Universal Studios attractions that we miss...

[Typhoon John]

Hi everyone!
I responded to a post about Universal removing the King Kong ride. ( http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=942514 )
It's funny, because I think a lot about some of the attractions that are no longer open and I get kind of nostalgic about them. I worry about Jaws being closed, although it's apparently only for maintenance. In my other post, I likened Kong to Disney's Small World and Pirates of the Carribean. It was a timeless classic that should've stayed, I believe, while Mummy (my favorite ride right now) should've gone in somewhere else in the park.
So, I wanted to start a thread and get people's thoughts on rides and attractions they remember. I first went to Universal in 1990, and their may be an attraction that I somehow never got around to, or a stage show I never saw. I'm sure there probably is...like the original incarnation of Jaws (if it was any different than it is today).

I'll start by mentioning "Murder, She Wrote." I realy liked the attraction. It had a pre-show that had featured an actor that would have everyone yell, "No, absolutely NOT!" whenever he'd ask the audience a question. Plus, the sound effects overdubbing part (the main part, actually) of the attraction was different every time because of the people they pulled from the audience to make the sounds.
Also, they stopped having the dummy fall from the stairwell in Earthquake and in the years before Hitchcock closed, they cut out some of the actors from the shower scene.

Can you add to the list some things you remember that have changed or are gone forever? Not to be depressing, but it's cool to think that others miss them too.
Thanks in advance,
- John

 

[phamton]

Hi everyone!

Also, they stopped having the dummy fall from the stairwell in Earthquake

They had the dummy falling the last time I went to Earthquake 2 months ago.

 

[Typhoon John]

I'm glad. Maybe it's a seasonal ting, but I always miss it when I'm there. I thought they were saving money on staff or something.

Thanks,
- John

 

[phamton]

Earthquake has two preshows. The first one where you enter and while standing, they show you some special effects. Then you go into the seating area with the U-Boat and falling dummy. And, lastly, you enter the subway area.

I've been many times when one or both preshows weren't shown. I suspect it is in the slow season or when short-staffed. Sometimes, they skip the preshows for the last show of the day if the park has closed. I know I had missed the preshows several times and thought they had gotten rid of it. But it seems to still be going, at least in busy times.

 

[Typhoon John]

Actually, it's been a while since I rode "Earthquake." I'm going to have to hit it next time I go...hopefully right after Thanksgiving.
- John

 

[macraven]

They had the dummy falling the last time I went to Earthquake 2 months ago.

i went to earthquake twice on the columbus day weekend and the dummy was there and down he fell...............


the real ride for me is the subway portion

 

[Typhoon John]

I must've been going during a slow time or an off-day.
Do you guys remember the Murer, She Wrote attraction? (It's probably still there, just not operating on days I attend. That would be my luck. ) Did anybody go during the early 90's, or get to ride the original Jaws?
- John

 

[metsfan11]

i miss the wild west stunt show
i thought that this show was so funny, full of action and fun. now we have fear factor live, in my opinion the worst theme park show i have ever seen. we saw it twice, once on a wednesday and again on a friday, and saw the same show, with just different people and different hosts. terrible! i found a website where i saw the last showing of the wild west show. anyone else agree with me?

 

[cbdmhgp]

a ride that i miss is the hannah barbera ride, which was replaced with Jimmy Neutron. this was a terrible decision to take that ride out, in my opinion. i rode jaws in the mid-90s and i dont believe that it was very different from right now, but im no expert. and i definitely agree that the wild west stunt show was better than the fear factor live.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Miss Hanna Barbera and the Hitchcock Theatre - why don't they ditch 'Lucille A Tribute' ?

 

[Typhoon John]

I think their contract ran out with Hanna & Barberra, at least that's what I heard.
Does anyone remember the stunt show that used to take place in the lagoon at night? I saw it a few times and thought it was great!
Also, Jaws was open right around the time the park opened, then closed for a couple of years for a redesign. It was breaking down constantly when the park first openend. Anybody have more info on this or the stunt show?

 

[the Dark Marauder]

I must've been going during a slow time or an off-day.
Do you guys remember the Murer, She Wrote attraction? (It's probably still there, just not operating on days I attend. That would be my luck. ) Did anybody go during the early 90's, or get to ride the original Jaws?
- John

I saw that show many times. It was replaced with a not-as-good Hercules and Xena show. That show closed a few years ago and has not been replaced with anything since.

The evening stunt show Dynamite Nights Stunt Spectacular was cancelled due to expense.

I rode the original Jaws, and it was not as good as the current version. You only saw the shark 2-3 times and the turntable effect rarely worked.

 

[Typhoon John]

I saw that show many times. It was replaced with a not-as-good Hercules and Xena show. That show closed a few years ago and has not been replaced with anything since.

The evening stunt show Dynamite Nights Stunt Spectacular was cancelled due to expense.

I rode the original Jaws, and it was not as good as the current version. You only saw the shark 2-3 times and the turntable effect rarely worked.

I had forgotten about the Hercules and Xena show, and I never even saw it. That area seems awefully vacant.
The Dynamite Nights Stunt Spectacular was cool. I had forgotten its full name.
What do you mean by "turntable" effect in the original Jaws? Is that where the shark fins appear out of the water?
- John

 

[metsfan11]

where was the hercules and xena show located?

 

[BonnieA]

It was fun seeing the Psycho house in the distance. But it went the way of the wrecking ball. Anyone remember a small AT&T sponsered exhibit next to ET? Can't remember exactly what was in it, some kind of games maybe something having to do with the evolution of the telephone?

 

[Metro West]

I miss Kongfrontation, Alfred Hitchcock and seeing the Psycho house..especially around Halloween.

 

[Molokai Gram]

I really miss Kong.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

The Hitchcock Theatre was brilliant, always wanted to be asked to take part in that show - no chance of that now though.

 

[Typhoon John]

The Hercules and Xena show was located in the same building that housed Murder, She Wrote, I believe. In the Unofficial Guide to Disney, the building is listed as "Soundstage 54." It's located behind and to the right of Shrek, next to what I believe is Battery Park. Is that complicated enough?
I remember the AT&T phone thing, or signs for it. I'm not sure if I ever went in it, though. Does anybody know what it was?
BTW, I got chosen to be the extra in the Hitchcock attraction, but I chickened out and they got somebody else. They used to pick you out during the pre-show. I was kicking myself afterwards becuase I let my shyness make me miss out on something I would remember to this day. How stupid was that?!

 

[the Dark Marauder]

I had forgotten about the Hercules and Xena show, and I never even saw it. That area seems awefully vacant.
The Dynamite Nights Stunt Spectacular was cool. I had forgotten its full name.
What do you mean by "turntable" effect in the original Jaws? Is that where the shark fins appear out of the water?
- John

Jaws actually "bit" the boat and turned the boat back and forth. There's a video online somehwere, but I don't remember where I found it.

The AT&T thing, I remember. It housed a 6ft working phone, plus several exhibits. One was where you typed in words and you could have one of the Munsters say what you typed. There was also a game where you could get your picture taken, then the computer would scramble your picture and you would have to unscramble it.