When one visits Hollywood, taking the Universal Studios Tram Tour has always been a must! One of the few studios that still has a backlot, Universal saw the value early on in collecting tourist revenue by allowing them to see where the magic is made…all in a controlled manner, of course. Recently, I had the honor of doing the design for the book Stack’s Liberty Ranch Volume 3, which covers Universal Studios and three other nearby theme parks that I had never heard of: Lion Country Safari, Buffalo Ranch, and Jungleland. Anybody interested in the history of theme parks needs to acquire this library! Head over to the Stack’s Liberty Ranch website to get your copy NOW!
Today’s post features images from my collection that a guest took in September 1969, documenting (in chronological order, natch!) their visit to the famed movie studio. Apologies for the blur/low quality of some of these images. Like anything vintage, equipment and skill were not necessarily all that important as these images were just meant to share with loved ones, not be posted on the web or published in a book. I am guessing that the tour started with this presentation by a Guide. I immediately noticed something familiar in the pictures behind the guide.
Looks like a matte painting of Bodega Bay from Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds” (1963), released by Universal.
Sure enough, it’s a match!
How the painting was combined with live action footage for the final film:
Afterwards, the tour proceeded with what was probably a movie/TV set:
A soundstage where guests could see/experience how rear projection works:
A setup that shows how miniatures are used in movies; much more economical than building things full-scale!
Now we reach the tram part of the tour. The person on the right in the large-brimmed hat is the bane of my 1969 existence. Get that hat off and quit blocking the photos!!!
A tour of the backlot:
Anyone know what production featured the Crawford Buttonhole Co., or Joe’s Bar?
Although it doesn’t have the clock tower circa 1969, this building should look very familiar to fans of “Back to the Future.”
It’s the courthouse! Keep in mind, these buildings are used over and over in again in many productions. Some undergo extensive changes to look different to suit the use of the film or show that they are being used in.
Stay tuned for more September 1969 images of Universal Studios!
And don’t forget to pick up your copy of Stack’s Liberty Ranch Volume 3 at the Stack’s Liberty Ranch website.
