Forum Amphitheater Concert Series
1974 - 1997 (Current)


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 - 1997


This 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 Forum
April 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 Night
May 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): Exile
May 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 Aames
May 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 & Sugar
May 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 Higgins
May 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 Band
April 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 Campbell
May 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 Rainmakers
May 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: Carman
May 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 Stuart
May 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 Tillis
June 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 Wariner
June 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 Kersch
June 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





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