This is another example of how Universal has become more of a touristy theme park, instead of a studio backlot for preserving film history. They showed how disinterested they were in preserving the Psycho set, even though they used to say it was "the most famous set in movie history." They began by demolishing the original Bates Motel by the late 60's. In 1980 they disassembled and moved the Psycho house to a second location. Their motive? To build another set in the exact location of the original Psycho set for Best Little Whorehouse in Texas(!?) despite having all of that other available backlot space. Then they moved the house to a third location with the least resemblance to the original location. There's Whoville houses from the Dr. Seuss movie in between the house and the latest copy of the motel. They built an asphalt road that goes past the front porch of the house, where there's a set of wreckage from the remake of War of the Worlds next door. Most of the viisitors don't seem to notice any difference and seem entertained by a Norman Bates look- alike while spoilers for the movie are emphasized, like the shower music cue when "Norman Bates" approaches the tram with a prop knife. Ah, the dumbed- down internet age for those who are mostly interested in only one scene from a classic film. I'm glad I was able to take a private, clandestine tour of the house and motel back in 1987, when it was much closer in appearance to the original set.
Gosh, what a fascinating and informative comment! I had heard before that the Psycho House was moved from a previous location, but I had no idea it moved from the spot now taken up by the Little Whorehouse in Texas house, that white house on the way up the hill right after the Jaws experience on the tram tour, right? I agree with you on many points here, I myself was a bit surprised to learn when they chose to demolish the famous Phantom of the Opera Stage 28 spot to make room for Nintendo World ( --and while we're at it what happened to that old fountain at "the Court of Miracles, right?) but alas, such is the way of "progress", with choices that often leave some of us scratching our heads, haha. From my video here it looks like that always odd to me as well juxtaposition of the old Grinchmas Whoville set has finally been removed. Either way you were very fortunate to have experienced the Psycho House in its original form and location! Also as someone that avoids watching most trailers now for films I have yet to watch I can't believe I've never realized before what a spoiler it is to see "Mother" peaking out of the window, ha. . Thank you again for your insightful comment.
@@TheDailyPenny Some of this "progress" at Universal has to do more with executives who are more about intent of their next movie project (like Best Little Whorehouse in Texas in 1980??) more than they are about preserving classic movie history. Similar to movie producers, who are more on the business side of a movie while the director has more artistic vision. Actually, Mother at the window is not a spoiler, since Hitchcock deliberately misled the public before production with publicity about casting someone for Mrs. Bates to keep the mystery of the plot more of a secret.. And Mrs. Bates is seen in that upper left window early on, walking to the right. And later, sitting by that window, as noticed by detective Arbogast. Speaking of trailers, have you seen the famous 6 &1/2 minute trailer with Hitchcock for Psycho? That is the best way to see the original set design for the house and motel, before Universal began compromising it. Besides the movie, that trailer is the best way to see how ingeniously designed that originaL set was. As Hitchcock said in the original ads - "Please don't give away our ending. It's the only one we have!"
Better acting than most stuff out nowadays.
He’s my favorite Norman too, tbh. Looks like Anthony Perkins a bit too.
This is another example of how Universal has become more of a touristy theme park, instead of a studio backlot for preserving film history. They showed how disinterested they were in preserving the Psycho set, even though they used to say it was "the most famous set in movie history." They began by demolishing the original Bates Motel by the late 60's. In 1980 they disassembled and moved the Psycho house to a second location. Their motive? To build another set in the exact location of the original Psycho set for Best Little Whorehouse in Texas(!?) despite having all of that other available backlot space. Then they moved the house to a third location with the least resemblance to the original location. There's Whoville houses from the Dr. Seuss movie in between the house and the latest copy of the motel. They built an asphalt road that goes past the front porch of the house, where there's a set of wreckage from the remake of War of the Worlds next door. Most of the viisitors don't seem to notice any difference and seem entertained by a Norman Bates look- alike while spoilers for the movie are emphasized, like the shower music cue when "Norman Bates" approaches the tram with a prop knife. Ah, the dumbed- down internet age for those who are mostly interested in only one scene from a classic film. I'm glad I was able to take a private, clandestine tour of the house and motel back in 1987, when it was much closer in appearance to the original set.
Gosh, what a fascinating and informative comment! I had heard before that the Psycho House was moved from a previous location, but I had no idea it moved from the spot now taken up by the Little Whorehouse in Texas house, that white house on the way up the hill right after the Jaws experience on the tram tour, right?
I agree with you on many points here, I myself was a bit surprised to learn when they chose to demolish the famous Phantom of the Opera Stage 28 spot to make room for Nintendo World ( --and while we're at it what happened to that old fountain at "the Court of Miracles, right?) but alas, such is the way of "progress", with choices that often leave some of us scratching our heads, haha.
From my video here it looks like that always odd to me as well juxtaposition of the old Grinchmas Whoville set has finally been removed. Either way you were very fortunate to have experienced the Psycho House in its original form and location! Also as someone that avoids watching most trailers now for films I have yet to watch I can't believe I've never realized before what a spoiler it is to see "Mother" peaking out of the window, ha. . Thank you again for your insightful comment.
@@TheDailyPenny Some of this "progress" at Universal has to do more with executives who are more about intent of their next movie project (like Best Little Whorehouse in Texas in 1980??) more than they are about preserving classic movie history. Similar to movie producers, who are more on the business side of a movie while the director has more artistic vision. Actually, Mother at the window is not a spoiler, since Hitchcock deliberately misled the public before production with publicity about casting someone for Mrs. Bates to keep the mystery of the plot more of a secret.. And Mrs. Bates is seen in that upper left window early on, walking to the right. And later, sitting by that window, as noticed by detective Arbogast. Speaking of trailers, have you seen the famous 6 &1/2 minute trailer with Hitchcock for Psycho? That is the best way to see the original set design for the house and motel, before Universal began compromising it. Besides the movie, that trailer is the best way to see how ingeniously designed that originaL set was. As Hitchcock said in the original ads - "Please don't give away our ending. It's the only one we have!"