May 11, 2013 – Some of Hollywood’s older fans might recognize the next attraction we’re about to feature: Backdraft.
Opening its doors in 1992, Backdraft was a live-action fire effects show housed in the now-current site of Transformers: The Ride 3D. Featuring three distinct scenes – two video preshows and one final special effects finale – Backdraft brought guests up-close and personal to some of Hollywood’s most intense fire effects. Inside Universal’s Chris Lord was able to capture the entire experience in the midst of the attraction’s final months.
Photos and video below:
Backdraft’s old studio directory post.
One of two preshow videos. For fans of Ron Howard, this was your go-to show.
One last look at the first preshow room.
Bad photo of the second room. Again, preshow video with a small surprise.
Second room dressed as a fire house.
Here’s the surprise I mentioned earlier.
A corridor between the second-preshow and the final warehouse scene.
The main show!
Very impressive overall, and it did get quite hot!
A team member manning the booth.
Backdraft’s two-page fold in Universal’s 1993 guidebook.
Second half.
Thanks for reading. If you have any photos of Backdraft, feel free to send it in and we’ll update this post accordingly.
As always, be sure to check out our “rumors” section on the top of this page for our perspective on the latest rumors surrounding Universal Studios Hollywood. And as always, you can find us on USHForums.com, Facebook and Twitter.
Video by Chris Lord. Fantastic supplemental photos provided by DirectorErik from the forums – thanks Erik! Captions and bad photos by Jon Fu.