) June 12 & 13: Ed Bruce June 16 & 17: Tammy Wynette June 18: Bobby Vinton June 19: Russ Taff June 23: Sister Sledge June 26 & 27: Lennon Sisters July 2 & 3: Jerry Reed July 10 & 11: John Schneider July 14: Franke & The Knockouts July 17 & 18: Tammy Wynette July 21: Skyy July 24 & 25: John Schneider July 31: Gary U.S. Bonds Aug. 4: Kool and the Gang Aug. 7 & 8: Kris Kristofferson Sept. 4 & 5: Susan Anton Sept. 11 & 12: T.G. Sheppard 1983:May 6: The Tubes (Grad Night)May 28-29: Statler Brothers April 1 & 2: Golden Earring & Scandal June 17 (Friday): David Frizzle and Shelly West June 22: The Dazz Band June 24: Michael Murphy June 25 & 26: John Davidson July 1: Russ Taff and Phil Keaggy July 2 & 3: Eddie Rabitt July 10: Dr Hook/Osmond Family Show July 13: Roger & Zapp July 15: Dr Hook July 23 & 24: TG Sheppard July 29: Laura Branigan Aug. 3: Kool & The Gang Aug. 6 & 7: Juice Newton Sept 2: INXS Sept 3 & 4: Ronnie Milsap Sept 10 & 11: BJ Thomas Sept 18: Bellamy Brothers Sept 24 & 25: Amateur country western band contest Sept 25: Charly McClain 1984:April 14: Jump in the Saddle BandApril 27: Dwight Twilley April 28: Reba Rambo and Dony McGuire (Christian performers) April 29: John Conlee May 4: Re-Flex and Thompson Twices (grad night) Thompson Twins didn’t perform May 5: John Stamos May 26 & 27: Ronnie Milsap June 2 & 3: Soap Opera Festival, Steve Bond of "General Hospital" and Jack Coleman of "Dynasty" June 15: Thomas Conley June 15: George Jones June 17: Shelly West June 30 & July 1: George Jones July 14: Donny and Marie Osmond July 20: Survivor July 21 & 22: Ricky Skaggs July 29: Juice Newton Aug. 1: DeBarge Aug. 4 & 5 T.G. Sheppard Aug. 8: O'Bryan Aug. 10: The Archers Aug. 11: "Weird Al" Yankovic Aug. 12: Lee Greenwood Aug. 17: Stray Cats Aug. 22: Gap Band Aug. 25: Three Dog Night Sept. 1 & 2: Gatlin Brothers Sept. 3: Denise Williams Sept. 8 & 9: Janie Fricke Sept. 16: George Strait 1985:May 3: Greg Kihn Band (Grad Night)June 5 (Wednesday): Katrina and the Waves June 21: Cheap Trick (rained out) June 26: The New Edition June 29: Donny and Marie Osmond July 1: Roy Clark July 4: Dazz Band and Kymaxx July 5: The Imperials July 6 & 7: David Frizzle and Shelly West (Frizzle and West) July 19: Midnight Star July 20 & 21: John Schnieder July 26: John Kay & Steppenwolf July 27: Lee Greenwood Aug. 3: Nicolette Larson Aug. 4: Nicholette Larson Aug. 9: Bachman-Turner Overdrive Aug. 10: Commodores Aug. 16: John Waite Aug. 17: Jerry Reed Aug. 18: G.I. Joe Aug. 23: New Edition Aug. 24: Jack Wagner Aug. 31 - September 1: Ricky Skaggs Sept. 7: Sawyer Brown Sept. 15: George Strait Sept. 27: Lee Greenwood 1986:May 24: Glen CampbellMay 25: Gary Morris June 13: John Anderson June 21 & 22: Soap Opera Festival July 5 & 6: Lee Greenwood July 16: Jermaine Jackson July 19: Crystal Gayle July 25: Three Dog Night July 26: Juice Newton Aug. 1: John Schneider Aug. 2: Roy Orbison Aug. 10: Roy Clark Aug. 16: Exile Aug. 23: Donnie & Marie Osmond Aug. 30 & 31: Ronnie Milsap Sept. 20: Randy Travis Sept. 21: The Kingsmen (Louie, Louie) 1987:May 8: The RainmakersMay 23: Four Tops May 24: Marie Osmond June 7: Reba McEntire June 13: Jerry Lee Lewis June 14: Kirk Cameron June 17: Doug E. Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew June 27: America and Three Dog Night July 4 & 5: Ricky Skaggs July 11: James Brown July 12: Restless Heart July 18: The Dirt Band July 24: Temptations July 26: The Jets July 31: Blood, Sweat and Tears Aug. 1: Crystal Gayle Aug. 2: Randy Travis Aug. 7: Menudo Aug. 8: Forester Sisters Aug. 9: Dan Seals Aug. 16: Everly Brothers Aug. 22: Chuck Berry Aug. 29 & 30: Ray Charles Sept. 5 & 6: Ronnie Milsap Oct. 3: DeGarmo & Key 1988:Apr 29: Richard Marx (Grad Nights)Apr 30: Steve Taylor May 27: Four Tops May 28: The Jets May 29: Lee Greenwood June 3: Wayne Watson June 10: Rainmakers June 12: Glen Campbell June 17: Three Dog Night June 24: Ben E. King, Martha Reeves and The Vandellas June 26: Early Thomas Conley July 1: The Imperials and Larnell Harris July 3: Roy Clark Sept 24: Chuck Berry 1989:Apr. 28: The Fixx (Grad Night)Apr. 29: Tuss Taff (contemporary Christian) June 11: Merle Haggard June 30: Steven Curtis Chapman July 16: The Jets July 22: The Oak Ridge Boys Sept. 2: Willie Nelson Sept. 30: White Heart 1990:May 12: Carman (Christian Artist)May 27: Ronnie Milsap June 2: Glad (Christian Artist) June 10: Ricky Skaggs June 24: Exile June 29: Harvest, D.C. Talk and New Song (Christian) July 1: Barbara Mandrell July 7: The Judds and Ricky Van Shelton July 8: Rodney Crowell July 15: Holly Dunn and Asleep at the Wheel Aug. 5: Vern Gosdin August 19: The Jets Sept 2: Highway 101 Sept 8: Peter Noone (Herman's Hermits) and Wolfman Jack Sept 9: Bobby Vinton Sept 15: Lesley Gore Sept 16: Brian Hyland and Johnny Tillotson Sept 22: Bobby Vee Sept 23: Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello Sept 29: Take 6 (Christian Family Day) 1991:KFKF-FM Radio concerts (Cost for concert admission $2)May 26: Shenandoah June 16: Ricky Van Shelton July 1-4: Kathy Mattea July 5-7: Eddie Rabbitt July 28: Riders in the Sky Aug 4: Charlie Daniels Band Aug. 31: Chuck Berry Sept. 1: 30 Years of Rock 'n' Roll (Mickey Dolenz) Sept. 7: Three Dog Night Sept. 8: John Kay and Steppenwolf Sept. 14: The Turtles and The Grass Roots Sept. 15: Gary Puckett Sept. 21: Petra Sept. 22: Blood, Sweat, and Tears 1992:May 9: CarmanMay 23 & 24: Ricky Van Shelton June 21: Riders in the Sky June 26: DeGarmo & Key and Kim Boyce June 27: Wayne Watson and Billy and Sarah Gaines June 29 - July 2: Marty Stuart and Asleep at the Wheel July 3 - July 5: Lorrie Morgan July 12: Tanya Tucker July 26: Kathy Mate Aug. 9: Mark Chestnutt Sept 5: Tommy Roe Sept 6: Bobby Vinton Sept 12: Peter Noone (Herman's Hermits) Sept 13: Jan and Dean Sept 19: The Shirelles Sept 20: BJ Thomas 1993:May 29: Marty StuartMay 30: Ricky Van Shelton June 20: Mark Chesnutt July 2-3: Doug Stone July 4: Lorrie Morgan July 5: Charlie Daniels Band July 11: Joe Diffie July 25: Colin Raye Aug 8: Lorrie Morgan Aug 15: Sammy Kershaw Sept. 4: Bobby Vee Sept. 5: The Crystals Sept. 4 & 5th: Liverpool Sept. 11: Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels and Al Wilson Sept. 12: Three Dog Night Sept. 18: Freddy Cannon Sept. 19: Tommy Roe Sept. 25: Petra 1994:May 14:Twila Paris/White Heart (Christian Family Day)May 28-29: Lorrie Morgan June 12: Ricky Van Shelton June 19: Clay Walker July 1 & 2: Sammy Kershaw July 3: Patty Loveless July 4: Billy Dean July 10: Trisha Yearwood July 24: Mark Chesnutt Aug. 6 & 7: Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Saved by the Bell) Aug. 14: Tracy Lawrence Sept. 4: Pam Tillis Sept. 17 & 18: The Monkees Oct. 2: Grassroots Music Festival 1995:May 27 & 28: Pam TillisJune 1: Puddle of Mudd, Stick and The Urge, Toadies June 4: Tracy Byrd June 18: John Anderson June 29: David Ball June 30-July 1: Diamond Rio July 2: Patty Loveless July 3 & 4: Neal McCoy July 16: Collin Raye Aug. 13: Sammy Kershaw Sept. 3: Tracy Lawrence Sept. 10: The Monkees 1996:May 26: Chely Wright, Bryan White & Steve WarinerJune 16: Martina McBride July 4: Tracy Lawrence July 5: Trisha Yearwood (presented by Discover Card) July 6: Aaron Tippin 1997:May 25: Joe Diffle and David KerschJune 1: Paul Brandt June 8: Pam Tillis June 15: Steve Warlner and Lee Roy Parnell July 3: Billy Dean July 4: David Lee Murphy July 5: Rhett Atkins July 6: Toby Keith and Trace Adkins Aug. 31: John Berry and Mark Willis Additional PhotosBack to Europa |