Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour celebrates its 60th anniversary
I first visited Universal Studios Hollywood in 1980, and couldn’t wait to take their Behind-the-Scenes Studio Tour. Flash forward 44 years (gosh I’m old), and now the Universal Studios Hollywood’s Behind-the-Scenes Studio Tour 60th anniversary is here. The iconic attraction was the genesis of Universal Studios Hollywood and set the stage for the development of Universal Studios theme parks and resorts around the world.
When I visited with my family in 1980, I snapped photos of the 18-wheeler truck from “B.J. and the Bear” and Cylons from “Battlestar Galactica,” saw the “Psycho” house, and drove through a parted Red Sea. But there was one thing that overshadowed my whole experience – the “Jaws” shark. It was five years since “Jaws” terrorized the big screen, and still traumatized by the apex predator, I constantly switched sides of the tram to avoid facing the shark directly.
The Debut of the Studio Tour
In 1964, Universal Studios Hollywood (originally referred to as Universal City Studios) rolled out its fleet of Glamor Trams, inviting tourists to “see film rushes of current productions, both feature and television, being made at Universal City,” according to the attraction’s original press release issued on July 4, 1964.
It was a novel concept to invite the public to be a “fly on the wall” of movie and television production. After all, no one else had ever conceived of the idea. The iconic red and white Glamor Trams, with their ruffled awnings, were staged five times a day Monday through Friday, with each tour lasting just over two hours.
The point of entry for visiting guests at that time was at The Tourist Center, located at the Universal Commissary Building, where make-up artist demonstrations, trick photography, and special props were on display. That was 60 years ago, and while much has transpired over the years aspects of the original Glamor Tram tour have remained constant over this astonishing six-decade span (although the trams themselves were converted to environmentally friendly electric).
Tour Guides
Universal Studio Tour Guides have always been central to the operations of the Glamor Tram tours, and the role of Studio Tour Guide is a coveted position with candidates auditioning from around the world.
Now considered a Hollywood “apprenticeship,” future filmmakers, budding actors and executives in-the-making are empowered to take advantage of a variety of opportunities and Hollywood-insider perks including free acting classes, participating in a showcase for casting directors, job placement opportunities, and more. Dozens of producers, directors, performers, movie and TV professionals as well as industry executives began their careers as Studio Tour Guides. You might even glimpse comedian Jimmy Fallon on tour.
60 Years of the Universal Studio Tour
Over the past 60 years, the Studio Tour has received many updates, additions, and changes. For a walk down memory lane, here’s look back at some of the many milestones that shaped the seminal attraction:
In 1964, guests were ushered past iconic sets from Alfred Hitchcock’s renowned film “Psycho” directed by Alfred Hitchcock – one of the very first film sets accessible for visitors to see up close and personal (the “Psycho” hotel and nearby Bates Motel are still featured on the tour today).
Bygone, nostalgic Studio Tour attractions included the Parting of the Red Sea (1973), which demonstrated an early special effect technique, and the spinning Ice Tunnel (1975) which showed the effects of a severe snowstorm and forced perspective, as well as a dynamic hillside rockslide of tumbling faux boulders and a near miss collision with the infamous Runaway Train.
In 1971, Flash Flood showered guests with a unique behind-the-scenes look at movie weather effects. All these years later, the popular attraction continues to be a staple on the Studio Tour.
“Jaws Lake” took a bite out of the studio backlot in 1976, a year after Academy Award-winning filmmaker Steven Spielberg’s movie debuted, which has withstood the test of time as one of today’s premier Studio Tour attractions.
In 1989, “Earthquake” had guests clinging for their lives with its fabricated but eerily realistic 8.3 magnitude quake. All these years later, “Earthquake,” which continues to shake things up on the Studio Tour, will debut anew with updated and contemporary technology and aesthetics.
In 2005, an original movie set from Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster, “War of the Worlds” landed onto the backlot as a sprawling addition to the Studio Tour, in which trams traverse a key scene depicting a small town devastated by an elaborately choreographed 747 jetliner crash and surrounded by wreckage and debris.
When the 1986 King Kong attraction was destroyed in the 2008 backlot fire, the behemoth primate reemerged in 2010 as “King Kong 360-3D,” a signature attraction on the Studio Tour, inspired by filmmaker Peter Jackson’s Oscar-winning film.
The original Jupiter’s Claim set from Jordan Peele’s expansive horror epic, “Nope,” became the latest addition to the Studio Tour in 2022. The elaborate set was carefully disassembled post-production and transported to Universal Studios Hollywood where it was meticulously reconstructed on-site, complete with original props and details from the film for Universal Studio Tour fans to enjoy.
What’s Next for the Universal Studio Tour?
The Studio Tour of today continues to build on its rich history and like many great blockbuster films, creates a foundation for the next big sequel… and therein lies the origins of Universal Studios Hollywood.
2024 celebrates the Universal Studio Tour 60th anniversary, the more than 200 million guests who have experienced this attraction and, ultimately, Universal Studios Hollywood’s storied history. More information will be shared soon highlighting the program planned for the Studio Tour’s 60th anniversary.
Click here for more information about the Universal Studio Tour.
