I can't help but be reminded of the opening credits to The A-Team 2nd or 3rd season when Dirk Benedict as Face acknowledges that Universal Cylon walking by. Lol😊
As an 11 or 12 year old kid, this attraction was the greatest thing I had ever seen. When it opened they even had Cylons and Colonial Warriors walking around the park taking photos with guests.
Wow, I had forgotten about this. When I was 12-13 back in the early 80's we lived in California. I rode this a couple times back then. I was pretty bad ass back in the day.
Yup! I remember going the summer it opened! My parents took me there so long ago, I can remember the Land of the Giants themed Prop Plaza! My favorite part of the BG Tram section was the Cylons themselves! I thought it was hilarious how they just split in half with a puff of smoke when they got hit!! 😆
Yeah i remember that attraction too. What really got me was the laser fire when the hero came out. it looked like movie laser fire. I think they covered up what ever they were doing with how fast the pacing was and how dark it was, but it was cool regardless. I don't know if i am remembering it right but the biggest disappoint was how the cylons died, if i remember correctly they split in half or something.
😂 I still have a really good picture I took when I was a kid of the Cylon tank. I remember seeing that there and thought it was so cool! The funny part, is that I don't remember the attraction at all lol. I just remember the tank with the Cylon sitting in it. That's how impactful it was. I Love the Cylons and I was even one for Halloween a few years before the attraction opened. My uncle, who was a master craftsman, helped me make a full costume out of cardboard and plated it with aluminum foil, and he made me a gun that lit up! They let me walk at the front of the Halloween parade at school. What a great time to be a kid! Star Wars, BS Galactica! Such a cool time! Thanks for the video to help my memory 😎
Very cool. I'm 53 and watched Battlestar when it came out. I'm a huge sci-fi fan and was an early member of the 501st. I have been debating about 3d printing cylon armor.
After reading about this in Starlog, I wanted to go SO BAD! I grew up in Connecticut, so, there was no way my parents would take me to California to go on a four-minute ride. Well, at least the ride was documented in "The Nude Bomb". Really, it's the main reason to see that movie. Thanks for another great slice of Galactica lore.
I worked in effects in L.A. off an on from 2007 - 2020. One day in 2012 or 2013, a Cylon from this attraction came into to the shop for restoration. Galactica was my childhood, so naturally I shot a few pictures. One day, years later, I was on one of the online nerd forums I belong to (no judgment, nerd myself), and mentioned this fact, and I was informed the Cylon was actually stolen out of the shop! The poor guy who brought it in saw my post and was hoping I could provide some leads, but I didn't even know it was stolen 'til he told me. The thing was massive and sitting on speed rail frame, so stealing it must have been a true job of work-- you would have had to open the shop roll door (huge), and load it into a truck or at least a large flatbed, etc. Not exactly like stealing a candy bar. Anyway, most studios did a pretty shabby job of storing their larger props from defunct series. A lot weren't even warehoused but left outside for years in obscure corners of lots. A lot were stolen, and many were destroyed by fires or floods, or damaged so badly they needed massive restoration. Sad.
I remember seeing the Colonial Land Ram in the boneyard, but it was redressed for Buck Rogers. I have commented before about seeing the Daggit in the animal show as well. I got the full Battlestar experience!
@@battlestarcollectica7106the Hollywood animal trainer Ray Berwick had a show at Universal that featured Livingston the chimp dressed in the Muffy costume. There was a Universal Tour brochure I got in 1982 that featured a pic of Ray & Muffy in addition to a cool artist rendering of "The Battle Of Galactica", among other attractions of the time👍
Ray Berwick, the Hollywood animal trainer, had the show at Universal with Livingston the chimp dressed in the Muffy costume. They were pictured in the same 80's Tour brochure that featured the cool artist rendering of "The Battle of Galactica" exterior with the dark menacing storm clouds 😂
That would have been my first guess, it was thrown out. I used to know a guy who dumpster dived at the studios decades ago. He found things that would fetch amazing money today. I was at a meeting with one of Star Trek's art directors, he was joking about how much money they could make. Having fans come in and take sets apart.
@@battlestarcollectica7106 That's the real shame of it, but at the same time you can't save it all. The part that really annoys me, is some artifacts survive for a time. But is treated really poorly. My uncle did that with one of my Grandfather's RAF jackets(that's a long WW2 story). He left it out in the open, I guess the moths had a really good meal.
Aww!!! Such memories. We drove down to Universal Studios from Lancaster, CA, in about 1979 or 1980. My sister was visiting from North Carolina for Christmas (She did a customer paint detail on the Millenium Falcon I got...) I was 9-10. :) There had been wildfires in the Agua Dulce area and my sister said "Yeah...looks like the Cylons have been through here! Strafing the landscape!" We ate at a cafe or something before the tour, and my dad said "Hey look down there...there's a Cylon". IF (a big if) I remember right, the cafe was just above the tour route and you COULD SEE the Cylon tank from it!!! Thank you for this walk down memory lane, and keeping a great show/story concept in our minds. :)
My parents took my brother and me to Universal Studios in 1979 and we saw this and it was awesome. The tank was ok, but the fire fight inside the ship looked real AF! They had dudes in Cylon suits walking around the studios and the probably got heat stroke in the Summer! The chick giving the tour was named Jennifer and I still haven’t seen a hotter chick in my life! They had the Six Million Dollar Bigfoot Tunnel too and that was wild. So was the bridge where the middle dropped out in the middle!
The Battle of Galactica was always my favorite part of the tour as a kid. My strongest memory of it though is that the last time I experienced it, the actors were going through the motions with obvious utter boredom. It was pretty funny watching the Colonial troops just vaguely pointing their blasters in sort of the right direction as they sleepwalked their way through the scene.
What a shame!!! Say, thanks for recently recommending *Saga of a Fugitive Fleet!* I've played it through twice now and really enjoyed it. I'll have to compose my thoughts and send you a review! "Launch When Ready!" 🚀
Subscribed! We had the infamous RED Missile shooting toys for Christmas '79. Wish I had them now! 😢😂. Looking forward to checking out more videos. 😀 Cheers
I lived in CA, when this attraction vary first opened! I remember riding it with my parents and I still remember inside and out so vividly! Such amazing memories!!
I was on that tram!! The light battle show inside the "ship" was awesome!! They used pyro rockets on strings to visualize laser fire and explosives. There is a video floating around of the attraction, but it is different in terms of the lights and pyro that was used or at least it was different that what I had experienced.
I experienced this 'ride' in 1988ish while still operating...also saw and photographed a Buck Rogers Starfighter sitting on the backlot with weeds growing up around it, while being scooted around on the tram. Good times...
I went on the tram ride in the mid 80s! Only thing I remember from it was jaws and the cylons. It was so cool going through the ship! I recently found a small plastic BG snow globe I must have bought when I was there. Weird souvenir.
There was a company that made plaster molds to slip cast an original BSG series Viper and Cylon Raider. There was also a mold for a base styled to look like a pile of rocks to set the ships on. It was made to hold a clip in candelabra bulb holder so the ships could be used as lamps with holes cut in them.
@battlestarcollectica7106 nope. There has been a lot of going out of business and consolidation of ceramics companies in the past 30+ years. The hobby just isn't as big as it was in the 60s and 70s.
@@battlestarcollectica7106 I posted a link but TH-cam often silently deletes comments with links. So google Ceramic Cylon Raider and you'll find a site. Pretty sure it also shows the ceramic Viper.
Thanks for tracking that down. It's a pity because for such an iconic show at Universal Hollywood there doesn't seem to be any hi-res video or film of the attraction in operation. Just VHS rips and stuff. You'd think that somewhere in the vaults there would be something like that. Or the blueprints for the tank and Cylon base. Unfortunately given the studio's history with accidental fires I'm not optimistic.
I got a very pleasant surprise when I visited a friend who lived in Azusa c. 1998… she was driving us around and she told me, “Look out your window as I make this turn.” What should I see but the Landram in someone’s side yard! I’m sure it’s long since gone (hopefully to a storage unit, where at least it wouldn’t be exposed), and sadly so is she.
Ok. I need to learn how to 3D model and 3D print this in 1:18 scale. And how to get some cylons in there. Thanks for the diligent investigating and reporting. You're a superb source of BSG news.
I remember the ride well. Across the street from Universal for the longest time during the 80s there was also some large tank by the freeway from Battlestar, I am sure someone knows where that went. If anyone grew up in LA I won tickets to Universal through Tom Hattens Popeye cartoons, sent in a squiggle, got my squiggle back along with tickets. I had missed the episode when they announced my name, a friend told me I had won. Too poor to go these days, haven't been on the tour since the 80s.
oh wow, I must have been only about 5 or 6 when this was around, and I actually do remember it, particularly getting stopped by the Cylons outside the main attraction. It certainly was unique for its time!
Not yes, but I do have some photos of it and I think the Colonial Movers ship. Also, the Lucifer costume was framed displayed in a gift shop! I have not been back since then but can assume that they are all gone.
@@battlestarcollectica7106 I thought so. 🙂 One of these days I will have to go out there again or maybe, since it's closer, go to Universal in Florida.
Growing up in California, Universal Studios was always a mid-tier at best theme park. Somewhere between Marineland and Busch Gardens. But I remember the Battlestar Galactica part of the tour seeming really up to date and modern in 1979 when we went. It stood out. I have to think that they brought over some Disney folks to help out because It seemed (to my 8 year old eyes) to be that good. Very surprised to hear that it persisted until 1992, though!
@@battlestarcollectica7106 Yeah, apparently this was from 1979 to 1992. I was born in 1988 and only started watching reruns of the classic series in 2000, Man, it sounded like a fun ride.
I remember seeing the commerial for the ride. With me living in Connecticut and the attraction in Cali I knew id never see it.Of course I kind of had the idea that it was destroyed.These excs never think or care what the fans like
It is good to at least know the mystery has been solved but such a bummer to learn of the tank's fate! What a boneheaded decision to neglect the tank! But I do still find it hard to believe that it couldn't have been salvaged. Doesn't really matter now. At least it would be cool if someone actually made a full sized custom replica of it.
I agree with you. I’ve also heard of a fan who is building a life size version of one. It may be the same person who built the life size Viper? I’m going to try and find out more!
One of the Cylons strangled me and my brother a bit hard for our pictures at Universal studios California. Our eyes were bulged out and the look of fright on our faces is hilarious. I wonder what happened to those old pictures?
@@battlestarcollectica7106 dad was even using the old 8mm reel to reel home movie camera......no audio back in those days just the moving pictures. God I wish we could go back in time.
I'm sad but not surprised that the Cylon tank met the fate of most sets and props when they aren't needed anymore. I was lucky enough to see the attraction when it was still open and enjoyed it very much as a fan of classic Galactica.
I can remember that I was not prepared the first time I went on it. I had a bad seat and had no idea what was going on! Everything just happened super fast!
that is cool, they should have made that into a toy. when I first saw that I thought it might be an ode to the episode the Gun on the Ice Planet Zero just a smaller mobile version of the weapon. Plus did you ever notice some of the stuff from Battlestar Galactica was reused in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. The Land Ram was in the pilot for Buck Rogers and you could get it as a toy. The late 70s / early 80s. the Sci fi universe had some tremendous TV shows and movies. Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, The Black Hole, The Empire Strikes back, Flash Gordon QB N.Y. Jets. Return of the Jedi, Star Trek 2 the Wraith of Kahn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Megaforce!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, Animated shows Battle of the Planets, Star Blazers, and Robotech, Notice I did not mention Star Trek the Motion picture. The best part of that was the Lovely P.K. who also was in Megaforce. all these shows had all these characters with the name Hunter attached. Ace Hunter Megaforce, Rick Hunter Robotech also the Police officer in Hunter. one of the great episodes of Buck Rogers featured Buster Crabbe.
Wow! Colonial Scarabs vs Cylon Tanks.. Imagine that..🤖👍👍 Lucifer:"Deploy the armoured units" "Wipe them out..All of them!" Centurion: "BY YOUR COMMAND" 😉😁
I went to Universal Studios in 1986 or 1987 and that tank was the only thing left of the Battlestar Galactica thing. What was in the building after it was definitely not BSG at all. Edit: It was 1987 because I saw the Miami Vice stunt show, which opened in 1987.
Next Friday on Frazetta Girls Channel. Frank Frazetta Battlestar Galactica artwork discussed. th-cam.com/users/postUgkx7eAEKho8qwWdoZc1wEYcAlVi2bc_ksJG
I had never seen the attraction, but saw pictures of it when I was young. I always thought it looked cool. I'm from Eastern Canada so I had no chance to go there, unfortunately.
TBH, the gun on that thing looks suspiciously like the one that has appeared on the Studio Tour surrounded by what looked like Storm Troopers. The photo I have it from 1991 isn't particularly good, but I could have sworn that the gun portion of the tank was still on display when I took the tour in 2022, just surrounded by several storm troopers rather than Cylons. But, the more I try to look into it, the more I hate Google for making it so hard to find things from a few years ago. Because it used to be near that burning house as you wound your way along the hillside. EDIT: Somewhere around here I have a photo from 1993 of something that is fairly similar.
Mum had me in San Diego for 4 years in the 80's growing up. My one regret? The dozen+ times we went to Disneyland, 2 times to Knots Berry farm and Zero times to Universal. yes, this was MY stupid child self's fault. Oh, the regrets. But I really loved Thunder Mountain so what can I say?
before the video got going i said to myself it either got dismantled and tossed or repurposed *then* dismantled and tossed. these kinds of things typically just aren't long for this world, sadly.
@@battlestarcollectica7106 IIRC, I got it from Starlog Magazine back in the day. I don’t remember exactly, but the article said that much of the bridge set had been turned into set decoration for the ride. This might explain why we saw progressively less of it as Galactica 1980 continued, but then again maybe not. I honestly don’t know. But, yeah, anything you can find out would be appreciated!
I went through the attraction a few times as a young teen. The Colonial Warrior hitting his marks and reciting his lines with zero conviction was kind of a letdown.
Lol! I’ve heard that from many!! It just happened to me at Disney’s Rise of the Resistance. We had actor who would have rather been home! Ruined the first half of the ride for everyone!
Universal has always had a bad reputation for NOT saving props. Other studios like WB had warehouses filled with stuff from previous decades but not Universal!
@@battlestarcollectica7106 I’d thought they’d at least have a Colonial RamCat from the pilot episode. That was awesome. Even made a comeback in CGI format in the reboot.
I can't help but be reminded of the opening credits to The A-Team 2nd or 3rd season when Dirk Benedict as Face acknowledges that Universal Cylon walking by. Lol😊
😂🤣😂🤣
@@battlestarcollectica7106 Reminds me of the terrible 'Beverly Hills Cop 3, which showed a section of this very ride
@@seantaylor1191 For me, it's the "Get Smart" movie "The Nude Bomb" (later aired on TV under the title "The Return of Maxwell Smart")!
That was a great Easter egg nod to him as Starbuck on BSG.
He raises his finger as to say 'don't I know you'?
As an 11 or 12 year old kid, this attraction was the greatest thing I had ever seen. When it opened they even had Cylons and Colonial Warriors walking around the park taking photos with guests.
I’ve seen some photos of those meet and greets. When I visited the park all I saw was Frankenstein! Lol!
Wow, I had forgotten about this. When I was 12-13 back in the early 80's we lived in California. I rode this a couple times back then. I was pretty bad ass back in the day.
Yup! I remember going the summer it opened! My parents took me there so long ago, I can remember the Land of the Giants themed Prop Plaza!
My favorite part of the BG Tram section was the Cylons themselves! I thought it was hilarious how they just split in half with a puff of smoke when they got hit!! 😆
Same here, I only ever went to Universal Studios once and this ride was there, my favorite.
Yeah i remember that attraction too. What really got me was the laser fire when the hero came out. it looked like movie laser fire. I think they covered up what ever they were doing with how fast the pacing was and how dark it was, but it was cool regardless. I don't know if i am remembering it right but the biggest disappoint was how the cylons died, if i remember correctly they split in half or something.
Being a G.I.Joe collector, the Cylon tank reminds me of Sgt Slaughters Triple T vehicle 🤔
I will have to look that toy up. Very interesting!!!
The Cannon itself, reminds me of a lightsaber handle.
I thought the same thing.
I was thinking the same thing.
Yeah, the tank wasnt very "Galactica" in design 😂
😂 I still have a really good picture I took when I was a kid of the Cylon tank. I remember seeing that there and thought it was so cool! The funny part, is that I don't remember the attraction at all lol. I just remember the tank with the Cylon sitting in it. That's how impactful it was. I Love the Cylons and I was even one for Halloween a few years before the attraction opened. My uncle, who was a master craftsman, helped me make a full costume out of cardboard and plated it with aluminum foil, and he made me a gun that lit up! They let me walk at the front of the Halloween parade at school. What a great time to be a kid! Star Wars, BS Galactica! Such a cool time! Thanks for the video to help my memory 😎
Ok, that is amazing!! Thanks for sharing!!
Very cool. I'm 53 and watched Battlestar when it came out. I'm a huge sci-fi fan and was an early member of the 501st. I have been debating about 3d printing cylon armor.
Do it! We need more Cylons (human friendly ones)!!!
Cylon inspired armor would be awesome 😂
After reading about this in Starlog, I wanted to go SO BAD! I grew up in Connecticut, so, there was no way my parents would take me to California to go on a four-minute ride. Well, at least the ride was documented in "The Nude Bomb". Really, it's the main reason to see that movie. Thanks for another great slice of Galactica lore.
I saw that movie for the exact same reason you did!! 😂 I think I left after that scene!
I worked in effects in L.A. off an on from 2007 - 2020. One day in 2012 or 2013, a Cylon from this attraction came into to the shop for restoration. Galactica was my childhood, so naturally I shot a few pictures. One day, years later, I was on one of the online nerd forums I belong to (no judgment, nerd myself), and mentioned this fact, and I was informed the Cylon was actually stolen out of the shop! The poor guy who brought it in saw my post and was hoping I could provide some leads, but I didn't even know it was stolen 'til he told me. The thing was massive and sitting on speed rail frame, so stealing it must have been a true job of work-- you would have had to open the shop roll door (huge), and load it into a truck or at least a large flatbed, etc. Not exactly like stealing a candy bar. Anyway, most studios did a pretty shabby job of storing their larger props from defunct series. A lot weren't even warehoused but left outside for years in obscure corners of lots. A lot were stolen, and many were destroyed by fires or floods, or damaged so badly they needed massive restoration. Sad.
Wow! Now that is an amazing story! Supposedly someone stole a Cylon right out of the tank! Security guards saw nothing!🤣😉🤔
I remember seeing the Colonial Land Ram in the boneyard, but it was redressed for Buck Rogers. I have commented before about seeing the Daggit in the animal show as well.
I got the full Battlestar experience!
I missed the Daggit in the animal show!! I always thought in was an urban legend because I never met anyone who actually saw it. Thanks for the info!!
I didn’t see the landram in the trailer you linked to. I did notice that the trailer was using Galactica music as a filler score, however.
@@battlestarcollectica7106the Hollywood animal trainer Ray Berwick had a show at Universal that featured Livingston the chimp dressed in the Muffy costume. There was a Universal Tour brochure I got in 1982 that featured a pic of Ray & Muffy in addition to a cool artist rendering of "The Battle Of Galactica", among other attractions of the time👍
Ray Berwick, the Hollywood animal trainer, had the show at Universal with Livingston the chimp dressed in the Muffy costume. They were pictured in the same 80's Tour brochure that featured the cool artist rendering of "The Battle of Galactica" exterior with the dark menacing storm clouds 😂
@@battlestarcollectica7106i saw Daggit too at the animal show. What a great time! I was in heaven!
I'm glad I got to experience this attraction back in 86 when I first visited Universal Hollywood.
We are very lucky that it lasted as long as it did!!
That would have been my first guess, it was thrown out. I used to know a guy who dumpster dived at the studios decades ago. He found things that would fetch amazing money today.
I was at a meeting with one of Star Trek's art directors, he was joking about how much money they could make. Having fans come in and take sets apart.
Wow!!! I would have loved something from the attraction! From what I’ve been told most of it ended up in the trash!☹️
@@battlestarcollectica7106 That's the real shame of it, but at the same time you can't save it all. The part that really annoys me, is some artifacts survive for a time. But is treated really poorly. My uncle did that with one of my Grandfather's RAF jackets(that's a long WW2 story). He left it out in the open, I guess the moths had a really good meal.
Aww!!! Such memories. We drove down to Universal Studios from Lancaster, CA, in about 1979 or 1980. My sister was visiting from North Carolina for Christmas (She did a customer paint detail on the Millenium Falcon I got...) I was 9-10. :) There had been wildfires in the Agua Dulce area and my sister said "Yeah...looks like the Cylons have been through here! Strafing the landscape!" We ate at a cafe or something before the tour, and my dad said "Hey look down there...there's a Cylon". IF (a big if) I remember right, the cafe was just above the tour route and you COULD SEE the Cylon tank from it!!! Thank you for this walk down memory lane, and keeping a great show/story concept in our minds. :)
Your post just made my day! Thank you!!
My parents took my brother and me to Universal Studios in 1979 and we saw this and it was awesome. The tank was ok, but the fire fight inside the ship looked real AF! They had dudes in Cylon suits walking around the studios and the probably got heat stroke in the Summer! The chick giving the tour was named Jennifer and I still haven’t seen a hotter chick in my life! They had the Six Million Dollar Bigfoot Tunnel too and that was wild. So was the bridge where the middle dropped out in the middle!
Ok, you just made my day! Thanks for sharing that story!! 🤣😂🤣😂
The Battle of Galactica was always my favorite part of the tour as a kid. My strongest memory of it though is that the last time I experienced it, the actors were going through the motions with obvious utter boredom. It was pretty funny watching the Colonial troops just vaguely pointing their blasters in sort of the right direction as they sleepwalked their way through the scene.
I’ve been hearing more and more stories of the actors just being super bored at times. Not cool! 🤣
What a shame!!!
Say, thanks for recently recommending *Saga of a Fugitive Fleet!* I've played it through twice now and really enjoyed it. I'll have to compose my thoughts and send you a review!
"Launch When Ready!" 🚀
That’s great!! I wish that we could get another 4 Episodes!
@@battlestarcollectica7106 - Let's make it happen! 🚀🚀🚀
@@battlestarcollectica7106 - Let's make it happen! 🚀
@@battlestarcollectica7106 - Let's do it! 🖭
@@battlestarcollectica7106 - Let's get recording!
Subscribed! We had the infamous RED Missile shooting toys for Christmas '79. Wish I had them now! 😢😂. Looking forward to checking out more videos. 😀 Cheers
Thank you for subscribing! It means a lot to me!!
I never really got into Battlestar (more of a Stargate or Bladerunner person) but have very fond memories of this segment of the tram tour.
Nice! It was a fun attraction. Thanks for watching!
I lived in CA, when this attraction vary first opened! I remember riding it with my parents and I still remember inside and out so vividly! Such amazing memories!!
Thanks for watching and for sharing that!!
I was on that tram!! The light battle show inside the "ship" was awesome!! They used pyro rockets on strings to visualize laser fire and explosives. There is a video floating around of the attraction, but it is different in terms of the lights and pyro that was used or at least it was different that what I had experienced.
That’s a great memory! Thanks for that info!!
Bittersweet! So glad you solved the mystery..... Just wish it had a better ending! Another great video!! Thank you!!!!!
Thanks!! You’re the best!!
I went through this part of the tram tour when I was 8 (1983’ish). It was great!
Great job tracking the info down.
It was and still is a fun attraction! There have been rumors that Universal will do away with it to make room for another rollercoaster! 😡
I experienced this 'ride' in 1988ish while still operating...also saw and photographed a Buck Rogers Starfighter sitting on the backlot with weeds growing up around it, while being scooted around on the tram. Good times...
I missed the Buck Rogers Starfighter! Never saw it in any of my visits.
To me that looks EXACTLY like the 1980's GIJoe Sergeant Slaughter Triple T-Tank!
Oh yeah! I remember that! lol
I think that there’s a future episode there!! 😉thanks!
I went on the tram ride in the mid 80s! Only thing I remember from it was jaws and the cylons. It was so cool going through the ship! I recently found a small plastic BG snow globe I must have bought when I was there. Weird souvenir.
Is that the snow globe that has Cylons on a teeter totter? That is strange!!😂
That's the one! I need to dig it back out from wherever I put it and marvel at its weirdness!
There was a company that made plaster molds to slip cast an original BSG series Viper and Cylon Raider. There was also a mold for a base styled to look like a pile of rocks to set the ships on. It was made to hold a clip in candelabra bulb holder so the ships could be used as lamps with holes cut in them.
Wow! I have never heard of that! Cool! Do you remember who the company was?
@battlestarcollectica7106 nope. There has been a lot of going out of business and consolidation of ceramics companies in the past 30+ years. The hobby just isn't as big as it was in the 60s and 70s.
@@battlestarcollectica7106 I posted a link but TH-cam often silently deletes comments with links. So google Ceramic Cylon Raider and you'll find a site. Pretty sure it also shows the ceramic Viper.
Thanks for tracking that down. It's a pity because for such an iconic show at Universal Hollywood there doesn't seem to be any hi-res video or film of the attraction in operation. Just VHS rips and stuff. You'd think that somewhere in the vaults there would be something like that. Or the blueprints for the tank and Cylon base. Unfortunately given the studio's history with accidental fires I'm not optimistic.
Don’t get me started on Universal! They have no idea what they have with BSG!!😡
I have fond memories of this attraction when I saw it in 85 as a kid on my big American holiday from Australia.
Nice! That must have been an amazing trip!!
Until 92?? Wow! I saw it in 1981, and it blew my little mind. The laser shootout part was so cool.
Very cool stuff! I really wish it was still in operation!!
@@battlestarcollectica7106 I do too.
I got a very pleasant surprise when I visited a friend who lived in Azusa c. 1998… she was driving us around and she told me, “Look out your window as I make this turn.” What should I see but the Landram in someone’s side yard! I’m sure it’s long since gone (hopefully to a storage unit, where at least it wouldn’t be exposed), and sadly so is she.
Ok, that is incredible!! I think you now have a mission. Find that Landram!!
Ok. I need to learn how to 3D model and 3D print this in 1:18 scale. And how to get some cylons in there. Thanks for the diligent investigating and reporting. You're a superb source of BSG news.
Wow! I really appreciate that!! 😀
I remember the ride well. Across the street from Universal for the longest time during the 80s there was also some large tank by the freeway from Battlestar, I am sure someone knows where that went. If anyone grew up in LA I won tickets to Universal through Tom Hattens Popeye cartoons, sent in a squiggle, got my squiggle back along with tickets. I had missed the episode when they announced my name, a friend told me I had won. Too poor to go these days, haven't been on the tour since the 80s.
Thanks for sharing your memories! Trust me you’re not missing much with the back stage tour these days! Not very good now!
oh wow, I must have been only about 5 or 6 when this was around, and I actually do remember it, particularly getting stopped by the Cylons outside the main attraction. It certainly was unique for its time!
Yes, it really was the best part of the show!
Sad end to an iconic piece of TV history. RIP beautiful Cylon tank.
It’s nothing new for Universal. They have a horrible reputation for not saving anything!!
The Galactica shooting model was on display at Universal Studios Florida in the early 1990s. Have you covered this?
Not yes, but I do have some photos of it and I think the Colonial Movers ship. Also, the Lucifer costume was framed displayed in a gift shop! I have not been back since then but can assume that they are all gone.
I totally remember that tank and the attraction. We had a picture of the tank taken from the tram as we passed by. Don’t know where it is now.
Did you think (like I did) that it was better then the actual attraction? It was so cool looking!
@ Actually it was really awesome, because it was a individual piece, rather than a big cluster mess that was the attraction.
I think we had one piece this ride in the workshop when I worked at USH. Along with E.T.'s head.
Wow! That is very cool!!
I remember the tank. Lots of fun back in the day.
I wish it had been preserved! Universal was so short sighted!
Thanks. My last visit to the studio was in those final years. So I had the chance to ride the tour before it was gone.
That's awesome!
@@battlestarcollectica7106 I thought so. 🙂 One of these days I will have to go out there again or maybe, since it's closer, go to Universal in Florida.
Great to have an answer to this after all these years.
It was a mystery that was bothering me for years! I just wish it was not dumped in a dumpster. It deserved better!
I remember going on that tour several times in the 80's right past that tank. I may have a pic somewhere.
If you sat on the wrong side of the tram you hardly could see them! It would have been nice had Universal had one on each side of the road!!
Can some action figure customizer pretty PLEASE make this Cylon Battle Tank..?
I did review of a limited edition Cylon tank. Please check out the episode!! It’s a great piece!!
0:32 - Dunno what happened when I was there in March/April of 1988. But it was closed. I was pretty bummed. I assumed they had finally closed it down.
Maybe it was down for maintenance? It should had been opened.
Growing up in California, Universal Studios was always a mid-tier at best theme park. Somewhere between Marineland and Busch Gardens. But I remember the Battlestar Galactica part of the tour seeming really up to date and modern in 1979 when we went. It stood out. I have to think that they brought over some Disney folks to help out because It seemed (to my 8 year old eyes) to be that good. Very surprised to hear that it persisted until 1992, though!
I can’t believe they kept it running that long as well! According to my contact it was in pretty bad shape those last few years!
Wait there was a Battlestar Galactica part of the tram? When? Man growing up I loved watching the reruns of this show.
It was a big deal for Universal. Their first Disney type dark ride!!
@@battlestarcollectica7106 Yeah, apparently this was from 1979 to 1992. I was born in 1988 and only started watching reruns of the classic series in 2000, Man, it sounded like a fun ride.
Tanks Alot for the update!
Lol!😂
I remember seeing the commerial for the ride. With me living in Connecticut and the attraction in Cali I knew id never see it.Of course I kind of had the idea that it was destroyed.These excs never think or care what the fans like
Your right! The only person back then who held o to everything was George Lucas!! 🤣
Glad he did, otherwise, there’d be no deleted SW scenes to watch.
If you find yourself in the LA area, the Universal backlot tour is worth the price of admission.
I have not been on it in a long time. Going to make a special trip soon!
It is good to at least know the mystery has been solved but such a bummer to learn of the tank's fate! What a boneheaded decision to neglect the tank! But I do still find it hard to believe that it couldn't have been salvaged. Doesn't really matter now. At least it would be cool if someone actually made a full sized custom replica of it.
I agree with you. I’ve also heard of a fan who is building a life size version of one. It may be the same person who built the life size Viper? I’m going to try and find out more!
I don’t remember this from my visit in 1982. Then again I was Eight.
It was gone by the time I got a job there in 1993.
If you were sitting on the wrong side of the tram you would miss it. Happened to me a few times!
One of the Cylons strangled me and my brother a bit hard for our pictures at Universal studios California. Our eyes were bulged out and the look of fright on our faces is hilarious. I wonder what happened to those old pictures?
Wow! I visited the park many, many times and only saw Frankenstein! You’re very lucky and I for one would love to see those photos!!
@@battlestarcollectica7106 dad was even using the old 8mm reel to reel home movie camera......no audio back in those days just the moving pictures. God I wish we could go back in time.
Sad to hear, but not really unexpected. Thank you!
Very typical of Universal. They had a bad reputation for throwing out everything (even today!). Thanks for watching!
Do you have any info on the Barbarian show they had during this timeframe?
Conan? I remember it well! That was a really cool live action show. The dragon was amazing!!
@@battlestarcollectica7106 I saw that the only time I went to Universal Studios. They also had the Miami Vice stunt show.
i was a kid im not 50 when i went though it i miss the old univeral studios... man this brings back memories
It was much cooler back then. Every year the back stage tour now seems to get smaller and smaller!
I'm sad but not surprised that the Cylon tank met the fate of most sets and props when they aren't needed anymore. I was lucky enough to see the attraction when it was still open and enjoyed it very much as a fan of classic Galactica.
I can remember that I was not prepared the first time I went on it. I had a bad seat and had no idea what was going on! Everything just happened super fast!
Makes me laugh that the trams going into the "Battle of Galactica" look like they belong in "The Jungle Book" attraction.
Your right!! Lol! 😂
that is cool, they should have made that into a toy. when I first saw that I thought it might be an ode to the episode the Gun on the Ice Planet Zero just a smaller mobile version of the weapon. Plus did you ever notice some of the stuff from Battlestar Galactica was reused in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. The Land Ram was in the pilot for Buck Rogers and you could get it as a toy. The late 70s / early 80s. the Sci fi universe had some tremendous TV shows and movies. Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, The Black Hole, The Empire Strikes back, Flash Gordon QB N.Y. Jets. Return of the Jedi, Star Trek 2 the Wraith of Kahn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Megaforce!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, Animated shows Battle of the Planets, Star Blazers, and Robotech, Notice I did not mention Star Trek the Motion picture. The best part of that was the Lovely P.K. who also was in Megaforce. all these shows had all these characters with the name Hunter attached. Ace Hunter Megaforce, Rick Hunter Robotech also the Police officer in Hunter. one of the great episodes of Buck Rogers featured Buster Crabbe.
Yes, your right! You really know your stuff!! Thank you for all the amazing info!
When in Hollywood Visit Universal Studios!
(Ask for Babs)
Animal House!! lol!! 😂
I found some stuff in the attic. 3 Colonial Vipers and a Cylon raider. Going on my geek shelf with the other stuff i found 🤣
Nice! Glad that you rescued them from the attic!!
Wow! Colonial Scarabs vs Cylon Tanks.. Imagine that..🤖👍👍
Lucifer:"Deploy the armoured units" "Wipe them out..All of them!"
Centurion: "BY YOUR COMMAND"
😉😁
Yes!! Now that would have been cool!!
I have only been to Universal Studios Hollywood once in my life, and I have experienced this attraction.
I hope you have fond memories of it!!
I still have pictures of this, the tank, and parts of the ride, from when I was a kid. Shame what happened to the tank
Universal should have spent the money on fixing it up. It would be very popular today!
I went to Universal Studios in 1986 or 1987 and that tank was the only thing left of the Battlestar Galactica thing. What was in the building after it was definitely not BSG at all. Edit: It was 1987 because I saw the Miami Vice stunt show, which opened in 1987.
The building was stripped and then demolished. Most of the props were supposedly stolen by employees including one of the Cylons in the tank!
I went throgh that many many times, when suddenly it dissappeard on the tram tour. Then, Universal dumped the tour altogether. What a damn shame....
I know but it’s Universal! They have a love hate relationship with BSG! 😂🤣😂🤣
Next Friday on Frazetta Girls Channel. Frank Frazetta Battlestar Galactica artwork discussed.
th-cam.com/users/postUgkx7eAEKho8qwWdoZc1wEYcAlVi2bc_ksJG
Nice!!
I had never seen the attraction, but saw pictures of it when I was young. I always thought it looked cool. I'm from Eastern Canada so I had no chance to go there, unfortunately.
Sorry that you could not see it in person. There are many videos (not great quality) of the whole ride on TH-cam. Thanks for watching!
TBH, the gun on that thing looks suspiciously like the one that has appeared on the Studio Tour surrounded by what looked like Storm Troopers. The photo I have it from 1991 isn't particularly good, but I could have sworn that the gun portion of the tank was still on display when I took the tour in 2022, just surrounded by several storm troopers rather than Cylons. But, the more I try to look into it, the more I hate Google for making it so hard to find things from a few years ago. Because it used to be near that burning house as you wound your way along the hillside.
EDIT: Somewhere around here I have a photo from 1993 of something that is fairly similar.
Very interesting! I’m going to search myself for what you saw and will ask my Universal source. Thanks!
I remember it as a child. 😊
Very cool stuff!! Thanks for watching!
Mum had me in San Diego for 4 years in the 80's growing up. My one regret? The dozen+ times we went to Disneyland, 2 times to Knots Berry farm and Zero times to Universal. yes, this was MY stupid child self's fault. Oh, the regrets. But I really loved Thunder Mountain so what can I say?
Lol! Universal in those days was nothing like it is today. Always was considered the forgotten theme park (especially with Disney down the highway!).
I have a color / silent Super-8 reel that contains footage of the Battle for Galactica tour.
Wow! That's really cool! I would love to see it!
Wow, looks like a never-produced Kenner min-rig scaled up to full size. It's more 'toyetic' than anything that appeared in the TV show itself.
I think you’re onto something… it does look like one of those Kenner toys!🤔
That would make a great 3D printed toy for the custom collectors market.
You may be onto something!! Let’s see if it happens now!
It looks so funny even as a prop. Looks like an of road vehicle with a gun in the back like the used in Africa and the Middle east.
Cylons make bad stuff!🤣😂🤣😂
It was my favorite part of the tour
It was so freaking cool! Only problem was that the tram moved so fast you hardly got to see it!!
before the video got going i said to myself it either got dismantled and tossed or repurposed *then* dismantled and tossed. these kinds of things typically just aren't long for this world, sadly.
Universal still has a very bad reputation for throwing everything out! Nothing has changed with the studio!
The tank has some great 70s sf design cues.
I agree. Thanks for watching!
omg I went on that tour as a wee kid!
I hope you had fun seeing the BSG part!!
I’m under the impression that the Galactica tram attraction actually repurposed part of the bridge set from the show. Is that true?
Now that is something that I never heard before! Will ask my Universal source (who already thinks I’m crazy!). Lol!
@@battlestarcollectica7106 IIRC, I got it from Starlog Magazine back in the day. I don’t remember exactly, but the article said that much of the bridge set had been turned into set decoration for the ride. This might explain why we saw progressively less of it as Galactica 1980 continued, but then again maybe not. I honestly don’t know. But, yeah, anything you can find out would be appreciated!
0:35 lol he’s wearing Chewie’s bandolier!
Your right!! Good eye!!
Did the laser have an automatic cutout as if the pilot stood up as it fired he'd require some cybernetic maintenance as well 😂
I never noticed that! Your right!!🤣
The only time I remember seeing this attraction was from scene in “The Nude Bomb”
Yes! I forgot about that movie. That scene was the best part of it!!
I saw that at Universal studios in 1980
Great times! I wish I could go back!!
I went through the attraction a few times as a young teen. The Colonial Warrior hitting his marks and reciting his lines with zero conviction was kind of a letdown.
Lol! I’ve heard that from many!! It just happened to me at Disney’s Rise of the Resistance. We had actor who would have rather been home! Ruined the first half of the ride for everyone!
Well I'm not an expert, but I think that tank could use a wee bit more armour. Like all around it. 😁
Lol! You’re actually right!!!
I didn't even know that they had a tank.
I’ve heard that from so many fans. One of the reasons why I started this channel!
Imagine seeing this w 2 cylons driving around? 😂😂😂😂
🤣that would have been nuts!!
Looks like sgt slaughter's tripple t, bet the hasbro designer saw this tank
I think you’re right! I just checked out that toy and it does look the same!
That alien was totally wearing Chewbacca's bandolier
Your right! 🤣😂🤣😂
Its a crime against humanity! That's like shedding the Mona Lisa.
😂🤣😂🤣
Nobody cared about the Mona Lisa until it was stolen.
I own a Cylon helmet. It was cast of a Cylon stunt helmet.
Ok, that is cool!! Congratulations!!
Fantastic job. What nice exhibition set.😂❤
Thanks for watching!! 👍
Just like USH to neglect and destroy major props like this and the ORCA from JAWS 😢
Universal has always had a bad reputation for NOT saving props. Other studios like WB had warehouses filled with stuff from previous decades but not Universal!
I went there when I was a kid and I have a picture with me and a cylon
Nice! I never got to see a Cylon. It seemed that every time I went it was Frankenstein!! 🤣
I rode on that loved the series
I hope the episode brought back some good memories!
So your basically saying that the tour ride lasted longer that the actual original tv show.
Lol! Yes, big time!🤣
@@battlestarcollectica7106 I’d thought they’d at least have a Colonial RamCat from the pilot episode. That was awesome. Even made a comeback in CGI format in the reboot.
That's not a tank, that's an SPG (Self Propelled Gun). There, I said it. 🤣😂🤣
Lol! Your right!!
oh yeah, totally remember that tank!
It was so cool! I was waiting for Universal to produce a toy version of it to sell but they did nothing!
Tragic.
So much about BSG is tragic! Universal screwed up!!
0:37 bro stole Chewbacca’s bandolier.
Lol!! Your right!!!
@@battlestarcollectica7106 😂
Sad but I am not surprised.
LucasFilm saves everything. Universal throws away everything!
I totally remember that.
How cool would it be today to have on display some place at the park (like the Back to the Future train). Universal missed a big opportunity!
More of the self propelled gun
Your right as It’s not really a Tank.