New Metropolitan sets open tomorrow

[johntrim040851]

I hear a lot of talk here and on other studio related websites about preserving these sets. It would be great but these studio's are not museums. they are working studio's that are in business to make money. As such they will do what they need to do to be profitable. Each director or production designer comes on the lot with a vision of what their film or TV show will look like. To that end they will take what is there and change it to fit that vision. Just take a look at some of the sets and lots from the past. RKO 40 Acres is a good example. That was an iconic backlot. Gone With The Wind, The Andy Griffith Show, Gomer Pyle, Hogan's Heroes. Now it's an industrial park. Fox, MGM, Paramount all had extensive backlots but they are gone. We are luck that Universal still has what they have but someday it will be gone too. My guess is that if they go ahead with the Universal Vision Plan the only standing sets that will be preserved will be what ever one happen to be in use at that time.

[frenchjr25]

Some could say the same about movie theatres, drive ins, and any other type of structure. This is why there are historical societies and the National Trust. saving cultural landmarks is vital to the future understanding of our lives.

And people want to see the sets where movies and TV shows were done, not the physical locations. How different would your experience of Universal be if they demolished the Psycho house and just told you where it once stood?

There is plenty of room for sets to be moved, which is not that expensive of a process. We are not talking about 100 ton brick buildings.

And remember that until Desperate Housewives Universal had sets dating back to the late 20s. Obviously their were important to them for 50 years until NBC bought the studio.

[Speechless_UK]

I am new to this board so hello everyone!
Will be my first trip to Uni Hollywood in May and I can't wait. Thanks for all the information on this website!

Just wanted to ask when you mention the 'private' tour is that the VIP tour?

Looking to go on this and one of the main attractions to me is Wisteria Lane.... I was undecided as to do the VIP tour... but its sounds like there may be a chance you get to walk on it? Is that true and is that new?

Thanks for your help!

[johntrim040851]

Some could say the same about movie theatres, drive ins, and any other type of structure. This is why there are historical societies and the National Trust. saving cultural landmarks is vital to the future understanding of our lives.

And people want to see the sets where movies and TV shows were done, not the physical locations. How different would your experience of Universal be if they demolished the Psycho house and just told you where it once stood?

There is plenty of room for sets to be moved, which is not that expensive of a process. We are not talking about 100 ton brick buildings.

And remember that until Desperate Housewives Universal had sets dating back to the late 20s. Obviously their were important to them for 50 years until NBC bought the studio.

I understand what your saying, but places like theaters, historic home and such are static structures. Once they are designated as an historical landmark they must remain in that same condision. The back lots sets are constently changing to satisfy production needs. If a set were to be declared an historical landmark then it could be repainted a different color, windows couldn't be changed and so forth. These sets are there for one purpose and that is to make money for the studio, first as tools for production, second for the tour. If the set couldn't be changed then they would be of little use to the studio. As much as they mean to us they are just part of the studio's assets.

[frenchjr25]

The point would be to save the sets by moving the ones that the studio is going to demolish to a state park or other facility.

And sets really are not changed that often. Warner Bros. looks almost exactly as it did in the early 80s when Dukes of Hazard was filmed there. And look at the ranch. The only major changes have taken place because of fires.

And historic buildings and structures can be changed. For me part of this is getting important cultural icons into the hands of people that are going to care for them. It would also make studios think before demolishing sets that could simply be modified or have a facade put around them (the Munster house for example). Universal has done major damage to their important assets by allowing DHW to demolish buildings dating back to the 1920s. None of these were just facades. They were almost complete buildings (the Munster's was the only one without a back wall). AND Universal has plenty of room where these sets could have been moved, something they used to do all the time.