Stage 1 was home to one of the first TV shows shot at Universal: ‘The Jack Benny Show’, which was filmed on Stage 1 between 1961 and 1965 when its run ended. Although it wasn’t the first show (‘Leave it to Beaver’ was shot at Universal from 1959) it may have been the first with a live studio audience.
The stage was specifically constructed for audience participation TV shows between 1959 and 1961 following MCA’s takeover of the studio property (when it was known as Revue Studios). Until it was refurbished in 2008, the original control booth from live TV broadcasts still existed inside.
In August 2007 plans were announced to demolish the original Stage 1 and rebuild it to a higher specification for the high profile ‘Tonight Show’, presented at the time by Jay Leno. The show was previously filmed at NBC Studios in Burbank, and as Stage 1 is the nearest stage to the main entrance to the lot, it proved to be an ideal venue for the show.
As well as a rebuilt multi-purpose stage (configured in theater layout for shows with a live audience) there is now an audience reception area and production offices.
From Hollywood Today article (16 August 2007):
Stage One held many great Universal movies and TV shows. It was constructed in 1961 as one of the first major additions following MCA’s takeover of the studio property. It was specifically built to be the home of the then popular Jack Benny Show, which was produced there until it went off the air in 1965. For many years after, it continued to be known as “The Jack Benny Stage.” The TV show “Knight Rider,” used Stage One, as did the movies “Jurassic Park III,” “Hulk” and “Bruce Almighty.”
Photo Gallery (up to 2007)
Photo Gallery (rebuilding & current)
March 2008 – Construction of the new Stage 1 extension, audience facilities, offices and dressing rooms.
Finished Stage, 2010
Seen on Screen: Universal Studios Hollywood [Stage_01]
| Title | Released | Director | IMDB |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Jack Benny Program [TV Series] | 1950-1965 |  | |
| Stage 01 [1961-1965] | |||
| Knight Rider [TV Series] | 1982 - 1986 | Glen A. Larson | |
| Along with soundstages, the backlot was used extensively including Colonial Street, Courthouse Square, Denver Street, Boragora and Six Points Texas. Stage 28 and the Studio Tour Tunnel attraction appeared in Season 4 Fright Knight episode. Stage 01 was also used. | |||
| Father Dowling Mysteries [TV Series] | 1989-1991 | | |
| Stage 01 | |||
| Dante's Peak [Feature Film] | 1997 | Roger Donaldson | |
| Falls Lake, Stage 01, Underwater Tank | |||
| Dude, Where's My Car? [Feature Film] | 2000 | Danny Leiner | |
| Stage 01 | |||
| Jurassic Park III [Feature Film] | 2001 | Joe Johnston | |
| Falls Lake, Stage 01, Stage 12 [jungle rain forest set - plane crashes into tree, Tyrannosaurus vs Spinosaurus battle], Stage 18 [plane in flight - interior, dinosaur kennel set], Stage 27 [A pteranodon grabs Eric. The groups watches helplessly as Eric is carried away. Everyone scrambles to get Eric. Grant and Amanda are separated from Paul by a Pteranodon], Stage 28 [Pteranodon drops Eric into the Nest area. Eric hits hatchlings with his knapsack. Paul, in pursuit, slips and slides, lands down to nest. Paul grabs Eric, they fight their way out of the nest.], Stage 29 [rock wall observatory], Stage 44 [rock wall canyon, flooded], Stage 25, Stage 747 | |||
| Big Fat Liar [Feature Film] | 2002 | Shawn Levy | |
| Stage 01, Stage 34, Prop Warehouse, Flash Flood, Denver Street, Psycho House | |||
| Dragonfly [Feature Film] | 2002 | Tom Shadyac | |
| Stage 01 | |||
| 2 Fast 2 Furious [Feature Film] | 2003 | John Singleton | |
| Stage 01, Stage 04 | |||
| American Wedding (American Pie: The Wedding) [Feature Film] | 2003 | Jesse Dylan | |
| Stage 01 | |||
| Bruce Almighty [Feature Film] | 2003 | Tom Shadyac | |
| Brownstone Street, Courthouse Square, Falls Lake, New York Street on the backlot and Stage 01, Stage 19, Stage 29, Stage 41. | |||
| Hulk [Feature Film] | 2003 | Ang Lee | |
| A new set of houses was built on Elm Street on the backlot for this movie. Banner's childhood home was built on the Falls Lake tank. These stages were used for interior scenes: Stage 01, Stage 12 [underground lab], Stage 22, Stage 23 [father's house interior], Stage 27, Stage 28 [the first floor of Bruce Banner's house], Stage 35. | |||
| Meet the Fockers [Feature Film] | 2004 | Jay Roach | |
| Stage 01, Stage 16, Stage 25, Stage 36 | |||
| Desperate Housewives [TV Series] | 2004 - 2012 | Marc Cherry | |
| Colonial Street and Elm Street as well as Stage 01 [production of season 3 started on Stage 1 then moved to other stages including larger Stage 41], Stage 03, Stage 04, Stage 05. In Season 1 Episode 18 the Log Cabin appeared as Camp Hennessey. Colonial Street sets featured: Delta House, Munster House, Harvey House, Hardy House, Dana House, Burbs House, Providence House, Cleaver House | |||
| The Ring Two [Feature Film] | 2005 | Hideo Nakata | |
| Stage 01, Stage 23, Stage 28, Stage 34, Stage 35 | |||
| The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien [TV Series] | 2009-2010 | | |
| Stage 01 | |||
| The Kelly Clarkson Show [TV Series] | 2019 | | |
| Stage 01 | |||