31 Universal Studios Secrets

Sound stage 28, visible on the studio tour, filmed countless productions. It first filmedPhantom of the OperaChaney starred in it. Parts of the opera house set remain inside because they built with the stage walls.

Since Chaney died, studio workers hear and see strange things in the sound stage. Many think his ghost still haunts it.

Pass the "chicken ranch" house the guide points to. Look left; you see "Elm Street." The tram cannot turn around there; it is too narrow. Universal bought the houses for $1 when the city cleared space for Dodger stadium.

They have since appeared in movies likeTo Kill A Mockingbird, The Hulk,andHancock,and on TV shows likeThe Ghost WhispererandMonk.

If no one claims the item after some time, you can keep it.

The actor who plays Norman Bates at thePsychoHe used to grab tourists on the tram when they passed. Now, he stays about five feet from guests. A tourist grabbed him back and held on as the tram pulled away, which scared him, so he keeps his distance.

The ride cost $110 million; that money would fund a killer movie.

Many of these cars still work; they are the actual vehicles used in the film.

Universal guessed guests who faced the 1994 Northridge earthquake might skip the tour's 8.3 scale earthquake simulation. Guests could skip the segment and return after a few minutes.

Before becoming a Hollywood legend, director Steven Spielberg snuck onto the Universal backlot to see the movie business. He now says he got away by always carrying a briefcase. It looked official enough to seem like he belonged, even though nothing was inside.

The tour guide generally moves on to prepare you for the coolWar of the WorldsYou are about to see. Rest assured, Mother is still watching.

No matter how much they scare you, remember they cannot actually touch you.

In 1915, Mr. Leammle held a huge Universal Studios grand opening with thousands of guests, including Thomas Edison and Buffalo Bill Cody. He staged a fake flash flood that went wrong, flooding parts of the lot and soaking many guests.

Peter Jackson and his team designed the new King Kong 360-3D, replacing the classic Kong. Workers burned down the roof of the attraction while re-tarring. They collected some Classic Kong's ashes at his death and placed them in a large urn. That urn stays in the Studio Tour Guide break room now.

Universal used an old 747 plane for the War of the Worlds set. Large trucks shipped most of the parts to Universal late at night, except the tail piece. Helicopters flew in the tail piece because it was so big.

The killer special effects on the Transformers 3D ride make you feel like you are in an elevator at one point.

Actors used a quick height fix in the old days when Westerns dominated. A short cowboy looked taller in a small door frame; a damsel looked more vulnerable in a huge door frame.

Because all movies back then were silent, people cheered or booed heroes or villains. This explains the many Western sets on the back lot. The genre was popular during the silent film era; up to six Westerns could film on adjacent sets simultaneously. That is why they call the area "Six Points, Texas."

Tour guides may sometimes pass famous actresses on the Studio Tour route, but guides do not always acknowledge the encounter. Some famous ladies reacted badly after 200 tourists photographed them before they reached the makeup chair.

Steven Spielberg named the mechanical shark from Jaws Bruce.The mechanical shark from Jaws was named Bruce.Steven Spielberg's lawyer named the shark "Bruce." Crew members also participated; the shark expressed his thoughts on the film his first day on the job by sinking to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. Years later, the shark character in Finding Nemo was also named Bruce.The shark character in Finding Nemo was named Bruce, after his mechanical predecessor.The mechanical shark from Jaws was named Bruce.

Universal removed the clock from the famous clock tower in Back to the Future because its notoriety caused problems for other productions filming nearby after the movie wrapped.Universal removed the clock from the famous clock tower in Back to the Future because its notoriety caused problems for other productions filming nearby after the movie wrapped.The same courthouse has appeared in many films since, including Bruce Almighty, Batman and Robin, and Amistad.The same courthouse has appeared in many films since, including Bruce Almighty, Batman and Robin, Amistad, and The Nutty Professor.The same courthouse has appeared in many films since, including Bruce Almighty, Batman and Robin, Amistad, and The Nutty Professor.The same courthouse has appeared in many films since, including Bruce Almighty, Batman and Robin, Amistad, and The Nutty Professor..

When Carl Leammle bought the property now called Universal Studios, it was a chicken ranch he kept open. He sold eggs to guests for extra money because a movie studio seemed like a bad financial investment then.

Drivers in vans scattered on the lot can reach an emergency within minutes, even if someone drops a cell phone on the tour.

The tour shows guests a real working studio. Tour guides change the route to avoid filming disruptions. Guides sometimes go silent near active sets to avoid appearing in a film.

If the tour skips an area you wanted to see, check back later. The route might have changed.

Take your grandma. Watch her ignore the mechanical shark's antics. She floats off into memories of Angela Lansbury solving crimes.

Studio tour guides train hard. They learn much about every area. Guides often give a different tour each time.

Filmmakers gave helpful tips. They suggested making some buildings taller for wider shots.

Most of the park consists of shows and attractions. These show cool things, unlike typical amusement park rides. Jurassic Park and The Simpsons Ride are exceptions.

Almost all sets on New York Street and Courthouse Square are just facades. There are no rooms inside. This area shows outdoor street scenes. If a character enters a building, the scene is shot on another sound stage.

Visitors to Universal Studios often ride down a street they know as Wisteria Lane.Wisteria Lane appeared in many productions besides Desperate Housewives.The street has been used in many other shows. Gabrielle's house housed the Munsters. Before Susan moved in, her house held the Hardy Boys. Puff Daddy and Smash Mouth also used the street in music videos.

The bungalow where Alfred Hitchcock's office was is often shown. Surrounding buildings once served as dressing rooms for stars like Rock Hudson, Doris Day, and Jimmy Stewart.

Want a ride but don't want a two-hour wait? Ask about the single rider line. You might ride separately, but it works like a front-of-the-line pass.

Ask the host when you enter. They will tell you the schedule for non-English rides and where to line up.