Universal Studios Hollywood - Backlot

Tower of London

The tower set used to be immediately adjacent to Denver Street. It was removed around 1988 for the construction of the Earthquake show building which has replaced it.
The set was built for Tower of London (1939) starring Boris Karloff, Basil Rathbone and Vincent Price. That film marked Vincent Price's horror film debut.
The castle also appeared as a concentration camp in Judgement at Nuremburg, starring Spencer Tracy, a Scottish castle in McMillan and Wife, an amusement park in Murder She Wrote, starring Angela Lansbury, and even a village on a distant planet in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. It also appeared in Airwolf, when the helicopter of the title made a flying visit.

The Tower (see also larger photo below)

Tower of London set can be seen in the left part of this photo, from "Inside Universal Studios", 1978

The Tower set again, this time looking from the other end of Denver Street. Part of Park lake can be seen at the right of the photo. From "Inside Universal Studios", 1978

The Tower of London set dressed with Hollywood snow in 1967 (Postcard 19306-C)

GlamorTram on the road adjacent to Park Lake with the Tower of London in the background.
(From "Inside Universal Studios", 1978)

Seen on Screen: Universal Studios Hollywood [Tower of London]

Title	Released	Director	IMDB
Tower of London [Feature Film]	1939	Rowland V. Lee
The Tower of London castle set on the backlot was constructed for this movie. It remained until 1988 when it was replaced by the Earthquake attraction for the Studio Tour.
Golden Earrings [Feature Film]	1947	Mitchell Leisen
Tower of London castle set, Little Europe sets on the backlot.
The Golden Blade [Feature Film]	1953	Nathan Juran
Tower of London set on the backlot
The Black Shield of Falworth [Feature Film]	1954	Rudolph Maté
Tower of London set
Judgement at Nurembrug [Feature Film]	1961	Stanley Kramer
The Tower of London castle set on the backlot is used for concentration camp scenes.
McMillan & Wife [TV Series]	1971-1977	Leonard Stern
Interiors shot on Stage 44, the backlot Tower of London set appeared as a scottish castle.
Battlestar Galactica [TV Series]	1978-1979	Glen A. Larson, Lou Shaw
The backlot Tower of London castle set featured in 1978 episode The Magnificent Warriors.
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century [TV Series]	1979-1981
The backlot Tower of London castle set and Little Europe sets appear in the episode Golden Boy as a village on a distant planet.
Airwolf [TV Series]	1984-1986	Donald P. Bellisario
Colonial Street, Denver Street, Little Europe, New York Street, Six Points Texas, Square of Warriors, Tower of London backlot sets, Stage 14 [helicopter interior mockup], Stage 20 [process shots], Stage 24 [Hawke Cabin set], Stage 27 [The Lair hideout], Stage 28 [process shots]
Murder She Wrote [TV Series]	1984-1996	Various
"Incident on Lot 7" - Season 8, Episode 13 (1992) - Psycho House
"Jessica Behind Bars" - Season 2, Episode 9 (1985) - Square of Warriors / Spartacus Square Embassy building appears as the Prison exterior.
"Hooray for Homicide" - Season 1, Episode 3 (1984) - Front Lot & Studio Tour
Colonial Street, New York Street (as London), Tower of London set (as an amusement park), Little Europe (unknown episodes)
Elm Street (as Industrial Street), Singapore Lake (Jaws Lake) appeared in the opening titles as Cabot Cove, Maine.
"To Kill A Legend" (Season 11 Episode 3, October 1994) Circle Drive on Colonial Street is featured prominently as the location for the battle re-enactment. The church is seen in many shots.
"Seal of the Confessional" - Season 6 Episode 2 (1989) - Colonial Street Circle Drive church appears in the opening sequence. Jaws Lake appears as Cabot Cove.
Stage 20 [pilot], Stage 22, Stage 25 (interior Jessica Fletcher's house), Stage 29, the backlot Train Station appeared in one episode.

Back to...

• Backlot
• Universal Studios Hollywood home page

---

Please note: This is NOT the official website of this studio!

---