Universal Prop House: A History of Hollywood Magic

Universal Studios Hollywood, a renowned film studio and theme park, has a rich and multifaceted history intertwined with the evolution of Hollywood itself. From its humble beginnings as a working farm and movie studio to its current status as a global entertainment destination, Universal has consistently adapted and innovated, leaving an indelible mark on the world of filmmaking and theme park experiences. This article explores the history of Universal Studios Hollywood.

The Genesis of Universal City

In 1914, Carl Laemmle, a German American immigrant, envisioned a revolutionary concept: a self-contained city dedicated to the production of motion pictures. He purchased the Taylor Ranch in the San Fernando Valley and established Universal City, a sprawling studio complex complete with its own zoo, police force, mayor, and even a community of Native Americans residing in tepees on the premises.

On March 14, 1915, Laemmle unveiled Universal Studios to the public with a grand opening event that drew 10,000 attendees. For a mere five cents, visitors could witness the magic of filmmaking firsthand, enjoy a boxed lunch, and even purchase fresh produce from the working farm that still operated within Universal City. This innovative approach to studio tours marked the beginning of Universal's long-standing tradition of engaging with its audience.

From Studio Tours to Theme Park Attractions

In 1962, the Music Corporation of America (MCA) acquired Universal Pictures, ushering in a new era of innovation and expansion. Recognizing the potential for increased profits, accountants suggested enhancing the studio commissary tour. On July 15, 1964, the modern tour was born, offering visitors glimpses into dressing rooms, live production sets, and staged events.

Over time, the tour evolved into a full-fledged theme park. In 1965, the War Lord Tower became one of the park's first attractions. One of the early challenges for Universal was coming up with things for young children to do. The existing small Ma & Pa Kettle Petting Zoo was expanded into the Ark Park. This area encompassed the Mt. Ararat petting zoo with over 200 animals and birds representing 30 species and a Noah's Nursery and a Noah's Love Inn playhouse for children and animals. This was followed by the opening of the Animal Actors' School Stage in 1970.

In 1968, the Screen Actors Guild implemented a rule restricting visitor access to most soundstages. This, coupled with an increase in location shooting, prompted Universal to shift its focus from showcasing actual production to creating immersive experiences for visitors. Jay Stein, President of the Recreation Division, spearheaded this transition, leading to the development of groundbreaking attractions.

Landmark Attractions and Technological Advancements

The Flash Flood set, which opened in 1968, marked a turning point in Universal's approach to theme park design. This special-effects attraction immersed visitors in a simulated natural disaster, as 20,000 gallons of water surged down a Mexican village street, uprooting trees and threatening to engulf the tram. The Parting of the Red Sea attraction opened in 1973. In 1974, the Rockslide staged event was added to the Studio Tour. The following year, The Land of a Thousand Faces opened on the Upper Lot. In 1979, the Battle of Galactica replaced Rockslide as a staged event on the Studio Tour.

As Universal Studios Hollywood continued to grow, it embraced cutting-edge technology to create increasingly immersive and thrilling experiences. In 1991, the park's first "dark ride," E.T. Adventure, transported guests through an indoor show building using ride vehicles. Around the same time, sister park Universal Studios Florida opened, which had its own, similar E.T. attraction. The Florida version was more of a conventional theme park and paved the way for the Hollywood park's evolution. In 1993, Back to the Future: The Ride replaced Battle of Galactica. In 1996, Jurassic Park: The Ride opened. In 1997, The Land Before Time show replaced Rocky and Bullwinkle Live only to be replaced with Coke Soak a year later, and Totally Nickelodeon replaced the Flintstones Show. In 2000, the Rugrats Magic Adventure replaced Totally Nickelodeon. In 2001, the Nickelodeon Blast Zone opened, and Animal Planet Live replaced the Animal Actors' School Stage. In 2003, E.T. Adventure was closed to make way for Revenge of the Mummy, which opened in 2004. This was the first roller coaster to open at the park. The following year, Fear Factor Live replaced Spider-Man Rocks. In 2007, Universal's House of Horrors replaced Van Helsing: Fortress Dracula. Both Back to the Future: The Ride and Lucy: A Tribute were closed, being replaced in 2008 by The Simpsons Ride and the Universal Story Museum respectively. Also in 2008, the Nickelodeon Blast Zone was re-branded to the Adventures of Curious George. In 2010, the Special Effects Stages and Backdraft attractions were closed to make way for Transformers: The Ride - 3D, which was announced in 2008; Special Effects Stages moved to the former Creature From The Black Lagoon building and removed the last "s" from its name. King Kong 360 3-D also opened.

Expansion and Adaptation in the Modern Era

In recent years, Universal Studios Hollywood has continued to expand and adapt to evolving audience preferences. In April 2014, the park announced Springfield, a new dining complex to be built around the Simpsons Ride. The new eateries feature "signature eateries from Krusty Burger to Luigi's Pizza and Phineas Q. On August 13, 2017, Shrek 4-D closed after 14 years to make way for the DreamWorks Theatre. On April 10, 2019, the park announced The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!, an attraction based on The Secret Life of Pets. The attraction was set to open on March 27, 2020, adjacent to the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem attraction.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced a temporary closure starting on March 14, 2020. On March 5, 2021, it was announced that Universal Studios Hollywood could reopen with reduced capacity beginning April 1, 2021. At the end of March, it was announced that the park would reopen to California residents on April 16, 2021. Universal also announced that The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash! On March 10, 2022, Universal Studios Hollywood announced that its version of Super Nintendo World would open in 2023. On December 14, 2022, Universal officially announced that the land would open in Hollywood on February 17, 2023. The area soft-opened under technical rehearsals for reserved-guests on January 12, and officially opened as planned on February 17, about a month and a half before the release of Universal/Illumination's The Super Mario Bros.

Layout and Key Attractions

Universal Studios Hollywood is divided into two distinct areas: the Upper Lot and the Lower Lot, connected by a series of escalators called the Starway. As of 2021, Universal Studios Hollywood contains ten rides, seven shows, and two play areas. The Upper Lot consists of a variety of family-based attractions. The theming of the Upper Lot includes a Mission Revival entrance pathway, known as Universal Boulevard, that features the large Universal Plaza that opened in 2013. There are not as many fully themed lands as there are small environments linked together with a common Art Deco theme that reflects the glamour of Old Hollywood.

Upper Lot Attractions

Despicable Me Minion Mayhem: Guests are transformed into minions and undergo training by navigating an obstacle course. Minimum 40 in (102 cm).
Super Silly Fun Land: A large outdoor wet and dry play area themed to the Despicable Me franchise. Minimum 34 in (86 cm).
Studio Tour: The tour of the Universal Studios back lot, which features backdrops and sets used in many of their films, including NBC shows.
DreamWorks Theatre Featuring Kung Fu Panda: Themed around characters featured in films from DreamWorks Animation. A woman arrives with news of a "Dryland", but rival "smokers" attack on jet skis and boats until a Mariner arrives to fight them off.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter soft-opened February 12, 2016, and officially opened April 7, 2016, and is the largest themed area in the Upper Lot, featuring the animatronic and screen-based thrill ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, which is housed in a replica Hogwarts castle, featuring actual props from the films in the queue. In addition, this area includes the family-friendly roller coaster Flight of the Hippogriff, and the interactive Ollivander's Wand Show where a wand picks a witch or a wizard. Two live shows, Frog Choir and Triwizard Spirit Rally, are featured on the outdoor stage. In addition to attractions, the themed area features multiple shops, a Hogwarts Express train picture spot, The Three Broomsticks restaurant, and a variety of outdoor vending carts selling food and drink. Minimum 39 in (99 cm). Make your way through the classrooms of Hogwarts. This outdoor live show features students of Hogwarts with their singing frogs.

Lower Lot Attractions

The Lower Lot is the smaller of the two lots. There are five rides at this section of the park that each have height restrictions.

Jurassic World: The Ride: A water adventure ride that takes visitors through the events of the film Jurassic World, ending with an 84 ft (26 m) drop. Outside the ride stands the Raptor Encounter, a show that happens throughout the day, and the Dino Play jungle gym area for children too small to ride.
Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride: A high speed indoor roller coaster transporting guests through moments reminiscent of the 1999 Mummy franchise.
Super Nintendo World: Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge is an interactive dark ride attraction featuring augmented reality technology based on the Mario Kart franchise, which is located inside of Super Nintendo World. Several mini-attractions where guests can interact with Mario enemies and Bowser Jr.
Transformers: The Ride - 3D: Uses high tech technology to simulate a battle between the Autobots and Decepticons with 4K-3D screens and flight simulator ride vehicles. Minimum 42 in (110 cm).
An indoor steel roller coaster that accelerates to 45 mi (72 km) per hour: Minimum 40 in (100 cm). Minimum 40 inches (100 cm).

Backlot Fires: A Recurring Challenge

Universal Studios Hollywood's backlot has faced numerous challenges throughout its history, including a series of devastating fires. These fires, often caused by brush fires or arson, have resulted in significant damage to sets, buildings, and valuable archives.

The first fire occurred in 1932, when embers from a nearby brush fire destroyed four movie sets, causing over $100,000 in damage. Subsequent fires in 1949, 1957, 1967, 1987, and 1990 further impacted the backlot, destroying iconic sets such as the New York street, Little Europe, and Spartacus Square.

The most significant fire occurred on June 1, 2008, when a three-alarm fire broke out on the backlot. The fire destroyed Brownstone Street, New York Street, New England Street, the King Kong attraction, Courthouse Square structures, and the Video Vault. In 2019, it emerged that the fire had also destroyed Building 6197, a warehouse containing a vast archive of analog audio master tapes belonging to Universal Music Group (UMG), including irreplaceable recordings from legendary labels such as Chess, Decca, MCA, Geffen, Interscope, and A&M. Estimates of the individual items lost range from 118,000 to 175,000 album and 45rpm single master tapes, gramophone master discs, lacquers and acetates, as well as all the documentation contained in the tape boxes.

The Evolution of Prop Houses in Los Angeles

The evolution of prop houses in Los Angeles is closely linked to the development of the film industry itself. As Hollywood grew, so did the demand for specialized services, including the rental and storage of props. Over the decades, prop houses have evolved into distinct clusters, shaped by their relationships with film production and clientele.

The United States v. Paramount Pictures, Inc. case in 1948, which dismantled the vertically integrated studio system, played a pivotal role in the rise of independent prop houses. This decision forced studios to divest their theater chains, leading to a more specialized and disaggregated production landscape. As a result, independent prop houses emerged as significant service providers, catering to the needs of various film and television productions.

Three distinct clusters of properties storage emerged: Hollywood, San Fernando Valley, and West L.A. This transition led to a 178% increase in prop facilities from 1966 to 1982, reshaping the industry's geography.

Factors Influencing Prop House Geography

Several factors have influenced the geography of prop houses in Los Angeles:

Film Industry Business Relationships: Prop houses strategically locate themselves near major studios to foster close working relationships and ensure convenient access for filmmakers.
Cluster Formation: The formation of prop house clusters allows for collaboration, competition, and the sharing of resources and expertise.
Client Shopping Patterns: Prop houses cater to the diverse needs of filmmakers by offering a wide range of props and services, influencing their location decisions.

The Role of Social Networks

Social networks play a crucial role in the properties rental industry, fostering cooperation and competition among independent firms. Personal relationships influence clustering, with firms strategically positioning themselves to benefit from shared clientele, as observed in the Valley and Hollywood clusters.

Adapting to Industry Changes

Prop houses adapt to changes by diversifying their inventory and services, ensuring items from various eras are available for filmmakers.

Public Access and Transportation

Universal Studios Hollywood is easily accessible by public transportation at Universal City/Studio City. Passengers can also arrive at the entrance of the theme park entrance by several Metro bus routes. Metro Local lines 150, 155, 224, and 240 stop at Lankershim Blvd & Universal Center Drive (front entrance). Metro Local line 165 and Metro Shuttle line 656 Owl stop farther away from the entrance, at Ventura and Lankershim Boulevards. At the front entrance (Universal Center Dr.

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