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I’m fascinated by the early days of the Universal Studio Tour in Hollywood. The trams originated in the mid ‘60s and remain an essential part of the park today. I didn’t visit until 1985 as a kid, but many early special effects like the flash flood and rockslide were still part of it. The modern version is quite different with ties to some recent films, but the original spirit remains. The chance to see an actual production is much smaller than in the early days, however.
My guest on this episode of The Tomorrow Society Podcast is Jerry Green, who worked as a tour guide on the Studio Tour in the late ‘60s. He remained at Universal for 25 years and hosted thousands of live shows during that time. Jerry saw the expansion of the resort firsthand through his years working in the entertainment division. The theme park industry was quite different from today’s blockbuster projects, which allowed for attractions and shows with less need to make a splash.
In his book 25 Years Inside Universal Studios, Jerry describes his extensive career at Universal. He recounts many of those stories on this podcast; there were few dull moments in Jerry’s career. We also talk about Jerry’s work at Universal Orlando during that park’s early days. That resort had a rough start but is now firing on all cylinders in the battle with Disney. It was a thrill to talk with Jerry and learn his entertaining stories from Universal’s history.
Show Notes: Jerry Green
Learn more about Jerry’s career and his books at jerrylanegreen.com.
My review of Jerry’s book 25 Years Inside Universal Studios from Theme Park Press.
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