By this time Universal City reopened to the public three decades later in 1961, The Music Corporation of America (MCA) had taken over ownership of Universal Pictures. Later that same year, the Flash Flood set was opened and this first special-effects attraction proved to be a hit. When the train arrived, more than 20,000 people were waiting, including Buffalo Bill Cody. This new rule coupled with more productions being shot on location meant the backlot tram tour could not show visitors much in the way of real movie and television production. However, Universal Studios Hollywood is perhaps the only theme park in the world where saying goodbye is a given and not a possibility. Starting in 1970, there were also regularly scheduled shows under the direction of Ray Berwick, famed animal trainer best known for training the hundreds of birds for Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds” on the newly-constructed Animal Actors’ School Stage. And hence, the idea for Universal Studios Hollywood was born. To make his films, Laemmle was willing to violate the law; he was personally sued 289 times for intellectual property violations. In its early days it was a top producer of popular low-budget serials and also presented many of the films of Erich von Stroheim (1885–1957), who was a pioneer in realistic film direction. The merger gave them the name, Motion Picture Distributing & Sales Company and provided the use of the Champion Film Company studio in Fort Lee, New Jersey — the film production capital of the world at the time! Visitors rode on two pink-and-white striped “Glamor Trams” around the studio’s back lot, with stops to see a collection of costumes designed by Edith Head, a makeup demonstration presented by Mike Westmore of the famous Westmore family of makeup artists, a walk through a star’s dressing room, a western stunt show, and — the big money maker for Universal — to buy themselves lunch at the studio commissary. It was the largest and most complex animatronic figure in existence for many years, but it also paved the way for the complex themed attractions of today and was the inspiration behind the former Kongfrontation attraction at Universal Studios Florida. Miss Laura Oakley, chief of the Universal City Police, handed Laemmle a gold key. In 1963 legendary movie mogul Lew Wasserman, then president of MCA Universal asked VP Al Dorskind to look into the feasibility of creating a permanent tour. Carl Laemmle, a film exhibitor turned producer, formed the company in 1912. His sense of humor and his true feelings about the MPPC were on display when he adopted a playful impish demon as the logo for the studio. Alternative version #1. started selling their fried chicken dinners, A Little Big History of Shipping Containers, The Toy’s of the World Powers: Royal Navy vs Kaiserliche Marine, John Harvey Kellogg And His Anti-Masturbation Cereals. A roof was later added and it remained a Universal City fixture until September of 2013 when it was demolished in preparation for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which debuted on the Upper Lot in 2016. When a script called for a more expansive location, Nestor’s crews shot in the San Fernando Valley on land leased from the Providencia Land and Water Development Company — this was later called the ‘Oak Crest Ranch’ property once Universal bought the property. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Laemmle spent eight days on the transcontinental railroad traveling from Chicago to Los Angeles to drum up publicity for the official grand opening of Universal City. Visitors could stroll at their leisure to pet and feed the animals. An immediate hit, Jaws created the template for future big-budget, dedicated Studio Tour attractions based on enduring Universal films. In 1910, MPPC even issued an injunction against Laemmle for the knockoff camera being used for their motion pictures, claiming that it was an infringement on their patents. Constrained between production facilities and unforgiving mountain geography, Universal Studios Hollywood lacks the hub-and-spoke or central lagoon design that define so many other theme parks, including Universal’s Orlando Parks. However, the good times would not last long. The studio charged the bus companies a small fee and also benefited from the extra lunches they could sell to the tourists in the Studio Commissary (film-speak for cafeteria). In 1993, the first high-technology thrill ride opens, positioned at the edge of the Upper Lot; the simulator-driven Back To The Future — The Ride based on Robert Zemeckis’ 1985 film. In the first year, from 1915–1916, there were 250 pictures produced at Universal City. After it’s four-year run, an even more elaborate makeup and special effects show was planned for the theatre. The original 90 minute-long Studio Tour cost $2.50 to ride. Jay Stein, President of Universal’s Recreation Division championed the idea of creating exciting experiences for visitors in place of viewing actual film/TV production. However, if you are passionate about discovering the historic sites of the backlot, I would recommend splurging for the VIP Experience as it includes behind-the-scenes access to the backlot. Universal Film Manufacturing Company 1912–1914. Want to visit Universal Studios Hollywood and discover the legacy of filmmaking? The latter includes the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, an attraction based on J.K. Rowling’s popular book series. All of the buildings in his city were designed so that they could be redressed quickly to simulate any type of environment the film required. However, shortly thereafter, Laemmle decided the Oak Crest Ranch location was actually too small for him to consolidate all the west coast operations and build his film city. When all was said and done, Laemmle invested $1 million in studio facilities. He also relocated several small buildings, including the tavern from Gower Studios and other buildings from the Oak Crest Ranch property. Later, this was replaced with The Simpsons Ride. Kong weighed in at seven tons, measured over 30 feet tall, was covered in 660 pounds of fur and had a bad case of banana breath. Universal Studios, American motion-picture studio that was one of the leading producers of film serials in the 1920s and of popular horror films in the ’30s. Adventure can still be experienced at Universal Orlando in Florida. When it’s time to make room for new amazement, saying goodbye to old favorites is never easy. However, lugging equipment and personnel to on location shoots required precious time and money. Notes 1 Co-owned with Sony Pictures Entertainment and Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation. 1929–1936. {{familyColorButtonText(colorFamily.name)}}, View {{carousel.total_number_of_results}} results. While filming continued on his newly acquired grounds in the San Fernando Valley, Laemmle continued to construct and install numerous sets and stages as well as a bank, horse corral, cafe, post office, school and zoo. 1990–1997 1990 … Instead, Universal Studios Hollywood meanders across a mountain top, with a second level below, accessible via a series of massive escalators added in the 1990s. For the first time ever, guests were able to see examples of how the Universal lot has been used for motion picture and television production. However, his dream of a city dedicated to the filmmaking arts and open to the public would live on well into the twenty-first century. However, many of the early tour attractions did not stand the test of time and have been replaced over the years to make way for new expansion. In the aftermath, Laemmle dispersed the crowds and closed the studio to the public. His fate was sealed in a particularly nasty one that took place on the backlot in the early morning of June 1, 2008. The bus drivers were given a hand-typed script to read that highlighted the studio facilities as well as hyped upcoming Universal releases. Since its inception, the Studio Tour has strived to get guests as close to filmmaking as possible. No Man Left Behind: Capt. Ma and Pa Kettle Farm, also called Ark Park, was introduced later around 1967 and featured animals that were used in many Universal productions. In addition to being a working studio, Universal Studios Hollywood includes rides and attractions and offers tours of various television and film sets. The assets of his original production company, Independent Moving Pictures, was transferred to the newly incorporated Universal Film Manufacturing Company. In March 1914, Laemmle decided to buy a 230-acre chicken farm known as the Taylor Ranch from the Lankershim Land, Water Development Co., for only $165,000. 1960–1963. This was not altogether an unpleasant problem for Carl Laemmle, an immigrant from Bavaria, Germany, who had become obsessed with Motion Pictures. On the World-Famous Studio Tour, look out for the following original elements: Although much of the original Universal City may not remain, the lasting ramifications of Universal Studios Hollywood and the original theme park studio tour still reverberate across the industry with theme parks around the world including Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris, not to mention the Universal Parks in Japan, Florida, and soon to be China, still taking cues from what Universal Studios Hollywood was doing way back in 1915. It was damaged by fires in 1990 and 2008; the latter destroyed two square blocks of the studio lot as well as its popular King Kong attraction. Unused logo. He was modeled after the star of Dino de Laurentis’ 1976 movie version. 1919–1923. 4 Co-owned with Corus Entertainment. But, as the venue was idle after sundown, a young tour employee apparently suggested holding rock concerts in the arena after the stuntmen had gone home. E.T. Of course, the biggest and most unpredictable “attraction” of the Studio Tour has always been the prospect of seeing a movie star. The city — this Universal City of which the picture world has talked for months — is the realization of a dream by Carl Laemmle not more than ten years ago.”. The studio tour, once simply a method of attracting audiences and publicity to Universal Films, transformed over time into a worldwide empire with revenues in the billions. Carl Laemmle, a film exhibitor turned producer, formed the company in 1912. General Manager Barry Upson from the Seattle’s World Fair and designers Randall Duell and Bud Dardene rounded out the team. Within a few months, Laemmle moved to New York and started his own movie company in 1909 called Independent Moving Pictures (IMP). “They are to witness the opening of the first municipality — the first city or community — to be devoted exclusively to the manufacture of motion pictures. Which of these characters does not appear in, …Mutual Film Corporation and the Universal Film Manufacturing Company).…, …Paramount distribution exchange in 1916; Universal Pictures, founded by Carl Laemmle in 1912 by merging IMP with Powers, Rex, Nestor, Champion, and Bison; Goldwyn Picture Corporation, founded in 1916 by Samuel Goldfish (later Goldwyn) and Edgar Selwyn; Metro Picture Corporation and Louis B. Mayer Pictures, founded by Louis B. Mayer…, …minor studios were Carl Laemmle’s Universal Pictures, which became justly famous for its horror films; Harry Cohn’s Columbia Pictures, whose main assets were director Frank Capra and screenwriter Robert Riskin; and United Artists, which functioned as a distributor for independent American features and for Alexander Korda’s London Film Productions. Unfortunately, it was the first test run of the Glamour Trams and the tram broke down halfway through in a remote section of the backlot. Later, the parting of the Red Sea (from The Ten Commandments) was added in 1973, the collapsing bridge in 1974, and the Ice Tunnel in 1975. In the Summer of 2000, Universal brought the tram into the 21st Century with the debut of The New Studio Tour with the inclusion of LCD video monitors, a state-of-the-art audio system, onboard video cameras and DVD players containing over 200 pieces of custom produced media.