Back to the Future II set - Universal Studios Tour 1989

Universal backlot tour. The highlight of the tour was visiting the Back to the Future set which was, at the time, dressed as 2015 for Back to the Future II. In November 1990 this area of the backlot would be obliterated by arson, except the Courthouse.

[@cosmicjenny4508]

Jesus... this was when Back to the Future was only *one* movie... DAMN.

[@Dman425]

Evan Blenkinsopp they were done filming BTTF 2 at this point. It would of been in post production by then

[@mitchdoyle1997]

@@Dman425 Exactly! And if I recall correctly, they had already begun filming Back to the Future 3 at this point.

[@Dman425]

Mitch Doyle yes, they filmed both movies back to back at the same time

[@Cody-Bear]

I love the trilogy

[@only257]

Evan Blenkinsopp 😊

[@richardeaton6119]

I went on this tour around this time also. We didn't go into the square because they were filming when we were there. We stayed on the periphery and we could see the crew, cameras and even Christopher Lloyd. It was pretty cool.

[@djbrettboy]

Rick Eaton Wow! Did you make a video of it?

[@dannycarrigan4463]

did u actually see thm filming cool to see chris Lloyd as doc did u see anybody else

[@katherineaguilar4129]

So lucky !

[@user-cv3gd2wr5q]

Rick Eaton I went around the same time. Couldn’t get to the square because they were filming like you said. But it did make me excited for the movie. I’ve been there 1000’s of times then. I even have a few pics of me and my family standing at the courthouse.

[@DCFCfanatic]

I was there at the same time. they had rerouted the tram in many of the areas. we had to go around the outside of the courthouse square. they were actually filming at that moment so they didn't let us in. we did drive by the front of that archway as the tram exits at 4:00. to block the exit/entry they had several of the futuristic cars there. all of which we later got to see in the movie. we were told not to film or take pics but I took several.

[@ScootsNBhistorybehindthegaming]

That's some good quality video for 1989.

[@65scribe]

Thanks! I luckily kept the original tape rather than copying it off to lousy VHS. ScootsNB

[@Voodoo8648]

I don't mean to sound ignorant, but whats VHS?

[@ScootsNBhistorybehindthegaming]

Voodoo8648 Video Home System. It's a video format that was used throughout the 1970s through the 1990s. I would say about 2005 is when it officially became 'extinct' and Dvd had completely taken over. (Which ironically is being replaced by both Digital and Blu Ray.)

[@bibliotecaretro]

I dont even think thats VHS, for the time would be more likely to be a BETA tape

[@ScootsNBhistorybehindthegaming]

Francisco Argote Well I didn't say it was VHS per sey. (At least..I don't think I did in my original comment?) I was only explaining to them what it was.

[@punkalex14]

This entire set should be remade as part of Universal Studios Theme Park. Complete with shopping, dining and rides. Classic trilogy!

[@888junkcarsbuyingteam8]

Imagine eating lunch at Cafe 80's or better yet, that 50's diner! If only the prices were that cheap though ha ha

[@spencerpearson3986]

That’s so weird hearing her say 2015 in 1989

[@plushiez_show8827]

its either twenty fifteen or two thousand fifteen

[@harloy4623]

@@plushiez_show8827 How about this reasoning for there's no "either" way of saying the date correctly? We didn't say one thousand nine hundred eighty nine. We said nineteen eighty nine. On that bases, the correct saying of the year is twenty fifteen

[@plushiez_show8827]

@@harloy4623 we didnt say one thousand nine hundred eighty nine because that was too long theres no correct way of saying it bruh

[@matteo5033]

@@plushiez_show8827 That's what he just said. ;/

[@plushiez_show8827]

@@matteo5033 Yeah but he said theres a correct way of saying it when its either

[@AngrySilence]

This is like the best behind-the-scenes footage ever.

[@65scribe]

Thanks very much! Glad you liked it.

[@UrSammich]

Too bad this set didn't survive. :-: Would have been cool to see now that we're in the year 2015

[@catalinadog157]

5 years later..

[@kalanix51]

2020 now and still not as cool as they made this movie look

[@catalinadog157]

@@kalanix51 debatable

[@only257]

kalanix51 agreed 👍

[@VaultPool]

2020 now, still no real hoverboards

[@michwashington]

This is the clearest video of the 80’s I have ever seen!

[@65scribe]

Thanks! That bright California sun helped :)

[@44125]

Do you have anymore of video to share of the tour?

[@mikewazowski01]

@@44125 The full video is also on here

[@44125]

Two minutes after I posted this, I found the full video😂 Thanks for sharing!!

[@electrictroy2010]

Any time you watch a 1970s or 80s show, you’re watching videotape. The professionals either captured the shows direct to tape… or did final edits on tape .

[@KorenYoung]

Seeing Courthouse Square dressed like 2015 is like traveling back in time to 1989. This is when the Universal tours were awesome. Thanks for posting!

[@allanbard6048]

I remember and still have the full page ad, saying: "Go Back To The Future. Right Now." They actually had trams going past 2015 Hill Valley, sometime around Dec. 1989.

[@peter4252]

Lucky people. They saw the set before the movie came out.

[@ENDTIMEsVideoLibrary]

I worked at Universal in Security as a young guy in 1987 and drove a car around the lot and had keys to almost everything. I actually slept in Janet Leighs Psycho Motel Room once when they were shooting a sequel with Anthony Perkins and needed some of us to stay for overtime! I also used to get out of my car on weekends and walk the entire lot so I would know it well and would go on the sound stages, wardrobe etc.. I work in the industry now and was an actor and did some cool TV shows at one point. For some reason I've always loved being on a movie set and working in the entertainment industry..

[@janelan7068]

It's great~

[@65scribe]

Great story. Thanks for sharing!

[@katherineaguilar4129]

Youre so lucky !

[@brandonwestgaard8819]

That’s so cool.

[@majorswanson]

Great story. I used to live in Studio City and had the opportunity to walk around the Universal backlot and others a few times. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Like you, I always enjoyed those backlots and all the fake stuff.

[@prodbyFderrick]

That town square is a piece of art

[@Sweet68Camaro]

I was at the lot about the same time of filming and saw Christopher Lloyd walking to the set in full costume. I’ve got pics of the square and him waving to the tram. I had no idea they were making a part 2 of my favorite movie, let alone filming that day. One of the best days of my life.

[@65scribe]

Very cool!

[@stephenlapper9958]

Fantastic video. So weird seeing actual footage of the set with the 2nd film not even being released yet! Thanks for sharing!

[@65scribe]

You're welcome. Glad you got to see it.

[@patrickkavanagh7371]

That's awesome you got to see the set before the movie even came out. There's no way they would do that today.

[@ONAIRwithDYLAN]

Wow!!!! Takes me back to a simpler time

[@65scribe]

ON AIR with DYLAN Glad to hear that you enjoyed it!

[@ONAIRwithDYLAN]

65scribe absolutely! I spent a lot of time on the Universal lot as a child actor and a geeky tourist. That lot was in its prime during the late 80’s - 90’s, such a rad time to be alive in Hollywood. Thanks for sharing this video!!!

[@fireresq7]

Funny how no one cared about “spoilers” in 1989. They’re like: heres the future town for the upcoming movie. Life before social media.

[@JustaWorkVan]

It's awesome because what are they gonna do? Take a polaroid and post it in the newspaper? Man times have changed.

[@fireresq7]

@@JustaWorkVan ha ha yes!

[@65scribe]

After I filmed it, I brought it home and played it back for my college buddy. Social media in the 80’s. If someone told me then that it would be viewed 400,000 times, my mind would be blown.

[@fireresq7]

@@65scribe LOL For real!

[@electrictroy2010]

@JustaWorkVan WELL we did have computers in 1989. I remember downloading the entire Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue as early as 1987 (after someone scanned & shared the paper copy) .

[@PheelACCD]

at 2:57... Pontiac didn't make it to 2015 :(

[@mendezcreative]

+Philippe Martinez QUACK!

[@mikekannely2286]

Neither did Pan Am make it to 2001 as depicted in 2001: A Space Odyssey....

[@UmmYeahOk]

Scrolled through to the comments to see if this was mentioned. I swear I’ve seen this film a million times, and never noticed the place until this tour tram video.

[@shawoo]

So damn true

[@187mrsmith]

@@mikekannely2286 Pontiac was half decent though ... They made some pretty good cars they just going to adapt and adjust to The Times

[@Berthier278]

This video is a gem to preserve...thank you

[@SMFFL100]

Before the internet was mainstream. Now a days, they would never allow the public to view movie sets while they were being filmed, due to spoilers. Movies are under such tight wrap now.

[@billlombard9911]

SMFFL100 yup , studio tours are totally fake now

[@UrSammich]

Unless it's a open to the public location, but usually in that case it's blocked off. :/ I remember my mom told me the freeway she normally takes for work got closed off as they were using a portion of it to shoot for a movie...don't remember which movie she said, but it's Southern California so...could be anything.

[@thescott7539]

They were long past filming by August of 89. Well, they may have been filming for Part 3, but not at that location. Heck, I saw a test screening in early October (the only one I've ever been lucky enough to go to). Still a great time capsule there.

[@eljackryan3681]

Thanks for sharing your memories! 👍🏽

[@65scribe]

You are welcome. I'm glad there is a way to share it with everyone.

[@doyourbest999]

Remember being captivated by this as a kid. Really glad to be able to see it again.

[@johnmaughan4250]

Still love this movie

[@Cyba_IT]

Where the hell did those 26 years go!!! I realise it's just a movie but it seems absurd now that the audience then believed we'd have flying cars by now.

[@robm9462]

Cyba IT it’s realize!! I was reading that and thought wait that looks weird

[@jackson5116]

that's not something limited to just the 80's, the 60's thought we'd have flying cars by the year 2000.

[@mrcoiganable2988]

@@robm9462 UK/US spelling. Realise is perfectly correct.

[@Bristecom]

We probably would have flying cars by now if it weren't for certain people who are overly concerned about safety regulations and some corporate/government corruption. If we had those kinds of people in power in the early 1900's, we wouldn't have cars either! "You mean we should just let average people drive hunks of metal around at over 30 mph!? No way!" We are living in very different times now where the freedoms and idea of self-responsibility is all but completely gone.

[@Recon911PDW]

Well technically we do have "flying cars". Most of them are still in prototype stages but they use small propellers(usually 4 of them) to lift off and they are autonomous. In fact, they use them in Dubai right now.

[@BenLaurence]

Seriously awesome footage and great quality for the late 80s. Must have been pretty cool getting to see a sneak peak of the Back to the Future part 2 set before the movie even came out

[@65scribe]

Thanks very much! Yes, I was completely in awe of where i was when I filmed it.

[@GeorgeStreicherMusic]

This is so cool. I was born in August 1989. Really cool to see the lot as it was then - little did I know that I'd be working back there 20 years later!

[@65scribe]

That is pretty cool, George! Your own bit of time-traveling. :)

[@mitchdoyle1997]

Thank you for posting this. I tell people all the time about how this very same Universal Studios Hollywood tour, during that very same summer of 1989 when I was 8 years old, is what triggered my interest to watch the Back to the Future movie and eventually trilogy in the first place. I remember the tour guide asking everyone on the tour to be quite because the red light outside of another set was flashing. She told us that the studio was filming an episode of Charles in Charge. I can also recall the Jaws shark jumping out of the water right behind the Hill Valley set. It startled some of the tourist and caused them to accidentally throw their cups into the water. Memories Memories Memories!!

[@65scribe]

Glad you enjoyed looking back at it. I posted the full tour on this channel as well if you are interested.

[@only257]

65scribe thanks for uploading this got the trilogy on a dvd box set👍

[@vassa1972]

Loved back to the future movies

[@k.baller5140]

This is so cool... Really takes you back to the future! Man KZbin is a real time machine

[@KramSacul]

Looking back on it now the backlot tour in 1989 was awesome. Now it's all a bunch of leftover junk from recent movies.

[@mikewazowski350]

I'd like to go back to 1989 knowing what I know now.

[@jokcoustou]

I want a time machine so I can sit in that tram

[@herkyrn]

SAME!!

[@donbailey6600]

I made my one and only visit to Universal around this time, BTTF 2,3 was not out yet. I had not seen BTTF 1, but it got me thinking... I should check it out sometime. Finally wound up binge watching all 3 on VHS one weekend when 3 finally came out on VHS. I remember the "lake" in front of the courthouse had been drained (like above) and the person narrating stating that shooting had wrapped. It has become one of my favorite movies of all time. I enjoy watching BTTF 3 the most now. I wish I had taken some photos...

[@scottw4603]

I did that tour in '85 and all they talked about was Gremlins

[@markoutwithmark]

This is awesome. It's a snapshot of that backlot at the exact time. Those lots change so fast that documentation like this can be rare. Cool stuff!!

[@LAFitCoach]

it's 2020 and still no flying cars

[@ryanjamieson8779]

Thank fuck for that, people can't drive vehicles meant for roads, let alone fly the fuckers.

[@Entolyfik]

HA! i was JUST thinking about that less than an hour ago! There IS a car though that can fly, but its not what we would imagine as a "flying car." really no more than a car that has to stop, drop out wings on the side-back of it, on actuators, then has to have enough clearance for the wings, and lift off LIKE a plane...REALLY, it IS a literal CarPlane, and is an AWESOME step IN that direction, but we're not quite there yet.... ....I said YET.............IF theres Time left......

[@fishkings423]

Rob Heine more like in 20 years

[@Entolyfik]

@Rob Heine lol, the floor is rolling on ME laughing! ** ...then crouches in a corner and cries **

[@Entolyfik]

@@davidtaylor9999 Heh, true. On a real note, if we thought drink driving and text driving are bad now, imagine drunk flying and text flying...... Anyone seen "Logan's run?" It'd be like that, but with flying vehicles (lolololz)

[@leonardusmartins]

excellent job. Thanks for bring back so many good memories.

[@LiveINtheGood53]

Wow, now its 2020 and it's 31 years later (from 1989)... Those people in the tour are 31 years older now ... some maybe in Heaven. RIP :))

[@007Julie]

😔

[@StephenBrewer89]

This is so awesome! I was born in 89. I wish I was in my prime in this time.

[@Shlooomth]

I miss these parks 😭

[@65scribe]

If you are looking to see more, I posted the full tour here kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6C6aIinj8edbqM

[@kevinkeller5635]

30 plus years later whoever took this is a godamn legend!!! 03:33 name dropping household names in the 21st century!!!

[@Linda_McFly]

this is so awesome

[@BoStErO1905]

This is a gem

[@65scribe]

Thanks, Eddie!

[@rggast]

This is a gem! Thanks for posting!

[@Chris.Davies]

Very high quality considering how old the video is. It must have been a VHS camcorder!

[@65scribe]

+Chris Davies Thanks! Actually 8mm video from the original tape.

[@Preeno]

It was filmed by someone of the future....who came back for the tour....

[@Kneichion]

Back to the Future 1 Still remains my all-time No1, I watched it again a few days back. My partner says its always my go too movie, she is always really again lol

[@BigHead2615]

NOW I need a time machine..... just to go back to when Universal Studios had this set, and I could go take that tour! Also, just live out the rest of my life, go back to 1989 onward, be able to enjoy the Back To The Future The Ride for as many times as I want, and buy and play all the SNES and Genesis video games that I care about before they become holy shit expensive collector's items.

[@checkmeowt6948]

The broken piece of concrete under the clock from when doc almost fell. Rad

[@subzeroarctics1299]

Wow! I wish there were more people like you! Great quality for so long ago! And one of my favorite movies!

[@anthonyjimeneztv6343]

Great scott beatifull movie

[@majorswanson]

Fantastic! The narrator did a fantastic job. I was a mere 24 when this was filmed. No doubt the camera used to film this clip was a huge shoulder held Camcorder.

[@65scribe]

Tracy J. Swanson You are correct about the shoulder mount camcorder. :). Thanks for commenting!

[@twist58]

(0:20) The old Federal Express van! Man, haven't seen that design in years before it was shortened to FedEx.

[@jeffreyelya9996]

Great to stumble across this video!! Just remember, the Emerald City Comic-Con is hosting Michael J. Fox, Christpher Lloyd, Lea Thompson and Tom Wilson for the 35th anniversary for the original Back To The Future in 2020. Tickets are still available for Thursday, Friday and Sunday.

[@Roadent1241]

Will they livestream the panel somewhere/somewhen or...? Because I have no idea when this con is on and heck if I'm gonna be able to travel to America to meet them.

[@Unlucky_Freak]

Another good thing KZbin recommends me to watch. Good job!

[@ENDTIMEsVideoLibrary]

I worked at Universal in Security from 87 to 88 driving a car around the backlot.. I had a year of Self Tours and used to eat lunch a lot in the Courthouse Square area and at the Leave It To Beaver House up the hill. We had a lot of free time while we were working so I had a lot of fun as an Aspiring Actor foolin around at Universal, especially since I had the keys to about 60 Percent of everything on the lot!! Always good to see the backlot the way it was back then! Thanks for the vid..

[@65scribe]

You're welcome. Thanks for sharing your memories!

[@fredellis9384]

I started hanging out at universal at this time,they offered a yearly pass for 12$ on top of a daylong admission.its sad that thing costs over 1000$.but it was back to the future that made me wanna come back.bet you I went once a week all summer

[@kung-fuhustle5755]

It’s amazing how they visioned what 2015 would look like in the 80’s.Even though were in 2021 still driving conventional cars on the road which still don’t fly.

[@dennispope8160]

Imagine sitting there next to blast from the past store and not knowing how much of a key piece of the movie it will be.

[@mainstreetbully6814]

I was thinking the same thing. I would Love to have the screen used Sports almanac.

[@briandoublebackdahlen7967]

Or The 2015 Set would also be used for a Back to the Future The Ride Pre-Show Video

[@allanbard6048]

@@mainstreetbully6814 Universal is releasing a complete/official "Gray's Sports Almanac" with sports stats (including slamball!) on every page. It also comes with the blue sales receipt AND the lenticular bag from "Blast From The Past". Due out sometime in March and I cannot wait to read it!

[@Lee-wb5og]

Great Scott this tour looked heavy!

[@RockinRob69]

*"When this baby hits 88 miles per hour, you're gonna see some serious shit!"*

[@mario3mmelero571]

I took this tour back in 1987 and was able to see the Hill Valley setting from the first BTTF movie. Even took a picture with the DeLorean from the movie that was on display.

[@tokutickler]

Tour guide: "The upcoming film, Dick Tracy" Me, a late 90s kid: This is heavy

[@pierrepinson2906]

Wow Thank you for POSTING this. This is very good for the Movie 's FANs.

[@65scribe]

You are welcome, Pierre.

[@Howard007]

So incredible. Thank you for filming and posting

[@65scribe]

I'm glad you enjoyed watching.

[@jedikat9881]

Thanks for sharing! Cool blast from the past, I love how the other passengers look bored and unimpressed! LOL

[@abeneteau7266]

Thank you so much for sharing. Sooo amazing!!! I wish I could've been there!!!

[@jakport]

My flash is ready for a big surprise I’ll never see. Thanks for the tease!

[@65scribe]

You can always watch the full tour posted on this channel. I hope you brought an extra roll of film!

[@jakport]

@@65scribe Oh cool, thanks! I figured there was a longer vers, but I haven't poked around yet

[@WaldoIsLegit]

Thanks for posting this. This is a cool look back in time. xD

[@Scott-bf8km]

If these people only knew they were looking at movie history....

[@TheKennethECarper]

At the time that movie history was in the future. ;)

[@rsprockets7846]

Is that sucker electrical?

[@65scribe]

The tram runs on propane, it always has. ;)

[@King_Colombia_Inc]

This is *INCREDIBLE!!!* A full 9 years before i was born!!! 😍😍😍

[@jeffreyvanodenberg5288]

I took the tour 1993 after arriving with a DeLorean from 1989.

[@GC79]

I’ve watched this video so many times. I absolutely love it. Thank you for uploading it. 🙌

[@65scribe]

You are welcome. I'm glad they invented a way of bringing it to you.

[@GC79]

@@65scribe Thank goodness for portable television studios.

[@65scribe]

Lol :)

[@rnljrt.c.b8100]

This brings back memories. I live in New Jersey , but i was at universal in 1989 & 1990. 😎

[@junamoor]

Great video thank you so much for sharing it with us!

[@craykooo8947]

Great video. Thank you for sharing. I would’ve loved to have visited this place.

[@65scribe]

You are welcome. Glad you could get to see it on video at least.

[@insaneone4369]

Saw this in person too!!! WOW!

[@LeeDownOne]

This is awesome!! Straight up history. Thanks you for this.

[@The90sGamingGuy]

Awesome video.Thanks for sharing with us!

[@Justin-Hill-1987]

This truly was a glimpse into the future, as the film it was dressed for wasn't yet in theaters...

[@guyverm]

This is what I want to see in KZbin . 👍

[@lulabelle82]

Superb video thank you for sharing. Quality is unreal.

[@65scribe]

Thanks! Good to hear you liked the video and quality.

[@user-sm2ql7nq4l]

They also used that town set in the very first Twilight Zone. It's the episode called "Where is Everybody" from 1959. You get a chance to see what it really looked like in the 50's.

[@65scribe]

I’ve seen that episode. Very cool the set has been around that long.

[@Ilovemovies917]

They should have kept this for 2015

[@EitanPeles]

This is absolutely precious!!

[@ulovetashi]

This is amazing and so interesting, whoever disliked this video has serious issues.

[@kevinkeller5635]

Right!!!

[@reinhardtnilsson7360]

I was 14 and i remember going on this same exact timer period...i remember set....this video brought back a ton of memories

[@jemynq]

Great Scott!

[@arri275555]

Two years ago I finally got the chance to walk up the court house steps. It was awesome.

[@65scribe]

Very cool!

[@simplewar]

Wow it's good to see the sets before release

[@only257]

Huge back to the future fan loved this video you made my day 😊

[@65scribe]

only257 Glad to hear a big fan of the movies finding my video. That’s awesome!

[@TheKurtsPlaceChannel]

Very entertaining and fun to watch. Thanks for posting this.

[@elrodjenkins]

This is awesome. Thanks for uploading this!

[@65scribe]

You’re welcome!

[@CarloisBuriedAlive]

This is incredible footage - history before it was history

[@65scribe]

I’m glad you enjoyed watching that. Thanks for commenting!

[@NickP]

Thanks for sharing this awesome footage!

[@65scribe]

You're welcome, Nick. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@djtimemasheen7585]

I loved every second of it. Simply amazing!!!

[@65scribe]

Thanks!

[@Scrapla1]

Such great memories. I went to see BTTF2 for my birthday back in 89 lol

[@JENDALL714]

I was there in early Summer of '89, my last hurrah before I went into the Navy in July. I remember seeing the Back to the Future Set and the Dick Tracy Set. Also, at this time, I remember seeing the A-Team and Knight Rider Cars just randomly parked around the back lot, I think employees were just using them to get around the back lot, they weren't in very good condition, with primer spots and non matching wheels.

[@JonesFamilyTravels]

Great video!

[@cacklingelectricgrandparet6148]

awesome looking at the past

[@flovv4580]

Favorite movie of my childhood. :) I wish I could still visit this set at Universal. ;/