Beloved Universal Studios Hollywood Tour Turns 60
Universal Studios Hollywood has been growing in each decade to include beloved lands such as Jurassic World, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™ and more. While it is now a theme park with tons of great rides and eats, it wasn’t always this way. When it opened in 1915, it was just a movie studio. Fans could visit for a small fee, sit on bleachers and watch the filming of movies while they ate lunch. In 1964, Universal decided to start transforming the studio into a theme park, and at first, it just had one attraction: the Studio Tour.
NBCUniversal Studios
Universal Studios Hollywood
Now, the beloved Universal Studios Hollywood Tour turns 60 years old! The Studio Tour has always been a way for visitors to see how movies are made and it still remains the beating heart of the theme park. Since its inception, it has given over 100 million guests from around the world the ability to see inside a Hollywood movie set. These days, the tour takes you through sets from movies such as Earthquake, Jaws, Psycho, King Kong and the horror film Nope. Or take a tour down Wisteria Lane otherwise known as Colonial Street where you might find one of the most infamous TV houses made over for Desperate Housewives and The Munsters. During the fall, when Universal Studios Hollywood is transformed for their special event Halloween Horror Nights, the Studio Tour becomes the Terror Tram and is said to be quite scary. During the event, guests can ride the attraction and get off at certain spots to be scared by actors in costume.
NBCUniversal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood
Over 8,000 films and television shows have been filmed at the Universal lot and it is considered to be the most filmed location in the world. Interestingly, the Universal Studio Tour was conceived as a way to get more people to buy lunch. Old movie backlots were becoming a thing of the past and Universal was struggling. The very first tour guides included John Ford‘s grandson John Ford III and Ray Milland‘s son Dan Milland. The early tour was 90 minutes long and included a stop for lunch and a make-up and costume show in the commissary basement. When it first opened, one of the main features of the tour was a collection of oversized props from The Incredible Shrinking Woman which fans could take photos with. Of course, as technology evolved, the sets and attractions got more and more advanced.
Universal Studios Hollywood
Between April 26 and August 11, 2024, Universal Studios Hollywood is set to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Studio Tour. Visitors will be able to explore the studio backlot in a retro Glamour Tram inspired by the original 1964 design. For the first time in decades, visitors can step off the tram and explore some of the movie sets. They are also offering some fun, nostalgic merch, snacks and drinks to celebrate the special anniversary. Get a sneak peek of the 60th-anniversary celebration and tour below and then tell us, have you ever done the Universal Studios Hollywood Tour?
Universal Studios Hollywood
Classic TV Shows of the ’50s & ’60s
September 2020
Test your knowledge, from Bonanza and Gunsmoke to I Love Lucy, I Dream of Jeannie, Star Trek and more fun TV of the 1950s and 1960s.
Buy This Issue