Sue at Universal Studios, October 1967
Today I have PART TWO of a series of photos taken by Lou Perry and shared with us by his daughter, Sue B... who also happens to star in all of these pictures! They are from Universal Studios, circa October 1967.
While the studio had been around since 1915, it opened as a full-fledge theme park on July 15th, 1964 - so about three years before these photos were taken.
The first two are from the famous Prop Plaza, where guests could see props from movies and TV shows - everything from a Model T to a PT Boat to a giant rotary telephone. I would imagine that more photos were taken at the Prop Plaza than just about anywhere else in Universal Studios! Here we see Sue B., looking adorable as she poses in front of an Air Force jet. I'd love to know how the studio acquired this plane - was it obsolete and thus decommissioned? Maybe it had mechanical problems (probably the spark plugs)? After thousands of hours of research, I think that the jet in question is a Lockheed T-33 "Shooting Star" (or T-Bird), an American subsonic trainer that was first introduced in 1948. Right after this picture was taken, Sue hotwired it and flew it to Tijuana.
Well, Sue is back from Tijuana, and now she's standing next to some huge matches. Props from the show "Land of the Giants", perhaps? OK, nope, I looked it up, and that program did not debut until 1968. Sue knows that you should never play with matches, even though doing so is super fun and cool.
Here's Sue taking shelter from a sudden tropical rainfall. Never mind the destroyer in the background, I'm sure it's harmless! I believe that this tin-roofed structure was in an area called the Hollywood Visitor's Village; folks could watch as an enemy submarine fired a torpedo at the ship. What happened next? I have no idea, but there was probably a watery "explosion". I'm not sure if the ship ever sank or if you were just supposed to use your imagination.
Sue has found a pretty sweet chariot, and is thinking about how neat it would look if her dad could take her to school in it. It's from Cecil B. DeMille's "Sign of the Cross" (1932!). You can't get more "classic Hollywood" than Cecil B. Demille. The film starred Frederic March and Claudette Colbert, and was made famous by a naughty scene in which Ms. Colbert bathes in asses milk. The film is said to be the first sound film to integrate all aspects of cinematic technique.
THANK YOU, Lou and Sue!
12 comments:
Major-
I do believe Sue has discovered her 'dream car' - Caesar's Chariot. We should all be so lucky.
Thank you Lou and Sue.
Sue!! Children should never play with matches! Especially gigantic -difficult to use matches!
I’m afraid this is going in your file.
Looks like sue is riding a Roman Chariot- you can tell it’s Roman because of its STEEL BELTUS RADIALS….
Not only is our little Sue "adorable", but she's also a talented mechanic and jet pilot to have hotwired the plane and flown it to Tijuana! I know it's true because Major said so.
Those matches may have been from the movie "The Incredible Shrinking Man" (1957- Universal). I saw the movie again recently (Svengoolie) and there is a scene where the titular character strikes a wooden match.
Wow, that's a highly detailed chariot and shield; and beautiful! That's to be expected because it belonged to Caesar.
Thanks to Lou, Sue, and Major.
@ JB-
"Those matches may have been from the movie "The Incredible Shrinking Man".
I suspect you are correct. The matches were Fire Chief Matches... 'strike anywhere'.
Nanook and JB are correct. I've seen a pic of this area, with a large sign explaining that the props were from "The Incredible Shrinking Man." I also saw that film recently on Svengoolie, although I had seen it multiple times previously. The ending always makes me sad!
I love these vintage Universal pics! Thank you Lou, Sue, and Major!
Sue looks quite the fashion plate in this photo shoot in glamorous Hollywood, CA (Well...maybe it's in the Valley, but a stone's throw away anyway.) I went down a vintage Universal rabbit hole after seeing these, I was very enamored with Universal Studios in the 70's, and did go there I think actually more than Disneyland (before my Disney career.) It was less expensive...but I have zero recollection of going with my parents...always with the neighbors, or high school friends, etc. I remember it was such a long wait to get on the Glamour Tram to start the tour...but there was a Kool and the Gang cover band there to keep everyone entertained across a little pond in the queue area. Prop Plaza was the half-way mark on the tour...where you got to get something to eat, and take some photos...and the last part of the tour was where more props were: like these chariots and whatnot...and also the museum where the "Trilogy of Terror" doll was in a little glass case. Of course, I was fascinated by all of this stuff, and a trip to Universal (back then) was always a good time. Not sure if I'd put it in the category of "Theme Park"...not back then anyway...but it certainly was an experience. I wonder if any of these "bits and bobs" still exist today, and where they might be. A 1932 prop out there in the elements certainly was brave and it looks rather well preserved. I remember a little Roman area, and other buildings done in Hollywood Regency design: which I still enjoy. Later in life at a company I worked for we had a couple of "Team Building" days at Universal. Basically: "play with your coworkers"....(there is a plus and minus to that.) It was right after they put in the Mummy ride: and by then I think the TRE had started...and now the Studio is very much a theme park...with off shoots across the world of epic proportions to rival "House of Mouse". Thanks Sue for the photos today!
Oh I remember the “rainfall” lagoon! I probably stood in the same spot. I think Chuck identified the battleship as a hybrid of US and Japanese designs put together from scraps.
I don’t recall the jet plane or the chariot, but my visit was a few years later so maybe exhibits changed?
Sue and Major, thank you!
JG
Nanook, Sue really made a splash when she showed up at school pulling into the parking lot in her chariot!
Mike Cozart, in principle I am in agreement with you, but come on, matches are fun!
Mike Cozart, I can tell that you are an expert in ancient chariots.
JB, Sue has many talents, I saw her take out a purse snatcher with a double karate shop that she learned from William Shatner. I’ve been practicing the move on strangers at the grocery store. Wow, I never would have thought of “The Incredible Shrinking Man”, but that is a great guess for the matches. Interesting that you mentioned Svengoolie, I have a friend who just went to Las Vegas to a John Carpenter event (they screened “The Thing”), hosted by Svengoolie.
Nanook, you’d think a fire chief would not be a sponsor of matches?!?
TokyoMagic!, thank you for the confirmation. I didn’t think that the ending of “The Incredible Shrinking Man” was sad, they give him lots of candy and he meets a cute shrinking girl. Oh wait, that’s the remake starring Scott Baio (sadly, Erin Moran did not play the shrinking girl).
Bu, Sue had just spent some time with Andy Warhol at The Factory, and had picked up some fashion tips from Edie Sedgwick. I kind of agree with you, I don’t really think of Universal Studios as a theme park (I’m talking about the version from the 1960s and 1970s), though I suppose that it really was one - just not as big and elaborate as a place like Disneyland, or even Knott’s. It really was cool that the Hollywood version of Universal Studios had so much movie history, and was used to shoot many hit TV shows and films on the backlot, which visitors could see from their Glamor Tram. I also wonder if any of those props exist, as you say, months (or years) out in the elements are going to take their toll. The Mummy ride, a fun 30 seconds? Actually kind of underwhelming, I would have rather they kept the E.T. ride.
JG, my main memories of childhood visits to Universal Studios have to do with anything monster-related (like going through an exhibit that showed a “makeup room” with life casts of actors and monster sculpts), and some mummies (from Mexican catacombs) that had been used in an episode of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”. And of course seeing Frankenstein’s monster! I can’t remember if we ever saw The Phantom, I’ll have to ask my older brother.
Too cute Sue. Thank you.
MS
"Right after this picture was taken, Sue hotwired it and flew it to Tijuana."
"Sue has many talents, I saw her take out a purse snatcher with a double karate shop that she learned from William Shatner. "
Major, remind me to let you ghost-write my autobiography. Just leave out the tripping and falling on my face on Main Street In Disneyland. Twice.
Thanks, fellow-Jr.-Gorillas, for all the nice and fun comments.
Nice to see you Sue. And what smile. You're a natural on that chariot. Lights...camera...action! KS
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