Jaws…Tales from a Trespasser

This lake formerly called Singapore Lake, became Jaws Lake, April 10, 1976. A year after the release of the smash hit “Jaws”.

If this shark could talk, he would complain of over usage, average attacks on summer days equal=Thirty trams-based off 6 tours a day for drivers equals 180 terrorized tram attacks. This animation shut down more frequently than any other. One overworked shark. He’s a high maintenance piece of machinery. His name is Bruce, the same name of Steven Spielberg’s lawyer.

Still a most popular animation…

The teeth on the original Jaws are hilarious and terrifying at the same time.

Singapore Lake has a new name… Amity. Watching over this fine community is… The Psycho House.

Pink and White Tours, the funner of the two tram styles. Super Trams replaced these originals. Less confining, more intimate. This version of tram holds 125 guests. Super Trams, Blue in Color, hold 175 passengers…like a Jumbo Jet on wheels.

Trespassing-Universal Style. A view from my castle, my favorite set on the lot.

Trespassing photo, taken by me from back porch of Boo Radley home.

This area became Cabot Cove for Murder She Wrote, starring friend Angela Lansbury.

McHale’s Navy first sailed these Shark infested waters in PT-73

Not the image you want to see when you’re swimming

That fisherman resurfaces quickly to be attacked repeatedly. Poor Chum… Blood and fire would later be included in this experience.

Here he comes!

This Great White Shark was responsible for many empty beaches after release of the movie.

Fishy out of water… for repairs.

The ever changing tour route since 1964. Studio Sea “pictured” contained PT-73 prior to having a Great White Shark.

This billboard is located at Universal itself, promoting the film to the Pink and White Glamour Trams.

You could not escape the peril of this “Great White” in 1976. Even Hollywood Blvd, isn’t safe… Still isn’t!

A shark is born, or at least fabricated with a permanent resting site about to become Amity Island

This lake formerly called Singapore Lake, became Jaws Lake, April 10, 1976. A year after the release of the smash hit “Jaws”.

Same angle, fisherman capsized. Over 40 years apart. The Super Tram replaced the Pink and Whites.

Today’s version, fire, brimstone, and blood. Four attacks or “snaps” per tram, one for each tram car. He’s now a senior citizen, we grew old together.

A copy of the Shark’s Dental records over the decades.

More modern effects-Same one trick shark!

“Keep your arms and legs inside the tram please.” a special thanks to Paul Farese for sending me his 1976 tram tour picture. Nice shot Paul, still got two arms right?

This place involves a pivotal transition in the future of Universal’s backlot expansion. Notice the barren hillsides. Earth movers have reshaped the hillsides in what was a true wilderness area. Similar to Topanga Canyon, a place where people working at the studio have disappeared., to be found later on. Ghost stories of incidents from the past were fun “pow wows” when doing all-nighters on the backlot.

Over 40 years later…Same dock as previous picture.

Welcome to 1976… My forever pal “Maureen” and I grew up together reading Mad Magazines on studio backlots.

Seems like everyone had one of these shirts after the release of the movie in the summer of 75

High maintenance star…

In honor of Shark Week, I present to you, Jaws…Tales from a Trespasser..

Growing Old with a Shark;

We first met tentatively, since I was trespassing in his world. There were other fish in the sea I needed to worry about other than just this confined- Great White Shark. Singapore Lake has been his home since 1976. The first time we were introduced was on a Pink and White Glamour Tram that I managed to sneak on at a tour rest stop located in a boarding area up at Prop Plaza. Tour Guides call him “Bruce,” named after Steven Spielberg’s attorney.

“Bruce” likes to attack guests, making him very popular. He already has a Box Office smash under his belt titled” Jaws ” Bruce wasn’t in the actual film, nor was this lake. Universal Studios turned America’s fear of sharks into a mega dollar Bonanza. Drinks are served in Shark cups, cool T-Shirts have sharks on them, with their snouts and jaws ready to pounce on unsuspecting swimmers. When this ride opened, it was must see, today, 47 years later, it still is on the much shortened and watered down backlot tour.

As it would turn out, Mr. Spielberg and I have something in common; “we” began as trespassers. On my first tram tour, I heard a tour guide boast about Steven sneaking on the lot while attending film school at Cal State Long Beach. He set up an office on the lot in an abandoned space. I was doing the same thing and had “offices” at multiple studios. MGM and Desilu amply provided me with the finest of accommodations, which I call “forts” in 6 backlot locations. I had one upstairs in Andy Griffith’s house. I was fortunate to later meet Ron Howard, and told him “we kids” built a fort in your upstairs bedroom. That kicked off a wrap session of all things Desilu between Ron and me, at a craft service table located on Stage 27 at Universal. He embraces the past, and is the only “kid” to have more experiences on that Backlot Ranch than me. It’s a small world in Hollywood, as I digress. But, trespassing opened many doors for me.

Trespassing isn’t an exact science. I like to compare it to battlefield conditions. Slow advances, one doorway, one building, one street at a time. Each village needs to be liberated. I was polished by the time I set foot on Universal’s dirt roads that never seem to stop. I would soon realize this is a much easier and calmer experience than at MGM, where everybody knew me. Here, at Universal, I have amnesty. Yep, like what Alias Smith and Jones wanted!

My face wasn’t on “Most Wanted” Posters here, like they were at MGM guard shacks. Special agents with the long arm of the law weren’t on my trail like bloodhounds. I was free to roam the outback, let my hair down, and just be me. The oldest part of the backlots were my preference. That coincides with where most the tram animations exist. I hid from trams-rarely if ever seeing any security. I wondered why MGM and Desilu didn’t capitalize on this tram tour thing… “What do I know, I’m just a kid with a passion.”

Inanimate objects became my friends here first, the train, the shark, a castle built for a king were all mine to spend time with. I’m just a kid with a castle. I became bolden, approaching sets while they filmed on the backlot. I met Lou Ferrigno, covered in all his green paint from head to toe. He was massive in size, like he stepped out of a comic book. I watched him fire a Flame Thrower on Universal’s Brownstone street… right after shaking his giant hand. One of the coolest memories I have on this lot.

When I became a tram driver in 1984, I was being trained in all things I have already done, but in reverse. Now I was the one triggering The Runaway Train, The Great White, The Flash Flood and The Parting of the Red Sea. These were formerly my hangouts when I snuck in this enormous backlot.

These days the Trams are Blue, a wide body version of the old Pink and Whites. It’s like driving a 747 Airliner around an airport. These trams now are 120-ft long and pull three trailers which tend to disappear around turns, only to reappear as the tram straightens out. The Tram is the most important vehicle on the backlot pavement and receives a “full right of way.” Paying customers rule this kingdom.

Trams can’t back up attached to multiple trailers so it’s important to follow a constantly changing route map. Even good plans sour often and those mistakes which usually involve filming, become legendary around these parts. I’ve seen a lot of those, shall we say “Out takes.”

To work an entire 35 year career in a place where you acquired your first training as a trespasser is a path few have navigated. A bit of skill and instinct along with tempered fear is how I grew up on all these major backlots. I’ll bet no one can say they rode “The Runaway Train” shotgun to the dummy engineer who shouts the line “Lookout I can’t Stop!”...but he always does, over and over. One track mind.

As the sands of time shift forward, I would work on a wide variety of productions at Universal, including the Jaws sequel back up at Falls Lake. The shark named “Bruce” became a staple here at Universal, and Spielberg’s office turned into Amblin Entertainment. I’m proud to know that we all three share a common bond, we grew old together in this fabulous kingdom still haunted by a Night Gallery of Monsters, Giants and Spirits in the Night.

Written and lived by…Donnie Norden