Universal Studios Hollywood
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Universal Studios Hollywood is the original Universal Studios theme park, created initially to offer tours of the real Universal Studios soundstages and sets. It has since evolved into a fully-fledged theme park, and has spawned several others including a Universal Studios Orlando and a Universal Studios Japan.
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[edit] Universal Hollywood Tour
From the beginning, Universal has offered tours of its studio. In the silent-film days, Carl Laemmle's tour included a chance to buy fresh produce, since then-rural Universal City was still in part a working farm.
Shortly after MCA took over Universal Pictures in 1962, accountants suggested a tour stop in the studio commissary would increase profits, and in 1964, the modest tour was expanded to include a series of dressing room walk-throughs, peeks at actual production, and later, staged events. This grew over the years into a full-blown theme park - the narrated tram (formerly "Glamortram") tour still runs through the studio's active backlot, but the staged events, stunt demonstrations and high-tech rides overshadow the motion-picture production that once lured fans in Universal Studios Hollywood. Universal City also includes hotels Universal Hilton & Tower's, and the Sheraton Hotels and Resorts), a multi-screen theater, and Universal CityWalk, which offers a collection of shops and restaurants. Nearby is the Gibson Amphitheatre, a concert venue.
The company has since created Universal parks in other locations: Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida and Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, Japan. Germany 2005 in planning the stage. Universal once owned Port Aventura, Spain, which was sold in 2004.
[edit] Climbing the Uniglobe
- Green Day drummer Tré Cool is the only person to ever climb the Uniglobe. He did it at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards.
- The uniglobe was featured in the opening sequence of Kenan & Kel, but with the cast inside the globe.
[edit] Attractions
The attractions at Universal Studios Hollywood are split into two areas on different levels, connected by a series of escalators.
[edit] Upper Lot
- Universal's Animal Actors
- Fear Factor Live
- Shrek 4-D
- T2 3-D: Battle Across Time
- Waterworld Stunt Show
- Studio Tour (Earthquake simulation, Jaws, King Kong and other attractions)
- Nickelodeon Blast Zone
- Van Helsing: Fortress Dracula
- Back to the Future: The Ride
- Blues Brothers R&B Revue
[edit] Lower Lot
- Special Effects Stages
- Revenge of the Mummy - The Ride
- Jurassic Park: The Ride
- Backdraft
[edit] Trivia
- Much of Big Fat Liar was shot at Universal Studios Hollywood.
[edit] External links
| edit | NBC Universal, Inc. (a subsidiary of General Electric) |
