Brady Bunch 1973 ‘Cincinnati Kids’ filming at Kings Island anniversary: Exclusive interview with Marge, actress Hilarie Thompson

Forty-eight years ago today, Aug. 20, 1973, filming for The Brady Bunch episode “The Cincinnati Kids” began at Kings Island. More than 60 cast and crew including the nine stars, their families, technical crew and publicity managers arrived in Cincinnati to less than desirable weather- gray skies and threats of rain that morning. The first day of shooting originally called for outdoor scenes shot at the amusement park. Instead, the morning schedule was adjusted to film the episode’s final scene inside a guest room at the (now defunct) Kings Island Inn before moving to the park in the afternoon. Guests of the park were not only allowed to be a part of the filming, but highly encouraged to visit those five days to be part of the crowd shots.

In the episode, the Brady’s mix business with pleasure by taking a trip to Kings Island, the ‘new’ amusement park near Cincinnati, Ohio, so that Mike can present plans for a park expansion to the management team. All’s well until the cannister holding Mike’s proposal goes missing. A frantic search results in the Brady’s racing across Kings Island to find it. (SPOILER ALERT: The plans were found in Rivertown at Shawnee Landing inside a large empty canoe. The attraction was removed in 1976 for construction of The Beast). The episode would air nationwide on ABC the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, Nov. 23, 1973, becoming one of the most popular episodes of the five-season series.

A subplot of the show includes Marge, a young Kings Island games department and entertainment department employee who also is Greg Brady’s love interest. After Peter, Greg and Mike play the “Break a Plate” game in Coney Mall, Greg makes his way to the Football Toss (which remains in the same location today) to exchange a few words and flirty glances with Marge, who runs the game. 

“Do I get my choice of prizes?” Greg asks, implying he’s not necessarily interested in winning a stuffed animal.

“That depends,” a blushing Marge responds.

“Well, let’s see how it works out,” he says with his signature grin while Mike and Peter dismiss themselves from the scene.

I recently caught up with Hilarie Thompson (Ormsby) to talk about her experience playing Marge in the episode. 

CS: Hilarie, you are beloved by Kings Island fans across the globe for your Brady Bunch role as Marge in “The Cincinnati Kids” episode. What was it like being part of the filming of that episode?

HT:  What I remember the most is the producer, Lloyd Schwartz. He escorted me around and played the part of the man in the (Bear) suit who was not Barry Williams. He was the son of the creator of "The Brady Bunch," Sherwood Schwartz. I knew Lloyd through his brother, Ross, who I had gone to Hollywood High School with where we had been in a production of "My Fair Lady" together.

CS: How long did it take to film your two scenes?

HT: They flew me into Cincinnati for one day, I worked the next morning and they flew me out that afternoon. I stayed at the motel (Kings Island Inn) near the park.

CS:  Watching the episode, it looks like there was a little chemistry between you and Greg (Barry Williams). Were there any real-life sparks?

HT:  There was a flirtatious feeling going on with Barry and me which is apparent in the show. (She pauses). BUT it was just for work. Both Barry and Bob Reed were welcoming and friendly. I had never met either one of them before. We said hello and jumped right into the scene.

CS:  Barry looks like he misses the first football toss intentionally. Was he a natural athlete, or did it a take a few times for him to finally hit the target?

HT: To me, it seemed as if Barry was a good athlete. We shot both of my scenes in one take!

CS:  Did you have a chance to spend time with any of the other cast?

HT:  I recall having lunch with the kids and saying that probably the tremendous success of the show was due to the possibility that they could grow up and marry each other. They were all sweet and friendly.

CS:  From roles you’ve had on I Dream of Jeannie and Charlie’s Angels to ALF, Starsky and Hutch and Fantasy Island, and many others how would you compare the acting experience on the Brady Bunch to TV roles throughout your career?

HT:  It is a show that people are most excited about when they hear what shows I have been in, and the one which young people today are still aware. The Brady Bunch was one of the quickest pieces of work I did. I was in and out.

CS:  Have you been back to Kings Island since your first visit in 1973? 

HT: That is the only time I have been there, but it made a distinct impression on me as a pleasant, friendly and fun amusement park.  

Hilarie Thompson then and now

While Thompson’s role is little more than a footnote to the episode, I remember watching it the first time as a teenager more than 10 years after it was filmed and Marge being one of my first tv crushes. I have to admit, I’ve watched “The Cincinnati Kids” at least a hundred times over the years, sometimes pausing each scene to see the park’s rides and what the park looked like when it opened compared to today. I distinctly remember asking my mom why Bobby and Cindy weren’t eating Blue Ice Cream (the park did not have Blue Ice Cream in 1973) and why the Bradys would take such a crazy, inefficient route through the park to return the cannister to Mike- he was in a hurry after all!

Today the famous Kings Island episode can be seen on streaming services Hulu and Paramount+ and occasionally throughout the year on other TV networks including MeTV and TV Land.