another deliberate fire was started in the backlot. The New York Street set, the Ben Hur set and the majority of Courthouse Square was destroyed.[10] In 1997, the seventh fire occurred at the backlot.[4] A portion of the Courthouse Square was again destroyed leaving the Courthouse itself to live another day.[11] The most dam

The first studio tour[edit]
From the beginning, Universal had offered tours of its studio. After Carl Laemmle opened Universal City on March 14, 1915, he would later invite the general public to see all the action for an admission fee of just $0.05, which also included a lunch box containing chicken inside. There was also a chance to buy fresh produce, since then-rural Universal City was still in part a working farm. This original tour was discontinued in around 1930, due to the advent of sound films coming to Universal.[1]
The arrival of Universal Studios Hollywood (the theme park)[edit]
Shortly after Music Corporation of America took over Universal Pictures in 1962, accountants suggested a new tour in the studio commissary would increase profits. On July 15, 1964, the modern tour was established to include a series of dressing room walk-throughs, peeks at actual production, and later, staged events.[1] This grew over the years into a full-blown theme park. The narrated tram tour (formerly "GlamorTrams"[2]) 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 to Universal Studios Hollywood.[1][3]
Backlot fires[edit]
Universal Studios Hollywood's backlot has been damaged by fire 9 times throughout its history.[4] The first was in 1932 when embers from a nearby brush fire were blown towards the backlot causing 4 movie sets to be destroyed and over $100,000 damage.[5] Seventeen years later in 1949 another brush fire caused the complete destruction of one building and damage to two others.[6] In 1957, the New York street film studio set was destroyed by an arson fire causing half a million dollars damage.[7] Ten years later, in 1967, twice as much damage was done when the Little Europe area and part of Spartacus Square was destroyed. It also destroyed the European, Denver and Laramie street sets.[8] In 1987, the remaining portion of Spartacus Square was destroyed along with street sets and other buildings. As with the 1957 fire, this was suspected to be the result of an arsonist.[9] Just three years later another deliberate fire was started in the backlot. The New York Street set, the Ben Hur set and the majority of Courthouse Square was destroyed.[10] In 1997, the seventh fire occurred at the backlot.[4] A portion of the Courthouse Square was again destroyed leaving the Courthouse itself to live another day.[11]
The most damage was done on June 1, 2008 when a three alarm fire broke out on the backlot of Universal Studios. The fire started when a worker using an acetylene torch for welding accidentally let it set fire to the surroundings.[12][13] The Los Angeles County Fire Department had reported that Brownstone Street, New York Street, New England Street, the King Kong attraction, some structures that make up Courthouse Square, and the Video Vault had burned down (not to be confused with the actual Film Vault, The Video Vault contains the duplicates of the films). Aerial news footage showed the miraculous survival of the Courthouse building survived the fire (for a third time) with only the west side of it being slightly charred. Over 516 firefighters[13] from various local fire departments, as well as two helicopters dropping water, had responded to the fire. Fourteen firefighters and three Los Angeles County sheriffs' deputies sustained minor injuries. The fire was finally put out after 12 hours, since firefighters encountered low water pressure.
Destroyed were 40,000 to 50,000 archived digital video and film copies chronicling Universal's movie and TV classic shows, dating back to the 1920s, including the films Knocked Up and Atonement, the NBC series Law & Order, The Office, and Miami Vice, and CBS's I Love Lucy.[14][15][16] Many audio master tapes from Universal Music have been destroyed as well.[17] Universal president Ron Meyer stated that nothing irreplaceable was lost, meaning everything will be rebuilt again, at a price of at least $50 million. Days after the fire, however, it was reported that the King Kong attraction would not be rebuilt and would eventually be replaced by a new attraction that had yet to be announced.[18] In August 2008, Universal changed its position and decided to rebuild the King Kong attraction, basing the new attraction on the 2005 film adaptation.

ios still in use. Its official marketing headline is "The Entertainment Capital of LA", though during the summer it is often advertised as "The Coolest Place in LA." It was initially created to offer tours of the real Universal Studios soundstages and sets. It is the first of many full-fledged Universal Studios Theme Parks located across the world. Woody Woodpecker is the mascot for Universal Studios Hollywood. The entrance to the theme park may be accessed by the Metro Red line subway line at Universal City Station and other Metro bus routes. Outside the theme park, Un

Entrance to Universal Studios Hollywood.


Ticket booths.


Wait time list of shows and rides at Universal Studios Hollywood.


Fountain at park entrance


Gate to Universal Studios, Hollywood


Statue at the entrance of the park.


Smoke during the 2008 fire. The Courthouse facade is visible to the left of the smoke plume.
Universal Studios Hollywood is a movie studio and theme park in the unincorporated Universal City community of Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is one of the oldest and most famous Hollywood movie studios still in use. Its official marketing headline is "The Entertainment Capital of LA", though during the summer it is often advertised as "The Coolest Place in LA." It was initially created to offer tours of the real Universal Studios soundstages and sets. It is the first of many full-fledged Universal Studios Theme Parks located across the world. Woody Woodpecker is the mascot for Universal Studios Hollywood. The entrance to the theme park may be accessed by the Metro Red line subway line at Universal City Station and other Metro bus routes.
Outside the theme park, Universal City includes hotels Universal Hilton & Towers, the Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, the multi-screen Globe Theatre, often used for banquets and receptions, and Universal CityWalk, which offers a collection of shops and restaurants.
Contents  [hide]
1 History
1.1 The first studio tour
1.2 The arrival of Universal Studios Hollywood (the theme park)
1.3 Backlot fires
1.4 Attraction history
1.5 Former attractions
2 Park layout
2.1 Upper lot
2.1.1 Rides
2.2 Lower lot
2.2.1 Rides
3 Park characters
4 Public transportation
5 References
6 External links
History[edit]

million,[15] Magical Starlight Parade 2009 Big E Award, Best Overall Production, (presented by IIAPA) Honorary Mention in Best Overall Production more than $2 million,[16] Space Fantasy: The Ride 2011 THEA Award (presented by TEA) winner in Outstanding Achievement,[13]Universal Studios Hollywood From Wikipedia, the free

 stunts, shootings and explosions.[8][9] The show closed in 2006 and has since been replaced by Wicked.
Motion Picture Magic - When the park first opened in 2001, the attraction 'Motion Picture Magic,' hosted by noted director, Steven Spielberg, occupied the building that currently houses the attraction Sesame Street 4-D Movie Magic. The attraction, designed originally by award winning experience designer Bob Rogers (designer) and the design team BRC Imagination Arts,[10] provided a tribute to the Universal Studios brand of motion pictures. During the show, the theater transformed into a multi-screen presentation, and when the show ended, the main screen raised to present a real motion picture set in which the audience would cross through as they continued through the attraction show building.
E.T. Adventure has been replaced by Space Fantasy: The Ride.
Monster Make-Up has been closed.
Land of Oz (closed in 2011)[edit]
Wicked
Toto & Friends
Magical Oz-Go-Round
Awards[edit]

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man - The Ride
2001 Screamscape Ultimate No.1 Favorite Overall Non-Coaster Thrill Ride,[11]
2002 Theme Park Insider World Best Theme Park Attraction,[12]
Animation Celebration
2002 THEA Award (presented by TEA) WINNER in Attraction,[13]
Peter Pan's Neverland
2007 THEA Award (presented by TEA) WINNER in Event Spectacular,[14]
The Gift of Angels
2009 Big E Award, Best Overall Production, (presented by IIAPA) WINNER in Best Overall Production more than $2 million,[15]
Magical Starlight Parade
2009 Big E Award, Best Overall Production, (presented by IIAPA) Honorary Mention in Best Overall Production more than $2 million,[16]
Space Fantasy: The Ride
2011 THEA Award (presented by TEA) winner in Outstanding Achievement,[13]Universal Studios Hollywood
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Uniglobe
Slogan    The Entertainment Capital of LA
Location    Universal City, California, United States
Coordinates    34.136518°N 118.356051°WCoordinates: 34.136518°N 118.356051°W
Owner    NBCUniversal
(Comcast Corporation)
Operated by    Universal Parks & Resorts
Opened    March 14, 1915 (as a movie studio)
July 15, 1964 (as a theme park)[1]
Operating season    Year-round
Rides
Total    5 (+1 Under construction: Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem; Opens April 10, 2014)
Water rides    1
Website    Official website