Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour: A Journey Through 60 Years of Movie Magic

The Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour, a cornerstone of the park and a revolution in themed entertainment, is celebrating its 60th anniversary. What began as a simple way to boost commissary sales has evolved into a world-renowned attraction that has entertained over 200 million guests. From April 26 to August 11, 2024, Universal Studios Hollywood is celebrating this milestone with limited-time photo opportunities, merchandise, and retro-inspired treats. But beyond the festivities, the Studio Tour's rich history is a fascinating story of innovation and adaptation.

From Open Sets to Glamor Trams: The Early Years

Universal's tradition of welcoming the public to its sets dates back to 1915. Founder Carl Laemmle opened the studio doors to spectators, allowing them to witness the moviemaking process firsthand. According to John Murdy, a Universal Studios Hollywood creative director and former Studio Tour guide, "You could literally watch movies get made." This early tour was unstructured, a stark contrast to the modern experience. One major difference: films were silent, minimizing distractions on set.

Fast forward to 1964, Hollywood had transformed into a glamorous, large-scale industry. Third-party tours were already bringing tourists onto the Universal lot, with lunch stops at the Studio Commissary driving up sales. This uptick in lunch sales became the impetus for Universal's own Studio Tour.

A young executive named Jay Stein was tasked with managing this new venture, and he recruited Barry Upson, a designer of the 1964 Seattle World’s Fair, to realize Universal’s own backlot tour. Hollywood legend Harper Goff, responsible for the looks of several iconic 20th-century films, was brought on as the art director.

In its inaugural year, guests paid $2.50 (or $1.25 for kids) to board GlamorTrams for a tour of the Universal backlot. The two-hour experience included a look at outdoor film sets, a makeup demonstration, a costume display by designer Edith Head, and a two-man stunt show. While modest compared to the theme park of today, the Studio Tour offered something revolutionary: access to a movie set, previously reserved for industry insiders. As LA Times film critic Philip K. Scheuer noted, what was once exclusive was now a mass-market product.

Guaranteeing Excitement: The Evolution of the Tour

Stein quickly realized that simply showing movie sets wasn't enough. Seeing an actor was unpredictable, and studios themselves could be quite boring between takes. To survive, the Studio Tour needed to guarantee excitement on every tour, creating illusions that were predictable, repeatable, and entertaining.

Over the years, the tour expanded beyond a behind-the-scenes peek. It incorporated a stunt show, an animal actors show, and a screen test comedy theater. A 1967 pamphlet advertised giant sound stages, a visit to a star’s dressing room, man-made lakes and waterfalls, a visit to the prop department, and exterior sets of New York, Europe, Hong Kong, and the Old West. The Studio Tour had evolved from a set visit to an immersive experience of movie magic.

Thrills and Transformations: The Rise of the Theme Park

In the 1970s, Universal pushed the boundaries of interactive entertainment with the additions of attractions like "Flash Flood," "Parting of the Red Sea," and "Jaws Lake." The Universal Studios Hollywood theme park began to take shape in the 1990s with the arrival of attractions like "E.T. Adventure," "Back to the Future-The Ride," and "Jurassic Park-The Ride."

In 2000, the Studio Tour underwent a significant refurbishment. Murdy, as creative director, aimed to connect the dots between the sets and the movies filmed there. Screens were added to the trams, allowing guests to see clips of films and shows that utilized the backlot locations. Murdy's team meticulously searched for specific shots of the backlot in various productions.

Iconic Attractions and Special Effects

Over the past 60 years, the Studio Tour has incorporated numerous attractions and special effects demonstrations, some of which have become iconic. These include:

Flash Flood (1971): Showers guests with a unique behind-the-scenes look at movie weather effects.
Parting of the Red Sea (1973): Demonstrates an early special effect technique, originally installed for The Ten Commandments.
Earthquake (1989): An 8.3 magnitude earthquake inside a soundstage, simulating a San Francisco subway station.
Jaws Lake (1976): Features a moving shark animatronic from Steven Spielberg's film.
King Kong 360-3D (2010): A thrilling experience inspired by Peter Jackson’s film.

Other past attractions include the Avalanche Tunnel, Rockslide, Runaway Train, and Battle of Galactica.

Studio Tour Guides: The Heart of the Experience

Studio Tour Guides have been central to the experience since the beginning. These trained professionals provide insider information and first-hand accounts, educating and entertaining guests in both English and Spanish. The role of a Studio Tour Guide has become highly sought-after, with candidates auditioning from around the globe.

A Commitment to Innovation and Sustainability

The Studio Tour continues to evolve, incorporating advanced technology and embracing sustainability. The fleet is currently undergoing a conversion from diesel-hydraulic engines to electric trams, reducing carbon emissions and improving the guest experience.

60th Anniversary Celebration: A Look Back and a Step Forward

To celebrate the Studio Tour's 60th anniversary, Universal Studios Hollywood is offering a variety of special experiences:

Glamor Tram Redux: The trams are redressed in pink and white to resemble the original Glamor Trams.
Step-Off Moment: Guests have the opportunity to step off the tram onto a legendary movie set.
Earthquake-The Big One: The attraction is updated with contemporary technology and aesthetics.
Runaway Train: The classic attraction makes a temporary return.
Jurassic World: A behemoth Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur display is added.
Hollywood Sign Replica: An official replica of the Hollywood Sign is situated along the studio backlot.
Augmented Reality Trivia: Guests can test their knowledge of the Studio Tour with an all-original AR trivia challenge.
Themed Food and Beverages: Special food and beverage options are available, including retro-style entrees, sweets, and drinks.
Merchandise: A dedicated 60th anniversary merchandise collection offers a variety of souvenirs.

Laemmle's Folly: From Studio Tour to Global Empire

What began as "Laemmle's Folly" has transformed into a global empire. The Studio Tour, initially a method of attracting audiences and publicity, has become a cornerstone of Universal Parks and Resorts, with locations in Orlando, Japan, and Singapore, and plans for new parks in Beijing, South Korea, and Moscow.

The Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour stands as a testament to innovation, adaptation, and the enduring allure of movie magic. As it embarks on its next chapter, the Studio Tour promises to continue entertaining and inspiring generations of film lovers.

The Glamor Trams

In 1964, the pink and white Glamor Trams were introduced, and the tram tour became the main way of seeing all the attractions at Universal. The Front Lot Commissary was the original departure point for the tram. In 1965, the Upper Lot Studio Tour Center opened.. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the tram tour, the trams except the electric trams were redressed in pink and white to resemble the original Glamor Trams.

Sets on the Tour

Sets from the Universal movies Psycho, Back to the Future, The Sting, The Great Outdoors, and the Paramount/DreamWorks film War of the Worlds are visited in the tour. Walt Disney Studios has also used the backlot for movies such as the Pirates of the Caribbean film series, 101 Dalmatians, 102 Dalmatians, and The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, specifically for town scenes. There are also 'general purpose' sets visited, such as the neighborhood Wisteria Lane from Desperate Housewives, and a neighborhood that is made to look like an old west town. This neighborhood has six streets, each with the essentials of a saloon and sheriff's station. Before the advent of sound, up to six westerns could be shot at once. The tour also winds through sound stages, and the tour guide explains what movies, television shows, music videos, commercials, and/or still camera photo shoots are currently shooting on the lot. Stage One, where The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien was filmed from June 2009 to January 2010, was added to the tour.

Psycho: Bates Motel (2008) As the tram passes the Bates Motel, the guests witness Norman Bates carrying a corpse to a car. After placing the body in the trunk, he notices the tram and walks towards it with a kitchen knife as the tram leaves just in time to escape. Bates is portrayed by an Anthony Perkins lookalike and on some occasions, a Vince Vaughn lookalike. If the actors are not available, a cardboard cutout of Anthony Perkins as Bates is used in the Cabin 1 window. This event now becomes a temporary photo op area where an original Glamour tram has been restored and other various props for the 60th anniversary of the Studio Tour as well as Norman Bates can randomly meet his guests in a friendly interaction rather than chasing them with his knife.
Jupiter's Claim (2022) A set themed to the western theme park of the same name from the 2022 film, Nope, which is located as the penultimate stop on the tour starting on July 22, 2022, the same day as the film's theatrical release, marking it as the first time that an attraction on the tour has opened day and date with a movie release.

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