1973 When in Hollywood…

1973 When in Hollywood…

Here’s something a little bit special. For anyone who has made the pilgrimage to Universal studios in Hollywood, they’ve no doubt taken the tram tour guide of the studio and backlots. 1964 saw the introduction of pink and white GlamorTrams. During the early years of the tram tour (1964 – 1977) all of the attractions at Universal were reached via the tram. With the introduction of the Screen Test Comedy Theatre and the Animal Actors stage in 1977, the Upper Lot became an attraction in itself. The tour originally departed from the Upper Lot. In 1991, it was moved to the Lower Lot following the construction of the Starway escalator system. In 1996 it moved back to the Upper Lot to make room for Jurassic Park River Adventure on the Lower Lot.

If you were lucky enough to visit the studios at the right time, you may have seen the latest productions being advertised via the large billboards on the side of studio buildings. This great shot was captured in 1973 and produced on an official Universal postcard in order to publicise the tram tour. A closer look at the billboards in the background not only shows the production of Fred Zinnemann’s The Day of the Jackal, but also the beautiful poster art for Clint’s High Plains Drifter. 

A nice snapshot of Universal’s past. 

Below: A very rare shot of Clint being filmed in Coogan’s Bluff at Universal studios while the tourist tram passes.