Universal Studios Hollywood - Studio Tour
Jaws (1976 - present)
First opened on April 10th 1976 on the banks of the former Singapore Lake (see below), following the release of Steven Spielberg's 1975 smash-hit film, Jaws is still the signature attraction of Universal Studios Hollywood.
It's a Disneyland-inspired animatronic attraction that originally featured very little of the shark (like in the movie) and a lot of the sets including the actual ORCA. Later visitors would be dropped off at the Visitor Entertainment Centre where they could take a picture with an exact replica of Bruce the shark.
Evolution
The attraction has evolved over the years, with the most noticeable differences being the design of the shark, and George the fisherman becoming George the diver. As the mechanisms have aged, some effects are less pronounced than before.
In mid 2010, the hydraulic mechanism that tilts the tram towards the water (when the dock is 'dragged' by the shark) has finally been put out of service. The tram now stays rigidly upright and the entrance and exit to the tilting dock have now been sealed in concrete, so it's unlikely the tilting dock will return any time soon.
Jaws Shark Mark I (1976 - 1978)
Jaws Shark Mark I is remembered as 'Carrot Tooth'. According to Jaws Production Designer Joe Alves 'Carrot Tooth' came out of a meeting in which the studio execs wanted a shark with long teeth 'like the poster'. It was more goofy than scary. Its giant teeth resembled icicles from the doomed avalanche attraction more than killer shark teeth.
The body of the attraction shark is actually struck from the Bruce sea-sled mold used in the movie. Look closely and you will see that the bottom is missing. This same body is still in use today. The head is a caricatured resculpt of Bruce with less pronounced jowls. Bob Mattey was embarrassed by the jowls of the movie shark so these were toned down while an improved mouth was created which allowed for greater water scoopage. This cartoon head would only exist on the Mark I fish.
There were two colour schemes for this fish. The first version was green with a pale blue belly. The second was bluer on top with an off-white belly. The shark also leaped out of the water at a higher angle than subsequent sharks.
Jaws Shark Mark II (1978 - 1980)
With the release of 'JAWS 2' in 1978, the attraction shark was changed to look like the new movie shark. This second shark lost it's carrot-like teeth and gained even more fake looking teeth. The head was widened and he eyes were made completely black. Since 1980 there have been numerous repaints and various dentures put in to replace the silly version that first appeared.
The Orca (1976 - 1996)
After the film wrapped, the studio sold off nearly everything from the film, as they had no faith it would turn a profit. The boat was purchased by a special-effects technician, who restored the boat and later used it for sword fishing up and down the California coast. After the film was released and became a huge box-office success, the studio approached the former tech and purchased the boat back from him for use at the Universal Studios Tour This is the original Orca, the boat used during all the major scenes requiring a moving, floating boat. The Orca was on display in the Amity lagoon for all to watch and admire as the tram pulled away from the JAWS attack. Over time, the boat was neglected and forgotten. The pond wasn't that deep and when the wood rotted the boat sank in the shallow water, which flooded the lower cabin where the bunks/head was and the engine room. In 1996 Universal apparently tried lifting the Orca out with a harness and the hull was so rotted that the boat simply broke in half.
There's a story that a certain Steven Spielberg used to sneak into the park when he was working on the lot, and have his lunch sitting in the hull of the Orca, I guess as a way of keeping in contact with a physical relic of the movie that made his name in Hollywood.
Ben Gardner's Boat (1976 - 2005)
Ben Gardner's Boat featured in the scene which Richard Dreyfuss went under water to look for the missing fisherman, when suddenly Ben's head appears!
Ben Gardner's Boat was one of the first things you saw on your right as you entered Amity Island. In 1981 the boat was re-painted white and so lost its original blue colour as seen in the film.
In May 2005 Ben Gardner's Boat was removed for unknown reasons and binned in a skip during a major refurbishment of the area (see photo below, courtesy universalstonecutter and Scott Weller). The boat was the last remaining piece of authentic Jaws movie history featured in the attraction.
Jaws on Fire (2001 - present)
The Jaws Experience is upgraded with new fire effects to become Jaws on Fire!.
More photos coming soon.
Bruce the Shark on the Upper Lot (1975 - 1990)
Steven Spielberg named the notoriously unreliable mechanical shark used in the production of JAWS "Bruce" after his lawyer at the time.
This Bruce replica from the movie JAWS was on display on the upper lot known as the Visitor Entertainment Center from 1975 to 1990. A dark day in the year of 1990 saw Bruce removed from the park and replaced by a shark not seen in any JAWS movie.
According to the current owner, the shark was sitting in the back lot ready for the dumpster or the sledgehammer when it was offered to him. Bruce can now be seen peeling away on top of two steel poles soaring above the 'U Pick Parts' Junkyard in Los Angeles, USA. Though it is a copy, it is the last remaining shark made from the original molds.
Jaws Photo Opportunity (1990 - present)
After Bruce (see above) was removed in 1990, a new Jaws shark was installed on the docks next to the Warlord Tower. In 2000 or 2001 it was relocated in front of the studio tour entrance where it can be found to this day.
Photo Gallery - Publicity Material
Photo Gallery - Past Jaws
GEORGE THE FISHERMAN: 1976 - 2000Before the police boat & diver who falls victim to Jaws' first attack, the victim was a very different visitor to Amity. Meet George, the wooden fisherman.
George the fisherman in the early days of Amity (from Inside Universal Studios, 1979)
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Watchout Fisherman George - there's a shark in the water! (from Inside Universal Studios, 1979) |
The shark's dragging the fishing boat under the water! Jump George, Jump! (from Inside Universal Studios, 1989) |
Oh George, No! (from Inside Universal Studios, 1979) |
Photo Gallery - Current Jaws Sequence
Amity Island billboard at the entrance to the Jaws attraction |
All quiet in Amity (April 2006) |
Wait - is that diver still in the water... and is that a shark fin on the left?? (April 2006) |
Uh oh!! (April 2006) |
To die so close to his boat... what a shame (April 2006) |
He had real guts to be out there. Oh, and there they are. (April 2006) |
The shark's taken the bait, and it's pulled the dock into the water! And now those gas tanks are on fire! How could this get worse! (September 2006) |
And now the fire's spreading along the dock...oh man! (September 2006) |
Rare photo of a stricken tram about to meet.... |
AAAAAAAAAAAArrgggggghhh! It's the shark!!!! |
Looks less scary from a distance |
Jaws in all his gory glory (September 2006) |
Attacking cars 3 and 4 (September 2006) |
His work done, Jaws settles back into his underwater lair (September 2006) |
Leaving Amity Island (April 2006) |
Amity Island billboard as we leave the attraction |
Video (1979)
Film clip of the Jaws attraction from 1979 souvenir Super-8mm film
Video (1986)
Jaws sequence from 1986 Finlay Holiday Video (c) Universal Studios Hollywood
Amity Lake and surroundings
The Jaws Lake and Amity buildings were originally known as Singapore Lake (see below). When the shark moved in around 1976, it changed forever.
The area has been seen in Murder She Wrote (as 'Cabot Cove') and has appeared in numerous other TV shows and movies such as Casper and The Backlot Murders.
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Jaws Lake, seen in 1981 (photo courtesy Dean Mardon) |
Jaws Lake, seen in 1981 (photo courtesy Dean Mardon)
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The Jaws Lake as seen in 1987 (photo courtesy Dean Mardon) |
Amity (September 2006) |
 Amity (September 2006) |
Amity (September 2006) |
History of the Jaws attraction and Singapore Lake
Singapore Lake was formerly just a body of water with a scary house overlooking it (see photo). It's main attraction was a wave and smoke machine (see top photo). However, in 1976 that all changed forever.....
Jaws Press Release (1976)
JAWS, GREAT WHITE SHARK ATTACK,
LATEST SPECIAL EFFECT ON UNIVERSAL STUDIOS TOUR
With the appearance of the Universal Studios Tour's newest attraction, the "Jaws" special effect, opening April 10th, many visitors may anxiously wonder just what was the ending of this popular Universal film. Is it possible that the same deadly 24-foot shark of the screen has found its menacing way to Southern California and the back lot of Universal Studios?
This disturbing question begins to materialize the moment the visitors' tram approaches what appears to be the town of Amity, its billboard announcing the town's annual July 4th celebration and regatta.
The Eastern seaside resort community seems alive with tourist expectations, its bright orange-and-white striped cabanas, concession stands and quaint commercial shops glistening in the summer sun.
As the tram approaches the calm waters of the bay, a fisherman is noticed off to the right, his dinghy afloat and fishing rod patiently awaiting the day's first catch.
Suddenly, a huge dorsal fin heads in the boat's direction and begins circling. Before tram passengers have a chance to gasp, the fisherman's line is jerked backwards and he and his dinghy sink rapidly into the water, leaving only a circle of blood to tell its terrible tale.
Not without horror, the tram quickly moves on, traversing a pier built decades before, along with the historic town.
Again, unexpectedly and off in the distance, flotation barrels with shark bait lines tumble into the water, the line dragging them across the bay and under the water by some massive force.
A fragment of the pier is towed out to sea, collapsing the main section under the tram and leaving all aboard dangerously approaching the water level.
Out of the water lunges the Great White Shark! Its teeth deadly sharp and close, its size and intent horrifying!
Luckily, the "jaws" are only threatening, not biting, and the unbelievable sea creature sinks back into the water. The tramload of would-be shark victims is saved and, as it limps off the pier, only memories of an incredible "Jaws" sea drama remain.
Jaws attraction on TV & Film
- Columbo: Fade in to Murder (1976)
- The A Team (1983) "Steel" episode
- Knight Rider (1986) "Fright Knight" episode
- Mallrats (1995) Finale
- Your Studio and You (1995)
- Escape from LA (1996)
- Murder She Wrote (The houses around Singapore Lake / Jaws Lake feature as "Cabot Cove, Maine")
Jaws sharks occasional sightings elsewhere on tour or USH property
Once in awhile you may spot a Jaws Lake shark that has been removed for maintenance. Out of the water you can really appreciate the size of the things, and get a better view of how they are constructed.It is not known at this time just how many sharks are in rotation for the attraction.
The shark is lifted out of the water each night for checks and to allow the mechanism to be tested and maintained.
More Information
See also Jaws: The Ride at Universal Studios Florida
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