From Affordable Housing to a House on Fire – Universal News and the Tram Tour’s Burning Past (Ep. 84)
Recording on New Year’s Eve for a show that drops just as 2026 begins, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey cover a full slate of Universal news, rumors, and unexpected updates before shifting into a classic Jim Hill history lesson. The episode starts in the present with major developments at Universal Orlando and ends in the late 1960s on the Hollywood backlot, tracing how one clever Tram Tour gag eventually led to one of Universal’s most iconic fire-based attractions.
NEWS
• Universal Destinations and Experiences begins construction on Catchlight Crossings, a 1,000-unit affordable housing community near Universal Orlando
• What’s included in the development - retail, medical offices, community space, transportation hubs, and a tuition-free Bezos Academy preschool
• How Catchlight Crossings fits into Universal’s long-term Housing for Tomorrow initiative and who the community is designed to serve
• Rumor watch - could Stephen King’s It become a headline house at Halloween Horror Nights 2026, and how that would fit alongside Universal’s existing horror icons
• The planned reimagining of Universal Orlando’s Horror Make-Up Show is delayed, keeping the attraction open longer than expected
• Universal’s seasonal Backlot Club holiday card game wraps up and whether it could become a recurring collectible
• Wicked: For Good debuts as the most-watched PVOD title in the U.S. in a single day, with a breakdown of pricing and bonus features
FEATURE
• The surprising origins of Universal Studios Hollywood’s Burning House and why it was added to the Tram Tour in the early 1970s
• How Jay Stein, under Lew Wasserman’s direction, searched for cheap, repeatable, four-minute-resettable spectacle after the success of the Flash Flood
• A short-lived and controversial gorilla gag inspired by Tarzan that generated complaints from parents
• The evolution from jungle sight gags to the Snow Cottage, movie magic illusions, and the push to let guests feel heat instead of cold
• How the Burning House eventually paved the way for Backdraft and future flame-based Universal attractions
HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Eric Hersey - IG: @erichersey | X: @erichersey | Website: strongmindedagency.com
FOLLOW
• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia
SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency
SPONSOR
This episode is brought to you by Be Our Guest Vacations. From Universal Orlando and Hollywood to Disney parks, cruises, and beyond, their Platinum-level concierge service takes the stress out of vacation planning. Learn more at beourguestvacations.com.
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