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Special Effects Stage
Universal Studios Hollywood
AreaUpper Lot
StatusRemoved
Opening dateJanuary 2002
Closing dateJanuary 8, 2023
ReplacedThe Land of a Thousand Faces (1975 – 1980)
Castle Dracula Live Show (1980 – 1983)
The Adventures of Conan: A Sword and Sorcery Spectacular (1983 – 1992)
Beetlejuice's Rock and Roll Graveyard Revue (1992 – 1999)
Spider-Man Rocks (2002 – 2004)
Fear Factor Live (2005 – 2008)
Creature from the Black Lagoon: The Musical (2009 – 2010)
Ride statistics
Attraction typeSpecial Effects Show
ThemeUniversal Pictures films

Special Effects Stage (known as Special Effects Stages from 2002 to 2010, Special Effects Stage from 2010 to 2015, and Special Effects Show from 2016 to 2023) was an attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood. Originally located in the park's Lower Lot area, it was relocated to the Upper Lot’s Castle Theater to make way for Transformers: The Ride 3D.[1][2][3][4] The attraction opened in this second and final location on June 26, 2010.[5] The show permanently closed on January 8, 2023 alongside Universal's Animal Actors, and both will be replaced by a Fast & the Furious-themed rollercoaster.[6][7]

The attraction took guests through demonstrations of how movie special effects are created, including Motion capture, Chroma key, and Stop motion techniques. It included sections with park guest participation, and lifted elements from Universal's Horror Make-Up Show at Universal Studios Florida. The live attraction had two hosts: an older, practical effects guru and a younger, digital effects artist.[8]

Films featured

The attraction's structure and the films showcased within it changed overtime. The show's first and final performances consisted of:

First performance (January 2002)

Final performance (January 8, 2023)

Jurassic World, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, King Kong, Jurassic Park, Minions, The Incredible Hulk, The Mummy, Back to the Future, Ted, The Secret Life of Pets, Jaws, Sing, Apollo 13, The Fast and the Furious, The Bourne Identity, Identity Thief, Dracula, Child's Play[10]

History

Before this show's opening in 2002, various other special effect-centric shows took place in the park's lower-lot area from the 1970s to 1990s, including:

See also

References

  1. ^ Special Effects Stages (Full Show) Universal Studios Hollywood California, retrieved 2023-01-15
  2. ^ a b "Special Effects Stages". theStudioTour.com. Retrieved 2023-01-15.
  3. ^ "2010 Special Effects Stage". theStudioTour.com. Retrieved 2023-01-15.
  4. ^ "Special Effects Show". theStudioTour.com. Retrieved 2023-01-15.
  5. ^ "Universal Studios Hollywood to open updated Special Effects Stage on June 26". Theme Park Tourist.
  6. ^ Davis-Friedman, Samantha (2022-11-10). "Two Universal Studios Hollywood shows are closing". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
  7. ^ Martinez, Christian (2023-07-13). "New 'Fast & Furious' coaster coming to Universal Studios Hollywood". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  8. ^ "Universal Studios Hollywood updates & relocates special-effects show". Los Angeles Times.
  9. ^ a b "theStudioTour.com - Universal Studios Hollywood - Special Effects Stages". www.thestudiotour.com. Retrieved 2023-01-15.
  10. ^ [4K] Special Effects Show Reopens 2022 (Universal Studios Hollywood) Full POV Bleeding and Set Fire, retrieved 2023-01-15
  11. ^ "Special Effects Show (Theatre)". TV Tropes. Retrieved 2023-01-15.
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