We begin by- reaching into our wallets;
My journey through time involving Universal Studios dates as far back as the early 70’s. I was a teenage customer looking for a good time, and boy- did I find it!
I transitioned from being a tourist to a trespasser. Then, I went from a tram driving Teamster Local #399 to a Local #40 Studio Electrician. I merged all these hats into one barrel full of adventures. I still know half the workforce, many dear friends indeed. I’m one of a very distinguished Alumni that was witness to and significantly part of-Hollywood History.
With a full access pass to all productions on our lot, I enjoyed many perks. Pictures are one of the most special items I cherish the most. I have so many, I lose track of what sets or show specifically I’m looking at these days. Call it…A big fifty year blur!
From Kodak Film to Digital Photography, my memories shifted from slides and proof sheets to…computer screens. Plus, almost all these pictures I display can be seen on television, 24/7, around the globe.
That globe- just happens to be our logo…
Roll Film …
Director Tony Scott, giving direction to actress Brigitte Nielsen. Tony is fresh off Top Gun, Brigitte is fresh off-Sylvester Stallone. I met Stallone on Capone-before Rocky, and later on Paradise Alley. (Sly) was the director, 1977. Read how that went in my latest book available on Amazon.
This cover has two of my favorite MGM pictures I ever took. On the left, John Ritter is saving a kid from a fire on the film Hero at Large. In that hot air balloon are Rockstars Peter Frampton and The Bee Gees… Film-Sgt.Pepper
Pirates of the Caribbean- our water tank-backdrop on the Universal Backlot is featured. Elaborate wave makers will “chop” the water so it doesn’t look like a fish tank. This is a lighthouse with a huge torch.
The Majestic–2001–Jim Carry…The picture on the left is myself in a mock up of this car. Special Effects has this rigged to crash but -not completely. They built a pier in the same water basin Pirates of the Caribbean would use later. Very expensive set due to construction and effects, a short shoot and scene…but critical.
A 747 crash for War of the Worlds starring Tom Cruise and directed by Steven Spielberg. I take you here on Phantomofthebacklots YouTube. A behind the scenes tutorial, please visit and subscribe. You will dig it!!
Spider Man set for Mr. Magneto to terrorize…
Backdrop- water basin set. Our biggest rental besides New York. Only two studios have these artificial oceans and painted skies. Paramount has one also. MGM had the oldest and most legendary. ‘The Wizard of MGM’ The legendary Pioneer Arnold Gillespie developed techniques we use to this day. If you like ‘Special Effects and BackStories’ This man-Arnold Gillespie- worked on two Ben Hur’s. The most amazing and difficult film ever done
The World Famous…Clydesdales. This was on New York Street, A high budget “Super Bowl’ commercial directed by Joe Pytka. Joe had about 6 commercials that Super Sunday. I was told Joe gets a million dollars to just read the proposal. If he accepts it, he’s fully in charge-all aspects. He lives close by and is on the lot-quite a bit. One of his homes was formerly owned by Madonna.
My daughter Christy, left, with friend Casey. Arnold Schwarzenegger film Jingle All the Way. A huge Minnesota Christmas Parade took place at…Universal. My kids had it made!
The older Christy got, the harder I tried to scare her…Mother in rocking chair inside Psycho House.
Western Street 6 Points Texas. Trams pass right outside.
This bridge collapses…100 times each summer day!
A small church in a ghost town. Trams park here, guides make stuff up until we get clearance for- the parting of the Red Sea. This was also a California beach community in Alfred Hitchcock’s –The Birds.
All we need are some horses. This barn housed them and is the oldest structure on this lot. It is real inside and out. This preceded the studio, a landmark. Alias Smith and Jones was the last Cowboy T.V series to occupy it. I use to stop by and feed apples to my 4 legged friends…
Oldest structure at Universal.
I used to hijack this train as a trespasser. I would remove the conductor and mimic his automated “Look out-I can’t stop.” This was a tour favorite: the train from Red Gap to nowhere…
Stories from behind the wheel on WordPress, get your season pass on my other W.P site.
Speaking of “Behind the Wheel”-That’s me and my vehicle.Before this fancy ride I often used an open air jeep with a camera platform mounted on the engine hood. Used on location to film vehicle activity. I was my own Rat Patrol. I wore a Fedora hat because it gets real warm on summer days. Overtime-every star on the lot signed it. From all the Desperate Housewives, Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, Peyton Manning, Jerry Rice.Marcus Allen, Steve Young …football stars doing commercials. No one ever turned me down because it was A -List unique. Sadly it was stolen from my car one night. One of my most cherished items…
The future of Hollywood...No egos, no residuals just A.I robots.
This stage, 31, no longer exists-Tours took over this zone next to the Phantom of the Opera Stage -Stage 28. News item-many of are original stages used in most our T.V series is next to be removed. All the ’30s ‘ numbered stages and dressing rooms for stars will be excavated for more tour theme park space. The Beatles once slept over here. In 1965, during the tour, Lew Wasserman offered these rooms to the Beatles. He was the founder of Music Corporation of America, better known as MCA. No hotels would let them stay due to potential pandemonium. Lew was the last Studio Mogul. He was a wonderful man. He would greet any and all employees he crossed paths with.During the Fab fours brief stay-they became friends with-The Munsters, who filmed next door. So much history is being destroyed. Times-they are a changing!
All this power has to be denergized prior to demolition. All your favorite T.V shows from Leave it to Beaver to Dragnet filmed here…Once Upon a Time.
No one has been on more television and motion picture sets than…Donnie Norden. Please subscribe to WordPress- Phantomofthebacklots. This site is a never ending party of studio history. No one else has the pictures or stories, this has been my life since the Series Combat in 1964. My infatuation never stopped as one by one studios disappeared. My books are GOLD.
If I remember correctly-This was an exterior set for ‘Charmed.” I was on every set going for over 30 years as an employee and 10 more as a trespasser. I was assigned to every show. I had the Golden Egg of jobs…
European Street -Alley Way. Home of our Monsters. Walking the cobblestone streets at night under a full moon is intoxicating. MGM had the best of all Europe Sets.
Backside–Court of Miracles. Where monsters roam loose.
Visitor check in for …Jurassic Park.
Steven Spielberg’s toy chest for big boys. In this photo-two of his sets merge a few years apart. Jurassic Park meets-War of the Worlds
This crashed 747 is a real plane brought from an Arizona plane graveyard for complete realism. We made it look like it crashed. This set is now part of the annual Halloween Haunts.
Backside of JP 2 visitor center. A reinforced steel platform on roof allowed a helicopter land as chaos was ensuing with rogue raptors…Normally this is a deserted part of the backlot.
My dog ‘Thor‘ often went to work with me. He even met- Ron Howard. This area is called Falls Lake.
Studio Caterers prepared meals for the both of us…We never went home hungry. Thanks to Mario’s Catering, Tony’s Catering , and Four Stars. The best in the business. Frank and Peter of Four Stars send their rigs to California Fires to feed the Firemen combating blazes. No one works harder at 4 a.m than all my brother caters- Usually 2 hours before crew call.
Preparing for another commercial –New York Street ‘3’, The most used exteriors on this lot.
As the tour keeps growing, these sets are still standing for tram tours. This is the last Western Street in old Hollywood. Trams keep this area alive. Once Upon a Time-the Film by Quentin Tarantino filmed here. The closet Western Street left in Hollywood. I feel the stories in my books are worthy of a Netflix Series...Once Upon a Time. True adventures on every set in Hollywood in the Golden Age of Film. I have not met him Q.T-but if I do-I’d give him my real version. I have too many stories for a movie-mine is a series. Stay Tuned everybody, I’m trying-I see big things ahead!
That completes our tour today. This is just an appetizer of future content for my Phantomofthebacklots WordPress site. No one has more pictures, call sheets and stories I ask you to subscribe to Phantomofthebacklots. You can binge for hours or days if you wish!
I can’t put all this on Facebook, too much stuff. My stories read much better on this platform. Make the switch here please, there is nothing as well prepared and shareable than all things. Also visit- The Glamour Tram– real life tram stories...Written and Lived by…Donnie Norden
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