The Dracula Gamble That Built Universal’s Monster Empire (Ep. 81)

From queue changes to construction walls to nighttime lagoon testing, the parks offer plenty to parse this week. The guys then pivot from the Epic Universe lagoon to Universal’s classic monsters, using the buzz around Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein to explore how the 1931 film lurched into existence. Expect lost projects, studio pivots, and a Monster role Bela Lugosi famously refused.

NEWS
• VelociCoaster ends its single rider line, likely due to party sorting and load-efficiency issues.
• Warner Bros. Discovery is reportedly shopping DC theme park rights to Universal, raising big questions for Marvel, Six Flags, and international parks.
• Removal of Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit sparks speculation, though new construction-wall posters suggest general theming rather than a specific IP.
• Nighttime testing at the Epic Universe lagoon shows projection effects featuring a bird-or-dragon silhouette.
• Universal Studios Hollywood opens sales for FanFest Nights and a late-night New Year’s Eve event, prompting questions about noise control before Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift debuts.

FEATURE
• Guillermo del Toro’s long-gestating Frankenstein began as a Universal concept more than a decade ago.
• Jim walks through how Universal’s early monster era took shape under financial pressure following the 1929 crash.
• The studio acquired stage rights to Frankenstein after Dracula’s success, initially planning it for Bela Lugosi, who rejected the role.
• The episode ends as Universal begins hunting for a new star, eventually leading James Whale to discover Boris Karloff in the studio lunchroom.

HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com

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SUPPORT
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PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR
This episode is sponsored by Be Our Guest Vacations, a platinum-level earmarked travel agency offering concierge planning for Universal, Disney, cruises, and more.

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