Universal City

Universal City
A Hollywood community, Universal City is located in the San Fernando Valley that is situated in Los Angeles County, CA. Surrounded by Santa Susana Mountains, the Simi Hills, the Santa Monica Mountains, Verdugo Mountains and San Gabriel Mountains; San Fernando Valley stretches across 345 Sq Miles. While University City covers 415 acre and is home to the Second largest American motion picture studio, Universal Studios.

The history of Universal City originates back from 1912, when a German Immigrant Carl Laemmle opened and started operating 3 studios in Hollywood. In the Beginning Carl emigrated from Germany and opened his first Nickelodeon Movie Theatre in Chicago in 1906.

Later Laemmle moved to New York and joined hands with couple of other motion picture companies to open Universal Pictures. And Just to expand and bring in more space for Universal Pictures Laemmle leased more land in the Valley of San Fernando.

Later in the following year Carl further expanded the area as he bring in 230 acres of land, which was enough for him to call his property, Universal City. Universal City was officially opened for tourists on March 15, 1915, with an aim of providing tourists with the taste of moviemaking, so that people can see how the magic of moviemaking does come into play in order to make its viewer cry, laugh or scared.

Later Carl brings in some more relatives from Europe after the end of World War I. It was in late 1920s when Laemmle ended the studio tours. Carl Died in 1939 after selling his entire property. It was later on July 4, 1964 when Universal City was once again open for the tourists. After its re-opening the city saw number of new establishment in means of tourist attractions. These establishments included number of restaurants, Amphitheatres and subliminal Universal CityWalk.

Universal City is also home to the mighty 36 storey 10 Universal City Plaza or 10 UCP. The plaza was built in 1984 and covers 154 m while providing 820,000 Sq Feet of office space. As of today 80% of the office building is owned by CarrAmerica Realty Corporation, which it bought from Vivendi Universal in 2003. To date, 10 UCP is home to Universal and NBC.

One of the main attractions of the City is its full fledge Universal Studios Hollywood Theme park. This was the first Universal Studio theme park which was later followed by the theme parks created at Universal Studios in Florida, Japan. One of the tourists attractions at the park also includes Water: A Live Sea Water Spectacular on the Upper lot , which is basically a show that is based on the 1995s release Waterworld.

The show feature quite a number of special effects including the landing of the Sea Plane, which made the show even more popular that the original movie. The show was opened at the Universal Studios Hollywood in 1995, while in Universal Studios Japan it was opened on March 31, 2001.

The park also features Shrek 4D that is based on the events of Shrek 1. After the viewers take their seats in the cinema, a 3D version of Shrek is played on the two screens that are placed on the either side, and due to movable seats etc. viewers can actually feel the effects as if it is all real, which makes this 3D adventure 4D.

Apart from these Upper Lot also features a live version of Fear Factor, a studio tour that takes the viewers across the sets of some of the most famous movies like The Fast and the Furious, Jaws and Earthquake the Big One etc, The Simpsons Ride, Terminator 2 3-D, Universals House of Horrors, The Blues Brothers R&B Revue, Universals Animal Actors and the Adventures of Curios George.

The Lower Lot of the Park includes Jurassic Park River Ride that is based on Steven Spielbergs blockbuster hit Jurassic Park and was opened on June 21, 1996. Apart from that it also features Revenge of the Mummy ride, which is fundamentally an indoor rollercoaster ride that is based upon 1999s release the Mummy. The lower lot also contains Backdraft, Special Effects Stages and The Universal Experience.

Other than the theme Universal CityWalk also proves to be the main attraction of the Citys visitors. The CityWalk is a very definition of an entertainment and retail district as it has something to offer to everyone.

There are several restaurants located in the CityWalk include KFC Express, Dodger Dogs, Starbucks Coffee, Subway, Cinnabon, Jamba Juice, The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Tony Romas, Buca Di Beppo, Pizza hut Express and many others.

CityWalk also provides with a number of temptations to the Shopping fanatics in shape of the various shops and malls that include Hot Topic, The Hard Rock Cafe, GUESS? Accessories, Fossil Inc., Los Angeles Stock Market, LUSH, Salvatory Shoes, Skechers, The Raider Image, and Sparkys; along with many others.

CityWalk sure doesnt disappoint the night owls as well by offering Nightlife Entertainment in form of Gibson Amphitheatre, Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood, Rumba Room, NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway, iFly Hollywood, Howl at the Moon, B.B. Kings Blues Club and Restaurant CityWalk Cinema and CityWalk IMAX Theatre.