Cow Missing | Jaws - Studio Tour - Universal Studios Hollywood (1977) @cowmissing | Uploaded June 2024 | Updated October 2024, 13 hours ago.
First opened on April 10, 1976, on the banks of the former Singapore Lake, the Jaws attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour remains a signature experience inspired by Steven Spielberg’s 1975 blockbuster film. Initially, this Disneyland-inspired animatronic attraction featured limited appearances of the shark, similar to the movie, and focused on detailed sets, including the actual ORCA. Later, visitors could stop at the Visitor Entertainment Center to take pictures with an exact replica of Bruce the shark.
Although none of the 1975 film Jaws was shot at Universal Studios, the attraction includes recreations of several buildings from Martha’s Vineyard, the on-location filming site for the entire movie.
Over the years, the attraction has evolved significantly, with notable changes such as the redesign of the shark and the transformation of George the fisherman into George the diver. As the mechanisms aged, some effects became less pronounced.
In mid-2010, the hydraulic mechanism that tilted the tram toward the water when the shark dragged the dock was retired. The tram remains upright, and the entrance and exit to the tilting dock have been sealed in concrete, making it unlikely that the tilting dock will return anytime soon.
The original Jaws Shark, Mark I, was nicknamed 'Carrot Tooth.' According to Jaws Production Designer Joe Alves, 'Carrot Tooth' resulted from a meeting where studio executives wanted a shark with long teeth like those on the poster. However, the design was more goofy than scary, with teeth resembling icicles more than a killer shark's.
The body of the attraction shark was cast from the Bruce sea-sled mold used in the movie, although the bottom is missing. This same body is still used today, but the head is a caricatured resculpt of Bruce with less pronounced jowls. Bob Mattey, embarrassed by the movie shark's jowls, toned them down and created an improved mouth for better water scooping. This cartoonish head only existed on the Mark I shark.
There were two color schemes for this shark. The first version was green with a pale blue belly, and the second had a bluer top with an off-white belly. The shark also leaped out of the water at a higher angle than later versions.
Before the police boat and diver fell victim to Jaws' first attack, the victim was George, a wooden fisherman.
With the release of Jaws 2 in 1978, the attraction shark was redesigned to resemble the new movie shark. This second shark lost its carrot-like teeth and gained even more fake-looking teeth. The head was widened, and the eyes were made entirely black. Since 1980, numerous repaints and various dentures have replaced the original silly version.
After the film wrapped, the studio sold off nearly everything from the film, not expecting it to be profitable. A special effects technician bought the boat, restored it, and used it for swordfishing along the California coast. After the film's box-office success, the studio repurchased the boat for use at the Universal Studios Tour. This original Orca, used during major scenes requiring a moving, floating boat, was displayed in the Amity lagoon for visitors to admire. Over time, the boat was neglected and eventually sank due to rotted wood. In 1996, an attempt to lift the Orca with a harness resulted in the boat breaking in half due to its deteriorated condition. It's said that Steven Spielberg used to sneak into the park and have lunch in the hull of the Orca, keeping in touch with a relic of the movie that launched his career.
In 2001, the Jaws Experience was upgraded with new fire effects and renamed Jaws on Fire!
The tram pulls into the peaceful Amity seaside town, where the shark has been caught, and a strong police presence ensures safety. But wait, there’s a shark in the water! Maybe they caught the wrong one. The shark attacks the police diver. Poor George! The shark then pulls a big yellow buoy attached to the dock, causing the dock to tilt and nearly plunging the tram guests into the water, rupturing the gas line and setting the dock on fire. The tram must escape quickly! But what's that in the water? AAHH!
This sequence became less meaningful in mid-2010 when the tilting dock mechanism was removed due to maintenance issues. The stationary dock no longer tilts, reducing the sense of peril and making it harder for all visitors to get a good view of the shark.
In 2014, the lake was drained to create a solid roadway for the tram.
© 1977 Universal City Studios, Inc. All Rights Reserved
(universalstudioshollywood.com/)
Posted for entertainment and educational purposes only.
No copyrights were infringed. All works are the property of the company listed above. Please do not reproduce without their expressed written consent.
#universalstudiohollywood #universalstudios #hollywood #studiotour #GlamorTrams #visitorcenter #stuntshow #ActionArena #flashflood #sheratonhotels #animalactors #jaws #cowmissing
First opened on April 10, 1976, on the banks of the former Singapore Lake, the Jaws attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour remains a signature experience inspired by Steven Spielberg’s 1975 blockbuster film. Initially, this Disneyland-inspired animatronic attraction featured limited appearances of the shark, similar to the movie, and focused on detailed sets, including the actual ORCA. Later, visitors could stop at the Visitor Entertainment Center to take pictures with an exact replica of Bruce the shark.
Although none of the 1975 film Jaws was shot at Universal Studios, the attraction includes recreations of several buildings from Martha’s Vineyard, the on-location filming site for the entire movie.
Over the years, the attraction has evolved significantly, with notable changes such as the redesign of the shark and the transformation of George the fisherman into George the diver. As the mechanisms aged, some effects became less pronounced.
In mid-2010, the hydraulic mechanism that tilted the tram toward the water when the shark dragged the dock was retired. The tram remains upright, and the entrance and exit to the tilting dock have been sealed in concrete, making it unlikely that the tilting dock will return anytime soon.
The original Jaws Shark, Mark I, was nicknamed 'Carrot Tooth.' According to Jaws Production Designer Joe Alves, 'Carrot Tooth' resulted from a meeting where studio executives wanted a shark with long teeth like those on the poster. However, the design was more goofy than scary, with teeth resembling icicles more than a killer shark's.
The body of the attraction shark was cast from the Bruce sea-sled mold used in the movie, although the bottom is missing. This same body is still used today, but the head is a caricatured resculpt of Bruce with less pronounced jowls. Bob Mattey, embarrassed by the movie shark's jowls, toned them down and created an improved mouth for better water scooping. This cartoonish head only existed on the Mark I shark.
There were two color schemes for this shark. The first version was green with a pale blue belly, and the second had a bluer top with an off-white belly. The shark also leaped out of the water at a higher angle than later versions.
Before the police boat and diver fell victim to Jaws' first attack, the victim was George, a wooden fisherman.
With the release of Jaws 2 in 1978, the attraction shark was redesigned to resemble the new movie shark. This second shark lost its carrot-like teeth and gained even more fake-looking teeth. The head was widened, and the eyes were made entirely black. Since 1980, numerous repaints and various dentures have replaced the original silly version.
After the film wrapped, the studio sold off nearly everything from the film, not expecting it to be profitable. A special effects technician bought the boat, restored it, and used it for swordfishing along the California coast. After the film's box-office success, the studio repurchased the boat for use at the Universal Studios Tour. This original Orca, used during major scenes requiring a moving, floating boat, was displayed in the Amity lagoon for visitors to admire. Over time, the boat was neglected and eventually sank due to rotted wood. In 1996, an attempt to lift the Orca with a harness resulted in the boat breaking in half due to its deteriorated condition. It's said that Steven Spielberg used to sneak into the park and have lunch in the hull of the Orca, keeping in touch with a relic of the movie that launched his career.
In 2001, the Jaws Experience was upgraded with new fire effects and renamed Jaws on Fire!
The tram pulls into the peaceful Amity seaside town, where the shark has been caught, and a strong police presence ensures safety. But wait, there’s a shark in the water! Maybe they caught the wrong one. The shark attacks the police diver. Poor George! The shark then pulls a big yellow buoy attached to the dock, causing the dock to tilt and nearly plunging the tram guests into the water, rupturing the gas line and setting the dock on fire. The tram must escape quickly! But what's that in the water? AAHH!
This sequence became less meaningful in mid-2010 when the tilting dock mechanism was removed due to maintenance issues. The stationary dock no longer tilts, reducing the sense of peril and making it harder for all visitors to get a good view of the shark.
In 2014, the lake was drained to create a solid roadway for the tram.
© 1977 Universal City Studios, Inc. All Rights Reserved
(universalstudioshollywood.com/)
Posted for entertainment and educational purposes only.
No copyrights were infringed. All works are the property of the company listed above. Please do not reproduce without their expressed written consent.
#universalstudiohollywood #universalstudios #hollywood #studiotour #GlamorTrams #visitorcenter #stuntshow #ActionArena #flashflood #sheratonhotels #animalactors #jaws #cowmissing
