Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood is a public attraction situated inside Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank close to Hollywood and part of the greater Los Angeles area. It offers visitors the chance to glimpse behind the scenes of one of the oldest and most popular film studios in the world over a two to three hour period.[1]

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood
Burbank, CA
General statistics
Attraction typeStudio Tour
Duration2-3 hours
Tour StopsThe Archive
Picture Car Vault
Prop House
A Sound stage
A Backlot
Stage 48

The studio tour in some form has been open for several decades, but it was recently renamed to give the Warner Bros. Studio Tours a more uniform identity after the success of Warner Bros. Studio Tour London in Leavesden. Previously, it was known as the Warner Bros. Studios VIP Tour.[2][3]

History

First tours
Warner Bros. Studios

In the early days of Warner Bros. Jack Warner would welcome friends and special guests to the studio for tours. If Warner could not provide the tour himself, Mail Room employees were entrusted to show guests around the lot.[4] These tours were not offered to the public and could only be arranged through employees; however, they still proved popular. Consequently, Warner sought to limit requests as he thought studio tours could cause a "slow-up" of the company's operations.[5]

One Mail Room employee, Dick Mason, was noted for giving very informative tours and was frequently the requested guide for studio executive's guests. Mason's knowledge led him to be assigned to Jack Warner's office to assist the Vice President of Worldwide Production.[6][7]

Public tours

In 1972, Warner Bros. faced financial hardships and signed a deal with Columbia Pictures, which was also struggling. They combined to create The Burbank Studios, a joint venture where they would share studio space.[8][9] In 1973 the new company opened a public facing Tour Department. Dick Mason was assigned to manage the new operation. All tours required an advanced reservation and cost $3.[10]

Mason's department included seven tour guides, and tours were limited to twelve people at a time. Tours were unscripted but included the back lots, sound stages, prop house, depending on availability.[11] Without a budget for advertising, news spread by word-of-mouth. The tour proved popular due to its unscripted nature and saw 15,000 guests a year.[12][13]

As compared to the Universal tour, Dick Mason was interested in educating the public about film-making: "The entire tour is practical. There are no demonstrations or simulations. We're catering to families and kids. We just want to give insight to a business most people have misunderstandings about."[14] The tours departed about four times a day and were around three hours.[15]

In 1990, The Burbank Studios dissolved and Warner Bros. reclaimed the rest of the studio from Columbia Pictures when Columbia moved to the former Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer lot in Culver City.[16] The Tour Department was relocated into a building next to the studio's Gate 4 on Hollywood Way which allowed the public to inquire about the tour without needing a pass. It shared the space with a Studio Store.[17]

Studio Tour entrance

VIP Studio Tours

Dick Mason retired from Warner Bros. in 2000 and Danny Kahn assumed leadership of the Tour Department. Kahn moved the location of tour to an office building previously occupied by Columbia Pictures across the street from Gate 5. He successfully pushed to increase the frequency of the tours but kept the size of the tour groups small and unscripted nature. The tour became more streamlined and began more aggressive advertising.[18]

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood

In 2015, the tour rebranded itself with the launch of Stage 48: Script to Screen.[19] The expanded tour uses a new name, a new logo, and newer tour carts.[20]

Current Experience
Burbank's famous water tower

There are 2 tours currently available. The standard Studio Tour which lasts 2 to 3 hours and the Deluxe Tour which lasts 5 to 6 hours. The tours are a mixture of guided and self-guided, and each tour is different due to filming in certain areas. Pictures are allowed in certain areas.

Stops

The following are included in every Studio Tour:[21][22] The Deluxe Tour includes more time at all of the below with a few additions: a continental breakfast, lunch at Warner Bros. Fine Dining, a stop at the Property Department, and a stop at the Costume Department.[23]

  • Soundstage - All tours include a visit inside at least one stage of a current production that is not actively filming. Frequent stages visited include those of The Big Bang Theory, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and Pretty Little Liars.[24]
  • The Backlot - A series of outdoor sets representing various location such as New York, a mid-western town, and a jungle.[25]
  • The Archive - A collection of props and costumes from Warner Bros. movies and TV shows, currently featuring assets from the Harry Potter movies and DC Universe: The Exhibit.
  • Picture Car Vault - A garage with cars used in film and television. Currently featuring Batmobiles from Warner Bros. movies.
  • Stage 48: Script to Screen - An interactive soundstage which takes guests through the production process. The soundstage opened July 16, 2015 and is the final stop on the tour.[26] Stage 48 is self-guided and includes the original set of Central Perk from the television show Friends where guests can take pictures on the couch. There is also a green screen video opportunity where guests can fly on a broomstick from Harry Potter or ride on a Batpod as seen in The Dark Knight. In addition to the attraction, the building includes a cafe and coffee shop themed to "Central Perk" from Friends as well as a gift shop.[27]

Special exhibits
  • Batman 75th Anniversary - A special display which opened on June 26, 2014 in both the Archive and the Picture Car Vault. In the Archive, there were displays of props and costumes from every Warner Bros. Batman movie. Batmobiles and other Batman vehicles were put on display in the Picture Car Vault.[28] Beginning in September 2015, the Batmobile from the movie Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice joined the display when not used for filming.[29]
  • Horror Made Here - Opened for Halloween in Stage 48, the temporary exhibit included assets from The Exorcist, Interview with the Vampire, Annabelle, and other horror movies.[30]
  • "Mad Max: Fury Road" Costumes - Added to Stage 48 on February 24, 2016.[31]
  • DC Universe: The Exhibit - Located in The Archive, this exhibit replaced portions of the Batman 75th Anniversary display. It includes first issues of comic books such as Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman as well as props and costumes from the films Batman vs. Superman and Suicide Squad.[32][33]
  • DC Universe: The Exhibit was update to include the latest costumes and props from Wonder Woman 2017[34]
  • The Cafe that Mia worked in from the Oscar Winning film La La Land has been dressed as seen in the production as part of a stop on the tour.[35]
  • Stage 48 has been updated to include a look at props and costumes from all 7 years of the TV series Pretty Little Liars.[36]

Horror Made Here: A Festival of Frights

In 2018, this new annual special event featured dark mazes and attractions based on films and video games:

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See also

References

Footnotes
  1. WB. "Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood's official website".
  2. aaa.com. "aaa archival info on 'warner bros. studios VIP tour".
  3. seeing-stars.com. "seeing-stars.com's archival info on 'warner bros. studios VIP tour".
  4. Bingen, Steven (2014). Warner Bros.: Hollywood's Ultimate Backlot. p. 99.
  5. Bingen, Steven (2014). Warner Bros.: Hollywood's Ultimate Backlot. p. 100.
  6. Lacher, Irene (November 5, 1994). "He's a Walking Encyclopedia of Warners History". Los Angeles Times. LA Times. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  7. Bingen, Steven (2014). Warner Bros.: Hollywood's Ultimate Backlot. p. 77.
  8. Bingen, Steven (2014). Warner Bros.: Hollywood's Ultimate Backlot. pp. 194–195.
  9. "George Groves and the Burbank Studios". Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  10. Bingen, Steven (2014). Warner Bros.: Hollywood's Ultimate Backlot. p. 100.
  11. Lacher, Irene (November 5, 1994). "He's a Walking Encyclopedia of Warners History". Los Angeles Times. LA Times. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  12. Bingen, Steven (2014). Warner Bros.: Hollywood's Ultimate Backlot. p. 100.
  13. Lacher, Irene (November 5, 1994). "He's a Walking Encyclopedia of Warners History". Los Angeles Times. LA Times. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  14. "Movie Magic Disclosed on Tours". The Milwaukee Journal. January 2, 1983. p. 5. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  15. "Movie Magic Disclosed on Tours". The Milwaukee Journal. January 2, 1983. p. 8. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  16. Bingen, Steven (2014). Warner Bros.: Hollywood's Ultimate Backlot. p. 201.
  17. Bingen, Steven (2014). Warner Bros.: Hollywood's Ultimate Backlot. p. 101.
  18. Bingen, Steven (2014). Warner Bros.: Hollywood's Ultimate Backlot. p. 102.
  19. "Warner Bros. Goes After the Studio Tour Market Universal Left Behind". Theme Park Insider. July 14, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  20. "Warner Bros. Newsletter" (PDF). Warner Bros. July 2015.
  21. "About the Tour". Company Website. 2015-03-19. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  22. "Go Behind the Scenes at Warner Bros". Discover Los Angeles. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  23. "About the Deluxe Tour". Company Website. 2015-04-13. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  24. "Currently Filming". Company Website. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  25. "Exterior Sets". Warner Bros. Studio Facilities. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  26. "Revamped WB Studio Tour's Stage 48: Script to Screen Opens July 16". Deadline.com Website. 2015-06-28. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  27. "Stage 48". Company Website. 2015-05-07. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  28. "Warner Bros. Studio Tour Announce Summer "Batman Exhibit"". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  29. Trumbore, Dave (2015-09-04). "Watch the 'Batman v Superman' Batmobile Arrive in New Warner Bros. Studio Tour Video". Collider.com. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  30. "Warner Bros. Studio Tour Adds Horror-Film Exhibit for Halloween". Theme Park Insider. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  31. "15 Of Our Favorite Events in Los Angeles This Week". LAist.com. Archived from the original on May 20, 2016. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  32. "There Are the Coolest Props at DC Universe: The Exhibit On Warner Bros. Studio Tour". Daily News. 2016-05-18. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  33. "Over 100 Images from 'DC Universe: The Exhibit' Showcase Costumes from 'Suicide Squad' and More". Collider.com. 2016-05-18. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  34. "'Wonder Woman' lassoes a spot on Warner Bros. Studio Tour. Yes, you'll see her tiara and sword too". Los Angeles Times. 2017-07-17. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2017-08-15.
  35. "Experience "La La Land" at Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood". Discover Los Angeles. Retrieved 2017-08-15.
  36. Williams, Abigail (2017-06-15). "There Is Now An Actual 'Pretty Little Liars' Exhibit You Can Visit". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2017-08-15.

Works cited
  • Bingen, Steven (2014). Warner Bros.: Hollywood's Ultimate Backlot. ISBN 978-1-58979-961-5.
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