Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood is the original Universal Studios theme park, created initially to offer tours of the real Universal Studios soundstages and sets. It is one of four fully-fledged Universal Studios Theme Parks, along with Universal Studios Orlando, Universal Studios Japan, and the upcoming Universal Studios Singapore, which will be completed by 2010.
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.
Spawning point
The company has since created Universal parks in other locations: Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida and Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, Japan. Universal once owned Port Aventura, Spain, which was sold in 2004.
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.
Attractions
The attractions at Universal Studios Hollywood are split into two areas on different levels, connected by a series of escalators.
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
- Back to the Future: The Ride
- Blues Brothers R&B Revue
Lower Lot
- Special Effects Stages
- Revenge of the Mummy - The Ride
- Jurassic Park: The Ride
- Backdraft
Trivia
- Much of Big Fat Liar was shot at Universal Studios Hollywood.