Universal Joint Podcast: Frankenstein, Dracula, and Theme Park News

Theme Park Updates and Coaster News

• 🎢 Jurassic World VelociCoaster testing footage was captured, showing a ride vehicle launching over a 155-foot hill.
• 🐦 An osprey has repeatedly attempted to build a nest on the VelociCoaster, posing a challenge for Universal Orlando.
• 💥 The story of the osprey is humorously compared to Fabio being hit by a goose while riding Apollo's Chariot at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.
• 🎬 Jurassic World Dominion release date was pushed back to June 10, 2022, due to ongoing production uncertainties related to COVID-19.
• 📺 The Animaniacs reboot's cold opening featured a humorous send-up of the original Jurassic Park.

Super Nintendo Land and Merchandise

• 🍄 Super Nintendo Land construction is progressing at Universal Studios Japan, with the installation of Mario Kart-themed mountains.
• ☕ A temporary Mario Cafe and Shop has opened at Universal Studios Japan, offering themed merchandise and food.
• 🥞 Unique food items include Mario and Luigi fruit pancake sandwiches shaped like hats.
• 🥤 The Toad souvenir sipper has been noted for its unusual, somewhat disturbing design, leading to comparisons with Frankenstein's monster.
• 🛍️ A wide array of merchandise is available, with discussions on pricing and the strategy of mass-producing popular items.
• 🎢 Plans for Super Nintendo Land at Universal Hollywood are tentatively set for a summer 2022 opening, contingent on a COVID-19 vaccine.

Universal Studios Hollywood and Orlando Layoffs

• 📉 Universal Studios Hollywood has undergone significant job cuts, with over 2200 positions reduced, many permanently.
• 😥 Universal Orlando Resort also announced further layoffs, specifically targeting non-hourly employees.
• 🎃 The temporary Halloween Horror Nights mazes are expected to close in early November, potentially impacting attendance.

VIP Tours and Park Honorees

• 🌟 A stripped-down VIP Thrill Tour is being offered to annual passholders at Universal Orlando for $59, including backstage access and a unique photo opportunity.
• 📸 The tour provides access to a special annual passholder lounge, the Navigator Club, and a prime photo spot overlooking Islands of Adventure.
• 🎭 A new window honoring Blaine Kern, known as Mr. Mardi Gras, has been added to the Universal Orlando park, celebrating his contributions to their Mardi Gras parade floats.

Streaming Services and International Park News

• 🚀 Peacock claimed the top spot for new subscription streaming service sign-ups in Q3 2020, surpassing Amazon Prime, HBO Max, Disney Plus, and Hulu.
• 📈 Disney Plus has shown remarkable growth, reaching 60.5 million subscribers by August 2020, well ahead of its five-year goal.
• 🇨🇳 Universal Beijing Resort is on track for trial operations in late winter/early spring 2021, with an opening planned for May 2021.
• 🌎 The Beijing park will feature over 100 minions in Minion Land, a restaurant Gru's House, the world's largest Toothsome's Chocolate Emporium, and the first US-outside locations for Red Oven Pizza Bakery and Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar.
• 🗣️ Universal Beijing's president expressed confidence in the Chinese market due to strong COVID-19 controls, viewing it as a significant opportunity.

The Genesis of Universal Classic Monsters

• 🎬 The podcast delves into the origins of the Universal Classic Monsters franchise, starting with Dracula (1931).
• 🦇 After Lon Chaney Sr.'s death, Universal secured film rights to Dracula and opted to adapt the stage play, starring Bela Lugosi.
• 💰 Lugosi was paid a modest $500 per week for his role in Dracula, significantly less than Lon Chaney Sr. earned.
• 🎬 To cut costs, three versions of Dracula were filmed: the classic English talkie, a silent version, and a Spanish-language version.
• 🌟 The Spanish version of Dracula, starring Carlos Villarías, is considered by many to be superior to the English version.
• 💰 Dracula was a massive financial success for Universal, grossing $4.2 million on a $355,000 budget, helping the studio recover from the 1929 stock market crash.
• 👹 Following Dracula's success, Universal purchased the rights to Frankenstein and initially considered Bela Lugosi for the monster role.
• 🗣️ Lugosi turned down the role of Frankenstein's monster due to the character's lack of dialogue in the stage play, famously stating he wouldn't be a "scarecrow."
• 🎬 Universal hired Boris Karloff to play the Frankenstein monster, with James Whale directing.
• 💰 Frankenstein (1931) was made for $267,000 and grossed $5.4 million, surpassing Dracula's box office performance.
• 👻 It is believed that test footage of Bela Lugosi as Frankenstein's monster may exist in the Universal Vaults.
• 🐺 Lugosi later portrayed Frankenstein's monster in Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943), a film that influenced the iconic monster portrayal.
• 🎬 The podcast teases future discussions on other Universal Classic Monsters films and interconnected horror movie series.