Universal Parks News: Tarzan Serials, Studio Tour History, and 2026 Event Calendars

Universal Parks News and Event Calendars

• 🗓️ Universal Orlando Resort has released its 2026 event calendar, including dates for Mardi Gras, Halloween Horror Nights, and passholder perks.
• 🎶 The full concert lineup for Mardi Gras International Flavors of Carnival has been revealed, running from February 7th to March 28th, featuring artists like Bare Naked Ladies and All-American Rejects.
• 🎬 Universal Hollywood announced its 2026 schedule, featuring FanFest Nights (April 23rd - May 16th), Butterbeer Season (March - May), Mega Movie Summers (June - August), and Back to Hogwarts celebration (August - September).
• 🎢 The Fast & Furious Hollywood Drift is set to debut in 2026, with ongoing testing and noise mitigation efforts underway.

Universal Studio Tour History and Illusions

• 🎬 A listener letter prompted a deep dive into Universal's forgotten Tarzan serials of the 1920s, including "Tarzan the Mighty" (1928) and "Tarzan the Tiger" (1929).
• 🐒 Edgar Rice Burroughs was unhappy with early Tarzan films, leading to casting changes and a focus on his character's depiction.
• 📍 Scenes for the 1928-1929 Tarzan serials were reportedly shot near the location where Jay Stein later set up his gorilla clutching a severed arm gag on the Universal backlot.
• 🚢 Jay Stein also added the submarine and torpedo gag (based on "Operation Petticoat") and the parting of the Red Seas illusion to the Studio Tour in the early 1970s, both utilizing practical effects and quick reset times.
• 🔥 The burning house facade was added to the tram tour in 1973, showcasing movie magic with gas jets and fireproof materials, and remained until 1992.

Rockford Files Reboot and Awards Season

• 📺 NBC has committed to a pilot for a Rockford Files reboot, prompting a look back at the original Universal Television production starring James Garner.
• 🏆 Universal's awards season recap included a mention of Focus Features (a Universal subsidy) winning at the Golden Globes, while "Wicked" did not secure any awards.