I was there, 1986, and witnessed the Kongfrontation, Jaws, Battlestar Galactica, E.T, Back To The Future. I waved furiously to be selected for the screen test component of the tour. I got the gig. I was dressed in striped prison garbs and was tipped upside down in a cabled plane. The final film was edited and played to an audience of strangers who, by the end of the tour, felt like family. I was looking forward to Disneyland, but Universal Studios was hands down the most memorable and interactive experience. A Class!

Kurt you took me back to my childhood. I am 44 and remember all of those things! Thank you!

Very cool, I miss the 80's and 90's. Good times 🤗✌️💖🎊🎉

im glad i went to Universal back in 1984 when my family went on an awesome American vacation from Sweden .. good times !

I went to the Universal Studios on my first trip to the USA from germany in the early 90s. The Back to the Future ride was awesome. But what really stuck in my head was the Backdraft building. I can still feel the fire heat in my face. 😃

I agree - Universal Studios was soooo much cooler in the 80s & 90s - T2-3D battle across time is still the most amazing attraction ive ever visited - i miss it so much, excellent job Kurt - you are a wealth of knowledge!

Dope I was lucky to go twice in the 80s and 90s People don’t know what magic they missed on the back lots Thanks again!

This means a lot to me. When your looking around and nothings the same in life, then you look at this and realize your childhood treasure is being deleted before your very eyes it’s a weird feeling. The nostalgia is overwhelming. San Diego kid here and this is where I picked to go for my birthday any year I could. Im 42, I remember the burning house, The Galactica, Conan show, King Kong (rip), the bridge, backdraft etc. If you went in the 80’s or 90’s you saw the actual vintage sets. Munsters etc. The magic of this place was phenomenal. Anyone remember the A Team van you could lift?. The banana scent stuck with me forever. Thanks for these videos brah. We are one in the same!.

Man I love universal studios Hollywood especially because of all the back to the future stuff back in the 90’s

Battlestar Galatica, the burning house, the collapsing bridge, the Million Dollar Man “avalanche tunnel” were some of my favorites. Plus, just seeing the movie cars scattered around the backlot was always fun.

Don't fear! I can assure you that the log cabin from The Great Outdoors is not gone! I work at the studio, and it was simply moved (somewhat behind the plane crash set and next to the original Falls Lake) last summer. Hope that makes you feel better!

I remember my older bro taking me to Universal Amphitheatre to go watch the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers! 🤓❤️ I remember in HS taking the Ventura blvd bus all the way to Universal Studios with my friends! Good times! 🥰

Last time I was at Universal Hollywood was 1988, I remember the Battlestar Galactica ride, the wild west show, the rotating tunnel, Jaws, the splitting of the sea, and the special effects show (that they said was the same sound stage as where the 60s show The Munsters was filmed). We also ate at that Tony Romas Ribs restaurant at the exit of the studios, sorry to see its gone now. Thanks for the blast to the past!

Mid 90s universal was so magical!

Bro! So happy to see this video, brought back great memories.

I was there in 1987 - I loved it, never forgotten! Greets from Cologne/Germany

I was there in the mid 80's - I was super young - but this video really brought some stuff back for me. I do remember Jaws, of course - I remember the flash flood, and the parting of the sea - my Mom really loved that one. She used to force us to watch The Ten Commandments on television every Easter - even though we weren't religious at all - and that movie is so freaking boring. Haha. I also remember the little skits too - especially he cowboy one. And the Psycho house - when we went, it was up on a hill somewhere, I think. Awesome video man. You're little recollections are kinda funny and kinda sad at the same time - Haha - but I guess that's what childhood seems like now. I remember my Mom always telling me to sit down and be quiet when I'd get excited about stuff. But this was the trip we took that made me want to live in California. I just couldn't believe that normal people lived there and worked normal jobs doing this stuff. I wish my family took more pictures too. For some reason they really sucked the day we came here.

Excellent recap, and what a trip down memory lane! When I was there in the late 80s, Dick Tracy was being filmed, which made for some interesting sets and visuals. Battlestar Galactica, Jaws, Earthquake...all etched into my memory.

In the 70s, on the tour, they used to say the collapsing Bridge was part of the movie The Bridge Over the River Kwai. Also in the 80s, the parking lot was pathetic. They had the boat from The African Queen chained to a light pole in the parking lot. In the 90s they revamped the whole thing to include the City walk.

The first time I went to Universal Studios, we got to see some filming for the Parade in Jingle All The Way. Last time I went was for grad night in 01. Sad to see so many great attractions gone.

👏👏👏👏Yes please do a Part 2!! Thank you for doing this video and thank goodness you mentioned about the western skit during the tram ride, because I told my husband about it during one of the tram rides we took and I said they use to have cowboys pretend to rob you and he said no, only Knott’s Berry Farm. So YAY!!!!

All of these locations are very classic and beautiful. Thank you 80's life for bringing us subscribers these great videos. I support you on this channel.

Can u believe E.T. is 40 YEARS OLD.... WOW!! I FEEL OLD!!

I remember going there in '80 or '81. I have some photos of my trip. I remember one window showing off the costumes for 'Heartbeeps', the Galactica scene, the bionic van for lifting and the rotating tunnel originally used in the Six Million Dollar Man.

Amazing video and excellent commentary. My friends and I used to go on the ET ride and give them fake names. I would tell them my name was Michael and my friend would say his name was Jordan. It was great hearing ET say "Thank you Michael Jordan." Great memories.

Yes please do a pt 2. The nostalgic factor is great. Good job

Modern problems is so underrated, one of my favs growing up

Dude, this is hands down your best video. I only went to Universal once in the 90s and like yourself I’m kind of disappointed how they removed a lot of their history. The time I was there was perfect, the BTTF ride, ET, King Kong Encounter, as well as the original Jurassic Park, Blues Brothers show and the Backdraft show were all still operating. The backlot tour seemed to be more interactive and, like you said, more in use. We saw what was obviously one of the sets from Batman and Robin, even though they couldn’t tell us that’s what it was (it was a Warner Brothers movie.) Keep up the videos. We’ll keep watching. BTW- I just missed you in the South Bay. I was there on a work trip at the time you were shooting.

My cousin and her husband work there. Got VIP tickets and free food coupons back in 2009. My first and only time there. It was awesome!

I miss the terminator show at universal!! So many good memories.

I’m from the east coast and I really enjoy this channel Kurt. It gives me the old school California experience from the glory days. 👍

Awesome video,I miss those classic attractions,especially the parting sea and the extinct avalanche.So many memories.Thank you for this trip down memory lane!!

awh man nostalgia overload. Great recap of the 80's, 90's and now

I remember the Adventures of Conan show most fondly in the 80s. My friend from Houston came out to visit me and we went to Universal together..

The 80's of Universal Studios bring back memories, thank you!

Heck Yes! This might be my favorite video of yours yet. I love going to Universal Studios. I remember being a kid and going to see He-Man and Skeletor there and receiving a free toy. I also remember climbing all over that Megatron statue. JAWS is my favorite movie and even as a 40 year old man I still have to sit on the right side of the tram just so I can see that stupid shark jump at me.

Love the content man, keep it up!

Omg dude, I am valley girl for life. But we used to go to universal studios all the time. But We got the annual pass one time for $1 and my best friend lived on Cahuenga and after work we used to go to city walk and sometimes we used to kill time going inside the park for like an hour or so... So many memories... thanks U SO MUCH.

I have not been to Universal since 1987, but I remember going during the time of the small Adam-12 show and the like. Pretty primitive back in the day. I use to go the amphitheater concerts all the time and was lucky enough to see the Blues Brothers with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express as they opened for Steve Martin. My sides ached for days from laughing. Oh yeah.. Prop Plaza.... Still have pictures of that, standing in front of the War Wagon and sitting in the HUGE chair.

Great video! It brought back so many fond memories and it sure has changed a lot since the last time I went there in 1982 or 1983.

great video. great memories . universal was so great and special to go to in the 80's and 90's . now it doesn't feel the same for various reasons as you mentioned . theme parks in general were more special imo during the 80's and 90's

We've all heard "sweet and salty"....Your videos make me "happy and sad" We moved from the valley in late 1980. I was fortunate enough to see Thomas Magnum walking into his dressing trailer and a life size Colonial Viper.......OHHH the good-ole-days. I appreciate your effort ...God bless

The DeLorean is now on display at the Petersen museum! Go check it out! It's been there since 2015.

Glad you did this video of Universal Studios. Brings back so many memories of when I was a kid going there in the 80s and 90s. Went there last year and it wasn’t nothing like when I was a kid. I was shocked and sad to see a lot of props and rides gone. Anyways keep up the good videos!!

Man.... you bring back so many memories!!! Thanks Kurt!!!!

Great video!! Great job!! 👍👍 Thanks for the memories!!😁 I was there in 1979! Haven't been there since. I remember the rotating tunnel and the Jaws set! I remember the Dracula show! And the hanging shark! The Wild West stunt show!!!👍 The giant Black Telephone! At the prop area. I was climbing on it and remember a Universal worker scolding me to get down from the telephone! There was also a prop exhibit area and I remember seeing the actual scary "Zuni doll" from the Universal made for TV horror movie "Trilogy of Terror" with actress Karen Black. You should do a video of Disneyland! Alot has changed there too!

I think what happened to Universal Studios is back in the 80s it was 80% working film studio and 20% tour, now it's 20% working film studio and 80% tour. Definitely not as cool as back in the 80s.

Amazing video i grew up going to universal at the same time. at the spiderman show there used to be a Conan show with a big dragon that would shoot fire and before that it was a Dracula show

"It was so terrible, it was entertaining...." I love this quote.

*"When In Hollywood, visit Universal Studios. Ask for Babs."* ('Animal House', 1978)

Good stuff Kurt. Thanks for taking me down memory lane. I've been to Universal Studios Hollywood 20 times over the decades. I remember playing Doc Brown on one of the Back to the Future attractions in the 90's. One of my major "acting" performances. Getting electrocuted on the clock tower. : )

Thank you for capturing the magic of what used to be a phenomenal and historic studio amusement park but has sadly become a side show circus of sadness. I spent so much time there as a child but sadly will never visit it as an adult. The magic has faded.

I worked there from 91 - 94. I remember the Wild West Stunt Show and it was great. The Black Ranger from the original Power Rangers worked that show at the same time I worked there as a cashier. Whenever someone got thrown through a window or door, he'd be there inside the saloon to throw a black sheet down to cover the door or window from the inside so the guests couldn't see inside. I also remember the Beetlejuice Graveyard Review. That was good too. My friend and I would go to that Tony Roma's on our lunch break and order chicken tenders and fries with honey mustard every time and throw darts. It was a fun place to work as a teenager.

This is amazing Kurt! 👏🏻Thank you for all the great memories and emotions this has brought back. 🙌🏻💪🏻. First visited in 1978. As a Brit I Had a dream then that I’d live in California one day and I did. So grateful & blessed 🙏🏻. Love LA so much ☀️☀️

awesome video dude, one of the best yet - brilliantly narrated and chock full of nostalgic memories, footage and fascinating knowledge! went to Orlando Universal Studios several times in the 90s and this brought back memories of some of the rides we loved there too! Would LOVE a part 2! Keep up the ace work!

Loved this video. Been telling my daughter about how cool Universal was as a kid. The Transformers ride also used to be the harry and the hendersons sounds stage show. I remember a restaurant on that little body of water that had a patio that had rain running off of it and 2 little war boats that were shooting at each other. The curious George Playland had an awesome room that had air cannons where you could shoot foam balls at people.

Citywalk itself has changed a lot too. I remember before AMC theatre has built there was a giant hulk giant guitar.

Thanks for the nice trip or rather tour down to "memory lane," Kurt! I got to experience Universal Studios back in the 90's when I was just a kid. I always ranted to my friends how awsome USH used to be back then, because of all the cool attractions, shows and stuff they took out. I remember seeing the Conan show, Beetlejuice, and I think seeing Beethoven the dog in the "Animal Show." I was also one of the lucky few to experience "An American Tail" show on my first time. It such a trip seeing all these changes happen over the years. I think my favorite rides were always "The Studio Tram Tour, Back to the Future and "The ET Ride." So much memories I got to revisit watching this video.

That was fantastic. PLEASE do a Part II. I was there in October 1999 ... I remember Backdraft .. and Kong .. and the Jaws thing in the lake. The Bates house was up on a height near Wisteria Lane ( I remember them mentioning The Burbs ). And of course the collapsing subway and the water torrent. They pointed out a soundstage where they said Clooney's Batman had been filmed. We were there on a weekday morning in mid October and there was hardly a soul there - we had the place to ourselves. There was no queue for the Terminator show ( which we loved ) or for the Back to the Future Ride ( I believe that building has a staircase that was used in BTTF 2 - I may be wrong ). Yes, there was actors in costumes walking around ( we came around the corner and there was Spiderman. We were stoked, as in 1999 Spiderman had kinda left the public's memory. We were approached and asked did we want to be in the audience for a taping of "3rd Rock from the Sun", but we declined as we had come to see the studios, not sit inside for what we imagined would be 4-5 hours. I remember the Lyons Estates gates which if I recall were just jumbled up with Jurassic Park stuff. And yes, we could walk to the Universal Globe, and then if I recall there was a Hard Rock Cafe and a group of souvenir shops ( where one of the female attendants was singing loudly while working. I guess she was hoping to be discovered ). And those covered outdoor escalators. Coming from Ireland we had never even SEEN outdoor escalators ha ha. It was a great few hours walking around. Oddly enough, I have no memory of Court House Square, so maybe they were filming that day and we didn't go through it ? Anyway, thank you so much for this video; I love to see a Part II; and I'll have to search and see do I have photos from my trip.

Way, way back, the TV show 'McHale's Navy' set was part of that tour.

Thanks for the video I was there in 93 Brought back some memories

What a good memory for details you have

The original BTTF DeLorean went on permanent display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles in 2016.

What a delightful video! Thank you for the research and oh so many flash backs for me personally. My husband was a stunt performer for Miami Vice, other friends in the Western Stunt show, Conan show, etc. I was a Bartender at Victoria station (made me chuckle when you said Miami Vice stunt guys would stop into Victoria Station after shows, they did indeed I married one of em, 34 years and counting). We were all friends back then, the whole park, including the characters that were interactive with guests, engineers - even HR and management, all one team! They used the Vice stunt guys to test the Back to the Furture ride before it opened, they loved it and kept saying, gee we need another test to be sure it's good... Lol). You are spot on that the nuances back then made it a much better experience. Now it's just like any other amusement park and that welcoming connection just isn't there, sad as that warmth is what made people return year after year, especially locals. When NBC bought it they yanked all the fun out of it. Loved your video, so well done!

I can't thank you enough for this video and all your videos, my Grandma just passed last year and I remember going in 1985 and I was so sad as Jaws was broken that day, but it was so neat as they hadn't put King Kong up yet and there were all these big wooden crates on the side that said Danger, and Beware it was so cool. I also remember the Incredible Shrinking Woman phone, and a big Iron and the bridge, and burning house. I love reliving this and remembering my beloved grandparents. Thank you so much!

Of any park, I'd want to go back to Universal again in the 80s and early 90s.

Loved the video I remember the Miami vice show , Jaws, ET, King King, and the tunnel avalanche one… 80-90 era was best! Brought back memories!

I want to say thank you for these videos, I’ve been home sick and missing home and being around the Valley and all over LA

Your becoming one of my favorites you tubers,keep it up ,your deadication to your craft is a breath of fresh air!!

Perfect story about your dad miss my dad so much he also rarely did spontaneous things but once he woke me up in the middle of the night to watch Silent Running with Bruce Dern so I could see the buggy's they were driving on the space ship

I heard you say in another video you had a 73 Malibu before. That was my first car I bought in 1992 when I was 17. Looked exactly like the car in the movie Drive with Ryan gosling.

Best memory I had was going to Universal Studios in Summer of 84. Was in court house square and my father remarks....."What did they do to that DeLorean?"

i went to US alot from 1995 until 2001 .. i lived about 15 minutes away walking distance in Toluca Lake .. i remember sneaking in there a alot ..

Awesome Work Bro, Thanks!!!👍👍 Greetings from Helsinki, Finland 🇫🇮🇺🇸🇫🇮🇺🇸

Went to Universal in California in 1987. The Physho house, Jaws and Beach sign, King Kong walking through a city. The Back to the Future set, Miami Vice stunt show. I also remember seeing the place that was on Different Strokes when they had that Pie Fight

Great, great video 👏 Brought back so many memories from when I was a kid. I was obsessed with the A-Team stunt show and the van you could pick up on the studio tour stop. Thank you 😊 Definitely a part 2!

The Battlestar Galactica portion of the tram ride was fun. They also had a live actors shooting each other with laser guns.

25:11 - I've had a vague memory of my late dad lifting a van at Universal back in the 80's. I couldn't remember enough detail about it to find any information about it prior to this video. Thank you for showing this!

I got to eat at Marvel Mania once before it closed, wasn’t the best food but getting pics with captain America and Wolverine while eating Mac n cheese and chicken tenders was a highlight of my day :)

I went there in the early 90s on a school field trip. The thing that I remember most was the Conan sword fighting and riding through the dinosaur world with the red hot looking desert. Now that you mentioned King Kong smelling like bananas, I remember that too!

Interesting stuff. Always very surreal to me too, as is west coast stuff from Disneyland, because I grew up in the Midwest going to Universal Studios Florida, and Disney World a handful of times, before moving to Orlando in 1998. I had annual passes to both the Universal and Disney parks starting in 1998 on, but had to drop the Universal pass after about 2015/2016 because it was all just getting too expensive. But I have sort of the reverse east coast Universal memories that you have. I’ve been to Disney out west a few times in 2014 and 2015, but never Universal Hollywood. What always strikes me is how tight and claustrophobic everything feels out there compared to Orlando. But oddly, it’s much of the same attractions. Sort of an alternative reality. The one key detail being that they still actually MAKE movies and TV out at Universal Hollywood. My degree is in film and television production, and I originally moved to Orlando largely to start working in the burgeoning industry here that I saw in the late 80’s/early 90’s growing up. But sadly by the early 2000’s most of it had all but died here. I still dream that it could ever come back, but having been tried already, found to me unsustainable, and failed, I seriously doubt it could return. Again though, surreal to see so many things I know from the park here in Florida in another location.

Again awesome video! Love it.

I saw Weird Al and Jimmy Buffet in concert at the amphitheater back in the 80’s. The park was easy to visit back then never super crowded. ET ride was fun. I also looked for the Universal sign when driving by and further up the 101 the Chemosphere House used in Body Double.

The original Kong was awesome!!!

The bridge worked as resent as 6-7 years ago As a matter of fact may wife and I rode it when kong malfunctioned and we had to do a go round but another tram was already in the tunnel so we took the bridge. This was about a year before the old runaway train was put there. Can you believe they used to shoot that train at the tram . Everyone wanted it back the there it is in all it glory. I don’t know what film it was originally built for, but I think it had something to do with Alfred Hitchcock, because he stars in a commercial jumping out of its way. He felt the commercial was an embarrassment, and refused all meetings with Steven Spielberg because of that fact. Cool video keep it up

I loved that tour back in the day. Seeing lots of stuff here that I didn't even realize were gone, haven't been there in years. Was totally bummed when they got rid of the Amphitheater too...Saw many, many great concerts and artists/bands there over the decades. Sad when nostalgic things change and disappear.

I miss the Back To The Future ride & ET & the special effects show the most

I think what changed from the 80s/90s is taking risks and bold creativity with rides that expressed just that in that era. Today, we do not take risks anymore.

I really miss the "BattleStar Galatica" attraction!.....Also the "Broken Bridge".....And the Conan Barbarian Show too!

Great Outdoors cabin also was the spot where they filmed scenes for the show Coach as it was his house and up by Wisteria Ln was Quin Mallory's house from the legendary scifi/comedy/Drama series Sliders! I got to go a few times in the 80's and the 90's sat in Kitt and got to lift up The A-Team van as well as be on the tour during a break when filming Back To The Future 2 in fully dressed futuristic downtown Hill Valley! We drove right past the modded Ford Probe on this video! But I have to say your band covers were rad! Thanks for the videos man!

Thank you for this beautiful video....from south italy...

Great vid! I like that you mentioned the Mr. T dummy they had inside the train. When I was there in the mid 1980s, they also had a mannequin of Hannibal from the A- team standing outside the burning house holding a blowtorch. I only saw this for a brief time and it was removed shortly after. I often wonder if anyone got a picture of it. Stage 28 was torn down to build Transformers. It was a sad day. I remember working on the lot and visiting the stage before it was demolished. Thanks for sharing your memories!

Sir, Great info, took a trip down memory lane. I remember taking a picture with a Care Bear, also lifting that A-Team Van. Sad that the BTTF ride was taken away. I have not been back since the mid 90s. Thanks again, keep up the great work!

Awesome video..I went out there in 92 family vacation..best time I ever had..thanks for sharing..this brought back memories..sad to see some things gone..my favorite thing outta the trip was knight rider I used to have pictures of me sitting inside the car along with my father..I definitely wanna make a trip out there again..I was probably bout 7 or 8 at the time..

Great Video you covered so much in a short amount of time! I was lucky enough to experience a lot of what you shown in your video. We got to sit in KITT and it must of been New Year day cause we asked where was Michael and he said at home watching the Rose Parade. I also remember watching the A-Team Stunt show and the Miami Vice one was very awesome! Conan and the Wild West show were also my favorites. I like the Simpsons as well but would never have gotten rid of the BTTF ride. Thanks for the memories!

Great content brotha. I really enjoyed this video.

BTW, the cabin from The Great Outdoors was relocated behind the War of the World's set next to the original Falls Lake. It's safe and still intact!!

Love your videos man.

Awesome job Bro!

Great stuff. You should have WAY more subscribers. Great wholesome channel.