Jaws at Universal Studios Hollywood: A History of Terror and Pop Culture

The Jaws attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood has been a source of terror and excitement for park visitors for decades. Inspired by the blockbuster film series, this attraction has evolved from a simple tram tour experience to a thrilling ride that has captured the imagination of generations. This article delves into the history of Jaws at Universal Studios Hollywood, exploring its origins, evolution, and enduring appeal.

From Film to Theme Park: The Genesis of Jaws

Following the massive success of the 1975 film Jaws, Universal Studios sought to capitalize on its popularity. Executives envisioned bringing the terror of Jaws to life, creating an attraction that would immerse visitors in the world of Amity Island. Designers from the film were brought in to help realize this vision, and construction began in 1975 at the bottom of a hillside, in the shadow of the Psycho house, on the site of the former Singapore Lake.

The original concept was an expanded version of the Jaws miniature attraction featured in the Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood in California. The existing Southeast Asian-style houses were redressed to resemble the New England beach town from the movie.

Creating Amity: Setting the Scene

The designers meticulously recreated the atmosphere of Amity Island. According to John Murdy, the creative director for Universal Studios Hollywood, the candy-striped changing rooms, billboards, and other details were all mimicked from the film. Even Steven Spielberg contributed to the authenticity by providing the Orca, Captain Quint's boat from the movie. The Orca was docked at the other end of the pond, along with Ben Gardner’s boat.

The final touch was a wooden carved fisherman named George, possibly a reference to George Lucas, Spielberg's friend.

The Original Jaws Encounter: A Two-Minute Thrill

The park designers faced the challenge of condensing the essence of Jaws into a brief tram ride. They opted to follow Spielberg's approach, teasing the shark's presence through glimpses of its dorsal fin and a surprise attack, culminating in a climactic reveal.

In a 1976 press release, Universal described the experience: As the tram approaches the calm waters of the bay, a fisherman is noticed off to the right… patiently awaiting the day’s first catch. Suddenly, a huge dorsal fin heads in the boat’s direction and begins circling. Before tram passengers have a chance to gasp, the fisherman’s line is jerked backwards and he and his dinghy sink rapidly into the water, leaving only a circle of blood to tell its terrible tale. Not without horror, the tram quickly moves on, traversing a pier built decades before… Again, unexpectedly and off in the distance, flotation barrels with shark bait lines tumble into the water, the line dragging them across the bay and under the water by some massive force. A fragment of the pier is towed out to sea, collapsing the main section under the tram and leaving all aboard dangerously approaching the water level. Out of the water lunges the Great White Shark! Its teeth deadly sharp and close, its size and intent horrifying! Luckily, the “jaws” are only threatening, not biting, and the unbelievable sea creature sinks back into the water. The tramload of would-be shark victims is saved and, as it limps off the pier, only memories of an incredible Jaws sea drama remain.

Carrot Tooth and Beyond: The Evolution of Bruce

The original animatronic shark, nicknamed "Carrot Tooth" due to its comically large teeth, was designed by Jaws production designer Joe Alves. Despite its appearance, the attraction was an immediate success, becoming a signature stop on the backlot tour.

Over the years, the Jaws attraction has undergone several updates. The first shark revamp came in 1978 for Jaws 2, and there have been a handful since. In 2001, Murdy added a pyrotechnic element, dubbing it "Jaws on Fire."

Jaws Around the World: From Hollywood to Florida and Japan

The success of the Jaws attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood led to its expansion to other Universal parks.

Read also: The Ride That Was Jaws

Universal Studios Florida

The original attraction at Universal Studios Florida was inspired by the Hollywood tram experience. Following the opening of Jaws within the park on June 7, 1990, it experienced frequent breakdowns as a result of the elaborate special effects involved, as did other opening day rides Kongfrontation and Earthquake: The Big One. Eventually, Universal collaborated with Totally Fun Company, ITEC Entertainment, Intamin, and Oceaneering International, to install an entirely new ride system with modified special effects. One change resulted in the first scene, where Jaws bit onto the tour boat and turned it 180 degrees, being replaced with a gas dock explosion scene. Another change was with the finale, which was originally based on the ending of the first film.

Following the hurricanes that struck Central Florida in 2004, Universal was forced to temporarily close the ride in January 2005 due to the rising cost of petroleum, which was used to fuel the numerous pyrotechnical effects throughout the attraction as well as the tour boats. On December 2, 2011, Universal Orlando Resort announced that the Jaws attraction along with the entire Amity area of Universal Studios Florida would close permanently on January 2, 2012, to "make room for an exciting, NEW, experience." (the second phase of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.)

Universal Studios Japan

On March 31, 2001, Jaws officially opened at Universal Studios Japan.

Jaws in Pop Culture: Beyond the Theme Park

The Jaws attraction has transcended its theme park origins to become a part of popular culture. The Jaws lagoon has been featured in numerous television shows and films, including The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan’s Island, Diff'rent Strokes, Airwolf, The A-Team, Knight Rider, Columbo, The Blues Brothers, Mallrats, Casper, and Escape From L.A. It was also used as Cabot Cove, Maine, in the opening credits of Murder, She Wrote.

Even Family Guy parodied the attraction, using the theme park shark rather than the movie version.

Enduring Appeal: Why Jaws Still Thrills

Despite its age and numerous updates, the Jaws attraction continues to be a popular draw for visitors to Universal Studios Hollywood. Its enduring appeal lies in its simple yet effective storytelling, its ability to create a sense of immersion and suspense, and its connection to a beloved film franchise.

As Murdy notes, "The shark is goofy, but it still works, which is amazing. People still scream and you hear them screaming and freaking out when the shark attacks them."

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