Universal Studios, May 1979
I have a lot of fondness for the old Universal Studios tour, having first experienced it in the early 70s when Alfred Hitchcock did the TV commercials. I can still hear his distinctive voice saying "Universal Studios too-wa"!
Today's trio of photos are from May, 1979, and features the Universal Studios Screen Test Airport (at least that's how it's listed on two websites, though it is awkward if you ask me). It was specifically a version of the Screen Test Theatre that used the theme and sets from the 1977 movie Airport '77. Guests could participate as "guest stars" by being filmed in scenes that were edited together with footage from the actual film, making them the stars of their own mini-movie. Here are volunteers, ready to be STARS! An MC is interviewing a kid with a Disneyland beanie.
This particular Screen Test was created as a tie-in to "Airport '77", which was an American air disaster film, the third installment of the Airport film series. The film stars an ensemble cast of veteran actors including Jack Lemmon, James Stewart, Joseph Cotten, Olivia de Havilland, and Brenda Vaccaro as well as the return of George Kennedy from the two previous Airport films. The plot concerns a private Boeing 747 packed with VIPs and priceless art that is hijacked before crashing into the ocean in the Bermuda Triangle, forcing the survivors into a desperate struggle for survival.
Despite mixed critical reviews, Airport '77 was a box-office hit, grossing $91.1 million worldwide. It was nominated for two Academy Awards. (This silly movie was nominated for TWO Oscars??).
This photo is hilarious, clearly all of the passengers were instructed to assume the attitudes of people who'd experienced a disastrous crash (in the movie, the plane lands on the ocean, and then sinks to the sea floor in the BERMUDA TRIANGLE! The most terrifying triangle on urf!!).
Thanks to movie magic, a flight aboard a 747 could be entirely simulated on a soundstage. The attraction was located in a theater that was once known as Stage 70 and later renamed the Screen Test Theatre. Other "Screen Tests" used the themes of the TV show "Emergency!", and "Star Trek". You can watch quite a few Airport '77 Screen Tests on YouTube, they are just the right combination of cheesy and charming.
2 comments:
Major-
It was all downhill (or is it better described as a crash landing following the original Airport in 1970. Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse than Airport 1975 (I can still remember sitting in the Cinerama Dome Theatre, laughing along with most of the audience at the preposterousness of the plot and story, such as they were) when Universal unleashes yet another sequel: Airport '77, and as you pointed out, having the airplane submerged in 100-feet of water-! As I recall, in spite of the story being more ridiculous, the laughs weren't as free-flowing, as now it all seemed beyond ridiculous. Got to love the audacity of the whole series.
As for the Universal Studios Screen Test, my eyes were immediately drawn to the compound curved curtain track seen on either side of the center section of the fuselage - undoubtedly made by Tru-Roll of Glendale.
Thanks, Major.
Screen Test Theater is an interesting concept. Part of me thinks it would be fun to participate, while most of me would be totally embarrassed and scared of making a fool of myself in public. Did the "stars" volunteer themselves? Or did the MC pick people randomly out of the crowd?
I like how they painted the curtain to have the same red and blue stripes as the "plane" set. They even got the positioning right so the stripes line up pretty well.
The two Oscar nominations were for "Silliest Script" and "Cheesiest Effects".
Fun pics, Major. Thanks.
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