Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 29, 1995 TAG: 9505010031
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Mindful of the horrifying and lasting pictures left by the Oklahoma City bombing, a Virginia theme park postponed its national publicity campaign because it features special effects that evoke similar images.
``Escape from Pompeii,'' the main attraction in Busch Gardens Williamsburg's 1995 publicity drive, features fiery effects and crumbling ruins caused by the simulated eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The water ride ends with a narrow escape punctuated by a five-story drop into a splash pool.
In the portion of the national campaign that was postponed, a 10-second teaser heralding the debut of ``Pompeii'' ended with a man emerging from a pile of rubble asking viewers if they wanted to be part of history.
``It was a great spot and we were all very pleased with it,'' said Keith Kasen, general manager of Busch Gardens Williamsburg. ``It's just that as the situation in Oklahoma City continued to unfold, it didn't seem appropriate to go ahead with the campaign at this time.''
When the spot aired in Norfolk and Richmond earlier this week, five people called to object in light of the tragedy in Oklahoma City.
``We don't want to make a big deal out of this,'' said Cindy Sarko, the director of public relations for Busch Gardens. ``It's something we want to do out of respect for the people of Oklahoma City.''
Pulling the spots, she said, was a ``collective, companywide decision.''
The ride, conceived in 1992 and under construction since last July, will still open today as planned, she said, because its late April opening has been promised to patrons of the park since last year.
``This is our largest and most ambitious attraction that we've put in in our 20 years here,'' Sarko said. The concrete and steel building is fireproof.
Ed Drelstadt, vice president of marketing for Busch Gardens and nearby Water Country USA, said filming for the main ``Pompeii'' spot, using footage of people on the ride, will begin Tuesday. In the interim, Busch Gardens will highlight other attractions of its 360-acre layout.
As part of the park's work with the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and their combined fire safety education campaign, the first 2,500 families at the park will receive free smoke detectors.
by CNB