UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD -- the original, a studio-turned-theme-park which preceded its Orlando counterpart by three-quarters of a century, and which remains a themed entertainment creature unlike any other on the planet. I've lived practically next door to Universal Studios all my life, but its Floridian sister park got all the etixland glory first, due to my travels there -- as usual, the locals tend to overlook the 'tourist traps' near them to get ensnared in those found far away. It's about time I address this oversight and present etixland's salute to the significant legacy and fun found at Universal Studios Hollywood.
First, let's hop into the Wayback Machine and journey back through the decades, long before Universal hosted a daily public tour and themed attractions, to find out how this whole thing started. The year is 1912, and the Universal Film Manufacturing Company was founded in a merger of Carl Laemmle's film company with five other picture companies. Laemmle, a German immigrant who moved to America in 1884, got his start in show business by opening the first of several nickelodeon theaters in Chicago just after the turn of the century. By 1913, Universal began its first weekly newsreel and produced its first feature film, Traffic in Souls.
Thanks in part to the earnings of this popular film, in 1914 Laemmle purchased the 230 acre Taylor Ranch in North Hollywood, land which had been used often for outdoor location filming by Universal for two years, and which soon was dubbed the "Universal Ranch." In June of the same year, groundbreaking took place, construction of Universal Studios began, and by September film production at this new studio was up to full speed.
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On March 15, 1915, Laemmle opened the gates of his Universal City to the public who, for 25 cents, could watch production of feature films. They could even buy box lunches to further enjoy the spectacle, if from a slight distance. This tradition of inviting the public into the filmmaking experience continued until 1930, when Universal produced its first 'talking picture' and the need for quiet sets made public audiences impractical. |
That same year, Universal Studios' war epic All Quiet on the Western Front won the Best Picture Academy Award, and in 1931 Laemmle released two horror classics, Dracula and Frankenstein, which further established Universal's success and reputation in the film industry. Over the next 30 years, Universal supplemented its legacy in popular horror movies with other genre hits, and eventually emerging as the home studio for Alfred Hitchcock, as well as a leader in television production.
In 1958, Universal sold its (then) 367 acre backlot to MCA, agreeing to lease the studio space for $1 million per year. The concept of a studio tour reemerged in 1961 when MCA signed a deal with Grey Line Bus Tours, allowing the public to "Dine With The Stars," as buses toured the lot then let off guests to dine at the studio commissary. How the production units got any filming done with those buses roaring around the lot, I'll never know, but the idea proved popular with fans, and in July 1964, the Universal Studios Tour opens in conjunction with Glamour Trams (and no doubt, quieter trams).
Your 1964 ticket price for this behind-the-scenes glimpse of movie magic? $6.50 for two adults and a child. My, how times have changed -- but that's Hollywood! What parents did with their second, third or more children remains unstated in the history briefs. No wonder the Baby Boom 'officially' ends in 1965 . . . blame it on Universal's discriminatory tour prices against large families. [Just kidding, Universal -- put your lawyers back in Amity Bay, please.]
The Tour gates relocated to the Upper Lot in 1966, and the next year the Universal Entertainment Center opened, including a western stunt show -- the "granddaddy" of today's Wild Wild Wild West Stunt Show (three times wilder than the '67 show, obviously).
The creation of the Entertainment Center is significant in Universal history, in that the Studio occupies some rather odd geography: unlike most flatland studio 'farms' in Hollywood (which indeed was once fruitful orchards), Universal sits sprawled atop rolling hills in a rather compact, meandering footprint on the land. The Studio divides among two levels -- the Upper Lot which hosts the Entertainment Center (live shows and most themed attractions), and the Lower Lot, where the Tram Tour drives guests through the back lot sets and in-stage effects shows. Before 1967, Universal's Tour was mostly limited to the flat studio lot down the hill, but this upper level expansion signaled the Studio's bid to provide guests with an all-day 'park' experience in an effort to directly compete with its SoCal 'neighbors', Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm. As these pages proceed, I will try to keep the distinction between Upper and Lower lots clear to avoid confusion, since such a difference exists in no other Universal park. Now, back to our story . . .
The Studio expanded its entertainment venue with the opening of the Universal Amphitheater in 1972, and debuted new Tour exhibits throughout the 70s, such as the Jaws Experience in 1976. Eight years later, Universal opened its lavish live stage, stunt-filled production of Conan the Barbarian, beefing up the crowd-pleasing options atop the Entertainment Center. On a roll, 1985 marked the premiere of Universal's first large-scale Tour thrill attraction, King Kong, which entered Universal into the theme park market, with a high budget 'ride' that existed solely for entertainment sake, rather than as a backstage look at movie making itself. The Studio repeated their success with the debut of Earthquake in 1989, and having got the hang of their particular brand of theme park entertainment, Universal launches its Universal Studios Florida park in 1990 to give the Mouse a run for its Orlando money. Though rather unlike the Orlando park, Universal Hollywood remains a very active film and television studio today, even as tour trams roll through the lots and wind between the sound stages -- a true behind-the-scenes experience you cannot find anywhere else Universal has planted their theme park flag.
There, that didn't hurt too much, did it? OK, stop your whining, here endeth our Universal history primer! Now let's get you into the Studio to begin your tour, and "Ride the Movies" as they say in Universalese. Though I'm happy to play Tour Guide for you, you'll have to click on Next to proceed -- I just run the microphone from the front of the tram!
© 2002 scott weitz
Disclaimer: This unofficial site is intended for entertainment purposes only, and is not affiliated in any way with Universal Studios. All properties and licenses affiliated with their studios and attractions are copyright Universal and their respective associates, unless otherwise indicated. Enjoy!