Universal Studios Hollywood – History

1909

IMP (International Motion Picture Company) founded by Carl Laemmle.

1912

The Universal Film Manufacturing Company formed.
August: Universal takes control of the Nestor Studio Operations in Hollywood. The Nestor ranch or Providencia ranch in the San Fernando Valley was called the “Oak Crest Ranch” in the film trade publications. Movie production begins.
December 3: The Oak Crest Studio grounds were open to the Public. The location of Bison 101 brand of western movies.

1913

July 10: With an eye to publicity opportunities, a second official opening is held of the Oak Crest ranch, as it is formally named ‘Universal City’.

August 13: Fifty Chimallo Indians from the Isleta reservation near Albuquerque, N. Mexico, are moved permanently to Oak Crest and installed in their new quarters, along with 100 head of horses recently purchased in New Mexico.

September: Universal City (Oak Crest Ranch) Tour began bus excursions from downtown Los Angeles

From Moving Picture World around 1913:
Plans for the biggest outdoor motion picture studio in the world have been completed by the Universal Company and will be carried out within the next year. The Universal Company has just purchased 12,000 acres of land in the San Fernando valley near the railroad station of Lankershim and about eight miles from Los Angeles.

Surveyors are now laying it out and preliminary construction work is in progress. The property, which has been named “Oak Crest,” takes in among other natural objects, a mountain range, a river and a grove of timber. Leasing arrangements have also been made whereby the Universal Company will have the exclusive use of 8,000 acres of land adjoining its new property, with the privilege of purchase.

Those who have time and inclination may figure out for themselves that a tract of land eight miles long and four miles wide contains, in round figures, 20,000 acres, and this will give some idea of the magnitude of the Universal’s new plant.

There are to be six mammoth stages capable of accommodating the biggest productions, and two of them will be of solid concrete so that horses and heavy wagons may be used on them, and fires built if necessary. The stages are now being built.

At one place the river is to be dammed and an artificial lake constructed. A few buildings are now under way and others are to be erected without delay. The initial outlay will amount to about $60,000, but the plans call for the expenditure of more than $1,000,000 in the next five years.

It is the intention of the company to make the new plant merely an addition to its present holdings in this locality. In all probability the Western headquarters of the Universal Company will remain at the old Nestor plant, Sunset Boulevard and Gower Street, Hollywood. A large part of the Western output of the company is now being made at this studio, although the cameras will be sent out to the new place within a week.

On August 13 fifty Chimallo Indians from the Isleta reservation near Albuquerque, N. Mex., were moved to Oak Crest and installed in their new quarters. With them went 100 head of horses recently purchased in New Mexico. Accommodations for 300 people, in addition to the Indians, are being built and Mr. Gilmore, the Western general manager, says that the payroll will exceed $250,000 a year.
[The Moving Picture World, from Jerry’s Movie Locations]

1914

March: Carl Laemmle’s representative bought four tracts of land (Taylor, Boag, Davis and Hershey ranches) for $165,000. The 230 acre Taylor Ranch was to become the new Universal City Studio plant and the other three ranches the Back ranch.

Oak Crest Ranch / Universal operations began the move to the Lankershim, Universal City property.

Oct. 14. Universal City’s third grand opening; this event was for the Universal employees. At this time Carl Laemmle announced the official public opening was planned for February 2, 1915. All of Universal’s west coast operations had now moved to the Lankershim (Universal City) property.

Damon and Pythius was the first film wholly completed on the site in 1914.

From The Moving Picture World (October 3, 1914)

Building Universal City
Great Enterprise of the Universal Film Manufacturing Company in California Rapidly Taking Form.

The Universal’s long heralded city, the aim for two years of Carl Laemmle and his associates, is rapidly becoming a concrete reality. In the new site in the San Bernardino Valley [sic] there is rapidly rising a city capable of accommodating 15,000 souls, built for the express purpose of making motion pictures, the first city of its kind ever constructed by the hand of man.
This city has one peculiarity which marks it out from every other municipality. It is a chameleon, or a changeable city. When the plans for it were made the architects, landscape artists, engineers and directors were told to keep this one idea uppermost: the greatest usefulness with the least amount of construction. For that reason every building which has been put up or which is planned is designed to have a four or five fold usefulness. Every facade of every building is of a different type of architecture and usually represents a different kind of usefulness. For instance, a building designed primarily for a saddlery shop and a blacksmithy has one front elevation which looks like this kind of a building. From the other three angles it has the appearance of a Gothic hunting lodge, military barracks and a Wild West ranch. In addition to this any one of these front elevations can be changed in thirty-six hours to represent an entirely different kind and character of building.
This idea has been carried out throughout the entire city and landscapes have been treated in the same way–that is, viewed from one side they present a certain aspect; from the opposite direction the character, climatic or sectional, is of an entirely different sort. This will enable a director who under ordinary circumstances would have a certain number of good locations in such an extremely favored site as Universal City to construct from ten to twenty more scenes with the same locations, which can be changed under the skillful guidance of the general manager.
There is work and work galore in Universal City before it will begin to represent the elaborate and crafty plans of Mr. Laemmle and his lieutenants. In the first place after the plans of the city had been made the different streets had to be paved, and it was all done with asphalt and macadam. Every stream and gully had to be spanned by a bridge or viaduct and here comes the first intimation of how changeable the complexion of the city can be. Every bridge is so constructed that it can take on the aspect of a Japanese arch bridge, a Roman stone paved bridge or a steel cantilever bridge, or in fact any other kind of a bridge for which a director has need in the production of a scenario.
All of the streets had to be scientifically paved and piped for gas, electricity and sewer mains. The main boulevard of the city is six miles long and this taken in conjunction with other main streets and cross streets will give the reader an idea of the amount of work which the Street Department alone had to do. The piping for water alone was an important item, for every building is so equipped, and the city itself is probably supplied with the best water which can be obtained in California. Its reservoir is fed by seven artesian wells which give water 99 per cent. pure at the rate of 300,000 gallons per day. The roadways of the city are peculiar in that they are made in different widths and the styles of top dressing so that there will be as great a variety in this respect for the director to choose from as possible.
The zoo, which will be housed in especially constructed buildings and cages, has been taken intact from the ranch and with the additions which have since been made to it it is now the largest and finest privately owned menagery in the world today.
The administration building will cost $30,000 and its four facades are all different, representing different styles of architecture and apparently different exteriors. The laboratory which is being built has also the same peculiarity of exterior appearance and will cost $25,000. An exhibition theater which takes on either the appearance of a city or a country theater at the behest of a director will cost the company just exactly $8,000. There are barracks for the housing of the Universal’s troop of expert cavalryment and a bunk house for the cowboys. All of these are modern, clean, sanitary and wholesome and beside this they can be used for many other things from the moving picture standpoint.
One of the most picturesque spots in the city is the Indian village, which is the largest in America and is inhabited by a tribe of redmen who are encouraged to pursue their life and adorn themselves as grotesquely as possible.
The wonderful revolving stage is one of the most up-to-date features of this city. The location of the stage has been chosen with a view to vistas which can be seen through the windows.
The wardrobe department is a building standing alone and occupies a floor space of 50 x 100 feet. It contains a wardrobe of every conceivable sort which is valued in the rough at about $35,000. In addition to this the costume shops which are nearby are so arranged that they [can work] to turn out the designs which are required by every [period] dress from the era of palm leaf girdles to the present [?]. [The] costume shops contain twenty electrically operated weaving machines and the work is supervised by one of the best known costume designers obtainable, who is able to outfit a picture in the proper costumes demanded by any age.
There are two hospitals and infirmaries thoroughly equipped with every medical equipment for surgical and pathological remedy and these are under the direction of the two Universal physicians, Doctors Lloyd Mace and F. Lamberson, assisted by a corps of trained nurses. Treatment in these hospitals is also defrayed by the Universal.
The first notable incident of the mobility of the new city was shown in the preparation of a thrilling scene for “Trey of Hearts.” The director knew of just the proper location for a fire and for a daring rescue by means of a rope acting as a pendulum, but sad to relate this scene is in Jersey City, N. J., and that was three thousand miles away. It was out of the question to take a company that distance in order to stage this one scene, and even then the city fathers of the city on the heights would not have consented to the total destruction of one of their office buildings even for the edification of ten million moving picture fans, who are following the destinies of this stirring serial drama. The only thing to do was to reconstruct the scene from buildings already standing and this was done in three days, and the result was so perfect that New Yorkers who gazed upon it in wonder were compelled to pinch themselves before they could realize that they were in California and not New Jersey, but the scene was speedily burnt to the ground and this newest of cities, the Chamelon, once more resumed its work-a-day color.
[From Jerry’s Movie Locations]

From The Moving Picture World (date unknown)
Improvements at the monster motion picture plant of the Universal company at Oak Crest in the San Fernando valley are going forward rapidly. There are now four big stages completed besides a Western town which has been built for the double purposes of backgrounds and utilitarian use. The fixed population at Oak Crest, including the Indians now numbers about 300. The company has about 20,000 acres of land with a sure enough mountain range on the ranch and by the first of the year will have the largest motion picture plant in the world.
[The Moving Picture World, from Jerry’s Movie Locations]

From The Moving Picture World (date unknown)

UNIVERSAL CITY MOVES.
Big Undertaking Conducted Rapidly by Large Force of Employees
Many Improvements in Big Plant.
The work of removing Universal City from its temporary location a few miles outside of Hollywood, California, [Providencia Ranch] to its permanent site on the new ranch, purchased by the company for that purpose is going forward with a rush. Under the direction of Wallace Kerrigan, buildings that have long seen service in the production of the famous Universal dramas and western comedies, are being razed to the ground, loaded upon big auto trucks and flat-topped wagons and hauled over two miles of mountain roads to the new ranch.
The first part of the original city to be moved to the new site was the Zoo, and the day of its removal was one of intense excitement to everyone about the ranch, particularly to Mr. Kerrigan and to James Barnes, the head animal trainer for the Universal Company. Lions and tigers, leopards and coyotes, bears and wolves, together with the hundred odd animals that go to make up the menagerie were loaded cages and all, upon the trucks and driven growling and roaring along the canyon road to the New City. The roads are rough and rutted and for the most part built “on end,” and a dozen times as the wagons lurched and twisted this way and that, the danger of overturning the wagons or of tipping off the cages was imminent.
As for the construction of the New City, itself, only by actual observation can any time be gained as to the speed with which it is going up. Already the new cages and pens for the animals have been partitioned off for the thoroughbred English saddle-stock, corrals strung for the heavier draft animals and hay barns stand finished and partly filled with bales. The foundations for fully one-half of the buildings have been started and the frameworks for the greater part of these are already being raised, while several of the buildings stand completed and ready for occupancy. William Horsley has charge of this work.
Among these is the quarters for the Universal crack cavalry troop. It consists of a long, well-lighted living room and equally large, light bunk room, concrete floored baths and lavatories and everything that Manager Bernstein of the Hollywood Studios, could think of to add to their comfort. Electricity is used for lighting, and running water has been piped in from a clear, cold spring in a neighboring canyon. Needless to say the boys are overjoyed and are waiting anxiously for the orders to move in.
A quarter of a mile of concrete side walks has been laid and many times that amount soon will be in. A temporary cook house has been erected to serve until the permanent dining room has been completed.
The old original Universal City will soon be a thing of the past, but, like the Phoenix of old, up from the ashes is arising the head of a newer and better Universal city, destined to be the western home of the leader of film manufacturing companies.  [The Moving Picture World]

1915

When Laemmle learned the new facilities would not be ready by February, the official opening date was moved to March 15,1915. The delay allowed the two public relations events, the Great Train Ride from the east coast and a Beauty Contest Parade entering the main gates on March 15, 1915.

The Oak Crest Ranch became known as the “Universal Ranch” until it was leased as the Lasky Ranch in 1916, the site today is Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)

Universal City had an official opening event on March 15 1915

Carl Laemmle invited members of the public to watch films being made (in exchange for a 25 cents admission fee). A chicken lunch box was also available for a nickel; the first step towards the Universal Studios theme park we know today!

1922

Extensive outdoor construction on the backlot for Von Stroheim’s ‘Foolish Wives’

1924

MCA (Music Corporation of America) is formed, as a booking agency for bands. Founder Dr Jules Stein and President Lew Wasserman would have a large part to play in the future of Universal in the 1950s.

July – Construction starts on Stage 28 for The Phantom of the Opera

1928

Stage 12 is constructed, for the innovative musical “Broadway” – brand new methods were created for moving the heavy early cameras, and this was the first movie to be lit entirely with tungsten lamps, allowing a lot more control and more subtle lighting.

1930

Following the advent of “talkies” around 1930 the studio had reluctantly to close the doors to paying visitors as the stages were not sufficiently soundproofed.

1935

As studio earnings were lower than expected, Carl Laemmle had to take out a loan of $750,000 to keep the studio afloat as Showboat (1936) was due to start production shortly. He agreed to a gamble – if he didn’t repay the loan on time, the investment company Standard Capital could buy Universal for a flat $5.5m. Unfortunately, he lost the gamble.

1936

Universal Pictures bought by Standard Capital. The studio is renamed ‘New Universal Studios’.

Showboat is released less than 2 months after Standard Capital takes control, and is a big box-office success. The Laemmle family can only watch from the sidelines.

1939

Carl Laemmle dies on 24 September, age 72, having lost the studio he built from scratch.

1946

Universal merges with International Pictures to become Universal International

1952

Decca Records becomes the new owner of Universal.

1956

Gray Line Bus Tours have Universal International Studios part of their Hollywood tour, along with movie star homes and other Hollywood landmarks such as Will Rogers home and Disney Studios. The bus travelled around the backlot, seeing Colonial Street, Courthouse Square, the Tower of London set, western streets, and learning about the use of facades etc. Although there were no ‘attractions’ on the tour, visitors appreciated the variety of different locations that had been built on the backlot.

1957

$500,000 fire destroys the New York Street backlot sets.

1959

MCA buys the Universal lot, mainly to enable them to make TV programmes using the backlot and studio facilities.
Construction starts on Stage 1.

1960

Spartacus, directed by Stanley Kubrick, makes extensive use of the backlot and studio facilities.

1961

Start of Tram Tours. The studio commissary (staff restaurant) was in need of a business boost. Albert Dorskind (1922-2004) was the president of MCA at the time, and realised he could increase studio income by inviting tour buses to drive through the lot and stop off at the commissary during quiet periods. His first contract was with Gray Line Tour buses, but it soon became clear that the most lucrative move would be to run the tours themselves.

The Jack Benny Show moved into the newly opened Stage 1.

1962

1962 to 1964: Revue Studios Tour – conducted by Tanner Gray Line Motor Tours, “Dine with the stars” and a bus excursions on the backlot.

MCA acquires Decca and also Universal Pictures and leaves the talent agency business behind.

To Kill A Mockingbird is released, having shot entirely on the backlot.

Universal City Plaza Project – this large building project around the front lot consists of the MCA Tower (see below), the Commissary, a bank, a post office and production offices.

1963

July 9: The MCA Tower (“Black Tower”) on the Front Lot is dedicated. The ceremony is commemorated by the production of “Golden Rivets”.

1964

February 4 1964
A program to build additional stages and to upgrade electrical equipment is launched. 

From the Valley Times February 4 1964
Set for immediate construction are four new sound stages; a new transportation center; a new industrial crafts center; new editorial, wardrobe, make-up and hairdressing buildings and an electrical conversion plant. 
Completion of the four stages, which will be ready for use by August, will give Universal a total of 36 stages, thus making it the largest studio in the world, not only in area – 408 acres – but also in the number and size of its’ sound stages. 
The present 32 stages range in size from 149 x 200 feet to 60 x 70 feet. The new stages will be 100 x 140 feet in area. 
The new stages will be constructed on a site adjacent to the sites’ oldest stage, known as the Phantom Stage because it was built for Lon Chaney’s “Phantom of the Opera” in 1924. 
The studio’s electrical conversion plant has been redesigned and work will begin shortly on the installation of new equipment that will give the studio an output of 3,000 kilowatts, or 3,000,000 watts. 
On the drawing boards are plans for a second power plant that will eventually give the studio a power output of 40,000 kilowatts, enough to completely service a town of 10,000 population. 
This new building activity is in addition to the current ahead of schedule work now being done on Universal City Plaza, a five building complex. 
Of these, the commissary and bank and production building will be completed by June; the U.S. Post Office shortly thereafter, and the 14-story tower will be ready for October occupancy. 

Universal Studios Hollywood officially created. Albert Dorskind (see above) persuades MCA Chairman Lew Wasserman to invest $4 million in designing trams and building food courts, parking lots and restrooms.

From LA Times July 19 1964
In operation since July 15 are the first two trams, each of which cost Universal $30,000. There is a full-time staff of 20 – plus, of course, the incidental personnel of the studio. The present tour – conducted, naturally, at a financial loss – is considered a dry run, although refreshments are available along the route. ) The expectation for 1965 is of a dozen trams departing profitably at three- or five-minute intervals with as many as 500,000 passengers a year. 

July 15 1964, the Universal Studios Tour begins featuring newly created pink and white-striped GlamorTrams. Along with the studio commissary, there was also the following on the menu (served from the commissary basement)

  • An exhibition of designs by celebrated movie costume designer Edith Head.
  • A brief make-up demonstration (show production by Bud Westmore)
  • A push-button monster
  • A walk through Doris Day’s dressing room (not in the commissary basement!)
  • A Western shootout performance by two stunt men (this wasn’t in the commissary basement either).

The total staff dedicated to this part of the studio operation was one ticket seller, two guides and two tram drivers. Admission was $2.50 for adults and $1.50 for children.
From this point, the evolution was gradual, but steady.

1965

March 28: Universal City Schoolhouse on the Universal frontlot is demolished. Young stars such as Ann Blyth, Donald O’Connor, Deanna Dean had classes there.

Visitor’s Entertainment Center built at a cost of $5 million “where special effects are illustrated along the movie streets of the world”.
The visitor entrance to the Universal Studios Tour was moved from Lankershim to the upper lot. Various photo opportunities were added to the tour.
The Stunt Show is performed in the Action Arena.

1967

May 15: $1million fire destroys a large portion of the backlot sets.

The Universal Tour Entertainment Center (Upper Lot) is opened for the start of the Studio Tram Tour, with the Stunt Show now sharing the Action Arena with an early incarnation of the Animal Actors show.

Ma and Pa Kettle Farm is opened to show off animal actors (date is approximate)

1968

Flash Flood set added to the Studio Tour.

1969

The Sheraton Universal Hotel opened to accommodate guests in Universal City.

Universal Amphitheater under construction.

1970

Animal Actors Training Stage appears on the Upper Lot.

Adam 12 ‘Stage 70’ attraction opens and the stunt show moves to the newly constructed Universal Amphitheater.

1971

Torpedo Attack / Submarine set added to the Studio Tour.

Dirty Harry shot on New York Street

1972

The outdoor Universal Amphitheater becomes a rock concert venue as the park expands across the hills overlooking the backlot. The Amphitheater is the venue for the Stunt Show during the day, and on summer evenings it’s a high-specification concert venue.

1973

The parting of the Red Sea becomes a feature of the Universal Studios Tour.

The Burning House sets the Studio Tour “aflame” for the first time.

The Universal Amphitheater expands to 5200 seats to accommodate rapidly rising concert attendances.

1974

Rockslide added to the Studio Tour, on the hillside currently supporting the rear of the Simpsons Ride building.

Collapsing Bridge added to the Studio Tour.

Earthquake shot on soundstages and New York Street sets

1975

August: The “Land of 1000 Faces Make-Up Show” is premiered in an open-air auditorium on the future site of the Castle Theatre.

Treacherous Quicksand Pit becomes a feature of the Stunt Show.

The Runaway Train becomes a feature of the Universal Studios Tour.

The Ice Tunnel added to the Studio Tour, inspired by the Clint Eastwood movie The Eiger Sanction. The attraction has been rethemed twice since construction and is currently known as The Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb.

1976

April 10: Jaws Experience (featuring a 25 foot long shark) begins terrorising the Studio Tour, following the outstanding success of the 1975 movie. The original “Bruce the shark” prop from the movie goes on display in the Upper Lot.

1977

The Screen Test Theater makes it’s debut on the Upper Lot using Emergency! as it’s theme.

Six Million Dollar Man® / Bionic Woman® Testing Center (“BIONIC” special effects demo) opens in Stage 32, replacing the Special Effects Stages.

1978

Airport ’77 opens in the Screen Test Comedy Theater.

1979

Carl Laemmle Jr. dies, 40 years to the day after his father.

Battle of Galactica attraction is added to the Tram tour. The tram is stopped by a robot in a tank and ordered into a soundstage where an elaborate robotic laser attack is enacted on the tram. The Battle show building replaces the Rockslide – the whole attraction took 9 months to build.

1980

Universal Amphitheater closes for renovation (including a roof) and reopens in 1982.

The Castle Dracula show opens in the newly constructed Castle Theatre

John Landis comedy The Blues Brothers shot on the backlot and on a number of locations.

1981

Backlot location Colonial Street is moved across the backlot. Some of the original Colonial Street is used to construct Industrial Street.

Womphoppers restaurant opens as the Visitors Centre expands.
?Fung Lum restaurant opens just off the property.

June 6 & 7: Japanese Cultural Festival

1982

Universal Amphitheater reopens with 6251 seats.

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas shot on soundstages

1983

November 29th – Universal Studios Hollywood is featured in the “Steel” episode of The A Team, season two. Blue and white trams can be seen, along with a green trolleycar-type tram used for VIP tours. Other attractions visible include Jaws, The Burning House and The Ice Tunnel.

The Adventures of Conan: Sword and Sorcery Spectacular opens (created with Landmark Entertainment) in the Castle Theatre, based on the film Conan the Barbarian. Landmark were also working on the 2010 Special Effect Stage.

1984

The A-Team Live Action Stunt Show premieres on the future site of Miami Vice and WaterWorld.

Knight Rider car – A unique opportunity to sit in Michael Knights car KITT, and ask him/it questions.

1985

February 8-10 and 15-17 – He-Man & Masters of the Universe themed meet and greet

July – Transformers themed meet and greet on the Upper Lot.

Courthouse Square is transformed forever for Back to the Future

The Color Purple shot on the backlot and on location.

1986

March 18 – At the time the world’s largest animated figure, weighed in at seven tons, measuring over 30 feet tall, covered in 660 pounds of fur and with a bad case of banana breath – King Kong is added to the Studio Tour in his own 26,000 square foot New York themed soundstage. He’s modelled after the star of Dino de Laurentis’ 1976 movie version.

?date – Sound Tracks recording studio opens on the Upper Lot.

1987

September 4 – Fire destroys Spartacus Square sets.

The Cineplex Odeon (now the AMC CityWalk) opens, along with new parking structure, and new access road (Universal Center Drive) across the freeway. This is before CityWalk was built. 

1988

The top deck expansion, including the Frankenstein parking structure, French Street, future site of T2:3D / Despicable Me, Moulin Rouge, Mel’s Diner is completed. 

The Star Trek Adventure debuts.

Miami Vice Stunt Spectacular occupies the arena adjacent to the Universal Amphitheatre. The TV series was in production 1984-1989. This show replaces the A-Team Live Action Stunt Show.

Fall – Another stop on the ever-expanding Studio Tour is the world’s greatest natural disaster: Earthquake – The Big One. Simulating an earthquake measuring 8.3 on the Richter scale, its opening marked the most successful attraction debut in history. Earthquake the movie was released in 1975. The “soundstage” in which the attraction is housed was specially built and replaced the Tower of London set adjacent to Denver street on the backlot.

1989

Some of the house sets on Colonial Street are rearranged for Tom Hanks comedy The ‘burbs.

Universal Studios Hollywood has a record year for attendance, with visitors increasing by 21%, which is down to the runaway success of the Earthquake attraction.

1990

MCA purchased by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd.

November 6th – A large fire on the backlot destroyed up to a fifth of the permanent backlot sets including the New York Street, and some period cars for the Sylvester Stallone film Oscar. A security guard was later charged with arson.

May – Fievel’s Playland is the first children’s play area, including a live outdoor stage-based musical based on “An American Tail” (1986), on the future site of T2:3D.

June – Universal Orlando opens in Florida. A much larger area means larger versions of the Hollywood favourites are possible. Among the first attractions are versions of the Earthquake, Jaws and King Kong attractions at Hollywood that are single self-contained attractions rather than being parts of the tram tour.

1991

March 15 – Following an unprecedented multi-million dollar expansion, the lower lot (named the “Studio Center”) is added to the attractions with the ¼ mile Universal Starway escalator linking it to the upper lot. The Studio Tour and World of Cinemagic are also now based at the Studio Center, as is the Lucille Ball exhibition “Lucy: A Tribute.”

June In the new lower lot The E.T. Adventure premieres, based on Steven Spielberg’s enduring saga, inviting guests to soar on starbound bicycles in an effort to help E.T. find his way home.

The Blues Brothers debut performance in the park.

1992

Summer: Beetlejuice Graveyard Revue opens. The show was originally in an outdoor venue and moved into the Castle Theatre later during it’s 7 year run.

July: The fiery Backdraft attraction opens with a burst of heat, based on the Ron Howard film.

September 24: A fire in air-conditioning ducts above Backdraft causes the attraction to be evacuated. No members of the public panic as they thought the black smoke was part of the presentation.

The Burning House is finally extinguished as Backdraft takes over as the primary flaming attraction, and the Battle of Galactica is finally won (or lost) in preparation for the construction of Back to the Future – The Ride.

The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show opens (outdoor stage next to War Lord Tower).

Beethoven shot on the backlot, at a new neighbourhood built at the upper boundary of the studio.

1993

May – Universal Citywalk opens immediately outside the gates of the theme park.

June – 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.

1994

Flintstones Musical Revue opens (replacing Star Trek Adventure) and Universal Studios Hollywood celebrates 30 years of operation with a laser and fireworks spectacular called Spectrablast and a giant magic show Cinemystique: Illusions of the Night.

1995

The Seagram Company Ltd. buys control of MCA and Universal Pictures.

July 4th – The Making of Apollo 13 attraction opened

Autumn – The live stunt show Waterworld – A Live Sea War Spectacular opens, based on the Kevin Costner epic, following Universal’s history of pushing the envelope on blending high-tech special effects, pyrotechnics and human stunt artists. Part of the Miami Vice stunt show set is retained, along with some props actually used in the Waterworld movie.

30 November: Fire Station 51 facility is dedicated.

1996

Matt Stone and Trey Parker (long before South Park) make the short film “Your Studio And You” parodying 1950’s corporate films. The 15 minute black & white film is commissioned by Universal executives, shortly after the studio was purchased by Seagrams. Click for more information.

Jurassic Park – The Ride opens in the lower lot, setting new standards for ride design and theming, and bringing Steven Spielberg’s 1993 film roaring to life!
To accommodate it, the Studio Tour departure point moves back to the Upper Lot, where it’s situated today.

1997

January 2 – The Flintstones Musical Revue closes

July 14th – A VIP tram catches fire at Six Points Texas – no one is hurt, but the tram and a section of Livery Stable set is damaged.

September 6th – A fire in a chemical store adjacent to Courthouse Square destroys the north side of the square. The sets are immediately rebuilt to the same designs.

Totally Nickelodeon attraction opens (replacing the Flintstones Musical Revue) and Fievel’s Playland closes in preparation for the construction of the show building for Terminator 2: 3D.

The Land Before Time show opens.

The Ice Tunnel is rethemed as a mine shaft through a volcano for Dante’s Peak.

1998

Aquazone is a water play area adjacent to the future site of Terminator 2/3D.

Feb 18 – Victoria Station restaurant becomes Marvel Mania – a restaurant chain venture by Planet Hollywood and Marvel Entertainment.

June 29 – Small Solders – Behind the Scenes Experience

Western Shoot Out in Denver Street

1999

May – The epic adventure Terminator 2/3D opens, featuring a state-of-the-art multi-million dollar 70mm 3D movie along with incredible live action effects and stunts. The theatre is custom built to house this attraction on a reinforced parking structure.

September – Beetlejuice Graveyard Revue closes after a 7 year run. The Castle Theatre is “dark” for the next two years, apart from one-off special shows and corporate events.

September 10 – Marvel Mania restaurant closes as the restaurant chain goes out of business.

November 18 – Globe Theatre opens in the former Winston’s Grill building opposite Terminator 2/3D. The venue is used for corporate events, meetings and banquets.

The Sheraton Universal Hotel is remodelled.

2000

June 9 The Rugrats Magic Adventure replaces Totally Nickelodeon.

June 10 – Walkthrough maze based on the animated film Chicken Run opens on the Upper Lot in the former Marvel Mania restaurant.

Summer – The Studio Tour is updated with new LCD monitor screens, JBL sound system and DVD playback in the redesigned tour vehicles.

November 17 – Grinchmas event across the park to celebrate the release of The Grinch, filmed entirely on the studio lot.

2001

?Shrek Live show outside Castle Theatre.

Spring – New 30,000 square foot interactive attraction, Nickelodeon Blast Zone including The Wild Thornberry’s Adventure Temple. The War Lord Tower, a feature of the Upper Lot since the start of the Tram Tour in 1964, is demolished to make room for it.
The water play area Aquazone, adjacent to Terminator 2:3D is rethemed as Coke Soak .

April – Animal Actors Stage has been rebranded to become Animal Planet Live!. The Animal Actors show moves into the Castle Theatre while the refurbishment takes place.

May – The Mummy Returns Chamber of Doom opens on the Upper Lot. The Ice Tunnel is rethemed once more as The Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb to tie in with the Mummy films.

The Jaws Experience is upgraded with new fire effects to become Jaws on Fire!

September – Rugrats Magic Adventure show closes to prepare for Shrek 4D in 2003.

2002

6th January – Wild West Stunt Show closes. The arena it occupied is still unused today apart from being transformed into a maze during the Halloween Horror Nights event.

March – Special Effects Stages opens spread across three former Cinemagic sound stages. Gladiator, Jurassic Park and The Mummy are featured in the demonstrations.

May – Spider-Man Rocks! opens in the Castle Theatre.

Frankie Muniz comedy Big Fat Liar brings the backlot and Prop Warehouse onto the big screen.

2003

14 March – E.T. The Adventure closes to make room for Revenge of the Mummy.

May 10 – Shrek 4D opens having replaced The Rugrats Magic Adventure Show.

Bruce Almighty shot on New York Street and Falls Lake

2004

January – The Mummy Returns: Chamber of Doom walkthrough is closed to be rethemed.

May Van Helsing: Fortress Dracula walk-through maze opens, replacing The Mummy Returns: Chamber of Doom.

June 25 – Revenge of the Mummy indoor rollercoaster opens having replaced E.T. The Adventure.

August 2nd – Spider-Man Rocks! closes.

2005

Fear Factor Live opens in the Castle Theatre.

June 29th – War of the Worlds set added to the Studio Tour.

October – The Collapsing Bridge is quietly retired from the Studio Tour. The vintage attraction was the second mechanical effect to be added to the backlot tram tour (in 1972, after the Flash Flood in 1971) and is believed to have been decommissioned due to the cost of running repairs. (It’s put back into operation in 2008).

December 14 – King Kong appears on the Upper Lot fresh from the New York premiere.

2006

December: The NBC Universal Vision Plan is launched, proposing expansions / updating of production facilities, moving a number of Studio Tour attractions, adding new attractions and building a large residential development on areas of the backlot.

The Animal Planet Live stage is rethemed back to Universal Animal Actors.

May 26 – Picture Cars and animatronic dinosaurs are moved into position and the Greens Department is renamed the Transportation Department.

June – The new Studio Tour is unveiled. The Fast and the Furious replaces the Dantes Peak model set. New HD screens, a new Studio Tour video host (Whoopi Goldberg), new video introduction to the Flash Flood (from Al Roker, NBC weatherman) and a photo opportunity featuring the hosts of NBC’s Access Hollywood finishes a great series of upgrades.

July – The upgrades continue with a new street stunt show featuring Zorro, adjacent to the sadly missed (still empty) Wild West Show venue, and new paintjobs all over the Upper Lot.

October – Halloween Horror Nights 13 runs over 7 nights

November 4: Van Helsing walk-through closes to be replaced by Universal’s House of Horrors in Spring 2007.

Evan Almighty in production on Stage 27 and Falls Lake.

2007

February – Refurbishment of the CityWalk Cinema complex.

March 31 – Universal’s House of Horrors opens in the former Van Helsing building.

King Kong moved from the Upper Lot

September: Back to the Future: The Ride closes

October: The Kwik-E-Mart Simpsons merchandise store opens in the former Time Depot building next to the future home of The Simpsons ride.

31 December: Marvel characters disappear from USH.

National Treasure: Book of Secrets in production on Stage 12 and Falls Lake.

2008

Spring: A new simulator ride based on The Simpsons opened.

1 June: A massive backlot fire destroys the New York Street facades, half of Courthouse Square, and the King Kong attraction.

The Collapsing Bridge is refurbished and reopened to entertain tram guests once more (and to give the tram something to do in the devastated New York Streets area).

2009

Creature from the Black Lagoon: The Musical opens (Spring) and closes shortly afterwards.

December: The New York Street sets reopen after a mammoth reconstruction job.

2010

June 26th: Special Effects Stage opens in the Castle Theatre after the premature closure of the Creature from the Black Lagoon musical.

Transformers: The Ride under construction (for a 2012 opening)

King Kong 360 3D debuts

The Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb is rethemed to the Grinch’s Cave for Grinchmas

2011

The Wild West sets adjacent to the former Wild West Show arena are removed from the Upper Lot. Eventually replaced with Universal Plaza. 

2012

May 25th: Transformers: The Ride opens.

December 31st: Terminator 2: 3D closes.

2013

Attractions closed to make way for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter:
The Adventures of Curious George
Wild Thornberry’s Adventure Temple
Universal Amphitheatre

2014

April 12th: Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem opens
September: Stage 28 demolished.

2015

April: Springfield restaurants opened on the Upper Lot.

2016

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens on 7th April

2021

The Secret Life of Pets opens on the former site of The Globe event space.

2023

Super Nintendo World opens in February

2024

March: Newly decorated GlamorTrams are unveiled (these are existing diesel-powered trams) 

April 21: New GlamorTram involved in a crash as it heads towards the Flash Flood attraction on the Studio Tour around 9pm. 10 people have minor injuries, and 1 is seriously injured. 

June: The theme park celebrates 60 years of the Universal Studio Tour.